Chapter 2 What Was Happening
1032 Words
The car came to a sudden halt, jolting the driver. His heart skipped a beat. He gripped the steering wheel tightly and glanced nervously at the young man sitting in the back seat.
His boss lifted his eyes slightly from the tablet he was scrolling through. His lips pressed into a thin line. His voice was cold: “Why have we stopped?”
The driver’s pulse quickened. He swallowed hard, trying to steady his hands. “A woman… she fainted in front of the car.”
Silence filled the air, thick and suffocating. The boss didn’t move. The driver waited, heart racing.
Finally, the boss’s voice cut through the silence, icy and calm: “Check who it is.”
The driver’s eyes widened. This wasn’t like him at all.
He hesitated before stepping out, his steps heavy. Kneeling beside the woman, he checked her pulse. His heart sank—her pulse was erratic.
His voice trembled. “Boss… her pulse is irregular. She needs to go to the hospital now…”
The driver fell silent, staring nervously at his boss. Why did he care so much for this woman? Was it a pity? Or something else?
The boss remained expressionless. “Bring her in.”
The driver hesitated, then muttered under his breath, “Unbelievable…He’s being kinder today.” Carefully, he lifted Astrid and placed her in the car.
He hesitated again, not sure how to handle her. “Boss, can you move to the front seat so I can lay her down in the back?”
The young man’s gaze was cold, his lips were tight. “Put her in the trunk.”
The driver froze. How could he even suggest putting a dying person in the trunk?
But the boss remained impassive. The driver, tired from carrying Astrid, adjusted her position and spoke cautiously, “She’ll suffocate back there. She needs some fresh air.”
The boss remained silent, his eyes narrowing. The driver could feel the weight of his gaze. A long moment passed before the boss got out and moved to the front seat.
The driver breathed a quiet sigh of relief and placed Astrid gently inside before getting behind the wheel.
The hospital rushed by in a blur. When they arrived, the driver moved quickly, carrying Astrid inside. The young man followed, observing his driver’s unexpected tender care for the woman as if he were her boyfriend. He shook his head in amusement, “Has he really fallen for this miserable girl?”
Inside the hospital, Astrid was taken to a VIP ward, and everything was handled swiftly. When she woke, the sterile scent of the room made her feel disoriented. IV tubes were connected to her arm, and she looked around, trying to piece together what had happened.
"Where am I?" she muttered.
A doctor entered, adjusting her IV. "You're awake," he said, his tone neutral.
She tried to sit up, but dizziness pulled her back down. “How did I get here?”
"You were brought in by an anonymous person," the doctor explained.
“How long have I been here?” Her voice was shaky as memories slowly returned.
“Three days.”
“Three days?” Astrid’s eyes widened. “But… I don’t remember…” She fell silent as the doctor’s serious tone cut through her confusion.
“Miss, if I may ask, why would you take so many contraceptives while pregnant?” The doctor’s voice was filled with concern. “You almost lost the baby.”
Astrid’s breath caught. “What did you say?” Her grip tightened on the doctor’s arm.
“Why would you take so many contraceptives when you’re pregnant?” he repeated, his voice firm but full of concern.
“Pregnant?” Astrid whispered, the shock hitting her like a punch. She hadn’t even known. The words felt like an unexpected dream, and for a moment, she couldn’t process them.
The doctor nodded. “One month along.”
Astrid stared down at her stomach, her mind spinning. I’m pregnant? She wasn’t sure whether to be relieved or terrified. What was she supposed to do now? She had no idea how to break the news to Riven.
The doctor continued, offering advice and instructions, but Astrid barely heard him. She was lost in thought.
When she was finally discharged, she discovered that the bill had already been taken care of. She didn’t question it. Without a second thought, Astrid left the hospital and took a cab straight to Slade’s mansion.
Astrid stood in front of the Slade mansion, the huge villa that felt like a cage, it was cold and unwelcome. Her hands clenched into a tight fist. Her chest heaved in anxiety, and her mind was filled with many thoughts. What was waiting for her? She had stayed outside for three days, how did they feel?
As she arrived, the security guard hurried over. “Madam, where have you been?” His voice was filled with concern.
“It’s a long story,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady. “Has Riven arrived?”
“Yes, but…” The guard trailed off, lowering his gaze.
Astrid didn’t press him further. She understood he wouldn’t elaborate.
She took a deep breath and walked inside. The room was filled with tension—Her parents and her grandmother were all present, their eyes cold, their silence heavy.
It felt like a criminal standing in front of a panel of judges, no way out.
“This is going to be tough,” Astrid murmured to herself, fear thick in her voice.
Vincent Carson looked at his daughter with a furrowed brow, staring at her pale face. The concern in his eyes was clear, but he remained silent.
Eira glanced at her sister, a smile curling up on her lips. "I can't wait to see how badly you will embarrass yourself this time.”
Astrid faced the Riven family. Her heart sank as she noticed their expressions. Old Lady Slade’s lips curled in disdain, Aurora’s eyes contained hatred, and Riven stood like a p
illar of ice, his gaze burning through her as if she were a criminal on trial.
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- Writer
