Chapter 3 Pregnancy Revealed
572 Words
When she opened her eyes again, Renee was already in the hospital.
"You're awake?" the nurse said, adjusting her IV. "How do you feel? When you arrived, you had no color at all; it was frightening."
Only now did Renee realize that after the building manager brought her to the hospital, the first thing they did was contact Adrian through the residents' group.
But Adrian had snapped, "She's fully grown. Does she really need to call me for something this trivial?"
And then he hung up. Not a single message of concern had arrived on her phone.
Renee felt a bitter ache in her chest. Adrian had surely forgotten by now that she had claustrophobia. Yet she remembered clearly: back in high school, when bullies locked her in the dark supply room, Adrian had smashed the door open, blood covering his hands, and held her in his arms.
"Renee, don't be afraid. I'll protect you…"
His voice had trembled as he carried her out. The next day, he went after the bullies and left them bruised and battered.
"She has claustrophobia. She's terrified of the dark. Do you even realize she almost passed out when you locked her in?"
Adrian had gone insane in retaliation, and was punished with a major demerit.
The whole school then knew that the orphaned, helpless girl Renee had someone watching over her.
But when had he begun to forget?
Renee pulled out the IV needle.
"Hey! What are you doing?" the nurse exclaimed.
"I'm fine. I don't need the IV anymore," Renee said softly.
The nurse interrupted angrily. "Fine? You've already become a mother. You can't throw a tantrum like a child."
Renee froze, her body stiff. "A mother… I?"
The nurse's voice trembled with worry. "When you passed out, we drew blood. Our director personally reviewed the lab results. You're already three months pregnant. You didn't notice at all?"
Renee's mind went blank. The nurse's words moved, but she couldn't hear them.
Why did this have to happen now, right as she was filing for divorce?
Renee stepped out of the room, stiff and uncertain, trying to process this unplanned pregnancy.
At that moment, Adrian rushed toward her.
She stopped, but he seemed not to see her, turning instead into a corner gynecology office.
Renee hesitated, then unconsciously followed. It was the OB department.
Minutes later, she saw that Vivian exit the room, eyes red, clutching her test report, with Adrian beside her.
They reached the stairwell.
Vivian sobbed, "You heard the doctor. After my miscarriage, my periods have been irregular, and I've had constant abdominal pain. I didn't expect my uterine lining to rupture. I… I may have difficulty having children in the future."
But then Adrian's voice came.
"Don't worry, Vivian. We will have children. The child you lost for me… I still dream about him."
Vivian broke down completely. "If our child had lived, he would be in elementary school by now. You swear, from now on, only my children!"
Adrian pulled her into his arms, heart aching. "I swear, only your children."
"And what if your wife is pregnant?" Vivian asked.
Adrian hesitated for a moment, a flicker of doubt in his eyes.
Vivian's voice cut in sharply. "Then you'll get sterilized after I get pregnant!"
Renee's heart tightened instantly. She had expected him to refuse, to be angry.
But he only paused briefly before speaking softly, "Fine. Whatever you say."
- Writer
