# Chapter 17: Let Me Keep It
1281 Words
When Olivia's call came through, Willow was already numb.
It was the same fake apology, dripping with false sincerity, like she was laughing at her.
She had heard this tone countless times over the years.
After hanging up on Olivia, Willow felt nothing but pity for herself.
Last night they had still been sharing tender moments. Everything had seemed to be getting better.
And today, he had abandoned her once again.
She had clung to a glimmer of hope, even wanting to tell Adrian about her pregnancy.
Fortunately, fortunately she hadn't said it out loud.
She looked up to see Sophie and Zane watching her with worried eyes.
"It's fine. I'm used to it." Willow wiped her tears and tried to stand.
A sudden bout of numbness in her legs made her stumble.
Sophie rushed to catch her.
"Sister-in-law, don't be like this. Take care of yourself, you still have the baby in your belly," Sophie said anxiously.
"Xiaoxiao, just call me Little Willow. I probably won't be your sister-in-law anymore," Willow shook her head.
"This..." Sophie shot Zane a desperate look for help.
This... how could anyone save this?
Zane sighed. Not even the gods could fix this one.
Head bowed, all Willow could see was the red of rose petals. The color was unbearable, dazzling her eyes.
She didn't want to stay here anymore.
She took a few steps, but a sudden pain in her stomach made her double over.
"What's wrong? Is it your stomach?" Zane rushed over in one stride.
Willow nodded.
How could her stomach hurt? Willow panicked. Her baby couldn't be in trouble.
Willow looked at Zane with pleading eyes.
"Oh my god! Little Willow, you're bleeding!" Sophie cried out.
Willow looked down.
The glaring red staining her white dress, blooming like flowers.
Willow's eyes went wide.
No... don't take her child away.
God, she wasn't greedy anymore. She just wanted to keep the baby.
That was her last thought before she fainted.
"Don't tell Adrian," Willow gritted out before losing consciousness.
Zane scooped her up and ran toward the room.
"Hurry back to the room!" Zane shouted at Sophie, who had gone completely blank.
Sophie didn't even have time to cry, trembling as she followed Zane, her mind empty.
Laying Willow on the bed, Zane called a specialist from his family's hospital and carefully examined her following the doctor's guidance over the phone.
Fortunately, the bleeding wasn't heavy. And Willow had probably fainted from the combination of last night's intimacy and the emotional shock.
But regardless, bleeding during pregnancy was never a good sign.
Thinking of Adrian's satisfied look that morning, Zane still mentioned it to the doctor. After getting confirmation, he hung up and looked at Willow on the bed with a complicated expression.
Willow slept exceptionally long this time.
When she woke up, she had already been changed into dry clothes.
Willow frantically checked her bedsheets.
Thank goodness...
"You're awake, Little Willow. You slept for so long." Sophie, woken by Willow's movements, carefully checked if she was feeling unwell.
"I'm fine, much better. Did you stay with me all night?" Willow looked at Sophie gratefully.
"Don't talk about that. Now that you're awake, let's hurry back. Zane already has the hospital staff ready to give you a thorough examination," Sophie said, her eyes red.
"But don't worry. Zane did a preliminary check yesterday. You should be fine," Sophie comforted her.
Willow nodded.
Thank heavens.
---
The entire ride back was silent. Willow was like a doll, a doll that had lost its soul, watching the scenery flash by outside. It was like her relationship with Adrian - gone forever.
Perhaps it was heaven's will.
Willow had completely given up hope. Let it end like this. It was better for everyone. She was tired.
Zane drove fast. They reached the hospital before noon.
The doctor had been waiting. He ran a series of tests.
The final result: mild threatened miscarriage.
Fortunately it wasn't serious. She just needed bed rest for a while and to take good care of the pregnancy.
Willow let out a deep sigh of relief, and regretted the foolish things she had done.
"Don't overthink. Relax. It'll be fine," Zane comforted Willow.
"Thank you, Zane," Willow said gratefully.
"Don't mention it. Adrian called me and asked me to take good care of you," Zane couldn't resist putting in a good word for his friend.
But Willow just lowered her gaze and didn't respond.
Sophie hid in a corner the whole time, not daring to say much.
That damn brother of hers! She wanted to kill him! She didn't even dare face Willow.
"Xiaoxiao, why are you hiding so far away?" Willow looked at Sophie with a faint smile.
"Little Willow, I'm apologizing on behalf of my brother," Sophie said, head lowered.
Willow shook her head.
"It's fine. I've made my peace. You can't force matters of the heart," Willow sighed.
Sophie wanted to say more.
"Xiaoxiao, I'll let him go, and let myself go too." Willow patted Sophie's hand comfortingly.
Seeing the light fade from Willow's eyes, she was a completely different person from yesterday.
Sophie had a belly full of apologies for her brother, but she couldn't say them.
---
Returning home, seeing Willow back alone ahead of schedule, Mrs. Wright noticed something was off.
"Madam, back so early? Didn't Mr. Adrian come with you?"
Mrs. Wright looked behind Willow.
Willow shook her head.
"Mr. Adrian isn't coming back," Willow said softly.
Mr. Adrian isn't coming back... Willow had said this countless times over the years.
"Madam, why do you look so pale? Have you eaten?" Mrs. Wright asked.
Come to think of it, she hadn't eaten, and had no appetite.
But thinking of the baby in her belly...
"Mrs. Wright, I want the red bean soup you made last time," Willow said.
"Of course, I'll make it right now, very quickly. You rest first," Mrs. Wright hurried to the kitchen.
Willow looked around this home, the home she had lived in for three years.
It was time to say goodbye.
Willow calmly went upstairs to pack her luggage.
Her luggage was simple - just some clothes, important documents, and Grandpa's photo.
Carrying her luggage downstairs, Willow saw Mrs. Wright still busy in the kitchen, her eyes slightly red.
Ah... if only she could take Mrs. Wright with her too.
"Madam, it's ready. Eat while it's hot," Mrs. Wright said cheerfully, handing it to her.
Willow took the red bean soup, sipping it slowly.
Until the bowl was empty, Willow wiped her mouth.
"Mrs. Wright, I'm leaving," Willow said, looking up at Mrs. Wright calmly.
"Leaving? Where are you going?" Mrs. Wright was stunned.
"Mrs. Wright, when Mr. Adrian returns, please give this to him. If he doesn't return, don't call him either." Willow handed the divorce papers to Mrs. Wright.
Holding the divorce papers, Mrs. Wright felt like they were burning her hands.
"You? You're serious?" Mrs. Wright's eyes went wide.
"Mrs. Wright, thank you for everything." Willow didn't answer, just squeezed Mrs. Wright's hand.
Without waiting for Mrs. Wright's response, Willow dragged her suitcase and left.
She left very calmly. Turns out she only needed one suitcase.
Willow dragged her luggage back to Grandpa's old house.
Although the marital home Adrian bought was much bigger than the old house, only the old house gave Willow a sense of belonging. This was her true home...
Actually, the house didn't need cleaning. Grandpa Arthur had hired cleaners to come regularly over the years.
Willow simply organized the luggage she brought, lay on the bed, and sighed.
She had forgotten to bring bedding back...
Tonight would be a sleepless night.
- Writer
