Chapter 11: The Prenatal Checkup
1522 Words
The next morning, Willow woke up early. Today was the prenatal checkup Zane had scheduled for her.
It was her first official ultrasound, and Willow was both nervous and excited.
On the other side of the table, Adrian was the complete opposite.
"Sir, you didn't sleep well?" Mrs. Wright poured Adrian a cup of coffee, noting the dark circles under his eyes.
"Madam seems well-rested." Mrs. Wright poured Willow a glass of milk.
Apparently, the new room wasn't so hard for Willow to get used to after all.
Someone else, however, was a different story.
Without Willow beside him, Adrian had tossed and turned, unable to sleep until dawn.
"You're in a good mood?" Adrian asked irritably, watching Willow drink her milk and swing her legs.
"Not bad." Willow nodded.
"What's your plan for today?" Adrian asked.
"I've got plans with Sophie," Willow said.
Well, that wasn't a lie. She had arranged to meet Sophie at the hospital.
Before Adrian could say another word*?
"I'm heading out. Bye!" Willow grabbed her bag and left, humming a little tune.
She drove to the hospital entrance, where Sophie was already waiting.
"Little Willow, I'm so excited!" Sophie clung to Willow's arm.
"Me too." Willow smiled and patted her hand.
Zane couldn't accompany them inside for propriety's sake, so he waited outside.
Inside the examination room*?
"Mommy, listen. That's your baby's heartbeat." The doctor patiently explained to Willow.
Hearing the strong, rhythmic thumping from the monitor, Willow felt her nose sting.
"This is the most beautiful sound in the world." Sophie watched the ultrasound screen curiously, where the little one looked like... well, a tiny blob.
Thank goodness I didn't give up, Willow thought, pulling out her phone to record the precious moment.
Meanwhile, Zane was waiting at the entrance when Adrian called.
"Where are you? I'm at your hospital entrance." Adrian's tone was impatient.
Zane was petrified for three full seconds.
He hadn't checked his horoscope today. What kind of day was it that these two would run into each other?
"I'm coming to get you. Stay right there, don't move!" Zane sprinted to the entrance, terrified that Adrian might wander in and bump into Willow.
If that happened, wouldn't he be guilty as hell? Dead meat from both sides? No, he was still young!
With that thought, Zane picked up the pace.
"What brings you here today?" Zane greeted him with an obsequious smile.
"Come on, let's go to my office first." He pulled Adrian in the opposite direction while sending Sophie a w******p message.
[RED ALERT. Your brother is here.]
[!!!]
"Why did you suddenly come looking for me today?" Zane sat Adrian down on the sofa and poured him a cup of tea.
"Check." Adrian rolled up his sleeve and held out his arm.
"Check what?" Zane was confused.
Adrian gave him a look that said, Are you stupid?
"What else do you check at a hospital? Blood pressure!" Adrian said darkly.
"Why are you checking your blood pressure out of nowhere?" Zane grumbled but complied.
"I feel like my blood pressure is high." Adrian looked at Zane seriously.
"Willow's driving me crazy." He added as an afterthought.
Great. The blood pressure was perfect. Even better than Zane's own.
"So, this is about Willow, isn't it?" Zane said leisurely, putting the cuff away.
Adrian rolled down his sleeve and frowned, saying nothing.
Zane wasn't in a rush. He sipped his tea and waited.
"She wants a divorce." After a long silence, Adrian finally spat out the words.
Zane rolled his eyes.
She doesn't just want a divorce, bro. She's having your baby and keeping it a secret from you!
"Oh." Zane nodded.
"'Oh'?" Adrian looked up at him, clearly dissatisfied.
That was his reaction? What kind of reaction was that? So calm?
"Dude, I saw this coming a mile away." Zane had an I-told-you-so expression.
Adrian stared at him with a deathly look.
"Come on, a topic like this calls for food and drinks." Zane pulled Adrian up.
Forget it. Get out of this danger zone first.
"You're sure? Now?" Adrian pointed at the bright daylight outside.
"Ah... well, we can eat while we talk. It's almost lunchtime anyway." Zane pushed Adrian out the door.
"It's rare for you to come to me on your own. Come on, you're treating." Zane looked around as they walked.
Just their luck.
On the other end, Willow and Sophie had finished their appointment. They'd learned that Adrian was at the hospital and were now sneaking around like thieves.
And of course, they ran right into Adrian.
Seeing the two of them hunched over, playing the fool, Adrian strode forward and grabbed them both**** in each hand, like a pair of chicks.
"You and Sophie arranged to meet at the hospital?" Adrian looked at Willow.
"Ah... hahaha, hi... fancy seeing you here." Willow turned and waved at Adrian.
"Hi, bro, fancy seeing you." Sophie turned and waved too.
"..." Adrian.
"..." Zane.
"So. Someone explain this to me?" Adrian looked back and forth between the two of them.
Willow desperately signaled Sophie with her eyes.
Please, Sophie has to take the fall for this. You raise a bestie for a thousand days to use her for one!
Sophie... say something! Quick!
"Me! It was me!" Sophie volunteered as a martyr, hand shooting up.
Adrian looked at Sophie.
"You?" He raised an eyebrow. Go on.
"Hemorrhoids!" Sophie screamed in desperation.
Silence. The world went silent.
Adrian instantly dropped Sophie with a look of disgust. Yes, dropped her.
A world where only Sophie got hurt was achieved.
Sister-in-law, you better remember this! Sophie's eyes were brimming with tears as she looked at Willow.
Willow nodded. She understood. True sisters, no words needed!
"That's right, bro. I still need to go apply ointment. Gotta run, bye!" Sophie seized the chance to drag Willow and escape.
"Ah, right, Sophie and I are leaving. Bye!" Willow didn't dare meet Adrian's probing gaze and ran off with Sophie.
"Let's go. Girls are shy about these things. Don't worry about it. Let's get food." Zane was sweating bullets and quickly pulled Adrian away.
Who could understand? This couple has issues, and he was getting dragged into their drama. Terrifying.
They finally made it to a restaurant booth. Zane ordered the most expensive items on the menu, milking Adrian for all he was worth.
Adrian folded his arms, waiting with limited patience for Zane to speak.
Feeling the burning gaze beside him, Zane cleared his throat theatrically.
"Based on my years of romantic experience, I knew there would be problems when you two got married," Zane said, a complete Monday-morning quarterback.
Adrian said nothing, raising an eyebrow at Zane to continue.
"Your biggest problem is that you never dated. You jumped straight into marriage." Zane talked as he ate.
Adrian was stunned.
Date...
Thinking about it, he and Willow... hadn't they?
But they'd spent every day together for so many years. He'd even seen Willow wet her pants as a kid. They knew everything about each other. Did they still need to date?
"Yes! You absolutely do!" Zane said.
"Have you ever sent her flowers? Taken her on a Ferris wheel? Gone to the beach with her? The holy trinity of romance****'ve missed all of it!" Zane said.
No. None of it. And besides, Adrian was allergic to pollen. Willow was afraid of heights. The beach? What was so great about the beach?
"The courting phase, the dating phase*** many beautiful experiences, and you skipped them all. You jumped straight into the grave of marriage. Honestly, with that deadpan face of yours, I'm amazed Willow put up with you for this long. And it's only because she's a truly exceptional woman." Zane loved twisting the knife in Adrian's back.
"Now she wants a divorce. What do I do?" Adrian loosened his tie, agitated.
Zane leaned in mysteriously.
"Two words."
Adrian waited seriously.
"Win her back." Zane said the words with deadly seriousness.
Go to hell.
Adrian grabbed his coat and left. He should have known his friend was useless.
"Hey? Leaving already? Don't forget to pay!" Zane shook his head at his friend's retreating back.
Meanwhile, Sophie finally made it home. After that heart-stopping afternoon, she was utterly drained.
Before she even reached her room, she noticed a pile of cushions on the sofa.
And that alarmingly green juice sitting there**** that for her?
Sophie sat down strangely, looking at her father pretending to read the newspaper while constantly sneaking glances at her.
"Slowly, slowly." Catherine helped steady Sophie.
"Xiaoxiao, Mom knows everything. Don't be embarrassed. I've already called Dr. Dunn. For the next month, you'll follow his diet strictly. You'll be fine." Catherine patted Sophie reassuringly.
Diet plan? What diet plan?
Seeing Catherine's evasiveness and her father's awkward cough*?
Oh. Hemorrhoids. Great. Her brother had told their mom.
Just kill her now.
Follow-up: Sophie, who ate vegetarian for an entire month...
Now she really wanted to die!!! She was practically turning green!!!
Sister-in-law... waaah...
- Writer
