Chapter 4
615 Words
When she regained consciousness, the smell of disinfectant filled the air.
A tearing pain spread through her lower abdomen, and her throat was so dry she could not make a sound.
A nurse pushed the door open, her tone carrying cautious sympathy. "Ma'am, I'm very sorry. You were nearly two months pregnant, but the baby could not be saved."
Vanessa's trembling hand rested on her now empty abdomen.
The physical pain was sharp, yet it was nothing compared to the desolation in her heart.
Tears slid down silently.
Outside the door, fragments of nurses' conversation drifted in.
"The couple next door is really enviable. The woman only inhaled some smoke, but the man ignored his own burns and insisted on staying by her bedside."
"And look at this room. She's so badly injured and even lost her baby, yet there's not a single person by her side."
"People really do have different fates."
Each word pierced her heart like a needle.
Vanessa struggled to sit up, pulled out the IV needle from the back of her hand, and, supporting herself against the wall, slowly made her way to the room next door.
When she pushed the door open unsteadily, she saw Adrian sitting by the bed, carefully feeding apple slices to Selena.
As she approached, Adrian lifted his head. His eyes were filled with unfamiliarity. He frowned slightly. "May I ask if you need something?"
Vanessa froze in place, staring at him in disbelief. "You still cannot recognize me, Adrian?"
His gaze shifted slightly.
Selena suddenly pressed a hand to her forehead and frowned. "Adrian, it's too noisy outside. My head hurts."
His expression turned cold at once. He raised his hand and pointed toward the door. "Please leave."
Vanessa felt as though the blood in her body had frozen. She stared at him desperately, trying to find even a trace of familiarity on his face.
But in those eyes there was only strangeness and impatience.
She staggered back a step and grabbed the doorframe to keep from falling.
A passing nurse hurried over to support her. " Mrs. Vanessa, are you all right?"
"Vanessa?" Adrian suddenly paused.
He stepped forward and gently traced her brows and eyes with his fingertips. His body stiffened.
"Vanessa. Why are you here?"
Vanessa stepped back sadly, her voice breaking. "I shouted your name in the fire with all my strength, but you did not even look back. Now you are here taking care of another woman. When you see me, you do not ask a single word of concern. Instead, you ask why I am here. Tell me, who exactly is your wife?"
Adrian looked impatient. "This is a hospital. Do not raise your voice. Besides, I told you to leave earlier. If you had not insisted on staying, if you had left sooner, you would not have been hurt."
Vanessa stared at him in disbelief. "Adrian, how could you say that?"
His face remained cold. "Did I ask you to come? Since you are injured, focus on recovering. You are fine now, aren't you? Do not come here making accusations."
"Please stop arguing," Selena said softly. "It is indeed my fault. If I had believed Vanessa earlier, none of this would have happened. If you are angry, direct it at me."
Looking at Selena's feigned innocence, Vanessa felt a surge of nausea.
She was clearly full of schemes, yet she pretended to be blameless, constantly worsening the relationship between her and Adrian. Even the child had been lost because of it.
In an instant, Vanessa raised her hand and delivered a hard slap across Selena's face. "This is between my husband and me. Stay out of it."
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