Chapter 6 Transformations and Discoveries
786 Words
30 days had slipped by.
Simon arrived at Moore's ancestral home.
He waited patiently at the grand entrance for Nina to make her appearance.
When she finally stepped out, he was shocked.
Nina seemed a shadow of her former self.
Her complexion was ghostly, and her once-bright eyes were now dim and weary. Lowering her gaze, she exuded a subdued aura that was unrecognizable from her usual lively self.
Simon's heart twisted with a pain he couldn't understand.
Standing next to him, Olivia commented, "She's learned all she needs. It's time for her to return home."
Simon moved forward, intending to hold her in a warm embrace.
But Nina skillfully sidestepped, remarking, "Mr. Moore, we must maintain propriety in public. We shouldn't engage in behavior that might sully the Moore family's reputation."
Caught off guard, Simon paused, feeling slightly ill at ease, but chose to remain silent as he turned to leave.
Nina trailed behind, pretending to comply.
Her mind was solely fixed on retrieving her phone and checking the status of the divorce papers.
At Moore's Villa, Vivian lounged on the couch, cuddling Nate as they watched animated shows.
Nate, with a look of pure innocence, asked, "Vivian, can I call you mom from now on?"
Vivian lifted her gaze, a provocative glint directed at Nina.
"Nate!" Simon's voice shattered the moment as he slapped him gently, "Nina is your mother. You mustn't forget that."
Tears welled in Nate's eyes as he rubbed his cheek, staring at Simon in shock.
Simon's hand lingered in midair, his expression a whirl of tangled emotions, "Go to your room and think about your words. Don't come out until you're called."
Nate bolted upstairs, tears streaming down his face as he tried to hide his sobs.
Vivian sprang off the couch, worry etched across her features, and quickly followed him. "Nate! Stop, I need to see..."
As she hurried past Nina, she nudged her shoulder intentionally.
This left Simon and Nina alone in the living room.
Simon turned to Nina. "We need to discuss something."
A desperate cry echoed from above, "Simon! Simon, come now! Nate's bleeding really badly!"
Simon's skin turned ghostly as he sprinted up the stairs.
Nina stood frozen for a moment, swaying on her feet, before deciding to follow them.
In Nate's room, he lay crumpled on the bed, his face ashen, lips tinged blue, curled in on himself.
Vivian stood paralyzed nearby, hands stained with blood.
"Call an ambulance!" Simon ordered, sweeping Nate into his arms and dashing towards the hospital.
Outside the ER, Simon leaned heavily against the wall, his voice a strained whisper, "Nate has leukemia."
Nina stood motionless, processing the words.
Simon continued, as if speaking to himself, "We learned about it a year ago. I didn't tell you. I didn't want you to worry. The medication in that soup, it was Nate adding it for you."
Nina shut her eyes briefly, a solitary tear slipping free.
"I feared you would fall pregnant," Simon's words fell.
His gaze fixed on the ER doors, eyes red, brimming with unshed tears. "When Nate was born, you faced an amniotic fluid embolism. The doctors gave three critical warnings.
"Four hours you were in surgery. Four hours I was on my knees outside.
"I pleaded with every deity, every celestial power, vowing anything for your survival."
His voice rasped, throat tight with emotion.
"You pulled through, but the doctors said another pregnancy could trigger another embolism, like gambling with your life."
Simon turned his gaze towards Nina, his voice heavy with emotion. "Nina, I'm scared. I'm terrified that once you learn about Nate's condition, you'll stop at nothing to get pregnant. And when the baby arrives, I'll be signing another critical care form."
The atmosphere was thick with tension.
Nina looked at him and saw a mix of fear and anguish written all over his face. It struck her as both absurd and heartbreaking.
"So, you went back to Vivian."
"Yes."
He offered no explanations, no justifications.
"Once the baby's here, I'll ensure Vivian gets enough to start over somewhere else. Nate can get the help he needs without you taking any risks."
His eyes met hers. "Nina, I know I'm a terrible person, but Nate needs saving. This baby has to be born."
Nina watched him in silence before turning away.
Initially, it was all about saving Nate. But why did he keep seeing Vivian even after she got pregnant?
Nina placed a hand over her empty stomach.
She walked to the end of the corridor, leaned against the wall, and slowly slid to the floor.
Quiet tears streamed down her face.
'Sorry, Nate.'
'Mom can't do this any longer. I can't save you.'
- Writer
