Chapter 12
In the evening, Grace sat on the sofa for a while, watching a variety show. Just as she was about to go back to her room to sleep, Louise suddenly stopped her.
“Grace, make a cup of coffee for Brian and bring it upstairs. Also, grab a cloth and tidy up the table.”
Putting down the remote control, Grace got up and went to the kitchen to brew a cup of black coffee, Brian’s usual favorite.
Both Brian and Louise were in the study. Brian was working, and Louise sat next to him, intimately leaning against him.
As Louise heard footsteps approaching outside the door, she spoke to Brian beside her, “Brian, I’m a bit scared.”
“Scared of what?” Brian stopped typing on the keyboard, looking at her.
Louise lowered her eyes and said, “These days, I’ve been having nightmares every night. My room is too big, and it’s far from your room. I don’t feel safe.” She looked pitiful as she spoke.
Grace hesitated for a moment outside the door as she heard the conversation inside. She knocked on the door, and Brian’s response came from inside. “Come in.”
Carrying the cup, Grace walked in, and then she heard Louise continue, “Can I sleep with you?”
Grace’s fingers trembled slightly, and the hot coffee in the cup touched her fingertips. The subtle movements in the empty study felt jarring. Louise bit her lip slightly while Brian subconsciously looked up at Grace, the words Louise had just said echoing in his mind.
Louise wrapped her arms around his neck, hanging onto him like a necklace. She suddenly regretted calling Grace up. Things seemed to unfold differently from what she expected, but the words
spoken and couldn’t be taken back.
With innocent doe eyes, she asked again, “Brian, what are you looking at?”
were already
Grace calmly put the cup down and, holding the tray, began tidying up the items on the table. Though the tasks could be done quickly, Grace somehow wanted to hear Brian’s response.
Brian’s gaze flickered momentarily, and he slightly straightened his posture. She had to create some distance from him. Brian reassured Louise, saying, “Listen, when you’re about to sleep, I’ll stay by your bed. Once you’re asleep, I’ll leave. Alright?”
“Okay, Brian, you’re so good.” Although Louise was not entirely satisfied with this answer, she forced a happy smile on her face.
Grace had already finished tidying up the cups and water stains on the table, carrying the tray, and leaving
the room.
Thinking that Grace must be very satisfied with Brian’s response, Louise felt extremely irritated, clenching her fists tightly. This incident was a great humiliation to her, something she would remember forever.
1/4
Not long after Grace left, Brian shut down his computer and looked at Louise, saying gently, “Let’s go. I’ll accompany you to bed.”
Louise, upon hearing this, smiled and hooked her arm through his.
Grace had been exhausted all day, her legs aching terribly. Although it was only nine o’clock, she lay on the bed and fell into a deep sleep. After an unknown amount of time, she was suddenly awakened by a sharp pain in her lower abdomen. She got up to use the bathroom, but the pain made it difficult for her to stand up straight.
Panicking at the thought of the child in her belly, she wasted no time. She put on a coat, grabbed her phone, and prepared to go out and hail a taxi. The phone showed that it was already 11 o’clock. Quietly, she walked to the courtyard, took out her phone, and prepared to book a ride on the taxi app.
In the master bedroom on the second floor, Brian had just finished taking a shower. Wearing a bathrobe, he stood by the window, smoking a cigarette. Watching Grace hunched at the doorway, he couldn’t help but narrow his eyes. Brian extinguished the cigarette and strode out of the room.
Grace crouched on the ground to alleviate the pain in her lower abdomen. Glancing at the ride–hailing app on her phone, three minutes had passed, but no driver had accepted the order.
She whispered, “Baby, don’t scare mommy. Mommy will take you to the hospital right away.”
“What are you muttering about sneakily?”
Suddenly, a cold voice echoed. Grace trembled in fear and turned to see Brian standing there. She was frightened and shivered as she asked, “Why haven’t you slept?”
“I should be asking you. What are you doing here in the middle of the night?”
Grace clenched her fists, hesitated for a moment, and then said, “It’s none of your business.”
Brian was fuming with her attitude, and in a swift move, he grabbed her arm, yelling angrily, “What do mean it’s
none of my business? Then whose business is it?”
His rough tug made her stomach ache, and she winced in discomfort.
Seeing her reaction, Brian’s expression turned tense. He hurriedly asked, “What’s wrong?” Brian’s voice deepened when he noticed her grimacing and holding her stomach. “Is it your stomach hurting?”
“Let go.” Grace struggled to break free, her voice strained.
But Brian bent slightly and scooped her up, heading toward the garage.
“Brian, what are you doing?”
“To the hospital!”
Her expression changed. “I don’t need you to take me!”
“If you don’t go, do you want to die?” Brian suddenly growled, his voice low.
you
Grace froze for a moment, starting to worry that not going to the hospital might indeed be a deadly choice.
She knew now that convincing Brian to ignore her wasn’t an option. Glancing at the ride–hailing app on her phone, she was still unable to get a cab. In that moment of hesitation, Brian had already settled her into the passenger seat.
He picked a sports car, the engine roaring as it zoomed out of the garage.
Anxiously fiddling with her fingers, Grace finally remembered something and dialed her specialist’s number. It was late, and Grace wasn’t sure if the doctor would answer. After ringing for a while, the call was finally picked up.
Grace silently breathed a sigh of relief and calmly said into the phone, “Dr. Ford, hello, it’s Grace.”
“Hmm? What’s wrong? Is something happening? Why are you calling me so late?”
“I’m really sorry to disturb you. I suddenly had some stomach pain tonight, and my husband brought me to the hospital for a check–up. I wonder if you’re still on duty at the hospital now?”
It was unclear which word Brian caught, but his hand gripping the steering wheel suddenly shook vigorously. Grace was startled by the tremor.
Dr. Ford paused for two seconds and immediately asked, “I’m off duty. Do you need me to help you find another doctor to assist?”
Even though the phone’s volume wasn’t loud, Grace was still afraid Brian might overhear. She turned her head to the side and spoke into the phone, “You’re off duty? Alright, could you please inform the doctor on duty about my situation? Thank you so much. I’ll be there in about 10 minutes.”
“Sure! Don’t worry!”
After hanging up, Grace slowly breathed a sigh of relief.
“Just go to the hospital I went to last time. Dr. Ford knows my condition best.”
Brian remained silent, pressing harder on the accelerator.
Grace received a text message from Dr. Ford instructing her to see Dr. Stewart upon arrival.
Back at the villa, Louise was roused from her sleep by the sound of an engine. She got up, intending to find Brian in the master bedroom, only to discover he wasn’t there.
Louise squinted, curious about where he might be going so late. Then it hit her that the engine noise just now must have been Brian driving away.
