Chapter 6

Giana's POV

Curled up, I hazily remembered the day last month when I lost my child.

That day was Peyton's birthday. I'd reserved his favorite restaurant.

It was supposed to be just a dinner for two, but Summer showed up uninvited, saying Peyton had taken such good care of her these past years. For his birthday, she wanted to come and offer congratulations to show her gratitude.

So Peyton had the server add a chair and let her dine with us.

During the meal, I got up to use the restroom.

When I came back, I took a sip of the juice on the table. The taste was a bit unusual, but I didn't think much of it.

Unexpectedly, not long after, terrifying suffocation and burning skin itchiness began to spread.

Realizing I was having an allergic reaction, I frantically grabbed Peyton's hand, telling him to take me to the hospital immediately.

But just then, a server carrying hot soup somehow slipped, and the entire pot of hot soup splashed toward Summer.

"Watch out!"

Peyton almost instinctively lunged over, shielding Summer in his arms.

The hot soup splashed onto his arm and Summer's calf.

"It hurts so much..."

Summer cried with tears streaming down her face, clutching Peyton's shirt tightly. "Mr. Lancaster, my leg hurts so much..."

"Giana, hang in there. I'll call an ambulance! Summer got scalded. I need to take her to the hospital first. Her injury can't wait."

Peyton picked up Summer and rushed out of the restaurant without looking back.

Leaving me alone, curled up in my seat, breathing becoming more and more difficult.

With trembling hands, I dialed 911. Every second waiting for the ambulance felt like torture.

In the ambulance, I'd already fallen into semi-consciousness.

When I woke again, I was in a hospital operating room.

The doctor told me gravely, "Due to your severe allergic reaction triggering violent contractions and oxygen deprivation, the fetus in your belly... has no vital signs. You must immediately undergo induced labor and dilation and curettage surgery, or you'll be in danger too."

Lying on the operating table, I felt my body and soul being hollowed out together.

Later, Peyton angrily investigated the restaurant, looking into my allergic reaction.

The truth quickly surfaced.

Summer had taken advantage of when no one was paying attention to switch my orange juice with mango juice.

Faced with questioning, Summer's face turned deathly pale, tears streaming down.

"I'm sorry, I really didn't mean to... She was pregnant, I just wanted to be nice to her, so I switched her juice to fresh-squeezed mango juice, saying it was good for pregnant women. But I forgot she was allergic to mangoes..."

Seeing Summer crying with red, swollen eyes, looking full of remorse, Peyton softened.

He turned to me helplessly and said,

"Summer meant well. She didn't intentionally switch your drink. No one expected it would turn out like this. Giana, what's happened has happened. Blaming her won't help. Can you please stop holding it against her?"

Grief and fury surged through me, my heart bleeding. "Do you really believe she didn't do it on purpose?"

He frowned and sighed.

"Summer is still just a student. She's just a bit forgetful. Her mind isn't as complicated as you think. Giana, can you stop always looking at her with such prejudice?"

I never imagined that this child we'd long anticipated, his life in Peyton's heart couldn't compare to Summer's few light tears.

That was the last time I told Summer to get lost, the last time I had a huge fight with Peyton.

Memories tore at my heart. In reality, sticks rained down on me. I couldn't tell which hurt more. My heart or my body.

"Stop, everyone stop!"

Suddenly, Peyton rushed over and shielded me. "Who gave you the nerve to lay hands on her?"

"Peyton! Get out of the way!"

Peyton's mother was trembling with rage.

"This vicious woman killed the child, I..."

"Giana was the one carrying the child. If she wanted to abort it, she could abort it. If she wanted to keep it, she could keep it. No one has the right to tell her what to do."

His threatening gaze swept over the servants. "This ends here today. If I see anyone disrespecting Giana again, I won't let it slide."

His gaze was like a knife. Wherever it fell, servants lowered their heads and retreated, not daring to act out anymore.

Peyton didn't spare another glance at anyone else. He scooped me up horizontally and strode quickly out the Lancaster family gate, driving me to the hospital.

In the ward, the doctor disinfected and dressed my wounds.

After treating my injuries, the doctor left. Peyton sat down beside me.

"Does it hurt?"

He asked in a low voice, wanting to reach out and touch my face with heartache.

I turned my head away to avoid him.

His movement froze.

"Giana, I..."

He opened his mouth, about to say something.

"Mr. Lancaster!"

The ward door was hastily pushed open. The assistant stood in the doorway, anxiety on his face.

"Miss Summer finished getting her stomach pumped. She's in her room sobbing, saying she needs to see you."

The assistant interrupted, stopping Peyton from saying what he was about to say.

Peyton felt annoyed.

"Got it. Go out first."

Then he turned his head, gazing at Giana's thin back, his voice soft and gentle.

"Next weekend is Mom's birthday. Giana, let's go back together to celebrate, okay?"

"Peyton," I said, my voice hoarse.

"Why did your mother say I lost our five-month-old baby out of spite just because we were fighting?"