Chapter 5

Early the next morning, I went to the hospital alone.

Registration, waiting in line, waiting to be called.

The pregnancy symptoms were severe. My face went pale during the blood draw.

After the ultrasound, the doctor said I was slightly anemic and prescribed iron supplements.

Coming out of the examination room with my report envelope, I felt extremely dizzy.

Looking for somewhere to sit, I glanced up and saw a crowd gathered near the emergency room.

In the crowd, I saw Leonardo.

He sat in a chair in the emergency room, his left hand wrapped in bandages.

Prescott stood beside him, bending down to say something to him.

She held a cotton swab, trying to treat the scrape on his face. Leonardo turned his head away.

Prescott persisted, reaching out to support his shoulder in an intimate gesture that drew attention.

I stood there, watching.

Comments scrolled frantically:

[Holy crap! Drama incoming!]

[Leonardo got injured at the construction site saving a coworker!]

[Prescott's information network is really something, already here]

[Wait! I know! I know why Leonardo gets rich later!]

I was about to see what the comment revealed when Leonardo's voice came from behind me.

"Lawrence!"

I turned my head and saw him break free from Prescott, walking toward me. Prescott tried to hold him back, but he shook her off.

He walked quickly, reaching me in a few strides. He looked down and saw the report envelope in my hand.

It clearly read "Obstetrics Department."

Then he saw my pale face, my weakened state.

Leonardo froze completely. He stared at the report envelope, then looked up at my face.

His eyes gradually reddened, bloodshot veins filling the whites. His Adam's apple bobbed violently.

His voice was so hoarse he could barely speak:

"You're... pregnant?"

I blinked, trying to recall if I'd forgotten to tell him about this.

I clearly wanted him to come with me to the checkup today, but he had to haul bricks.

Seeing my silence, his lips began to tremble.

His left hand lifted, fingers shaking badly, but he didn't dare touch me.

His voice shattered, carrying desperate tremors:

"...Did you terminate our baby?"