Chapter 6

Joyce rushed forward, scooping the dying dog into her arms and sobbing so hard she could barely breathe. The golden retriever licked her tears, gave two soft whimpers, and slowly closed its eyes. She had lost the baby. Now, she had lost the dog, too. Joyce carried it to the most hidden spot she could find and buried it there. She stayed with it through the night in the rain. By morning, she was burning with a fever. When she opened her door, Bianca was waiting in the living room. "Joyce, we're going to the postpartum center today. You're coming with us." Joyce shook her head. "I can't go. I'm not feeling well." Bianca's expression soured. She glanced toward the stairs as Nathan came down. "Is that really because you're sick, or is that just an excuse? It's better to come along on your own than have me send someone to drag you there." The threat was clear. Joyce knew that if she refused, this would not end here. She frowned, then gritted out, "Fine! Let's go!" She followed behind the two of them throughout, listening to Nathan's meticulous questions. "Are the medical credentials legitimate? Are the doctors top specialists? What are the surgical risks?" When Bianca complained he was talking too much, he only smiled and kissed her forehead. Joyce was surprised—what once would have cut like glass now barely stirred a ripple in her chest. The cozy atmosphere between them broke when Nathan stepped out to take a video call. As soon as he was gone, Bianca turned, smiling at Joyce. "This place was personally chosen by him. Joyce, you almost became a mother yourself. Do you think this would be good for a baby?" Joyce thought that the smile on her face was just as fake as the woman herself. "Aren't you tired of acting?" Bianca blinked in confusion, and Joyce laid it out plainly. "You knew all along he was Nathan, didn't you?" She continued, "You used to defend me, but now, all you do is rub salt into my wounds. You used to call him by his name, but ever since the accident, you rarely did. You can't bring yourself to, can you?" Bianca froze, then curved her lips into a smile. "So, you found out. Nathan told me from the start. He wanted to be my husband and take care of me for life. Everyone in the Gray family knew, except for you." Joyce stood there, stunned. She trembled as Bianca's words echoed over and over in her ears. Her pale lips twitched, but she could not form a single word. So, even after she had given up on Nathan, her heart still ached. Bianca stepped closer, feigning concern. "Does it hurt? I know you're still waiting for him, but people are selfish. Tell me—between the two of us, who do you think matters more to him?" Bitterly, Joyce knew the answer to that was Bianca. But before she could voice it out, Bianca shoved her hard before tumbling down the stairs. Blood pooled on the floor. Joyce rushed forward, but stopped when Nathan came running. Clutching her stomach, Bianca gasped. "Joyce, if you think he's Nathan, I'll give him to you. But why would you hurt my child?" Nathan turned to Joyce, and disbelief and loathing filled his eyes. Joyce followed them to the operating room. As the doors closed shut, she met Nathan's cold, vicious gaze. "It wasn't me! She fell on her own!" she cried out. His hands, still covered in blood, shook as he stepped toward her. Then, his fingers clamped around her throat. "I told you I'd come back to you. Why would you do this? Do you know how much you've disappointed me? You'd better pray they're both safe. If not, I will never forgive you!" Joyce's feet left the floor, her breath growing tighter. She felt the man before her becoming a stranger. At that moment, the doors burst open, and a nurse rushed out in panic. "The patient is hemorrhaging! Is anyone's blood here RH negative?" Nathan glanced at Joyce, then tossed her aside like nothing. "Hers is. Draw hers!" Joyce hit the floor, coughing until her eyes burned. "This woman's too weak for—" the young nurse began. "It's life or death! What's there to hesitate about?" Without pause, Nathan dragged her in himself. Over the six hours Bianca was in labor, they took a total of 500 milliliters of Joyce's blood in fits and starts. Joyce lay slumped over the table, her breath shallow. She was truly on the edge this time. Finally, the surgical light went dark, and the doctor came out. "Congratulations! It was a close call, but both mother and child are safe."