Chapter 6

"The fetus is unstable at the moment. You should avoid any intense physical activity for the time being. Naturally, it's also best not to have sexual intercourse for the next two months." Pearl nearly broke down when she saw Jonah and Cecelia walking into the same consultation room she had just left moments ago. She was fighting back her tears as she tried to leave when she overheard the doctor's instructions as she passed by the doorway. "Alright. Thank you, doctor. I'll make sure she takes good care of herself," Jonah replied gently. His voice was so warm and caring that Pearl didn't even need to take a peek to imagine just how careful Jonah was with Cecelia right then. Pearl quickened her pace. Alas, she bumped into someone in her haste. As a result, Jonah, who had exited the consultation room, immediately caught sight of her. "Pearl?" Jonah called out to her with a frown before continuing, "Why are you at the hospital?" "I… I had a stomachache, so I came for a checkup," Pearl stammered as she fisted the pregnancy report in her hand. "Stomachache?" Cecelia stepped forward from behind Jonah and said in an ambiguously intimate tone, "I've heard Jonah say that you often skip meals. That's probably why you have this problem right now." Pearl only nodded and said nothing. When Jonah noticed that Pearl's eyes had fallen on the ultrasound report in Cecelia's hands, he immediately became flustered. He quickly tried to explain himself, "Pearl, it's not what you think. I'm not—" "Jonah!" Cecelia interjected abruptly as she tugged on his sleeve coquettishly. Jonah instantly fell silent, looking conflicted. Pearl didn't want to make things difficult between them, so she made up an excuse and left. Behind her, Jonah reached out as if to grab her hand. Unfortunately, Cecelia tugged him back and looked up at him with a pleading expression on her face. "Jonah, you promised me you'd help me keep this a secret!" Jonah immediately stopped in his tracks. Pearl walked out of the hospital alone. She had no family left in this world. After she walked aimlessly down the streets, she eventually found herself standing in front of the nursing home. Nathaniel was delighted to see her and kept trying to feed her snacks. His mind had become rather muddled with age, but he still remembered to ask about her graduation and her progress in job hunting. He even said he wanted to help her out. Pearl politely declined. Time passed as they chatted, and Pearl couldn't bring herself to mention her pregnancy in the end. Still, she had found a reason to keep the baby during that visit. She desperately wanted a family of her own. She wanted someone who shared her blood and would always be in her corner. There was just one problem. She wouldn't be able to join the Nyora aid project if she were going to keep the baby. Pearl stared at her team leader's number, debating whether or not she should just bite the bullet and make that call. Just as she was still in a furious debate with herself, she received a message from Jonah. "Pearl, are you available tomorrow night? I've made a reservation at Cloudvale. I have something to tell you." She blinked at the name of the restaurant. It was the same restaurant she had booked for their anniversary months ago. As she recalled how she'd been abandoned, she couldn't help but feel as though a lifetime had passed since then. She responded, "Alright. I'll be there." It was just as well, really. She was planning to tell Jonah about the divorce, too. She consulted the lawyer about her little problem. The lawyer made it clear that she couldn't divorce him without informing him about it if she wanted to hide her pregnancy and keep the baby. Otherwise, Jonah might use it as grounds to fight for custody of the child in the future. "You've been wanting to come to this restaurant, haven't you? I'm making it up to you today," Jonah said somewhat guiltily as he parked his car across from the restaurant. He even reached out and gently took her hand in his. Pearl stiffened. It was the first time in four years that Jonah had taken her hand of his own initiative. She wasn't used to such affection coming from him. So, she instinctively tried to pull away from him. Just then, Jonah's phone chimed with a notification, and he let go of her hand to check his phone. Whatever he saw immediately put a frown on his face. He even stopped walking in the middle of the road just to click on a livestream app. Pearl looked over curiously and saw that Cecelia was live-streaming her suicide attempt. She was attempting to slit her wrists. "Watch out!" A car came speeding around the corner. Unfortunately, Jonah was completely distracted by his phone and utterly frozen in place. Pearl yanked him back forcefully but was clipped by the speeding vehicle and thrown to the ground. "Pearl!" Jonah finally snapped out of it. He looked down at Pearl, who was lying on the pavement, then back at the live stream still playing on his phone. After a brief moment of hesitation, he shook his sleeves and said, "Pearl, Cecelia needs help urgently. I have to go to her!" Pearl remained sprawled on the roadside, watching Jonah rush off in a panic amid the bustling cars and passersby. She tried desperately to sit up, but a sharp pain tore through her lower body. She looked down mechanically and saw a gush of red soaking through her pants.