Chapter 1982

Nathaniel scoffed, releasing Mavis. "Stop crying. You're such a buzzkill. I wouldn't want someone as dirty as you even if you were given to me for free." Trying to hide his own brief moment of panic, Nathaniel turned his gaze away and avoided Mavis's pitiful state. Mavis took advantage of her newfound freedom, retreating to the far side of the bed and keeping a wary eye on him as if he were a dangerous beast. However, the sight of her distress only irritated Nathaniel further. He stood up and headed for the door. Just as he reached it, Mavis cried out in pain behind him. Nathaniel's fingers froze on the doorknob. Without turning around, he mocked, "Stop faking it. I didn't even touch you." "It hurts… It really hurts…" Mavis clutched her abdomen, curling up into a ball, her body drenched in cold sweat and shaking uncontrollably. It was not an act. "Nathaniel, I'm really in pain. My stomach..." Nathaniel sensed something was wrong and quickly turned back, checking on her. Lifting the covers, he noticed a hint of red beneath her nightgown. Mavis was bleeding! He had only intended to scare her. How did this happen? Panic-stricken, Nathaniel's hands trembled, and his usually calm blue eyes were filled with fear. He immediately called for an ambulance and bent down to carry Mavis. "Hang on, I'm taking you to the hospital." Troy was waiting downstairs when he heard Nathaniel's frantic footsteps. "Oh my God! What happened to Mrs. Nicholls?" Nathaniel barely had time to explain. "The ambulance can't get in here due to the narrow roads. Get the car now." "Got it!" The ambulance arrived swiftly, and Mavis was rushed to the nearest hospital within ten minutes. As they wheeled her into the operating room, she clutched Nathaniel's shirt with a furious, tear-streaked face. "If anything happens to my baby, I'll never forgive you. I'll haunt you forever, even in your dreams!" Nathaniel met her gaze with a reassuring look. "I'm not going anywhere. I'll be here waiting for your revenge." Mavis's pale hand eventually released its grip on Nathaniel's shirt, and the door to the operating room slowly closed, blocking off his view. He glanced at his hands, noting the small amount of blood from Mavis's nightgown on his fingertips. His heart pounded with a mix of dread and guilt. He only planned to scare her… Feeling overwhelmed and defeated, Nathaniel slumped in a chair outside the operating room, his hands trembling. Sheena and Elliot were just getting ready for bed when they heard the news, and they hurriedly rushed to the hospital, arriving half an hour later. "Has Mae come out yet? Is she okay?" Sheena asked anxiously. With his head lowered, Nathaniel answered, "Not yet. She just went in." His voice was hoarse, and he sounded defeated. However, his troubled state only angered Sheena further. She strode up to him, grabbed his collar, and slapped him hard across the face. The sharp sound of the slap echoed through the empty hospital corridor, piercing the silence of the night. A few nurses passing by glanced at the scene with indifference, having seen similar situations before. They just briefly advised Sheena to keep quiet before moving on. Nathaniel took Sheena's anger without protest, his handsome face marked with a noticeable red handprint. "Nathaniel, do you know how tough pregnancy is? You've not been there for her for months, failing in your duties as a husband. Mae has had to deal with all the pregnancy symptoms alone, and now she's in the hospital because of you. Are you even human? Has your heart turned to stone?" He remained silent, enduring Sheena's scolding. "If anything happens to Mae or the baby, I won't forgive you. I'll make sure you face the consequences. You better stay away from Mae and stop trying to hurt her." Nathaniel looked at Sheena with no trace of hostility in his eyes and shook his head slowly. "That won't happen. I'll be more careful and take better care of her emotions."