Chapter 1983

Sheena decided not to say more as she was, after all, an outsider. Besides, Nathaniel had already admitted his fault, and she had slapped him. Hence, there was no need to dwell further on it. Sheena sat down in a waiting chair across from the operating room. Elliot followed her, naturally settling next to Sheena. He took her hand, which had struck Nathaniel, and examined it with concern. "Your hand is red, Nana. You were too impulsive." He thought Sheena should have let him slap Nathaniel, agreeing that Nathaniel deserved the slap. Even though Elliot was annoyed that Sheena hurt her hand, he did not say more. Instead, he gently rubbed her palm, took a wet wipe, and cleaned her hand. Finally, he leaned down and kissed her palm several times. Sheena felt a warm, sweet sensation inside and, as a reward, pinched Elliot's cheek with a smile. However, as much as she appreciated Elliot's care, she could not help but feel sorry for Mavis. Loving someone as obsessive and stubborn as Nathaniel was a sad situation in itself. Unfortunately, as an outsider, she had no better solution. Although Asher and Adora were almost six years old, Sheena and Elliot were still as affectionate as ever. Like love-struck teenagers, they showed their affection without a care in the world. Nathaniel felt a pang of discomfort watching them and averted his gaze, trying not to think about Sheena and Elliot's relationship. Outside the operating room, the atmosphere grew quiet again, with no one speaking. Twenty minutes later, the red light outside the operating room finally turned off, and a nurse emerged first. Sheena, Elliot, and Nathaniel all stood up and approached the door. "Who is the family member?" Nathaniel stepped forward and replied, "I'm her husband." The nurse glanced at Nathaniel and wrote something in the medical record. "The patient experienced severe stimulation, which triggered uterine contractions and caused small blood vessels between the uterus and amniotic sac to rupture, leading to the bleeding…" The news sounded serious, and Sheena clutched Elliot's hand, her heart tightening with anxiety. Nathaniel listened in silence, equally worried. "Fortunately, she got here in time, and the bleeding isn't severe. There's no major issue, and she'll need to stay in the hospital for a few days for observation and rest. Everything should be fine," the nurse reassured them. Those final words were like a balm for the three waiting by the operating room door. Nathaniel's expression remained unreadable as he murmured, "I'm glad she's alright." The nurse continued to eye him critically, her expression disapproving behind her mask. She could not understand how such a handsome man turned out to be a jerk, pushing his wife into the hospital and nearly causing a miscarriage. "Listen, the patient is already sensitive due to her condition, and she's at risk for prenatal depression. As her husband, you should be there for her, manage her emotions, and avoid causing any more stress or harm," she advised. Nathaniel nodded earnestly, looking like he was being lectured, "Yes, I understand. I haven't been good enough." Seeing that he was not shirking responsibility, the nurse's demeanor softened slightly. At least he recognized his mistakes. She continued, "Please do not provoke her again. She's already malnourished and underweight from the pregnancy. If this happens again, it could jeopardize the baby and cause significant harm to her. Make sure to prepare nourishing, comforting meals, and ensure she gets plenty of rest." Nathaniel nodded once more. "Got it." Mavis was soon moved from the emergency room to a regular ward, and Sheena stayed by her side, ready to help. She was preparing a warm washcloth to clean Mavis's face and hands when she turned around and saw Nathaniel standing nearby, looking like a statue.