Chapter 844

There was no certainty about the baby's condition yet, and it wasn't the right time to bring it up to Melina. Besides, there was no way Andrew would say anything, either. It was better to wait until the test results were confirmed. Melina held onto Andrew's arm as they walked out. She tilted her head up excitedly and said, "Andrew, I heard the baby's heartbeat today. It was so strong, like a steady drumbeat. This little one is definitely going to be healthy." Andrew nodded, playing along. "Yeah, the baby is definitely healthy." He was always reserved and had never been one for many words. Melina didn't mind. She had never considered the possibility of her baby being anything but healthy. Back in her hometown, pregnant women still had to work. They didn't have the best food or medical care, yet their babies turned out just fine. She snuggled closer to Andrew's arm, beaming. "I think we should start getting things ready—little clothes, tiny socks, blankets, pillows. Oh, and bottles! Formula, too, just in case. What if I don't have enough milk? We can't have the baby going hungry…" Melina's smile faded as she saw Celine. "Aunt Celine," she greeted. It had been a long time since she had seen anyone from the Wentworth family. Ever since that disastrous graduation party—when Andrew had dealt with Joseph and Linda with an iron hand—Melina hadn't crossed paths with them. After the divorce, Ashlyn had taken Ethan and moved back to her family's house. Celine, too, seemed to have seen the light after everything that happened. She had never gone back to the Wentworth residence. Now, she was here at the hospital, holding her son, looking exhausted. Her gaze landed on Melina's belly. Celine had been forced into premature labor. Her baby had been weak from birth and had spent weeks in an incubator. Even after being discharged, he was constantly sick, going in and out of the hospital. She had come today hoping to get help from Toby, but instead, she had run into Andrew and Melina—something she hadn't expected. What shocked her even more was seeing Melina pregnant. The sight stirred something bitter inside her. She had spent her pregnancy struggling, relying on her family to take her in. Meanwhile, Melina was glowing and well cared for—she was the picture of health. A flicker of jealousy surfaced before Celine caught herself. Snapping out of it, she quickly looked away, her voice uneasy. "I need to get my son checked. You two go on." Melina nodded. Andrew didn't say a word. He simply led Melina past Celine as if she didn't exist. Except for Wallace, the other Wentworths didn't matter to him. He had no reason to care if they didn't cause trouble. Celine pushed down her jealousy. Her son was coughing again; she had no time for resentment. She needed to find Toby quickly. Clutching her son, she hurried upstairs. Because of her last name, no one stopped her. She made it to Toby's office without a hitch. Just as she raised her hand to knock, she overheard voices inside. "Dr. Ludwig, the ultrasound results don't look good. The baby might have a congenital defect. Are we really not telling the mother?" "We're not 100% sure yet," Toby replied firmly. "This is my call. Your job is to run the tests—nothing more." The room fell silent. Celine barely paid attention. Someone else's bad luck wasn't her concern. Her own son had been born fragile and was always sick. She had her own worries. She lifted her hand again, ready to knock. But then, Toby's voice cut through the silence, sharp with warning. "Amelia, you've been with me for three years. You should know better than to speak carelessly. That's the Wentworths' baby. Whether there's a problem or not, you say nothing. Understand?" The nurse, Amelia Sutton, replied, "I understand, Dr. Ludwig." Celine froze.