When I woke up again, my nose was filled with the scent of disinfectant.
My whole body felt like it had been pulled apart and put back together; every part was so heavy it did not seem like mine.
Later, I found out that when I was rushed into the emergency room, the baby’s condition was already very unstable. To keep the child safe, the doctor used the strongest method to protect the baby, and I lay passed out on the hospital bed for three whole days.
On the night of the third day, while I was half asleep and half awake, I suddenly felt someone tightly gripping my hand.
The hold was very tight, as if scared that once it let go, I would vanish.
I forced myself to open my eyes. My sight stayed unclear for a long time before slowly becoming clear.
It was Clayton.
He sat beside the bed, his hair in a mess, light beard growing on his chin, eyes red, lips moving again and again as he softly said, “Wife, you have to wake up… please open your eyes…”
If I had gone through nothing, maybe I truly would have been fooled by the way he looked.
The doctor quickly walked in to examine my state and informed him that both the parent and the baby were safe, and I was out of danger.
It was like someone suddenly let go of the tight string inside him. His entire body clearly loosened, his eyes at once turning red for no clear reason, almost speaking unclearly as he held the physician to show thanks.
“Thank you, truly thank you…”
“As long as she is alright, any sum of money is acceptable…”
I rested on the clinic bed, hearing all this, feeling nothing but something ridiculous.
If someone did not know the facts, they might truly believe he had risked himself in the fire to shield the baby and me.
But in my thoughts, without control, the scene played over and over, him carrying Verity in the shopping center, not even giving me one look back.
I suddenly pulled my hand away.
Clayton clearly froze for a second, then at once bent closer, his voice turning careful.
“Celestine, you are awake? Do you feel any discomfort? The doctor said you must not become too emotional now. Do not move.”
While speaking, his eyes became red again.
“You have no idea how afraid I have been these few days. If anything had happened to you and the baby, I truly would not know how to continue living by myself.”
Seeing his pretended concern, I felt nothing but disgust.
The nurse came to take out my needle. While doing it, she smiled and said, “Your husband hasn’t properly rested these days. He’s been watching over you the whole time. You’re really blessed.”
I turned my head aside without answering.
After everything was over, what meaning was there in playing the loving husband?
When life and death were truly on the line, he had already shown his real decision.
Clayton seemed about to speak again, but the ward door was suddenly pushed open.
Verity rushed inside.
Her face was pale, her eyes red. As soon as she entered, she cried so hard she could barely stand. Breaking away from Clayton’s attempt to stop her, she dropped to her knees beside my hospital bed.
“Sister-in-law, I’m sorry. This is all because of me…”
“If my heart hadn’t suddenly felt unwell, Clayton wouldn’t have focused only on me at the fire scene and nearly caused you and the baby to be in danger…”
She cried until she was out of breath, her voice broken and barely complete.
“I truly didn’t expect things to become like this… I really blame myself…”
Clayton looked extremely worried and quickly moved to help her up, his voice anxious. “Don’t do this, stand up quickly. The doctor said you can’t be emotionally upset.”
He turned toward me, his tone clearly urging. “Celestine, say something now. Don’t let Verity kneel. She didn’t mean it. Her heart condition isn’t good; it wasn’t intentional.”
I looked at them, feeling only a sharp throbbing at my temples.
“If you want to perform, go outside and do it.”
I said coldly, “I don’t have time to watch.”
Verity’s face froze immediately.
Clayton’s expression darkened. “Celestine, why do you talk like that? She came sincerely to apologize. She just hopes to have a good relationship with you. Why are you always so harsh and sarcastic?”
I shut my eyes and took a deep breath, my hand unconsciously covering my lower belly.
It still hurts faintly.
“Clayton, if that day the baby and I had truly died in the fire, would you have regretted for even a second not saving me?”
The ward became silent.
He parted his lips but did not answer right away.
That single moment of hesitation had answered everything.
Verity sobbed softly at the side. “Sister-in-law, don’t put brother in that position. He feels awful too…”
I had already heard enough.
I leaned on the bed to sit up, pressed the nurse’s call button, and said calmly, “Please help me apply for a transfer to a VIP room.”
If Clayton genuinely cared about me, he would not have neglected to arrange a VIP ward from the start.
In the past, whenever Verity was admitted for heart discomfort, he would immediately secure the finest ward and the best doctor for her.
I had just risen from the bed and reached the doorway when I was halted.
Verity moved to block me, her eyes reddened, and her voice lowered greatly.
“Sister-in-law, what must I do for you to stop being angry?”
I felt uneasy at once. Just as I was about to step around her, she leaned toward me and whispered into my ear, “I really can’t stand your arrogant expression.”
My heart jolted, and I instinctively stepped back.
But it was too late.
She grabbed my wrist abruptly, then suddenly let go, her body leaning backward as she crashed heavily to the floor.
“Ah!”
Before I could even react, I saw a bright red stain quickly spreading beneath her.
