Chapter 212: Expecting Twins
I met Mom’s determined gaze and patted her back. “Mom, don’t worry; I’ll contact them for you.” Although I wasn’t sure why she was so insistent on terminating the pregnancy immediately, she couldn’t wait another day. Her emotions were so high that I didn’t dare provoke her. Instead, I contacted Carter privately.
After hearing my explanation, his voice was calm and reassuring. “Okay, I’ll make the arrangements. Philippa is considered an older mother, and a miscarriage can take a toll on her health. The maid will need to stay home and cook; you’ll probably have your hands full. I’ll send Damian to help you.”
“It might be hard for you to manage without Damian around,” I replied.
“Don’t worry; there are other bodyguards available. Just take good care of Philippa and make sure she rests after the procedure.”
“Okay.”
Even though Carter only said a few words, I felt a warmth in my chest. For a long time, I had been used to solving problems on my own, handling things with stubbornness. But being with Carter, I found myself relying on him without thinking.
I delivered the message to my mom. “Damian will pick us up soon. In principle, you can leave the hospital the same day after the procedure, but it’s better to stay for a few more hours of observation. I’ll go prepare some things.”
She grabbed my hand and looked at me with a scrutinizing gaze. “Zoey.”
“What is it, Mom?”
“You’ve changed so much. If it weren’t for your face still being the same, I might not recognize you.”
Her words made my heart tighten, and I instinctively explained, “I died once, and that’s why I want to live a new way.”
“If that’s the case, I can rest easy,” she said, her tone softening.
Her words were a reminder to me. I needed to be more careful from now on.
Half an hour later, Damian’s car pulled up outside. He was tall, quiet, and had a scar on his face that made him look intimidating, but he was very efficient at his job. I had initially felt uneasy around him, but over time, I had come to accept him. His loyalty to Carter made me feel a sense of friendliness.
Not wanting to be too informal, I addressed him more respectfully, “Mr. Damian, thank you for this.”
He looked at me in surprise before waving it off. “No need to thank me. It’s part of my job.”
We got into the car, and I noticed he had brought some personal items for Philippa—likely at Carter’s request. That man really was thoughtful.
This time, Damian didn’t take us to Lakeland Hospital as I expected. I was a little confused. “Aren’t we going to Lakeland Hospital?”
“Mr. Carter said it’s not safe there.”
After a moment’s thought, I understood. Anna had been at the Boltons for so long, and her influence had spread there. Since she had her pregnancy checkups at Lakeland, Carter was worried about alerting her, so he had avoided involving anyone from there. If I brought Mom to Lakeland for an abortion, word might get back to her. Right now, I was in the shadows, and she was in the light. The more I revealed, the more dangerous it became. Carter had clearly thought this through.
“Don’t worry, Mrs. Zoey. The place we’re going is very safe.”
“Okay.”
We arrived at a private hospital under the Ward Group, a company known for its high-end medical equipment, ranking among the top three globally. Carter had arranged everything in advance, and we were greeted by the attending physician.
“Ms. Gardner, there are a few things you need to know. We’ll do a pre-op check, and you shouldn’t eat or drink anything for six hours.”
“Thank you, Dr. Wheatly.”
“You’re welcome. Let’s start with some routine checks.”
I helped Mom onto the examination table as a series of tests were performed. She handed over the samples for analysis and then began the ultrasound. I stood by, watching the black-and-white images on the screen.
“Dr. Wheatly, everything looks good, right?”
The doctor moved the probe over Mom’s abdomen and said, “Yes, everything looks fine. In fact, it’s twins. Are you sure you don’t want to keep them?”
“Twins? Are you sure, Doctor? Why didn’t we discover this on the last ultrasound?”
“The embryos are still small; sometimes they overlap. But now you can see two sacs and two heartbeats.”
I glanced at Mom, who looked just as shocked as I felt. My gaze full of sympathy as I helped her to sit up. “Mom, it’s twins.”
Her face became dazed, torn between conflicting emotions.
“You have a few hours to think it over. After all, you’re not young anymore, and if you terminate this pregnancy, you may not be able to conceive again in the future.”
“Thank you, Dr. Wheatly.”
“No problem. Come back in 15 minutes for the test results, and we’ll see if everything meets the criteria for the procedure.”
She seemed lost in thought. I wasn’t sure what was running through her mind. I wasn’t sure whether people could be reborn after death, but if Zoey could come back, I would be thrilled. What I regretted most was not being able to save my child, so I didn’t want to see this one disappear either. But Mom had her own concerns, and I couldn’t let my feelings influence her decision. So I stayed silent, simply staying by her side as we looked at the snow falling outside.
Soon, the nurse returned with the report, confirming she could proceed with the surgery. We’d just had breakfast, and the doctor suggested waiting a few more hours before starting. Those few hours must have been excruciating for her.
Damian arrived through the snow, and as he got closer, I noticed he was holding some snacks and milk tea. “Mr. Carter asked me to bring these.”
I froze for a moment. These were from the cafes near my university, the ones I used to visit with friends. How did he know?
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll be right outside if you need anything.”
“Okay.”
I took a sip of the drink and tried the snacks and other treats. The hospital was just a few miles from my university. Philippa glanced at me and said, “He’s really good to you.”
Carter was the first to recognize that I had been reborn. If it weren’t for love, he wouldn’t have noticed so quickly.
“Seeing you happy, Mommy can rest easy,” Philippa said, though her eyes still held a lingering sorrow. She had been sitting for so long that she went outside alone to watch the snow. I knew she wanted some peace, so I didn’t follow her.
My phone rang, showing an unfamiliar number. I hung up, but the call came in again. Frowning, I answered.
“Hello?”
“Is this Zoey?” the voice sounded urgent. “Sorry to bother you, but I’ve been trying to reach Philippa, and I’m worried about her. I wanted to ask how she’s doing.”
It was Nicholas. I liked him, so I reassured him a bit.
“Can I ask where you are right now? Philippa’s been a bit emotional since she got pregnant, and I’m really concerned.”
I wasn’t sure how to respond to Nicholas, especially since Mom had asked me to keep things from Bill. But this man was close to her, and I wasn’t sure whether I should tell him. Secretly, I hoped she would be with Nicholas after her divorce. Was that why she was choosing to end the pregnancy? Would the child create problems if they had a chance together in the future? But I couldn’t risk triggering Mom’s anger by saying too much.
“We’re outside, Nicholas. Don’t worry. I’m with her.”
“Zoey, this might sound forward, but could you convince Philippa to keep the child?”
“Nicholas, I…”
“Please, Zoey, she won’t answer my calls…”
Just then, a nurse’s voice came over the intercom, “Philippa has started her pre-op preparations, and the anesthesiologist is ready.”
Nicholas grew more frantic. “Zoey, where are you? Don’t let her terminate the pregnancy. Please, don’t!”
Philippa walked back into the room, glancing at me. “Who was that?”
“No one. Go ahead and change.”
“Okay.”
Mom, like a puppet, followed the nurse for her preparations. As the door to the operating room closed behind her, I looked out at the snow. Nicholas, I hope I haven’t made the wrong choice. Time flew by. Would he make it in time?
Nicholas arrived faster than I expected, bursting through the door of the operating room with a flurry of snow, kicking it open with force.
Chapter 213: Would You Give Me a Kiss?