Chapter 648 Something’s Wrong With the Child

When Chandler wasn’t looking, Rachel’s lips curved into a smirk, her face full of arrogance. But the moment she lifted her head, she pleaded tearfully to Chandler. “I’m scared being here alone. Please, don’t leave me.”

Chandler’s brows furrowed deeply, but considering the medical team would arrive soon, he reluctantly sat down. He casually picked up his phone from the table.

Rachel’s heart jumped into her throat at his action. Had he noticed she’d answered his call earlier… Fortunately, from the corner of her eye, Rachel noticed Chandler wasn’t checking his call history.

Afraid he might get suspicious, Rachel put on an act and asked, “Chandler, why are you so quiet? What are you doing?”

“Working on something.”

These days, Chandler’s responses to Rachel were cold and curt, barely more than a word or two. Though disappointed, Rachel knew better than to push it. She could only sit on the hospital bed, playing the role of an obedient patient.

After being bedridden for three whole days, Rachel’s entire body felt stiff and sore. Even her backside felt like it was going flat. She had no idea when this charade would end. Playing blind was turning out to be more complex than she’d thought.

Meryl left the hospital in a daze, not noticing Lydia standing not far away. It was Lydia’s prenatal checkup day, and Charlotte had sent two maids to accompany her.

Seeing Meryl’s blank expression, Lydia started to walk over to check on her, but the maids quickly blocked her path.

“Madam instructed that the baby comes first. Please don’t get involved in any trouble.”

The two maids were Charlotte’s trusted confidantes. Lydia pursed her lips, knowing it was unwise to offend them, given their close relationship with their mistress. She wouldn’t gain anything by arguing. She headed to the obstetrics department for her examination, with the maids standing guard outside.

“The baby is still on the large side,” the doctor commented while doing the ultrasound. “You’re eating too well. You’ll need to watch your diet, or delivery could be difficult. There’s also a risk of premature birth.”

Lydia grimaced. On every hospital visit, the doctor told her to eat less. But she barely ate anything at all!

This was a primary prenatal screening for congenital disabilities, so the doctor took extra time and care with the examination. At first, Lydia didn’t think anything was wrong, but gradually, she began to sense something wasn’t right.

The ultrasound doctor wasn’t satisfied with just his examination. With a grave expression, he went to the next room to fetch an older, more experienced colleague.

The two doctors pointed at the monitor, discussing medical terms that were utterly foreign to Lydia. After a while, a third doctor joined them. This one was clearly more senior than the other two, with several interns trailing behind him.

A sense of foreboding crept over Lydia. She finally couldn’t help asking, “Is something wrong? Is there a problem with the baby?”

“Please wait a moment while we take another look,” the doctor said.

His response only increased Lydia’s anxiety. As the seconds ticked by, Lydia felt like there was a ceiling fan hanging over her head, ready to come crashing down at any moment. Her heart remained suspended in her throat.

Finally, as the examination concluded, the doctor wiped the ultrasound probe and signaled that she could adjust her clothes. Lydia immediately asked anxiously, “How is it? Is the baby healthy?”

“The baby’s heart isn’t developing properly. Our recommendation is termination. If carried to term, the impact on the child could be significant.”

“What do you mean?” Lydia pressed her lips together, asking fearfully, “Will the baby die right after birth?”

“We can’t say for certain. It would help if you were prepared. Even if the child survives, they will definitely have congenital heart disease. Surgery will be needed later. Money isn’t the main issue, but it will be challenging. The child may never be able to engage in strenuous activities like other people.”

Lydia’s heart raced as she stared at the doctor in disbelief. How could a child not be able to run and play? It seemed impossible! Congenital heart disease! There was no history of heart disease in their family. Why would this child have such a condition?

“I’ve had two abortions before and one miscarriage from a car accident. Are you sure I can get pregnant again if I terminate this one?” Lydia asked.

The doctor was visibly startled, not expecting Lydia to have such an extensive history of pregnancy loss. This pregnancy was already lucky, and given her history, another termination really wasn’t advisable.

Seeing the doctor’s silence, Lydia already had her answer. “Is this baby a boy or a girl?”

“It’s a boy.”

Lydia’s eyes lit up at hearing it was a boy. No matter what, she would carry this baby to term! She had to secure her position in the Aniston family. The doctors had said there was still hope for the baby. Money wasn’t an issue for a family like the Anistons. With Dalton’s coldness towards her, she needed this child to win back her husband’s heart. But if she lost this baby, her chances of getting pregnant again would be practically zero!

As darkness fell, Anne drove with Meryl to their class reunion.

Anne frowned. “You look awful. Did something happen?”

Meryl shook her head slightly. “The baby’s been active lately. Probably because I’m further along now.”

“Maybe you should skip the reunion?” Anne glanced at Meryl’s belly.

The cooler weather meant heavier clothes, which helped conceal her pregnancy. Ever since returning from the hospital that afternoon, Meryl had been in a daze. Being alone at home would only lead to overthinking—at least, the reunion might help take her mind off things.

She said softly, “I could use the distraction.”

Anne nodded. “Alright, don’t worry. I’ll keep an eye on you.”

During the drive, Anne tried making small talk, but she could tell Meryl wasn’t in the mood. Something was definitely bothering her.

“Did Chandler betray you?” Anne asked abruptly.

At those words, Meryl’s emotions finally spilled over. Covering her face, she broke down sobbing. “I saw him kissing Rachel, Anne. Today is our first wedding anniversary, and Chandler completely forgot! And there he was, getting cozy with another woman!”

Her voice cracked with emotion, the pain in it enough to break anyone’s heart. Anne felt her own heart clench in sympathy.

Having reached their destination, Anne parked the car and pulled Meryl into a tight hug.

“That jerk, Chandler! How could he be so awful? But this doesn’t seem like him at all. Are you sure about what you saw? Could it be a misunderstanding?”

“I saw it with my own eyes. What’s there to misunderstand?”

Anne pulled out some tissues and wiped Meryl’s nose. “Don’t worry. You know what they say? Class reunions are just fancy dating events! Go wild tonight! You’ve got the looks, the background, everything going for you. Maybe it’s time to find a new dad for your baby. If he can fool around, so can you. That’ll show him!”

Anne was truly being Anne. Since her heartbreak, she’d developed a much more carefree attitude toward life.