Love, Lies, and a Death Certificate - Chapter 03

Chapter 3 

I wiped away my tears harshly and booked an appointment at another hospital. 

This was Fleming family’s private hospital, and if I had surgery here, Wendel would definitely find out. 

I called the driver and told him I wanted to shop myself, asking him to go back without me. 

I hid behind the hospital gate until the driver’s car disappeared from my view, then I walked out and hailed a cab to another hospital. 

Just before I entered the operating room, a video message arrived on my phone. 

The video was half an hour long, and in it, Wendel was completely out of control, a side of him I had never seen before, 

In the six years we’d been together, Wendel had always been gentle. Even in bed, he was always careful not to hurt me. 

It turned out he wasn’t naturally composed, but simply that the one who could ignite his passion was never me. 

I torturously watched the video, wanting to see this unfamiliar side of Wendel. 

I didn’t know how long I stared, but eventually, a nurse walked over to me. 

“Miss Aileen? Are you alright? It’s time for you to enter the operating room.” 

I hadn’t even realized it, but as the video played, I was crying harder and harder. 

When the nurse spoke to me, I realized I was shaking all over, my hand trembling uncontrollably as I held the phone. 

And what was even more shameful, I discovered, was that I still loved Wendel, even now. 

He wasn’t an object that could be discarded when broken, nor was he just a friend to be cut off when unhappy. 

He was a living, breathing person, my lover for six whole years, and my love for him had become an instinct deep in my bones. 

For six years, everyone said that Wendel loved me like his life, but how had I treated him? Hadn’t I also devoted myself to him for these six years? 

It wasn’t until this moment that I realized–how could I let go? I truly couldn’t. 

Thinking about the fetal heartbeat I had heard during the check–up earlier, I wiped my tears fiercely. I took a deep breath, and decided to give both my child and Wendel one last chance. 

Clenching my phone tightly, I dialed Wendel’s number. 

“Can you come over? I need to talk to you.” 

Wendel’s voice was strangely hoarse, as if he were holding something back. 

“Aileen, I’ve still got something to do here. Let the driver take you home, and we can talk when you get back…” 

A muffled grunt followed, and then the call ended, replaced by the mechanical beeping of the phone. 

We were both adults, so I knew exactly what Wendel was doing on the other end of the line. 

After a moment of shock, I looked up at the nurse waiting beside me. 

“It’s fine now. I’m ready for the surgery.” 

By the time I got home after the surgery, it was already dark. As soon as I stepped through the door, Wendel rushed over to greet me. 

“The driver said you went shopping after your check–up. Why didn’t you bring anything back? Didn’t you find anything you liked?” 

But halfway through his sentence, he noticed my swollen, red eyes. 

“What happened, Aileen? Why are your eyes so swollen? Have you been crying? Did you think about Wendel again during your check–up today?” 

“It’s alright. The baby in your belly is Wendel’s child. It’s a kind of connection.” 

“By the way, didn’t you say you wanted to talk to me about something?” 

I studied Wendel’s features carefully. He was still as handsome as before, his eyes full of my reflection. 

Just like in the video Ivy had sent this afternoon. 

I lowered my gaze, avoiding his eyes. 

“It’s nothing. I just wanted to ask if there’s anything you wanted me to bring back.” 

Wendel’s shoulders seemed to relax, as if a huge weight pressing down oh him was lifted.