Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
The waiting period was agonizing, punctuated by occasional, mild abdominal pains that served as a harsh reminder of the poorly timed pregnancy.
When the results of the follow-up tests finally arrived, they confirmed that it wasn’t an ectopic pregnancy, yet the outcome was still troubling.
The specialist elaborated, “Regrettably, your uterine lining is too thin to safely support a pregnancy.”
A cold fear enveloped Alicia.
“Can the pregnancy survive?”
“It’s premature to make any predictions, but your body is at its limit. You’re at continuous risk of miscarriage over the next nine months. Should the fetus grow, it could endanger both your lives. You must consider all implications carefully.”
Alicia gripped her fists tightly, her heart filled with pain.
So the dream was real.
Caden and she truly had a child.
But it was also a dagger, piercing her heart.
With tears gathering, Alicia asked, “What do you recommend, doctor?”
The specialist adjusted her glasses and, with a tone of regret, suggested, “An early termination is advisable while it’s still feasible, to protect your health. Take three years to heal, and then attempting pregnancy again shouldn’t be too late.”
Alicia shook her head, her voice laden with grief.
“Would a termination not also pose risks to my health? Could I conceive again afterward?”
“It varies. With the right care and resources, future pregnancies could be possible.”
“Is there absolutely no other option?” Alicia’s voice was heavy with despair.
“Doctor, isn’t there anything we can do? I want to keep this baby.”
Touched by Alicia’s earnest plea, the specialist, a mother herself, felt a wave of empathy.
She exhaled deeply and replied, “If you’re prepared to invest, I can source specialized medications from abroad that support pregnancy, tailored for expectant mothers. Let’s try the treatment for a month, then reevaluate. If the pregnancy still isn’t viable, then…”
Without hesitation, Alicia said, “I’ll do whatever it takes, no matter the cost.”
The specialist cautioned her, “The more time passes, the tougher it becomes to part with the baby, and the risk of a tragic outcome increases for both of you. Yet, I will support a mother’s choice to the fullest.”
Alicia understood the implicit warning.
The likelihood of sustaining the pregnancy was minimal.
The baby was destined to leave her.
She lowered her eyes, fighting back tears.
“Thank you, doctor. Please, can we keep this between us?” She wanted to protect Caden from false hope.
Returning to her apartment, Alicia felt lost.
Thoughts of her unlucky pregnancy and Caden’s ongoing struggles overwhelmed her.
The weight seemed unbearable.
She was even deprived of the right to cry, as emotional stress had been advised against.
Alicia sat still, her hands resting in her lap.
The sky grew darker around her.
Alicia didn’t realize Caden was nearby until his arms encircled her.
Her body tensed with surprise, but she softened as his familiar scent enveloped her.
She forced a smile, hiding her inner turmoil.
“All done with work?”
Caden immediately picked up on her mood.
“Something wrong?”
Alicia shook her head, gazing into his eyes, yearning to reveal their unborn child.
Yet, this child’s future was uncertain.
The hardest truth was that without fighting for this pregnancy now, a termination could jeopardize her chances of future conception.
As for someone always full of pride and ambition like Caden, Alicia knew what they needed most was a family life.
With a clenched jaw, Alicia held back her feelings.
“Just cramps from the start of my period, a bit painful,” she said, smiling.
“But seeing you makes it all better.”
Caden’s smile emerged gently.
“So I’m the remedy for your cramps?”
“Absolutely.”
Caden, weary from the day’s demands, longed for nothing more than to unwind at home, basking in her comfort.
“Did you eat yet?” he inquired.
“Yes, I’ve eaten,” Alicia responded.
“Let’s shower and get some rest then.”
After his exhaustive night and day, Caden showered and settled next to Alicia, his eyes fluttering shut.
Alicia caressed his hair and face lovingly.
As Caden laid his head near her stomach, he murmured unexpectedly, “It’s like I can hear two heartbeats when I’m this close to you.”
Alicia’s heart fluttered with apprehension.
She feigned calmness and whispered, “Why do you hear two heartbeats? Perhaps you’re just overly tired and imagining things.”
Caden didn’t argue. He was worn out, too exhausted to consider it further, and kept his eyes shut.
If only he had looked at Alicia at that moment, he might have noticed the faint blush under her eyes. And perhaps then, he would have known he was about to become a father, avoiding future regrets for both of them.
Caden’s hand rested gently on her stomach.
“Are you still feeling pain there?”
With his voice sounding raspy from tiredness, Alicia murmured, “Just try to sleep.”
Caden shifted slightly, and they held each other.
He opened his eyes long enough to set an early alarm for 5 A.M.
Alicia’s heart ached.
“Will you be busy again tomorrow?”
“Yeah, it’s been chaotic lately. When things ease up, I’ll take you to Crystalline to see the aurora for a few months. How does that sound?”
Alicia wasn’t in the mood for it.
She hesitated before asking, “Caden, what’s actually happening with your business?”
With a casual shrug, Caden responded, “Just the usual yearly hurdles.”
Alicia mustered a strained smile and closed her eyes, trying to drift off.
Whenever Caden was engulfed in work, Alicia found him unreachable, and she refrained from seeking him out.
After starting the medical treatment to sustain the pregnancy, Alicia administered one of the treatments herself. The fine needle piercing her abdomen made her twitch in pain, a cold sweat drenching her clothing.
She had to go through this three times daily.
Luckily, since Caden hadn’t been physically close lately, he hadn’t noticed the small needle marks on her abdomen.
Following his shower that evening, Caden drew her close and scrutinized her features intently.
“You’ve gotten thinner, Alicia. And your eyes, they look puffy.”
He narrowed his eyes with a hint of suspicion.
“What’s been going on with you?”
Alicia’s lips formed a small pout.
“It’s the stress over your business. It’s weighing on me.”
Caden queried, “Is that all? Just worried about that?”