Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

I couldn't keep Sophie up, and she eventually slipped to the ground. "Emily, it hurts so bad. Save, save my baby."

She clutched my hand tight, her fingers digging in. I was freaked out.

Her due date was still a ways off; it must've been all the earlier drama that kicked her into early labor.

Panicking, I screamed for help. A bunch of prison guards rushed in and carried Sophie out. As I left, I shot a look at Richard.

Richard had stood up at some point, staring where they were taking Sophie, his brow all furrowed.

Grabbing the phone, I looked him dead in the eye and spat out my anger, word by word. "Isn't that what you wanted if something happens to Sophie's baby? Or maybe you're hoping for two lives lost? That way, she'd never show up in front of you again to bug you. Richard, I've seen heartless guys before; this world ain't short on scumbags."

After that, I turned and bolted out, jumping into the police car. Sophie lay in the car, her face twisted in pain. Amid the blaring sirens, I remembered Richard's last deep and complicated look as I left. There was pride, guilt, pain, anger, and even hate.

"Emily, will my baby be okay?" Sophie's voice was so weak.

I could totally feel her panic. It was just like the night I lost my baby- I wished someone could just show up and save my baby.

I held Sophie's hand tight, trying to comfort her, "Don't worry, it's fine. We'll be at the hospital soon. You gotta be brave; you're about to be a mom."

We had to rush Sophie to the nearest hospital. After they took her into the operating room, I waited outside, feeling super helpless, and called Ethan.

Ethan showed up in less than half an hour. Seeing the sign above the operating room door, he sat down next to me, his big hand holding mine. "What happened?"

I quickly told him about taking Sophie to the prison. He didn't say anything after listening.

I lost count of how many times I looked at the operating room door, totally unable to imagine what was going on inside.

The hospital corridor was dead quiet, so quiet it made me anxious. I could only pray in my heart for Sophie and her baby to be okay.

Sophie was only nineteen; I begged God to be kind to her. "What happened between you and Richard? Why do I feel like he hates you?" I asked, trying to ease my inner tension.

Ethan's thumb gently stroked the back of my hand, lost in thought because of my question. "He hates me."

Before Ethan could say more, the operating room door swung open, and we rushed to meet the doctor.

The doc pulled off his mask and told us, "The baby was breech, so we did an emergency C-section. Everything went smoothly. The mom gave birth to a 6-pound baby girl. Both mom and baby are safe." Hearing that, I let out a huge sigh of relief. I glanced back and saw Ethan's brow relax too.

An hour later, they moved Sophie to a ward. She lay there, looking totally wiped out, her face pale.

Sophie looked at the tiny bundle next to her. Maybe thinking about Richard's coldness, her tears just kept falling.

I couldn't stand it and grabbed a tissue to wipe her tears. "Don't cry. Crying right after giving birth can mess up your eyes."

I always knew that, but I cried a ton when I had a miscarriage. When I looked up, I caught Ethan's gaze. Maybe he was thinking the same thing because his eyes had this super soft look.

"Emily, I'm happy. My baby has finally arrived in this world, and I can finally hold her. Do you know? This whole thing was so tough, so tough." Sophie laughed through her tears and then cried through her laughter. Ethan hired a postpartum nurse to take care of her and the baby. A week later, Sophie was discharged and went home. Ethan and I went to visit her.

Sophie's daughter had red skin when she was born, but after a week, she was all fair and tender.

The postpartum nurse was this super experienced middle-aged lady who took great care of Sophie and her baby.

Ethan even held the baby for a bit. It made me feel all kinds of things.

At that moment, I felt like Ethan was at least someone who knew right from wrong. No matter what was between him and Richard, he wouldn't take it out on Sophie and her baby. That's what a real gentleman should be. Ethan actually had a really soft side, just like now, holding the baby, his posture and gaze were so gentle.

The baby didn't have a name yet, and Sophie asked Ethan to name her. He didn't; he said the baby's name should come from Richard himself.

I thought Ethan was right. If Ethan named the baby, even if Richard didn't like the baby, it might still tick him off.

So Sophie gave her daughter a temporary nickname, Abby.

Leaving Sophie's place, my mind was still stuck on little Abby. "Abby is so adorable. I heard newborns can be super noisy, but Sophie says she's really chill. She just eats and sleeps, sleeps and eats, like a little piglet." Ethan chuckled. "Yeah, Abby's a cutie."

After a bit, Ethan suddenly said, "Babe, let's have a baby too."

That totally caught me off guard.

Ethan glanced at me, "My grandpa called a few days ago, asking when he could see his great-grandson."

I said, "He already has a great-granddaughter, Abby."

Ethan pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and cracked the car window a bit, saying softly, "He never acknowledged Richard's identity, so he definitely won't acknowledge his kid."

"Why? Aren't you both his grandsons?" I kinda guessed the reason but still asked.

Ethan took a drag of his cigarette, the smoke drifting in front of him. "Because Richard is my dad's illegitimate son. Even though Linda eventually married my dad, my grandpa never acknowledged Richard as his grandson." Hearing that, I remembered something Victor once said. He'd never acknowledge a daughter-in-law without his approval.

Just like Martin never acknowledged Linda, he wouldn't acknowledge Linda's kid either. So even if Ethan and I had a kid in the future, the outcome would probably be the same. Our kid wouldn't be recognized by Victor. The car pulled into the driveway, and Ethan turned off the engine but didn't rush to get out.

Ethan stubbed out the cigarette, turned to me, and half-jokingly asked, "Babe, be honest, have you been taking birth control pills behind my back?"

We'd been together for months, but I hadn't gotten pregnant, so it was normal for him to suspect. I swallowed hard and shook my head. "I haven't. I was just thinking, maybe I..."

"You won't." Ethan seemed to guess what I was about to say and cut me off.

"Why?"

Ethan's lips curled up, and he said arrogantly, "Because I'm Ethan."

But stuff like that isn't up to him to decide.

Maybe seeing my disbelief, Ethan suddenly tightened his grip on my waist, pulling me closer. "What's so hard about having a couple of kids? We could have a bunch."

He smiled mischievously, but I couldn't bring myself to smile. Ever since he brought up this topic, it felt like a weight had been pressing on my heart.

After wrestling with it for a few days, I finally decided to sneak off to the hospital for a check-up without telling Ethan.

After the check-up, I sat across from the doctor. The female doc, looking all serious, held the test report, adjusted her gold-rimmed glasses, and asked, "Have you had a miscarriage before?" Hearing her question, my heart clenched. "I had an induced abortion a few months ago."

"No wonder. It seems there was improper handling during the procedure, which damaged the endometrium. The inflammation wasn't treated in time, making it difficult for the fertilized egg to implant now." The doc's explanation boiled down to one thing: it would be hard for me to get pregnant.

Leaving the doc's office, I felt like my legs were made of lead. I sat on a chair in the hallway for what felt like forever. The test report in my hand was all crumpled from my grip.

I was filled with rage. I wanted to make Arthur pay. I felt both hatred and sorrow that I couldn't have a child with Ethan.

A pair of shiny black leather shoes stopped in front of me. I looked up and saw Jason in a lab coat.

"What's wrong? You look so pale. Are you feeling unwell?" Jason stared at the report in my hand.

I nervously folded the report and put it away. "Nothing."

"Come to my office," he said.

I followed Jason to his office, and he poured me a glass of water. "Have a drink first."

I took it and held it in my hands without drinking.

A male assistant left the office, and Jason said he was his assistant.

I asked, "A male assistant?"

Jason sat behind his desk and gave me a faint smile. "A male assistant is more convenient to work with."

After that, I fell silent. Jason seemed to get it and said, "Emily, if there's something on your mind, talk to Ethan. Don't keep it bottled up."

I thought, 'What will talking change? Ethan has made it clear he wants a kid.'

After sitting for a while, I took my leave.

Leaving Jason's office, I ran into some former colleagues. They greeted me warmly, very different from how they used to treat me. But I had no mood to deal with these fake people, so I left quickly. Back at the villa, I went to bed early, holding the test results and staring at them for a long time.

I felt like fate was messing with me. Every time I felt happiness was near, it would smack me down.

I didn't know when I fell asleep, but when I woke up, the bedroom was lit with a soft light. Ethan was sitting by the bed, holding my test report.