Chapter 4 You’re Pregnant
Martha’s playful, flirtatious movements suddenly came to a halt, leaving her frozen in place.
“…Grandma Edith, is that really necessary? I mean, Jeremy and I have already…” She wanted to explain that they’ve already slept together.
Understanding her implication, Edith smiled warmly. “Now that you’re husband and wife, it’s even more important. I’m sure there’s nothing wrong with your health, but for the sake of our family’s future, a checkup is essential. Don’t worry, Martha. Jeremy will go with you.”
The idea of going together made it feel even more uncomfortable.
The color drained from Martha’s face, and her hand instinctively went to her stomach. If they found out she was pregnant, everything would unravel.
She swallowed hard, trying to keep her composure. Knowing Edith’s kind nature, she grasped her arm and pleaded, “Grandma Edith, I’ve been terrified of hospitals since I was a child. Could we not go? Or maybe… we could have the doctor come here instead?”
“Martha, what kind of request is that? Doctors are public servants. How could you expect them to make house calls just for your convenience?” To Martha’s dismay, Edith frowned, her tone turning stern as she delivered a sharp reprimand.
She continued, “In this family, we don’t believe in class superiority. You need to let go of that entitled attitude, do you understand?”
It felt like a slap to her face. Martha was consumed with humiliation, resentment bubbling just beneath the surface.
She silently cursed Edith, but outwardly, she put on a pitiful expression and turned to Jeremy, searching for sympathy.
To her surprise, Jeremy’s gaze was just as intense and unreadable. His words landed like a final decree. “Alright, we’ll go this afternoon.”
At the gynecology department of Concord Hospital, the doctor spoke in a cold, professional tone, “You need to be more moderate with your sexual activity.”
Stella’s face flushed with embarrassment, and she nodded awkwardly. “…Understood.”
She was at her limit. Ever since returning home the night before, she hadn’t gotten a moment of sleep.
The anxiety had become unbearable, finally pushing her to visit the gynecology department for a checkup.
After the exam, the doctor handed her a slip of paper. She said, “Take this to the lab for a blood test.”
Stella nodded politely. Just as she was about to leave, the doctor suddenly called her back.
Her brows were knit in concern, and though the mask hid most of her face, her voice betrayed a trace of worry and uncertainty.
“Stella, were you able to settle your mother’s surgery bill?” she asked.
Stella froze for a moment. “Yes.”
This hospital had become a second home to her. Her mother, Alison Irwin, had been in and out of treatment for years, so it wasn’t surprising that some of the medical staff knew her by name.
Just after midnight, Stella had settled the full amount of 200 thousand dollars. And now, standing in the gynecology department, it wasn’t hard for anyone to connect the dots about how she had come up with the money.
The doctor hesitated, uncertain how to comfort her. However, before she could find the words, Stella spoke up, “Thank you, doctor. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going now.”
Stella clutched the medical slip tightly and walked toward the door, her mind heavy with worry. When she lifted her eyes, she froze. Martha was walking toward her, arm–in–arm with a tali man.
Steila cursed under her breath and swiftly turned back, slipping into the examination room.
“What’s wrong, Stella?” the doctor asked.
Stella moved quickly, her face remaining concealed, but her abrupt retreat didn’t go unnoticed by Jeremy and Martha.
As Jeremy glanced up, he caught a fleeting glimpse of Stella’s back as she disappeared from view. Something about it felt oddly familiar.
He instinctively paused, triggering Martha’s alarm bells. In an instant, she recognized the woman. It was Stella.
What the hell was that bitch doing here? This had to be on purpose.
bitch doi
“Honey, did you see someone you know?” Martha’s heart raced, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
Hearing Martha’s coaxing tone, Jeremy glanced away, his expression unreadable. He shot her a quick look, but the conflicted feelings inside him only deepened. The more he heard her sweet voice, the more repelled he felt.
Something seemed amiss, though Jeremy couldn’t quite pinpoint what it was. “It’s nothing. I must’ve just mistaken someone for someone else.”
Stella lingered in the room for a moment longer, steadying her breath before stepping out. However, as soon as she opened the door, she found herself face–to- face with Martha once again.
Stella’s breath caught in her throat. Before she could react, Martha yanked her into the hallway by the emergency exit.
“What are you doing here?” Martha demanded, gripping Stella’s wrist tightly.
Stella quickly shook her off, her eyes filled with contempt. She snapped, “Picking up a preion. What’s it to you?”
Martha faltered, her gaze dropping to the payment receipt in Stella’s hand. The realization struck her; Alison was being treated at this very hospital.
Fury simmered beneath Martha’s cold exterior. “Keep our secret quiet. If it gets out, you’ll regret it.”
Stella took a deep breath, her eyes steady as she looked at Martha’s overly made–up face. In a calm, deliberate tone, she replied, “If you’re so worried about your
2/2
husband being tempted by others, maybe you should stay close to him instead of obsessing over me.”
Stella stood her ground, composed and unshaken. Her words weren’t harsh or biting, but instead were delivered with a calm, measured tone, as though offering nothing more than straightforward advice.
To Martha, however, it felt like nothing but an insult. She spat. “Who asked for your lecture?”
She glared at Stella, her thoughts seething with disdain.
She had originally thought she was dealing with someone easy to control, but now she realized she had unintentionally triggered a ticking time bomb. But it was too late to turn back now. What could she do?
Martha swallowed her anger and forced herself to remain calm. “Fine, since you’re already here, I won’t need to ask anyone for favors. Take this and get the test done for me.”
Stella looked at the receipt, instantly recognizing it as payment for a blood test. She understood exactly what Martha was implying. She pulled out her phone, glanced at Martha, and said casually, “Just so you know, there’s an extra charge for that.”
Despite her frustration, Martha had no choice but to transfer the money to Stella.
A moment later, Stella stepped out, holding the blood test report that clearly read: “Progesterone levels steadily rising, 3 months pregnant.”
Having taken the test for Martha, it was now Martha’s turn to step in for Stella. The results in Stella’s hands now weren’t hers; they belonged to Martha.
As she studied the report, Stella accidentally bumped into someone.
“Be careful.” A deep, magnetic voice filled the air.
Stella froze, her heart leaping as she looked up. It was Jeremy. She had once again ran into him.
Fortunately, when Stella met Martha earlier, Martha had insisted she wear a mask. Now, as she locked eyes with Jeremy, the mask concealed her face, sparing her from his piercing gaze.
Still, the tension in the air was suffocating. Stella quickly moved away from him, her voice barely above a whisper. “Excuse me, sir.”
Jeremy regarded Stella with a cold, calculating gaze, his attention drawn to her almond–shaped eyes. There was something about her that reminded him of Martha. The uneasy feeling he’d had the night before had led him to dig into the details, and sure enough, he’d tracked down the same peculiar maid who had been with Martha.
Jeremy ignored Stella’s words, his cold, inscrutable gaze fixed on the medical report she held.
Spotting something unusual, he swiftly snatched the report from her hands, his voice dripping with mockery.
“Stella Irwin, 24 years old,” he read aloud. “Tell me, how does someone your age end up with a seven–year–old daughter?
Stella flinched, the realization hitting her like a sharp blow. Jeremy had seen through the lie she’d told the night before,
In her desperation, she had disguised herself as a middle–aged woman. Now, with the truth exposed, she was at a loss for words, her mind scrambling for an explanation.
As Jeremy’s gaze returned to the report, his expression darkened, a flicker of disbelief crossing his features. “You’re pregnant?”
