Chapter 205: James Dates Another Woman
"Pregnant?"
Mia's eyes went wide with shock, full of disbelief.
Seeing Lily crying like this, she had thought of various possibilities, but pregnancy never crossed her mind.
How old was she?
How could she be pregnant?
"Lily, are you sure?"
Mia quickly composed herself.
"Yes."
Lily shakily held out three pregnancy tests she'd been clutching tightly in her palm to Mia.
"Mia, what should I do?"
Lily was completely lost, panicking.
She'd noticed her period was late and, afraid, bought the pregnancy tests. She never expected her fears would come true.
She really was pregnant with Benjamin's child.
"Lily, who's the man?"
Lily pressed her lips together tightly, saying nothing.
Seeing she didn't want to talk, Mia didn't push her.
"Did you call him?"
Lily shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes again.
Thinking about her relationship with Benjamin, tears streamed down her face once more.
Seeing this, Mia already knew the answer.
Benjamin wouldn't take responsibility.
"Lily, I'll go to the hospital with you."
She was too young, not ready to have this baby.
"No!"
Hearing "hospital," Lily instinctively pulled back.
It was a defensive movement, her whole body showing resistance.
Her hands protectively covered her belly, tears falling heavily.
The thought of not keeping this baby made her so sad.
"Mia, I love him. I don't want to get rid of his baby, I—"
Lily choked up and couldn't continue.
She couldn't bear to go through with it.
But if she didn't, what could she do?
He was about to get engaged.
He wouldn't want this baby, and he definitely wouldn't take responsibility for her and the child.
"Lily, you called me first instead of him because deep down you already know the answer, right?"
Mia hugged the sobbing Lily, gently patting her back.
After a long while—
A hoarse, choked voice came from her embrace, "Mia, will you come with me to the hospital tomorrow?"
...
Saturday afternoon, Mia accompanied Lily, whose eyes were red and swollen, to the hospital.
After she went into the operating room, Mia sat outside waiting.
In this environment, she couldn't help but think of when she had her own abortion.
Her hand unconsciously touched her belly, her heart tightening.
It wasn't a long wait before a nurse came out.
Lily's procedure was over. Mia immediately got up and went in, helping her down from the operating table to rest.
Lily leaned gently on Mia's shoulder, tears welling up in her eyes. "Mia, my baby is gone."
Mia gently held Lily, speaking earnestly: "Lily, you don't want to talk about it, so I won't ask."
"But remember, if you can't leave that man, at least learn to protect yourself, okay?"
"Okay."
Lily nodded slightly.
After checking with Lily, Mia called a restaurant famous for its excellent soups.
Before, whenever she had her period, James loved taking her there for soup.
She specially ordered chicken soup.
Once Lily had rested, she took her from the hospital to the restaurant.
Since they'd reserved ahead, when they arrived, the soup was already ready and brought to the table.
Mia filled a bowl for Lily. "Be good, drink more."
"Okay, thank you Mia."
Lily had no appetite, but still picked up the bowl and sipped slowly.
Halfway through their meal, Mia got up to use the restroom, leaving Lily alone.
She was looking down, drinking soup, when someone approached, attracted by her looks.
The man had no bad intentions, so Lily responded politely.
They chatted briefly—he was a painter who wanted her to model for him.
Lily declined his invitation.
Not giving up, he handed her his business card.
She reached out to take it.
He held her hand and politely kissed the back of it before turning to leave.
The kiss was so quick, Lily couldn't stop it.
Holding the card, she put it in her bag out of politeness, then looked up to see a scene that pierced her heart.
It was Benjamin and his fiancée Saskia Fuller. She was holding Benjamin's arm, the two of them walking in intimately.
Benjamin saw her too, but acted as if he hadn't, walking past without even a glance.
In that instant, Lily's heart clenched painfully, suffocating.
Tears welled up uncontrollably, and she quickly lowered her head.
Her hands clenched tightly into fists.
This was her own choice, she'd been willing—she couldn't blame anyone else.
Still, seeing him intimate with another woman hurt so much.
Especially since she'd just gotten rid of his child.
Walking with Saskia, before turning the corner, he looked back at Lily coldly, his eyes dark.
She dared let another man touch her.
...
Afraid Mia would notice, Lily quickly wiped away her tears before they fell.
Because of Benjamin's sudden appearance and the small commotion it caused, she didn't notice anything else.
When Mia came back from the restroom, she found the restaurant was full.
As she sat down, she saw a very familiar figure.
James.
Seeing him, Mia's first reaction was: what a pest.
Mia's anger had mostly subsided, but today, accompanying Lily to the hospital and thinking about the baby, she felt unhappy.
After sitting down, she served herself a bowl of soup, deciding to ignore him for half a month.
To teach him a lesson.
Just as she was drinking soup and thinking this, a wave of perfume passed by her.
It was James's favorite fragrance.
He used to love buying her this scent.
Smelling it, she instinctively looked up.
She saw a woman with delicate makeup, wearing a red cocktail dress that made her skin look very smooth.
She walked toward James in high heels with elegant steps.
As she approached him, she deliberately lightened her steps, covering his eyes from behind.
Leaning forward slightly, her face almost touching his, a playful voice rang out: "Guess who?"
She was clearly very happy, her voice not lowered, and Mia, not far away, heard it clearly.
She watched the two people in their intimate pose.
When the woman hugged him from behind, James didn't resist or reject her!
He and this beauty had an unusual relationship.
Seeing this, Mia understood everything.
Her pretty face darkened completely. Clearly, she'd been flattering herself.
Her hand gripping the spoon tightened noticeably. The scene she'd just witnessed was so jarring she wanted to rush over and demand answers.
But—
What right did she have to question him?
Even though she knew this, anger still rose in her lowered eyes.