Chapter 402: Don't Scare Me

Chapter 402: Don't Scare Me

Unexpectedly running into Ethan, Caroline replied in a casual tone, "I'm here to see a friend."

Ethan said, "This floor is the specimen collection and lab area. You guys must be on the wrong floor."

Caroline paused slightly. Leopold quickly smoothed things over, "Our friend has mobility issues, so we're here to help pick up some lab results."

Ethan got a phone call just then. Walking away while talking, he said, "Caroline, I've got to go. Call me if you need anything."

Caroline said, "Go ahead with your work."

After Ethan left, Caroline looked at Leopold. She didn't want outsiders knowing about her private matters.

Leopold took her hand, "Let's go get the imaging done."

Caroline followed Leopold to the radiology department. The electronic screen showed three people waiting ahead of them, so they sat on a bench in the hallway to wait their turn.

Leopold was about to ask if she was thirsty, but then remembered the doctor had instructed her to empty her bladder. He looked at Caroline and said, "You just had blood drawn. Lean on my shoulder and rest a bit."

Caroline rested her head on his shoulder, anxious to know about her condition. She said worriedly, "Getting these tests done is such a hassle."

She rarely showed impatience, which meant the illness was putting a lot of pressure on her.

Leopold took her hand to ease Caroline's mood. "Let me tell you something funny. Lily and Erik were using their lunch break to pick a honeymoon destination. The company just got on track and needs people, so they can only choose somewhere domestic. Erik suggested the beach, and Oscar butted in saying it's too hot at the beach this time of year. Erik then suggested Majestic City, and Oscar said the company had organized a trip there before so it wasn't interesting. Erik suggested Skyview City, and Oscar objected again. Basically, he drove Erik crazy. Finally Erik got so annoyed he asked Oscar where they should go, and Oscar had the nerve to suggest Regal City. Lily looked at the photos and was actually pretty interested, so Erik just took Lily to his office to discuss it. Given the relationship between those three, I was worried someone might quit over relationship drama."

Caroline gradually relaxed, her mind drawn away from the present situation by his story. "At that dinner, I thought the atmosphere among you all seemed pretty good, and your relationships seemed harmonious."

Leopold said, "Erik's fine. After all, Lily's heart is with him. I was worried Oscar might not get over it."

Caroline asked, "So how did he get over it?"

Leopold said, "I talked to him beforehand. Oscar is an invaluable talent for the company. If he quit over relationship issues, it would be a huge loss for me and for the company."

Caroline said, "You think things through very carefully, always preparing for problems before they happen."

"Are you complimenting me?" Leopold said with a laugh.

Caroline lightly bumped his shoulder with her head. "You're pretty pleased with yourself, aren't you?"

Just as they were chatting and laughing, the imaging room door opened. The woman who walked out looked to be in her early thirties. She was clutching her lower abdomen, her expression pained and her face pale, walking weakly.

"It hurts... it hurts so much!" she complained to the man beside her as she passed Caroline.

That one sentence instantly made everyone waiting for the imaging feel heavy and anxious, Caroline included.

Caroline took out her phone and started searching: "Does a hysterosalpingography hurt?"

Some people said it hurt a lot, others said it was bearable. Caroline saw one reply that made her scalp tingle.

[I just had a hysterosalpingography today and cried from the pain. It really hurts, the kind of pain you can't bear.]

Leopold had been watching the screen and also noticed the reply Caroline was looking at.

Every word made Leopold want to take her away immediately.

He took a deep breath, seeing the fear Caroline was hiding on her face. He held her shoulder tighter and said, "Look at the comments below, some say it doesn't hurt. This one sounds very professional: when they push in the contrast agent, there will be a little discomfort or mild pain. If you feel uncomfortable, it's because during the process of pushing the contrast agent, people with different constitutions—some who are more sensitive—may experience spasms or contractions of the fallopian tubes. But if you're relatively relaxed, this discomfort will weaken or even be barely noticeable."

Caroline said nervously, "I hope I'm the type who's not sensitive and won't feel that much pain."

Leopold watched the video explaining the contrast injection process, feeling sorry for Caroline. "Maybe we shouldn't do this. It looks painful just watching."

Caroline had thought she would be the first to back out, but it turned out to be Leopold.

This actually made the tense Caroline laugh. "I haven't backed out yet."

Before she finished speaking, the screen called for three people, including Caroline, to go in and prepare.

Caroline instinctively looked at Leopold and grabbed his hand. Fear was instinctive and uncontrollable.

Leopold also gripped her hand tightly. "Take deep breaths. Adjusting your breathing rhythm will help ease your nervousness."

Caroline stood up and handed him her bag, following the people in front of her. "I'm going in."

"Caroline, don't be nervous. If you're really scared, just come out. We won't do it." Leopold's heart ached for her.

Entering the imaging room, Caroline looked at the cold examination table, goosebumps rising on her arms.

She was the last one. While the contrast agent was being pushed into the others, Caroline held the informed consent form anxiously, signed it, and the nurse began explaining the order, process, surgical position, and post-procedure precautions.

When it was her turn, Caroline lay on the table following the nurse's instructions. The position was a bit hard to manage because she needed to put her feet on the pedals.

During the disinfection, Caroline turned her face away, feeling a bit embarrassed. She pressed her lips together, feeling the foreign object being inserted. When the contrast agent was pushed into her body, she could bear it at first, but in the second half she could barely stand it.

Her teeth were clenched so hard they made grinding sounds, her legs were trembling from the pain, her whole body tense and shaking. The doctor reminded her to relax, but the pain made it impossible to think. Finally enduring the medication, she got down from the table, her back soaked with sweat.

Meanwhile, Leopold in the hallway wasn't doing well either. He stared at the door with a serious expression until Caroline came out. Seeing her condition, he knew she had suffered in there.

He quickly stepped forward to support her. "It hurt a lot, didn't it?"

Caroline was in too much pain to talk. She just shook her head. "The doctor said to come back the day after tomorrow for the results."

Seeing her difficulty walking, Leopold scooped her up and carried her toward the elevator.

Caroline said, "Put me down, I can walk."

Leopold said firmly, "Don't move. You're in so much pain, how can you walk by yourself?"

All the way, they drew many sidelong glances, but Leopold didn't care. He carried her all the way to the parking lot exit. "Wait here for me, okay?"

"Okay."

He put Caroline down. As soon as her feet touched the ground, she suddenly felt dizzy and nearly fell. Fortunately, Leopold was quick and caught her around the waist.

Leopold said with lingering fear, "Don't scare me like that."

Caroline wanted to smile, but the pain surging through her body pulled at the corners of her mouth.

"Does it hurt again?" Leopold carried her across half the parking lot to the car, placed her in the passenger seat, and took a jacket from the back seat to cover her.

On the way back, Caroline said, "During the imaging, I heard the doctor say both of my fallopian tubes are blocked."