Chapter 403: Letting Go and Starting Over

Chapter 403: Letting Go and Starting Over

Leopold knew what Caroline was worried about. He freed up one hand to hold hers. "Caroline, don't think about anything right now. Just rest."

But Caroline understood what it meant to have both fallopian tubes blocked. While waiting in the prep room, the woman next to her was almost forty, and another woman was also older than Caroline. They chatted about blocked fallopian tubes. One of them had been married for nearly fifteen years without getting pregnant. Her husband had made it clear that if she couldn't be cured, he would divorce her. After all, there was nothing wrong with him, so he blamed his wife for not being able to have children. Over the years, they'd fought constantly about having kids. Recently, she'd even discovered her husband was having an affair.

Reality was cruel and heartbreaking. Even couples married for over a decade could lose their feelings over the issue of children, constantly fighting. Now she also had to face her husband's infidelity and divorce.

Given Caroline's current situation, even without a doctor's diagnosis, the problem was clearly with her.

Caroline had too many emotions bottled up inside. She didn't even dare think about her and Leopold's future.

She could tell Leopold really loved children. But if she couldn't have children, over time, would Leopold...

Leopold glanced at her. Caroline was curled up in her seat, eyes closed, her expression pained and tense.

"Honey, hang in there. We'll be home soon."

Caroline made a sound of acknowledgment.

When the car stopped, Caroline was about to open the door when Leopold opened it first and lifted her out again.

"It's okay, I can walk myself," Caroline said.

But as Leopold's hand slipped under her, it brushed against her damp pants. He pulled his hand back and looked at it—a reddish color. He held her again. "Don't move, honey."

Caroline headed straight for the bedroom when they got inside, saying, "I'm going to the bathroom to change."

Leopold said, "I'll help you."

He went to the bedroom to get clean clothes and helped her change, then carried her back to bed. He bent down and kissed her forehead, saying gently, "Rest for a bit. I'll go wash the clothes."

Caroline grabbed his hand. "They're too dirty. I'll wash them myself."

"What's dirty about them?" Leopold stroked her cheek and kissed her lips. "Don't worry about it. You sleep for a while. I'll cook after I'm done with the laundry. What do you want to eat?"

"I have no appetite. I don't want to eat," Caroline said.

Leopold smiled helplessly. "Letting me improvise again? You're not allowed to be picky when I'm done cooking. Sleep now."

Caroline closed her eyes, listening to his footsteps gradually fade away. Soon, she heard the sound of him washing clothes.

A tear slid from the corner of her eye. Leopold was so good—he deserved to have a child.

A day later, the pain finally went away. Originally, they were both supposed to go to Silverline Hospital together to get the results, but Leopold had an urgent matter at work that needed handling. He told Caroline to wait until he was done so they could go together.

But Caroline was anxious and went to the hospital alone.

When she got the results, she rushed to the doctor's office. After reviewing all her test results, the problem was indeed with her.

Caroline sat in her car, staring blankly at the various test reports and results.

Before things were confirmed, she could still make objective and rational judgments. But now that she had the final diagnosis, she could no longer stay calm.

Just then, a couple walked past her car carrying a child. Caroline suddenly felt a tightness in her chest.

She looked away, put the test results away, placed them in a bag, started the car, and drove toward Elysia's house.

Elysia received Caroline's call. Caroline said she was coming over now to talk about something.

Today wasn't even the weekend—why was Caroline coming during work hours?

Elysia started overthinking, but no matter how anxious she was, she had to wait for Caroline to arrive to find out.

When the door opened, Elysia's heart jumped. She saw Caroline sitting down with a bag bearing the Silverline Hospital logo.

"Caroline, what's wrong?" Elysia first checked her expression, then looked at what she was holding.

Caroline said seriously, "Mom, look at this first."

"What is this?" Elysia quickly pulled out a pile of test reports and results. "Are these yours? What's wrong?"

Caroline said, "Mom, I didn't tell you before because it wasn't confirmed yet. Now it's confirmed—I can't get pregnant."

"What!" Elysia frowned. "Who said that? The doctor?"

Caroline pulled out the diagnosis report and pointed to the results. "It's already been tested."

Elysia picked it up and read it carefully, word by word.

Although she didn't understand some of the medical terminology, she could understand the final diagnosis.

Elysia put down the diagnosis. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't worried, but Caroline was already sick, so she couldn't panic or get anxious. She was Caroline's last support and shield.

Elysia said, "This condition can be treated, right?"

Caroline sighed. "The doctor said she can't guarantee anything. With my constitution, it's not easy to conceive. She wants me to try treatment first and told me not to give up and to keep a positive attitude."

"See, even the doctor said not to give up." Elysia could see Caroline was suffering, but she still encouraged her. "Caroline, don't put too much pressure on yourself. You have me and your dad. You only got tested at Silverline Hospital. Tomorrow we'll go to a bigger hospital and test again—maybe they misdiagnosed."

"Mom, one doctor might misdiagnose, but could two doctors both misdiagnose?" Caroline said.

Elysia asked back, "Where else did you get tested?"

Caroline told her about seeing the doctor in Silverpeak City. Elysia said, "Tomorrow we'll go to a major hospital and do another test."

Thinking about the experience of the hysterosalpingography, Caroline felt the pain in her body being recalled.

She said with lingering fear, "Mom, the test results from Silverline Hospital are authoritative enough. Even if we go to another hospital, they'll do the same tests. And some of those tests really hurt."

Elysia wouldn't give up. "There are even more authoritative hospitals. We'll find specialists and do a thorough examination."

Caroline took a deep breath. She also hoped she was a special case, and never more than now did she hope Silverline Hospital had misdiagnosed. "Okay."

After a moment of silence, she said, "Mom, if I really do have this problem, and even with active treatment I still can't get pregnant, what then?"

Things should be thought of positively, but the worst outcome also had to be considered.

Elysia looked into Caroline's eyes. "Caroline, just remember this—no matter what happens, your dad and I will always be your strongest support, and the door to this home will always be open to you. As for what you choose, we'll support you."

From the anxiety of first learning the results to now facing and accepting them, Caroline had thought about a lot over these two days. She'd even thought about the worst outcome, but before the worst happened, she had to try her best.

Caroline said seriously, "Mom, I'll definitely cooperate with treatment. I'm willing to try IVF too. But if none of that solves the problem, Leopold and I are still young. We can still let go and start over."

Elysia understood what she meant by "let go and start over."

"Caroline, what's Leopold's attitude?" Elysia asked.

Caroline said, "Mom, Leopold won't give up on me, but we can't be too selfish. We can't make Leopold childless for life just to preserve my marriage. If that really happens, I'll bring it up myself."