Chapter 222 Pregnant!
I checked Ember's facial damage - just mild redness, swelling, and some cracking. It wasn't nearly as bad as Diana’s. I whipped up an ointment for her to use at home, and with a bit of time, she’d be back to normal.
Ember looked in a small mirror, her face covered in breathable patches, and spoke with a mix of nerves and excitement, "Your ointment feels so cool when applied, it doesn't hurt at all anymore!"
"That's because the medicine contains anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving ingredients." I reminded her, "Before the wound heals, eat light foods, use physical sun protection, avoid direct sunlight, and don't use other cosmetics to prevent another allergic reaction. If your face feels worse, see a doctor right away."
Ember nodded, a smile spreading across her face. "You're beautiful and so talented. If my son wasn't already married, I'd snatch you up as my daughter-in-law in a heartbeat." When I get home, I'll have to praise you to my husband!"
I smiled slightly, feeling cheerful.
The mayor was finishing up, but some of his team were sticking around at city hall. They hadn't tipped their hand yet on who they'd be backing. I guessed Ember saying this might have been at the mayor's suggestion.
Ember glanced at the time and stood up to go, pulling a small tin of high-end candies from her handbag.
"Your work is so hard, watch out for low blood sugar."
I really liked this brand's fruit-filled hard candies. Lucas had given them to me several times before. I accepted the candy and said goodbye to Ember.
Roger came in carrying a vanilla latte. "Two more women outside wanting facial treatment. Will you see them?"
I looked at the cracked door and whispered, "Is Lucas still out there?"
"Yeah, playing the hero," Roger teased with a grin. "You run, he chases—the two of you are better than any TV show."
"Shut up." I took a sip of the latte, feeling annoyed. "Let the patients in."
The first was a short-haired woman, the fiancée of some rich kid.
With her wedding so close, her face had broken out in a rash of tiny red bumps. She was starting to panic. Though her allergic symptoms were different from the other two, she'd also damaged her skin barrier by using ointment from Elysian Glow beauty salon.
I mixed up some medicine for her. She couldn't stop thanking me as she left, leaving a single rose behind on her way out.
I stared at the rose that had mysteriously appeared on my desk. Did her fiancé give it to her and she just gave me one? But something felt off.
Before I could think it through, the next patient came in.
This patient was even younger, a daughter from some family, just barely an adult. Youth should have been her advantage, but her skin wasn't in great shape, so she was really into using all kinds of skincare products.
When Elysian Glow first took off, she rushed to try it. Her skin was a mess—only slightly better than Diana's.
When she realized her face was ruined, she cried until she blacked out. Her family rushed her to the hospital.Her mother knew Ember well, and hearing that my medicine worked wonders for repairing allergies, she rushed over.
I adjusted the ingredient ratios for her condition, listened to her complain about her poor skin, asked about her lifestyle habits, and told her to try to quit staying up late and eating fried foods.
She left with a smile, telling me I was the only one she’d ever trust with her skin. Before she walked out, she left a delicate, light pink watch on the counter.
I looked at the gift thoughtfully. How did all these patients' gifts hit exactly what I liked?
I took out the candy box Ember left from my drawer. Opening it to eat one, I discovered there was a note inside the wrapper!
The thin strip of paper had a romantic line written on it: Missing you.
As a regular customer of this candy brand, I knew only custom gift boxes could have notes tucked inside.
I unwrapped a few more candies - each one had a different romantic line, but the simple, direct style was obviously Lucas!
Looking again at the women's watch, that rose, even that vanilla latte - they all seemed to instantly bear Lucas's mark.
The next patient who came in didn't leave a gift, but left a message: "Time for lunch."
I sighed inwardly and asked Adrian to prepare lunch. Adrian said it was already ready. He went to the door and brought in a stack of food containers.
From the aroma, I knew it was made by the chefs Lucas had hired.
This meal left me with very mixed feelings.
Halfway through, Roger walked in. "Looks delicious!"
"What is it?" I asked.
Roger replied, "Nothing, just came to look. The cafeteria food is nothing compared to this!"
That annoying guy!
I glared at him. "Has Lucas eaten?"
Roger picked at his ear with his pinky, didn't answer, turned and walked to the door. "Isabella says come in and eat!" Then he left.
I opened my mouth but didn't stop him in time.
Lucas walked in and stood silently at the door.
I ate two bites of salad and glanced at him irritably. "Why are you just standing there?"
The joy that burst in Lucas's eyes for a moment made my heart ache.
He sat down beside me, staring straight at me. Even without meeting his eyes, I could feel his overwhelming emotions.
"Why did you lie to me? Can you tell me now?" I asked.
I thought Lucas had come around, but silence was still his only answer.
I irritably stabbed the cherry tomatoes in my bowl with my fork until they were mashed.
"I'm sorry. Don't make me leave, okay?"
I froze.
Lucas's posture was still straight, but carried an almost humble carefulness.
My blame, questions, and cold resistance suddenly all stuck in my throat.
I lowered my eyes and kept eating, my voice as light as a sigh. "Whatever."
So he took root beside me like a silent tree.
He pulled the deep-sea cod that was farthest from me in front of him, carefully removed the bones, then held it to my mouth, looking at me expectantly.
I thought today's cod wasn't very fresh, which is why I'd pushed it away, so I instinctively turned my head away, then realized this gesture was too hurtful.
Sure enough, Lucas's face darkened.
I couldn't bear to see him so sad. I thought, it's just a bite of fish, no need to waste it.
I turned and put the fish in my mouth. After chewing twice, an indescribable fishy taste hit my taste buds, my throat, then seemed to punch my stomach.
I couldn't help but gag.
Lucas frantically cupped his hands to catch the fish I spit out. "If you really don't want to see me, I'll leave right now."
Before he could finish, I pushed him away and rushed to the bathroom, crouching by the toilet and vomiting. Everything I'd just eaten for lunch and the undigested breakfast all came up.
I vomited until my face was pale, breaking out in cold sweat, my vision going dark in waves.
"Roger! Roger!" Lucas shouted, lifting my exhausted body in his arms.
Leaning against his chest, I wondered if I had food poisoning.
After an examination, Roger announced with a serious expression, "The vomiting is from morning sickness. Isabella, you're pregnant."