Chapter 9 Really Not Pregnant
Emily lowered her blue eyes and took a deep breath. "Anna, hold onto the stuff. I'm going to the restroom to get the sample."
Without waiting for Anna's response, she hurried into the bathroom.
This place was very private - even if the Baker family had people around, they wouldn't follow her into the restroom.
Emily leaned against the stall door, her heart racing.
What should she do?
Anna was waiting outside, and Alex had definitely arranged for someone to check the results.
She was trapped on all sides.
Emily bit her lip.
Suddenly!
The sound of flushing water came, and she saw a cleaning lady in uniform mopping the floor.
She looked about forty years old.
Emily's eyes lit up. She quickly approached and handed the woman all the cash from her bag. "Excuse me, could you help me with something?"
Five minutes later.
Emily came out with the sample cup, her delicate face showing no emotion.
Anna quickly stood up from the bench and asked respectfully, "Mrs. Baker, are you feeling alright?"
"I'm fine." Emily shook her head and handed the sample cup directly to the nurse who had been waiting nearby.
Clearly, this nurse was arranged by Alex.
She took the sample straight into the lab - no one else handled it from start to finish.
Only then did Emily realize her palms were covered in cold sweat.
Her emotions had fluctuated too much, causing a slight pulling pain in her abdomen. She quickly sat down.
The hospital chairs felt cold. She only sat for a moment before standing up again.
Time passed second by second.
Finally, the nurse came out with the test report, her expression gentle. "Miss Johnson, the test results are in. They show you're not pregnant."
Emily's heart suddenly relaxed, though she kept her face calm. "Okay."
The weight she'd been carrying finally lifted.
The test report clearly showed "Urine HCG negative."
Now Alex wouldn't keep holding onto her, right?
"Not pregnant?" A flash of disappointment crossed Anna's face, but she quickly recovered her smile. "Well, not being pregnant is fine too. You're still young, ma'am. There'll be plenty of chances in the future."
What future could there be between her and Alex?
All she wanted now was to get far away from him as soon as possible.
But just as they reached the hospital entrance, the nurse called out, "Miss Johnson, wait!"
Emily's heart skipped a beat, thinking her scheme had been exposed. Her palms instantly clenched.
The nurse seemed to have run after them, slightly out of breath. "Miss Johnson, we reviewed your medical records. Your body is quite weak. We recommend you stay at the hospital for a couple days to rest."
"Or we could prescribe some medicine for you to take home. What do you think?"
Emily's brow furrowed slightly.
Medicine?
She definitely couldn't take anything randomly right now.
But staying at the hospital would let her avoid the Baker family drama.
Out of sight, out of mind.
She nodded immediately. "Then please arrange a room for me."
"Of course, Miss Johnson. This way, please."
The nurse led Emily and Anna upstairs to a VIP room.
The environment was quiet and comfortable, fully equipped.
Emily asked about the follow-up care - just some IV nutrition, which wouldn't affect the baby.
She lay on the bed and let out a breath. "Anna, go back and bring me my sketchpad and laptop. Otherwise I'll be bored just sitting here."
"Sure thing, Mrs. Baker! I'll go right now!" Anna readily agreed.
At the Baker family villa, Alex sat in his study, fingers unconsciously tapping the desk.
Though he was handling company business, his eyes kept glancing at his phone.
His brows furrowed.
It had been so long - why were there still no results from the hospital?
Suddenly, someone knocked on the study door.
"Come in."
Alex didn't even look up.
Anna walked in carefully. "Sir, Miss Johnson's test results are in. She's not pregnant."
Alex narrowed his eyes.
Not pregnant...
For some reason, he felt inexplicably disappointed.
But then he thought again, his thin lips curving into a mocking smile. Of course - how could Emily possibly be pregnant?
"Okay." Alex responded and dismissed her.
Anna hesitated slightly but ultimately didn't mention Emily's weak condition.
In the hospital room.
Emily lazily leaned against the headboard and sent a message to Sophia on her phone. [Ms. Lee, something came up on my end. I might need to delay my flight to Paris by two days. I'll contact you as soon as I've handled things.]
After sending it, she gently touched her belly, her eyes full of maternal tenderness.
For the next two days, Emily had a relatively peaceful time at the hospital.
Anna came daily to bring three meals, while she focused on her drawings.
This way she avoided all topics related to Alex and Grace.
However, the peace didn't last long.
Alex actually showed up with a fruit basket to visit.
Talk about the sun rising in the west.
Emily glanced at it indifferently, then lowered her eyes.
How ironic.
Sitting on top of the fruit basket were mangoes.
She was allergic to mangoes. After living together for three years, Alex had no idea.
If it were Grace, would he be this careless?
Seeing the two seemed to have things to discuss, Anna tactfully left.
Inside the room, silence.
Emily was long used to it and didn't feel awkward at all. She continued working on her sketch.
Alex pressed his thin lips together and walked straight to the hospital bed, his voice as cold and detached as always. "Feeling better?"
Emily didn't even look up. "Thanks to you, I'm not dead yet."
Her icy, barbed tone made whatever warmth was on Alex's face instantly disappear.
"Today is Mom's birthday banquet. Since we're not officially divorced yet, you should attend."
Emily's pen paused. She looked up.
In the end, he still needed her to play the role of wife.
Otherwise his mother and the guests would be unhappy, and he'd lose face.
After a moment of silence, Emily softly agreed. "Let me finish this drawing, then have Anna pack up."
"Fine." Alex agreed readily.
An hour later.
Emily put away her sketchpad and laptop and got into Alex's luxury car.
The whole way, neither spoke.
The dress for the family banquet was newly bought, and the jewelry was still what Margaret had given her before.
Emily didn't want to dress too lavishly - dignified and elegant was enough.
Before dark, the car pulled into the Baker family estate.
"Emmie darling, you're finally back!" Margaret beamed as soon as she saw them enter.
At least this boy hadn't wasted her efforts.
Emily smiled and sweetly called out, "Grandma."
But before she could sit down, Alex's gaze shifted toward the entrance.
There, a graceful and gentle figure was slowly approaching.
Grace wore a haute couture gown, her makeup exquisite, a proper smile on her face. "Alex, Grandma."
That one sentence made Margaret's face darken. "Miss Miller, don't go claiming relatives. I can't accept being called that by you."
But Emily, standing to the side, had her attention caught by the dazzling diamond necklace around Grace's neck.
Even the bracelet on Grace's wrist was part of a matching set - a limited edition from this year's international jewelry exhibition, worth a fortune.
Clearly, Alex had specially prepared all this for Grace.
Emily's heart felt like something was viciously squeezing it, a dense, spreading pain.