Chapter 110: She Pushed Cleo
The instructor grinned, "You two dads are something else. Next up is the big one, level ten pain, the kind our moms feel during childbirth. Think you can handle it?"
As soon as he said that, the level ten pain indicator on the childbirth simulator lit up.
Nolan's face twisted in agony as the intense cramping hit his abdomen.
Meanwhile, Dorian barely flinched, just a light sheen of sweat on his forehead.
Cleo and Anne both got tense, but Anne was more worried, while Cleo's competitive streak kicked in. Cleo clenched her fists, hoping Nolan could tough it out longer than Dorian.
In the end, Nolan couldn't take it and rolled off the simulator, and Cleo's face showed clear disappointment.
Nolan struggled to get up, but no one helped him, so he had to do it on his own.
As he stood, he glanced at Anne, but her eyes were fixed on Dorian.
Dorian held on for over ten minutes before the instructor finally stopped the machine, and the room burst into applause, everyone cheering for Dorian's endurance.
"Mrs. Windsor, you're so lucky to have such a loving husband."
"To endure level ten pain, he must really love you."
The pregnant moms genuinely envied Anne, while Cleo was fuming and stormed off.
Anne kept her eyes on Dorian, and when she saw him trying to get up, she quickly reached out to help him, concerned. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Dorian said, noticing a hint of tears in Anne's eyes. He gently touched the corner of her eye.
Anne flinched like she'd been shocked. "I'm going to the restroom!" she blurted out.
She turned and left, not wanting anyone to see her almost cry.
Anne said she was going to the restroom but actually hid in the stairwell.
In the empty stairwell, she heard someone above her on the phone. Listening carefully, she recognized Cleo's voice.
"Why are you still calling me? How many times have I told you not to call me? If Nolan finds out, all my plans will be ruined!"
Anne quietly hid in a corner, holding her breath.
"I know! The child is yours. Once I get all of Nolan's money, I'll come to you with the child. Why can't you understand that?"
"What? Harm Nolan? Are you crazy? Killing someone means going to jail! Do you want me and the child to suffer with you?"
Cleo angrily hung up the phone, catching Anne off guard. She tiptoed, trying to sneak away quietly.
"Anne?"
Cleo walked down the stairs and spotted her. "What are you doing here?"
Her brow twitched wildly. Had Anne heard the conversation?
Anne turned indifferently. "Nothing, just getting some fresh air."
Cleo, looking wary, pressed. "Did you hear what I just said?"
"Yeah, I heard everything." Anne decided to be honest. "But it has nothing to do with me."
She shrugged and turned to leave, but Cleo viciously grabbed her arm, "You want to leave? Are you going to tell Nolan that the child in my belly isn't his?"
"Let go!" Anne snapped coldly.
Cleo held on tightly, her face twisted with madness. "You want to ruin my relationship with Nolan so you can get back with him, right?"
"I don't know what you're talking about. Let go!"
Anne was confused and tried to shake off Cleo's hand. Suddenly, Cleo's grip loosened, and she started to fall backward. Instinctively, Anne reached out to grab her but only managed to catch her clothes.
Cleo gave her a terrifying smile before rolling down the stairs. The stairwell echoed with heavy thudding sounds as Anne watched Cleo tumble down the steps, her belly striking a sharp corner.
People rushed over at the noise, and some pregnant moms screamed in fright at the sight of Cleo lying there. Nolan was the first to rush down the stairs, scooping up the writhing Cleo.
"It's okay, I'll call an ambulance right now. Someone call an ambulance!"
Nolan shouted for someone to call emergency services. Cleo clutched his collar with one hand and pointed a trembling finger at Anne with the other, tears in her eyes. "Nolan, it was her, she pushed me."
"Our baby, the baby." Cleo's mournful cry was the last thing she said before passing out.
Everyone turned hostile eyes toward Anne, who stood there in shock, unable to fully process what had happened.
She never imagined Cleo would use the child in her belly as a bargaining chip, willing to sacrifice the baby to frame her.
Murmurs began to spread through the crowd.
"What a vicious woman, pushing a pregnant lady. If there's no way to save her, it would be the loss of two lives. What deep-seated grudge could possibly drive her to do such a thing?"
"I heard Mr. Jones is this Mrs. Windsor's ex-husband!"
"Ex-husband? So she did it out of jealousy! She couldn't stand her ex-husband and his current wife being happy, so she cruelly harmed his wife and child! How malicious!"
Anne ignored the gossip around her. Her legs went weak, and she wobbled, almost unable to stand. Dorian appeared in time to support her. She looked up at his sharp jawline, feeling a sliver of safety.
Dorian's face was stern as he coldly scanned the crowd. "Shut your mouths."
His commanding presence silenced everyone, and no one dared to criticize Anne further.
"Let's go, I'll take you away."
Dorian supported Anne, but she grabbed his arm. "No, I'm not going back. I want to go to the hospital!"
She looked at Dorian with determination. She needed to be at the hospital, not let Cleo pin the blame on her.
"Okay, I'll go with you."
Seeing Anne's resolve, Dorian agreed to accompany her.
When they arrived at the hospital, Cleo had already been taken into surgery.
Her belly had been injured, and she might have to give birth prematurely, assuming her condition allowed it.
Cleo's fate was uncertain inside the operating room. Outside, Nolan sat in a chair, rubbing his head in deep remorse.
Anne and Dorian had just arrived when doctors and nurses with medical kits rushed over. Anne looked confused. "What's this?"
"I called them. You were also shocked earlier, so you should get checked out." Dorian said, his voice filled with concern.
Worried about Anne's health, Dorian watched as she obediently sat in a chair for the examination. Once it was confirmed she was fine, Dorian finally felt relieved.