Chapter 75 Wants another chance

Chapter 75 Wants another chance
As April and Richard stepped out of the hospital, all eyes turned in their direction. The whispers started almost immediately, spreading like wildfire through the corridors. 
Nurses, doctors, and patients alike paused in their tracks, unable to ignore the sight of Dr. April Harrington leaving with none other than Richard Dowell, the billionaire.
“Is that really him?” one of the nurses whispered, nudging her colleague.
“Of course it is. Look at him. Who else could pull off a suit like that?”
“But why is he with Dr. Harrington? Since when does she have connections to someone like him or is it because she performed surgery on him?”
The murmurs continued as Richard walked ahead and smoothly opened the car door for April. 
She hesitated for a second, feeling self-conscious under all the stares. 
She had never liked being the center of attention, and right now, it felt like the entire hospital was watching.
“Get in,” Richard said, his voice calm but firm.
April swallowed and stepped inside, trying not to let her discomfort show. 
She wasn’t used to being treated like some delicate lady, and she definitely wasn’t used to a man like him—her ex-husband—acting so attentive.
Richard closed the door and moved around to the driver’s seat, slipping in beside her. The second the door shut, the murmurs outside faded, but April could still feel the weight of their curiosity.
He started the car, his hands gripping the wheel with practiced ease. 
The luxury of the vehicle was undeniable, from the smooth leather seats to the faint scent of expensive cologne lingering in the air.
April shifted uncomfortably. “You really didn’t have to do all that back there,” she muttered.
Richard glanced at her. “Do what?”
“Opening the door. Making a scene.”
A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. “Since when is being a gentleman considered making a scene?”
April huffed, crossing her arms. “Since people started staring like we were some kind of spectacle.”
“You are a spectacle, April,” he said, his voice teasing but with an underlying seriousness. “And not just because of me. People admire you.”
She scoffed, looking out the window. “I doubt that.”
The rest of the drive was quiet, aside from the soft hum of the engine. 
April tried not to think too much about how effortlessly Richard controlled the car or how confident he looked behind the wheel.
Soon, they arrived at an upscale restaurant. 
The valet quickly approached, and Richard handed over his keys before stepping out and walking around to open April’s door again.
She gave him a flat look. “Are you planning to keep doing this all night?”
He chuckled. “Yes. Now get out.”
She sighed but stepped out, letting him close the door behind her. Together, they walked into the restaurant, and just like at the hospital, eyes followed them.
The hostess greeted them with a polite smile and led them to a private booth in the back, away from the main dining area. 
April felt relieved at the privacy, though she still felt a bit out of place.
After ordering their food, an awkward silence settled between them. Richard, not wanting the dinner to feel uncomfortable, decided to break it.
“So,” he started, leaning slightly forward, “how has it been for you, being back in the city?”
April took a sip of water before answering. “It’s been… busy. Work keeps me on my toes.”
“I can imagine,” he said. “Being a doctor must be exhausting.”
“It is,” she admitted, “but I love it. This is what I always wanted to do.”
Richard tilted his head slightly. “You always wanted to be a doctor?”
April nodded. “Yeah. Ever since I was a kid. But my father never supported me. He refused to pay for my education, so I had to find my own way.”
Richard frowned. “I never knew that.”
She gave him a wry smile. “There’s a lot you didn’t know about me, Richard.”
He studied her for a moment, as if trying to piece together the parts of her life he had missed.
And then, as the conversation continued, he felt the moment was right to ask about the one thing that had been on his mind ever since Ethan brought him the information.
He wiped his mouth with a napkin, set it down, and leaned back in his seat. “April,” he started carefully, “have you remarried?”
April scoffed, raising an eyebrow. “Do I look like someone who has time for a man?”
Richard gave a small chuckle. “I don’t know. You could be hiding a secret husband somewhere.”
She rolled her eyes. “No. After our divorce, I focused on my studies and worked hard to become a doctor. That was my dream, and I wasn’t going to let anything distract me.”
Richard nodded slowly, but that only made him more confused. If she hadn’t remarried, then… where did the kids come from?
His fingers tapped against the table as he debated how to phrase his next question. He didn’t want to upset her, but he had to ask.
Taking a deep breath, he finally let the words slip out. “Then where did the kids come from?”
April froze. Her entire body stiffened, her hand tightening around her fork. For a split second, her mind went blank.
Richard knew.
She wasn’t sure how he knew, but he did.
Swallowing hard, she forced herself to stay calm. She set her fork down, wiped her mouth, and looked at him with an expression as neutral as she could manage. “How did you find out?”
Richard held her gaze. “I never stopped looking for you, April.” His voice was quiet but firm.
“After you left, I hired private investigators to track you down. None of them ever found anything, but when you came back, it didn’t take long to discover you had children.”
April’s heart pounded against her chest. She tried to keep her expression unreadable, but her mind was racing. He didn’t seem to know everything yet.
“Yes,” she finally said, her voice steady. “I have kids.”
Richard studied her carefully, waiting for her to elaborate. When she didn’t, he nodded slowly. “I see.”
A heavy silence hung between them. April could feel her palms sweating, but she didn’t dare wipe them on her dress. She had to keep herself together.
Then, Richard spoke again, his voice softer this time. “As long as you’re not married or with their father… I believe I still have a chance to be with you.”
April’s breath hitched. 
She looked at him, searching his face for any sign that he was joking. But he wasn’t. 
His eyes were serious, filled with an emotion she couldn’t quite place.
She felt her chest tighten, her thoughts spiraling.
Richard wanted another chance?
He had no idea.
No idea that the children he was talking about were his own.