Chapter 100
Morgan sat in the reception area, his gaze lost, and his face filled with despondency. He was still processing the scene he had witnessed earlier—Laura and Nick together—and it seemed to have left a deep hole in his heart. Loren, arriving at the reception, noticed Morgan's dejected state from a distance.
"Are you okay?" Loren asked.
Morgan lifted his head and looked at Loren with a cold stare, saying, "I'm fine. Our daughter is not. What's the point of having a phone if you don't answer it?"
"I told you, I didn’t notice the calls. My phone was on silent," Loren replied.
"How can someone with a small child put their phone on silent and forget that they're a mother? I didn't call just once—I called numerous times."
"I’ve already explained what happened. Let's go see how she's doing. Did you talk to the doctor?"
“If you try to deceive me, I’ll leave you immediately. You know, the only reason I’ve stayed near you is for our child. Don’t test my patience—at least be a good mother.”
“Go ahead, call my father. Now, because of one mistake, you think I'm always trying to deceive you? That’s not fair.”
“Come on, let’s see our daughter. I don’t want to hear anything else.”
Morgan and Loren entered the pediatric room with anxious expressions on their faces. The room was softly lit, with light-colored walls and children’s drawings. In the center of the room, Sophie lay on a small bed, surrounded by machines monitoring her vital signs. The rhythmic sound of the heart monitor filled the air.
The pediatrician, a middle-aged woman with kind eyes, turned to Morgan and Loren as they entered. "Hello, you must be Sophie’s parents," she said, her voice calm but firm. "We're monitoring some of her vital signs to ensure everything is as expected."
She paused, looking at the worried faces of Morgan and Loren, then continued, "So far, her signs are stable, which is a good indication. We’ll keep a close watch, but I want you to know that we're doing everything we can to ensure Sophie will be okay."
Loren held Morgan's hand, seeking mutual comfort as they looked at little Sophie, so fragile yet fighting so hard. The pediatrician, sensing the tension in the room, approached them and added, "I know it’s difficult to see your daughter like this, but I want you to trust that we're here to help her. If you need anything, I'm here to answer all your questions."
Morgan and Loren, still holding hands, looked at the pediatrician with eyes full of gratitude. Morgan was the first to speak, his voice heavy with emotion. “Doctor, we don’t have enough words to thank you for what you're doing for our little Sophie. We know she’s in good hands, and that gives us a peace we can’t even express.”
Loren, with tears welling up in her eyes, added, “It’s so hard to see our daughter like this, but your care and attention have made all the difference for us. We feel that Sophie is getting all the love and care she needs, and for that, we are eternally grateful.”
The pediatrician smiled softly, touched by their sincere words. “It’s my duty and honor to care for Sophie,” she replied kindly. “She’s a fighter, and we're all here to support that fight. Keep being the strength she needs. You are incredible parents.”
With one last reassuring look, the pediatrician stepped away, heading toward the door. “I’ll leave you two to enjoy this moment with her,” she said as she opened the door. “I'll be around if you need me.”
As the doctor exited, she bumped into Laura, who was entering the room to nurse Miran.
The pediatric therapy room was quiet, with only the soft sound of the monitors in the background. Morgan and Loren were holding hands, exchanging worried looks and silent words, when the soft sound of the door opening drew their attention. They turned to see Laura entering, carrying little Miran in her arms, ready to nurse him.
As soon as Laura entered, her eyes instantly fell on Morgan and Loren’s hands, intertwined in a gesture of mutual support. The atmosphere became charged with tension. Morgan, sensing the situation, released Loren’s hands, who immediately shot him a look of anger, her expression hardening. The tension only increased when Loren, in a provocative tone, asked, "What are you doing here?"
Laura, clearly uncomfortable, let out a nervous laugh before responding, "For the same reason you are."
Morgan, feeling the situation getting out of control, tried to intervene. "Loren, leave Laura alone. This is not the time."
But Loren didn’t back down. With a sarcastic smile, she shot back, "Is Nick the father, or one of your millions of boyfriends?" The provocation carried a tone of contempt, and she laughed as if the idea were a cruel joke.
Laura took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. "Unlike you, I know who the father of my child is. Now, if the one you call a father is one, only God knows. I would be careful, Morgan. A woman who slept with your brother for years can deceive anyone."
Laura’s words were like a spark in a powder keg. Loren, furious, lunged toward Laura, but Morgan, anticipating the reaction, quickly grabbed her and pulled her out of the room. Loren struggled against Morgan's grip, her eyes full of anger and hurt, but he didn’t let go, determined to avoid an even bigger scene.
Laura stood where she was, her heart racing, holding Miran tighter as she watched Morgan and Loren leave the room. When the door closed behind them, the silence returned, but the tension in the air still felt palpable. Laura took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure, and finally sat down to nurse Miran, hoping the moment of peace she desperately needed would finally come.
Already outside, Morgan firmly pulled Loren, his patience exhausted. "What’s your problem?" he asked, his voice low but filled with restrained fury.
Loren, her face still flushed with anger, responded with equal intensity. "My problem? You heard what she said! How can she insinuate that our daughter is Nick’s? You saw the DNA test yourself!"
Morgan, trying to stay calm but shaken, replied, "Anyone who knew how close you and Nick were for years would think the same thing. But that’s beside the point. We’re in a hospital, Loren. Behave. Our daughter needed you by her side, and you couldn’t even bother to answer the phone. So don’t cause a scene thinking I’ve forgotten about that."
Loren crossed her arms defensively. "I’ve explained what happened a million times, but it seems like you don’t want to understand. You just want to justify your precious, Laura."
Morgan stepped forward, his eyes shining with frustration. "Don’t bring her into this thinking you’ll get away with it."
At that moment, a nurse passing by in the corridor noticed the elevated tone of the discussion. She approached with a concerned but professional expression. "Sir, ma’am, please calm down. You’re in a hospital, and we need you to continue your conversation outside so as not to disturb the other patients."
Morgan closed his eyes for a moment, trying to gather the necessary calm. He knew the nurse was right. Loren, on the other hand, rolled her eyes but stayed quiet.