Chapter 209
"I'm not leaving." Catherine's face remained calm, but her voice held unwavering determination.
Philip heard her response, his expression growing increasingly severe. He turned to Alex, shouting, "Alex, are you looking to lose your job?"
Feeling precarious, Alex quickly followed Philip's instructions and went to call security.
With Alex gone, the hallway outside the operating room was instantly engulfed in deathly silence.
Catherine stole several glances at Philip, noticing how he stared anxiously at the operating room doors. She understood his concern was entirely focused on Rowan.
Pressing her lips together, Catherine slowly stood and approached him.
Philip sensed someone drawing near, the cold aura around him intensifying.
"I'll stay with you..." Catherine spoke softly, uncertain what else to say.
Philip had no interest in taking with Catherine. He had more pressing concerns than dealing with her and chose to treat her as if she were invisible.
Time crawled by, seeming far slower than usual.
Philip remained standing, and Catherine didn't dare sit down. She kept an appropriate distance, standing quietly beside him.
Finally, the operating room doors opened. Cassius emerged, still wearing his surgical gloves, and hurried to reassure Philip.
"Don't worry, Mrs. Foster is fine."
Hearing Cassius's words, Philip's expression finally softened.
Cassius turned to Catherine, noticing her pale face and the alarming red marks on her neck. She looked utterly disheveled.
Cassius's expression darkened instantly.
"Philip, did you put your hands on her?"
He'd brought Catherine to help calm Philip, not to become a target for his anger.
Philip ignored Cassius's question, asking instead, "When will my mother be brought out?"
Cassius frowned, responding with reluctance, "Soon. She'll be out soon."
After checking on Catherine and receiving her assurance that she was fine, Cassius returned to the operating room.
Learning that Rowan was safe, Catherine felt relief wash over her.
She glanced sideways at the tall, imposing man beside her and offered a gentle smile.
"I'm so glad Rowan is alright."
Philip scoffed, completely unmoved by her attempt at kindness.
"Yes, my mother is fine. Which means the people you care about will be fine too, isn't that right?"
Catherine's eyes reddened as she fought back the hurt. She forced a smile. "Yes, that's right."
Her straightforward agreement only fueled Philip's anger.
Just then, Rowan was wheeled from the operating room by attendants and nurses, headed for her private room.
Alex returned with several security guards, considerably delayed.
Philip gave them a cold glance, his voice frigid and harsh. "Were you recruiting from hell? Why bother coming back at all?"
Alex didn't dare argue, only offering an awkward apology.
Philip ignored Alex and the security team, striding toward his mother's room.
With Philip gone, Catherine visibly relaxed.
"Thank you, Alex."
She understood Alex's deliberate delay was his way of helping her.
Alex smiled. "Philip's words never match his feelings. He actually wants you to stay."
Catherine forced a bitter smile.
"Now that Rowan is safe, I don't want to make things difficult for you. I'll leave on my own."
As Catherine left the hospital, she felt a dull ache in her lower abdomen.
Something suddenly occurred to her, and she quietly made her way to the obstetrics department to find Lyra Cole.
In the VIP hospital room, Philip stared at his still-unconscious mother, his expression grim.
Alex entered the room and quietly called out, "Mr. Foster."
Philip stepped out into the adjoining sitting area.
"Where is she?"
Alex straightened his posture, his expression severe and professional.
"She's been escorted out." He made an exaggerated sweeping gesture. "Security showed her the door!"
Philip flashed a cold smile. "Did they touch her?"
Alex carefully chose his words. "No, absolutely not!"
Nobody would dare touch Catherine, knowing she was Philip's woman.
Philip gave him a cold look. "If they didn't touch her, how exactly was she 'escorted' out?"
Alex frowned, realizing his earlier response had been careless.
"Mr. Foster, Miss Levin left on her own."
Philip let out a contemptuous snort, the hostility radiating from him undiminished. "So much for her patience!"
All her talk about staying with him—nothing but lies.
Alex stood at attention, loyally suggesting, "Miss Levin probably hasn't gone far. I could—"
Philip shot Alex a cold glare, and Alex immediately fell silent.
Alex pressed his lips together, thinking to himself, 'A man's heart is as unfathomable as the ocean floor.'
Philip clearly wanted her to stay, yet he put on such a fierce face that drove her away.
"How are things with the Wests?" Philip changed the subject, getting straight to business.
"Terry and James are trying to suppress the news, but it's not working well."
Philip sat down on the sofa and asked, "What about Elizabeth?"
Alex replied, "The police asked her to give a statement, but they didn't detain her since there's no concrete evidence yet. We have Marcella in our custody, and without witness testimony, Cecil can only create some noise through the media for now."
Philip let out a cold laugh. "Do you think Cecil is an idiot?"
Alex furrowed his brow, also feeling uneasy.
Cecil hadn't spent a fortune buying media outlets just to generate public pressure. He must have further moves planned.
Philip's long fingers tapped lightly on the sofa armrest, his demeanor composed. "Have the PR department issue a statement: Effective immediately, all cooperation with the West Group is terminated."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "You're completely cutting ties with the West Group?"
"What else would you suggest?" Philip's expression remained indifferent. "Shouldn't Elizabeth pay for her reckless actions?"
Alex nodded in agreement.
Indeed, this entire mess began with Elizabeth framing Catherine, then poisoning Rowan. If not for Elizabeth's schemes against Catherine, neither Alvin nor Rowan would have fallen ill, and things wouldn't have escalated to this point.
Alex said, "Understood. I'll head back to the office to arrange it."
Meanwhile, at the obstetrics department, Lyra Cole looked at Catherine's test results, her expression grave.
"Yes, you're pregnant."
Catherine's eyes momentarily lit up with surprise, but before she could speak, Lyra continued, "But the embryo is implanted in the fallopian tube. It's an ectopic pregnancy."
Catherine's smile froze, shock replacing her fleeting joy.
She picked up the ultrasound report and examined it carefully for a long time.
It truly was an ectopic pregnancy.
Lyra advised, "The embryo is only three weeks along. I recommend immediate hospitalization and surgery."
Catherine's thoughts were in turmoil, her face growing increasingly pale as she remained silent.
Lyra was even more anxious than Catherine. "Catherine, what are you thinking? The sooner you have the surgery, the less impact it will have on your body. You shouldn't hesitate!"
Catherine took a deep breath. "Dr. Cole, I'd like to ask a favor."
Lyra frowned, puzzled. "What favor?"
Catherine lowered her gaze, her expression filled with melancholy.
"I'll schedule the surgery soon," she paused before continuing, "but I need you to help me with something first, and I hope you won't ask why."
Philip was about to leave the hospital when Lyra called him.
Philip typically avoided wasting time on people of little consequence, and Lyra was perceptive enough to meet him directly in the parking garage.
"Mr. Foster."
Philip glanced at Lyra in her white coat, taking out his car keys and pressing the unlock button.
"Make it quick." Clearly, Philip wasn't inclined to give Lyra much time to speak.
Seeing Philip's coldness, Lyra couldn't help feeling sorry for Catherine.
She pulled a test report from her pocket and handed it to Philip, getting straight to the point. "Catherine is pregnant. This is her test report."
Philip, who had been about to enter his car, froze for about two seconds.
He reached out to take the test report, seeing the result: [positive HCG.]
Lyra observed Philip's expression carefully.
His handsome, sharply defined face maintained its characteristic coolness.
"Catherine asked me not to tell anyone, but she left the hospital this afternoon looking very distressed. I was worried, so..."
"I understand."
Philip coldly interrupted Lyra, regarding her impassively. "Anything else?"
Lyra quickly shook her head. "No..."
The favor Catherine had asked of her seemed complete.
Philip folded Catherine's test report and placed it in his suit pocket, then drove away.
That night, Catherine had been scheduled for the night shift, but due to her condition, she requested a few days off from Cassius.
Perhaps feeling guilty about what had happened with Philip that afternoon, Cassius granted her leave without question.
Back at her apartment, Catherine collapsed on the sofa, exhausted.
She cradled her belly, thinking of the "time bomb" growing inside her. Her outward composure instantly crumbled.
She feared the "bomb" exploding, yet also regretted not being able to carry a child that could be born normally.
She hadn't turned on the lights when she returned to her apartment. The living room remained dark, with even the moonlight seeming reluctant to shine through the balcony.
Catherine smiled bitterly.
Suddenly, she thought perhaps it was for the best that this child couldn't be born normally.
Her life had already been so unfortunate. If the child became another tool in her revenge, wouldn't that be even more tragic?
Fortunately, it was an ectopic pregnancy. Otherwise, the child would be both pitiful and innocent.
Suddenly, the door at the entrance opened, and the living room lights switched on.