Chapter 97 — Afraid of getting divorced?

"Honey, do you want to sit there or up front again?" Lyyana asked, gently stroking Garret's head.

"Here, Mama." Lyyana nodded and returned to sit beside Petra.

After Lyyana buckled her seatbelt, Petra drove to the hospital where Berli was being treated. Within 30 minutes, Petra’s car arrived at the parking lot of the mother and child hospital. Lyyana got out after Petra opened the door for her and Garret.

Petra carried Garret in one arm and held Lyyana’s hand with the other as they headed to the hospital lobby to sign the guest book. After registering, they were directed to a guest elevator that would take them to the floor where Berli's room was located.

Upon reaching the floor they needed, they scanned the area for Berli's room. Their gaze stopped on Denzel, who was sitting at the end of the hallway with his head bowed, the operating room light clearly on. "Is Berli in surgery?" Lyyana asked, turning to Petra, who was staring straight at Denzel.

"I don't know, honey. Let's go find out." Lyyana nodded and walked alongside Petra towards Denzel.

When they stood in front of Denzel, Petra touched his shoulder. "Denzel," Petra called, gently patting his shoulder.

Denzel looked up and stood when he saw it was Petra. He hugged Petra without hesitation or shame. Petra returned the hug; luckily, Garret had moved to Lyyana, or he might have been squished between Petra and Denzel.

"Hang in there, everything will be alright." Petra patted Denzel’s back a few times until he finally released the embrace.

"Thank you for taking the trouble to come here," Denzel said in a hoarse voice and weary expression.

Petra and Lyyana nodded. "It's no trouble. How's Berli?"

"This morning, our baby was removed from Berli's womb, but earlier, Berli hit her stomach, causing the stitches to reopen. She's undergoing treatment now. I can’t bear to see the sadness on her face. What should I do, Petra, Lyyana?"

Petra and Lyyana were silent, unsure of what to say to Denzel since they hadn't experienced what Denzel and Berli were going through. "I failed to ensure the house was safe. I shouldn't have let Berli go to the bathroom alone."

"Stop blaming yourself. Will blaming yourself bring your baby back? It won’t. What's done is done, so learn from it for the future," Lyyana said, frustrated by Denzel’s self-blame, reminding him that he was the head of the family.

"You're the husband, the head of your little family. Don't be weak. If you blame yourself and Berli blames herself, then who will be sane in this household? You need to be mature. This has happened, improve yourself, and don’t repeat the mistake," Petra added, patting Denzel’s shoulder.

"You have no idea how it feels, Petra‼"

"Have you forgotten, Denzel? I lost my entire family! For years, I blamed myself, and what did I get? Nothing‼ Only guilt and fear. Was I happy? No‼" Petra shouted, matching Denzel's earlier intensity.

Sensing the escalating tension, Lyyana gently rubbed Petra’s arm, hoping to calm him down. She knew Petra didn’t intend to shout or cause a scene in public; he was just triggered by Denzel’s tone.

"Enough, it’s not good to argue in a hospital. This isn't the time to blame each other. We should support Berli so she doesn’t feel worse," Lyyana interjected, mediating between the two men.

Shortly after their conversation, the operating room light went off. The large door opened, revealing a nurse and the doctor who had treated Berli. "The patient's treatment is complete. We've replaced the stitches with better ones. Ensure the patient’s mental state remains stable, and don't let her dwell on this event too much, even though it’s difficult." Denzel nodded and thanked the healthcare workers.

After waiting for 20 minutes, Berli’s hospital bed emerged from the operating room. Her pale and exhausted face was evident. "Lyyana?" she called weakly.

"Lyyana, I lost my baby—" Berli stammered, still feeling faint and weak.

Lyyana just nodded, "I... ."

"Darling, don't be like this," Denzel said, gently patting his wife's head. However, to everyone's surprise, Berli refused Denzel's hand and tried to distance herself from him.

"Sweetheart, what's wrong with you?" Denzel asked, still trying to persuade Berli.

Berli shook her head and didn't want to be close to him, her attitude confusing and worrying Denzel. Lyyana took the initiative to talk to Berli face-to-face, as it would be much more comfortable for Berli to confide in her fellow woman.

Initially, Denzel refused Lyyana's suggestion because he wanted to always be by Berli's side no matter what. Fortunately, Petra understood Lyyana's intention. She tapped Denzel's shoulder and asked him to step out for a moment. "Dad, Garret will stay here, okay? To keep mom company?" Garret requested, holding Lyyana's hand.

Petra looked at Lyyana, waiting for her response. Lyyana nodded and smiled. "Alright, then take care of mom and aunty Berli, okay?" Petra instructed Garret, the toddler nodding eagerly.

Before leaving the room, Petra briefly kissed Lyyana on the forehead as usual. After the departure of the two adult men, her attention focused on Berli, who was staring at her, and the saddened Garret. "It seems like this is punishment from God for me for being mean to Garret, this innocent and sinless toddler," Berli murmured, looking at Garret sadly.

"Shh, you must not say that. Be sad as much as you need to and be happy as much as you can. I know the feeling of loss, pain, and guilt, but remember, your life and Denzel's must go on. When you were in the operating room earlier, Denzel blamed himself, and now you're blaming yourself. If that's the case, this problem will never end. Your baby in heaven must be sad seeing his parents arguing and blaming themselves," Lyyana comforted.

"But... what if Denzel divorces me?" Berli suddenly asked.

Hearing Berli's words, Lyyana was taken aback. She turned her head and looked at Berli in surprise. "Where did you get that idea?"