Chapter 149
James's question made everyone in the hospital room focus their eyes on me.
Liliana looked at me nervously, while Indigo frowned with a "beyond help" expression on her face.
I looked at the extremely anxious James and calmly spoke, giving him a definite answer.
"Yes, the child is yours. Andrew and I are just friends. There has never been anything inappropriate between us, and there's no way I could be pregnant with his child."
My words were like a stone thrown into a calm lake, stirring up huge waves in James's heart.
The color drained from his face, then was flooded with wild joy, which was then covered by regret and guilt that nearly drowned him.
"Really... really mine?" he mumbled repeatedly. "But that night, I saw Andrew leaving your apartment with my own eyes, and there was a delivery guy bringing condoms..."
His voice dropped at the end: "What exactly happened?"
He fell into deep doubt.
I said coldly, "He came to see me that night, sat for a while, and then left. As for the condoms you mentioned, I never ordered anything like that, and I never saw them."
"If you have doubts, you can check my phone and see if I ever bought condoms."
"Or maybe you could ask Amelia - I think she might know where those condoms came from."
James looked like he'd been hit hard, his body swaying slightly, his eyes dark: "Amelia actually dared to scheme against me."
"Finally figured it out?" Indigo snorted coldly. "Being played by a woman, not even trusting your own wife - James, you're truly foolish!"
James knelt on the ground, gripping the badge so tightly that its sharp edges cut into his palm.
He looked up at me, his eyes so red they seemed ready to bleed.
"Sophia, I'm sorry, I... I didn't doubt you. Actually, I... I also thought the child might be mine, but you personally admitted that time that the child was Andrew's, and Andrew didn't deny it either, so I..." He was incoherent.
"So it is mine, it really is my child. I'm so happy, thank you."
I looked at him, feeling nothing inside. "Now that you know, so what? Are you going to fight me for the child?"
"James, you wronged me - you shouldn't have the nerve to fight me for the child, right?"
"If you're really that shameless and insist on fighting me for the child, I will definitely fight you to the end."
James shook his head: "Sophia, I have no intention of fighting you for custody. What I mean is, if possible, could you give me another chance to take care of you and the child?"
"It will definitely be hard for you to raise the child alone, and when the child is born, without a father, it will be hard for them too. For the child's sake, could you reconsider me? After all, a stepfather could never be as good as me, the biological father."
I stared at him coldly: "Be with you and raise the child like a widow? James, you hurt me so deeply - what makes you think I would get back together with you for the child's sake?"
"So what if it's hard for me to raise the child alone? Why do you think the husband I find in the future won't be as good as you?"
Forgiving him would be betraying my past self, who was hurt so badly by him. I can't do it.
My series of questions made all the color drain from James's face. He shook his head, wanting to say something but not daring to.
He could see I was angry now, and continuing would only add fuel to the fire.
"Let me make this clear today." I sat up straight, my tone serious. "The child is mine. I will give birth to it and raise it."
"I won't stop you from exercising your rights as the biological father to visit the child, but on one condition - you must follow my rules and absolutely cannot fight me for custody."
I stared at James: "If you dare to think about taking the child, James, I swear I will disappear with the child completely, where you'll never find us. I mean what I say."
My voice wasn't loud, but it carried an iron determination.
"I promise you," James said hoarsely, each word like torture to himself. "I won't fight you for the child."
"Everything can be as you say, as long as... as long as you let me see you both occasionally."
He paused, then looked up, pleading in the most humble tone: "Sophia, I know I'm not qualified... but I still want to make it up to you. You can ask for anything."
"Not needed." I refused firmly. "The child and I don't need your compensation."
"The only thing you can do is stay away from us and not drag us into your problems anymore, disrupting our peaceful life."
The light in James's eyes completely went out.
He lowered his head, his shoulders slumping.
Seeing James like this, Indigo felt sorry for him after all, but she also knew this was all his own doing.
She waved her hand: "Alright, James, let's go and let Sophia rest."
James struggled to stand up. Having knelt for too long, his knees sent sharp pain through him, and he stumbled.
He took one last deep look at me, then turned around and dragged his heavy steps out of the hospital room, one step at a time.
His retreating figure looked desolate, as if he had aged ten years in an instant.
The hospital room became quiet again.
Indigo didn't leave with him but held my hand: "Sophia, you've really been through so much. It's all my fault for being presumptuous. If I had spoken up about these things earlier, maybe your outcome today would have been different."
I shook my head: "Grandma, it's all in the past. There's no point talking about it now. I don't want to think about anything now, I just want to safely give birth to the child and let them grow up healthy and happy."
Indigo wiped the corners of her eyes: "Don't worry, as long as I'm alive, no one will bully you and the child. Even if I die one day, I will definitely arrange everything for you and the child so you won't be bullied."
Liliana also came over and hugged me: "Sophia, I'll be with you from now on, protecting you and the baby!"
Looking at them, I felt warmth flowing through my heart.
Although my love life has been rough, I have friends and family who care about me. My life isn't so bad after all.
I stayed in the hospital for a few days. The doctor said my condition was stable and approved my discharge.
Indigo's health had also mostly recovered, and my plans to go abroad should be put on the agenda.
When Liliana learned I was going abroad, she insisted on coming with me.
"You're pregnant now, it's not convenient for you to be alone."
"What about your studies?" I smiled.
Liliana cupped her face: "I'll tell my parents to help me transfer schools there."
I refused: "That's too much trouble."
"It's not trouble, not at all." Liliana pulled at my sleeve. "Sophia, if you don't let me go, I'll worry so much I won't be able to eat or sleep."
"Please let me go with you."
I pressed my lips together: "I can't be that selfish. Liliana, once I leave the country, I might never come back. Are you really going to stay abroad with me forever?"