Chapter 154 Only for Matching Elliot
Scarlett's face flushed slightly with guilt, barely daring to look at Magnolia's delighted and joyful expression.
Scarlett nodded, "Grandma, I'm sorry. I knew how much you were hoping Daniel and I would have a baby, but I still hid this from you. I..."
Scarlett was too ashamed to lift her head, but Magnolia pulled her into a hug, patting her back.
"Child, you've been through so much."
They were both women. Magnolia understood how much hurt Scarlett must have accumulated, how much disappointment she must have felt, to decide to hide her pregnancy and leave, planning to raise the child alone.
How could Magnolia not know?
"Silly girl, I'm too happy and heartbroken to blame you. Good, good, good - it's wonderful that you're pregnant!"
A soft sound made Scarlett look up.
Blair's handbag had dropped to the floor. Blair was staring at Scarlett's belly with a shocked expression and complicated eyes.
"You're really pregnant? You've been pregnant all along, and knowing Elliot was waiting for help, you still kept it hidden."
Blair's face quickly filled with anger.
She felt Scarlett did it on purpose, must have known early on that the baby in Alice's belly wasn't Daniel's, and was waiting for this moment to embarrass her.
To embarrass Blair, Scarlett had put on that act about divorcing Daniel, playing hard to get because she had the Wilson family's child in her belly.
"Stop it!"
Magnolia's face darkened as she angrily cut off Blair's inappropriate words.
Blair froze at the rebuke, then saw Daniel's face, cold as frost.
The way he looked at her was like looking at a stranger, not at all like looking at his own mother.
Blair's expression stiffened, her hands clenching tight.
Magnolia patted Scarlett's hand and said gently, "Scarlett, I didn't know about this today, so I didn't bring a gift for your little one. I'll make it up next time."
Scarlett shook her head, "Wait until Bunny is born, Grandma. It's still early."
Magnolia smiled and touched Scarlett's belly, "Your baby is called Bunny? Good, that's a nice nickname - works for a boy or girl. Bunny, I'm your great-grandma. Grow quickly and come meet me soon."
Scarlett pressed her lips together in a smile, looking down at her still-flat belly with gentle eyes, soft as water.
She didn't notice that as she gazed at her belly, Daniel sitting beside her was also staring at her, his eyes never leaving her for a moment.
His thin lips curved into a soft arc, ripples spreading through his eyes like ice breaking.
Blair stood to the side, completely out of place.
Magnolia stood up then, "You two should have a lot to talk about. I won't get in the way of your time together."
Blair's words had ruined Magnolia's good mood.
Scarlett quickly stood up too, "Let me see you out, Grandma."
"No! You sit right there and don't move!" Magnolia pressed Scarlett back onto the hospital bed, as if Scarlett were a fragile treasure.
Magnolia instructed Daniel, "Take good care of your wife. If she gets hurt again, don't call me Grandma anymore!"
After saying this, Magnolia left with Blair. Once outside the room, the smile disappeared from Magnolia's face.
They walked in silence. In the car, Blair sat beside Magnolia, somewhat nervous.
Magnolia's face was stern - clearly angry. Blair was still a bit afraid of Magnolia.
"Mom, I was just worried that Scarlett doesn't know her limits, and all this stress might cause something to happen to the baby..."
Unable to bear the pressure, Blair spoke first to defend herself. Magnolia's eyes turned toward her, cloudy but sharp.
Blair stopped. Only then did Magnolia speak in a heavy voice.
"You know exactly why you said that! The baby in Scarlett's belly is Daniel's child, your own grandchild - not a tool to save Elliot! Keep those thoughts to yourself!"
Magnolia knew Blair was counting on Scarlett's baby to be a match for Elliot, to completely cure his illness.
It was human nature to hope for that.
But treating Scarlett's child as a tool for saving lives - how unfair was that to the child, to Scarlett and Daniel!
When the baby was born, given Scarlett's feelings for Elliot, even without anyone asking, Scarlett would definitely offer to do the matching test herself.
If the match succeeded, it would be a blessing from heaven to the Wilson family. If it didn't work, Scarlett shouldn't have to carry guilt and disappointment - that would just be fate.
Magnolia didn't want Scarlett bearing pressure she shouldn't have to from the moment of pregnancy. Pregnancy was hard enough for women - they were sensitive and needed care.
"Saving Elliot is not Daniel and Scarlett's responsibility or obligation. Don't mention this again before the baby is born! Do you hear me!"
Magnolia stared sternly at Blair, who nodded.
"I understand, Mom."
How could Magnolia not see that Blair's agreement was insincere? She pressed on: "Years ago when Daniel had his accident, you made a mistake in anger and hurt Daniel's heart. All these years, your relationship as mother and son has been cold. Now if you treat Daniel's child as medicine to save a life, what do you think Daniel will feel? Even though he's your own son, he can't take being hurt by you again and again! Think about it carefully!"
Hearing Magnolia bring up the past, Blair's face turned pale.
Thinking of those events, Blair thought again of Scarlett, who she found disagreeable at every turn and who opposed her.
Blair's face showed regret and resentment. She murmured.
"Waverly was good in every way, and close to me too. If she had survived that year, she and Daniel would now be..."
Before Blair could finish, Magnolia glared at her again.
Blair closed her mouth, but Magnolia, reminded of old memories, looked tired and sad. She closed her eyes and said nothing more.
In the hospital room, after Magnolia left with Blair, Scarlett pressed her lips together silently.
"What's wrong?"
Daniel pulled Scarlett back into his arms, looking down at her.
Scarlett felt uncomfortable because of Blair's words.
Scarlett cared deeply about Elliot and wanted to save him.
But Bunny was also her baby. She didn't want Bunny to be just a hope and tool for saving Elliot.
She hoped Bunny was simply a child who came into being under her and Daniel's expectations, not for anyone else.
But Scarlett didn't know - when Daniel chased her back from the airport, was it only because she was pregnant, because Bunny might be able to save Elliot?
"Daniel, if Bunny and Elliot aren't a match, will you be disappointed?"
Scarlett's lashes trembled as she lifted her eyes.
Daniel sensed her unease and held her in his arms, his finger brushing against her furrowed brow.
"Have you gotten stupid?"
Scarlett blinked and puffed out her cheeks.
Daniel poked both her cheeks, "Bunny is our child. I look forward to his birth only because I'm his father. It has nothing to do with anyone or anything else. Don't pay too much attention to Mother's words, don't overthink it, okay?"
Scarlett nodded, a smile returning to her face. "But I do hope Bunny can save Elliot."
Scarlett suddenly remembered something and grabbed Daniel's collar, "Where's my phone?"
Daniel had confiscated Scarlett's phone before and never returned it.