The cost

Chapter 22

Matthew sped off towards Pratu Hospital, his mind racing as Mia’s face kept flashing before his eyes. There was something about her, dignified and unyielding, that reminded him of a warrior queen standing alone against the world, Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

Olivia Liotta, an on–call obstetrician at Plato Hospital, handed Mia her prenatal report with a concerned frown. “Ms. Reid, you are severely anemic. You need to be hospitalized for at least a week”

Mia thought, “Severely anemic? Even after leaving the Blackwoods, their damage still clung to her like a shadow, threatening her and her baby. She pushed down the anger bubbling inside her and remained polite. “Thank you, Dr. Liotta. Please arrange a quiet single room for me.”

With the second floor of Reed Villa under renovation, there was no way she could stay there. For the sake of her child’s health, Mia was willing to stay in the hospital as long as necessary.

At 1:00 am, Matthew gently pushed open the door to the Intensive Care Unit of the Hematology Department. His expression was dark and heavy, the weight of the night pressing down on him.

Elizabeth lay on

on the hospital bed, tears streaking down her pale cheeks.

“Beth, are you okay?” Matthew’s voice was gentle, almost tender, as he approached her.

Elizabeth’s eyes lit up with pleasure, and she immediately sat up. “Matt, why are you here?”

Her voice was weak and soft as if it took all her strength just to speak.

In fact, Elizabeth was faking her fainting spell, a ploy to derail what she believed was Mia’s conspiracy,

With a feigned gentle look, Elizabeth said considerately, “Matt, I’m feeling better now. You have work tomorrow. Just go home and get some rest”

Matthew nodded. To him, work was always his top priority, second only to Elizabeth. However, for some reason, he paused as he left the hospital lobby

He wondered if Mia had come back for a follow–up. With this thought creeping into his mind, Matthew found himself outside the obstetrics and Kynecology duty room before he knew it.

“Sir, can 1 help you?” Olivia asked, looking puzzled at the stone–faced man in front of her.

Matthew said, his tone curt, I’m looking for Mi”

Olivia’s face fell at his words. “You’re Ms. Reed’s husband, right? She’s only three months pregnant, but she’s already severely anemic. You need to take better care of her. Got it? She’s in Room A52 of the hematology department. Go keep her company.”

Matthew nodded, but as he turned away, his eyes grew cold, his mind spinning with complicated emotions.

He clenched his fists, pondering. Mia is three months pregnant and the last time we had sex was also three months ago. So Then why hasn’t she told me the trutht

So I must be the father.

The night draped itself over the city, and the soft moonlight bathed Mia’s delicate face as she lay weakly on the hospital bed, looking so fragile in made Matthew’s heart ache

He didn’t enter the room; he just watched her sleeping peacefully through the glass, torn between wanting answers and not wanting to disturb her

see her like

In her sleep, the seemed so peaceful, so unlike the woman who always had her guard up. For a moment, it was enough for him just to see h

“Matt, you haven’t left yet?” Elizabeth’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts. She sounded surprised to find him outside someone else room the middle of the night

her stomach. Elizabeth had come

She’d been restless all day, her appetite kast after yet another confrontation with Mia, but now hunger gawed at her downstairs to find something to eat, only to arumide upon Matthew in this unexpected place.

Matthew quickly looked away, his voice indifferent. “I got delayed. Beth, if you’re not feeling well, let John help you with whatever you need”

John, who had been trailing after Elizabeth, felt his heart sink. ‘Great; he thought bitterly. Just what I need. Handling the whims of a woman who’s

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been spoiled rotten since birth.

“It’s nothing, really, I just felt bored and wanted to take a walk.” Elizabeth suppressed her hunger, smiling innocently as she walked over, peeping into the ward,

“Mia Why is she here Elizabeth thought as she hid her shock. She immediately latched onto Matthew’s arm, trying to keep her composure. “Matt, I’m actually hungry. Will you come with me to get something to eat?”

Inside the room, Mia stirred. She hadn’t been sleeping deeply, and Elizabeth’s sugary voice g

grated on her nerves.

Opening her eyes, she found herself staring directly into Matthew’s cold gaze through the glass. Does he have a stalking fetish or something?” she wondered, thoroughly annoyed.

Elizabeth leaned against Matthew’s chest, a mocking smile playing on her lips as she glanced at Mia. The sight of it made Mia’s blood boil.

Mix thought, I’ve had enough of this! Can’t she just leave me alone? She threw off the covers, stormed out of bed, and, in one swift motion, gave them both the middle finger before slamming the door shut and drawing the curtains.

Matthew stared at the closed door, seething with anger. ‘She’s gotten bolder since the divorce, he thought. ‘Daring to make such an obscene gesture right in front of Beth

“Why is Mix here!” Elizabeth’s face paled as she pretended to be surprised. Then she put on a worried frown. “Matt, is she still mad at me? Is that why she’s acting like this?”

Matthew was equally puzzled and annoyed by Mia’s attitude. “It’s nothing. Just leave her alone. Let’s go grab something to eat.”

As the corridor finally fell silent, Mia let herself drift back into a deep sleep.

The next morning, sunlight filtered gently through the hospital room’s thin curtains

Exhausted from the night before, Mia slept soundly until her phone suddenly rang, shattering the peace.

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