EPISODE FORTY THREE.
After the doctors treated me, I slept off. I didn’t wake up until evening.
The one who seems like the head of doctors came to me after they told him I’m awake already.
I sat up timidly on the bed and covered my legs with the flexible cover.
“Are you okay now? Does your back and waist still hurt?”He asked, sitting beside me.
“It still hurts a little but I will be fine. Thank you.”I smiled slightly at him.
“You shouldn’t have annoyed her. Megan can be a nutcase anytime she’s angry. And it’s about her siblings too.”He chuckled, bringing out some papers out of the brown envelope.
“I know. I deserved the push. She should have done more than that so she will feel less angry at me.”I nodded, wiping the tears welled up in my eyes.
“I carried out some tests for you and we found out another condition too.”He raised the paper in the air and waved it in front of me, slyly.
“What’s that?”I asked, curiously.
“You’re a week pregnant.”He announced nonchalantly as if he didn’t just drop a heavy weight on my chest.
I felt like my world shattered in that minute. “How did I get pregnant?”I sobbed, collecting the papers from him to confirm what he’s saying.
“I’m sorry but that’s the truth. There’s a possibility of two fetuses but we have to wait till tomorrow for your ultrasound. So brace yourself.”He grinned at me.
How can I be pregnant now? Am I that fertile?
It’s just a week ago that I had sex with Stefano. How come I’m pregnant already?
“Is there a way I can… I can hide this or abo… No, don’t worry.”I shook my head immediately.
The doctor stared at me for a while and patted my back.”I know you must be shocked now that you’re not on good terms with your husband’s family but let Stefano wake up. Come clean at him and let him be the judge of this.”He admonished me.
“Can you please not tell his mother? She will be worried about my well-being and I don’t want her to do that.”
“Sure. For a limited time before you start having the symptoms. Just try your best to study yourself so you can find the food or actions you will take that will trigger your symptoms.”
“I will. Thanks so much. I really appreciate this.”
“Sure. I will let you have some rest.”He pressed his lips together before walking out of the ward.
After taking some rest, I returned to Stefano’s siblings’ ward to stay with them.
Fortunately, Amanda had just woken up, Megan was beside her, sobbing.
I stayed behind the door, not wanting to ruin their siblings’ moment.
“You shouldn’t have told them to beat you up. I can’t handle this, Megan. You shouldn’t get yourself into the life I’ve lived. I’m sorry for causing you trouble. Your big sister is sorry.”
“Why should you be the one to apologize when you’re not at fault? We are the victims here. That’s the only thing I could do for you. I can’t bear it if you keep having sleepless nights again because of what we went through earlier.”
“I’m really sorry.”She muttered, crying harder.
“Now, you can have your soup.”Luca pushed a plate in front of her with a small smile on his face.
“Feed me.”She demanded, Luca sighed tiredly and sat beside her.
Megan already had her soup. I entered the room since I have been standing outside for a long time.
“Hey!”Amanda exclaimed.
I bowed to her slightly before sitting on a chair very far away from them.
Megan stared at me uncomfortably before diverting her stare to something else.
“Heard you got into a fight with Megan, Are you okay?”She asked, smiling.
I got scared for a moment. She should be angry at me the same way Megan was, why’s she being nice to me?
“Yes. I’m fine. What about you, Are you really okay?”I rushed my words in a clumsy manner.
She only nodded and resumed drinking her soup.
“I… I…”
“Save that one for later.”Luca cut me off calmly but in a firm manner.
I nodded immediately and bowed my head.
“You shouldn’t be harsh to her.”Amanda whispered to Luca.
“The wound wouldn’t have gotten deep if she had stopped her father from stabbing him. Stefano might not wake up for the rest of the week if things go wrong.”He said in a slightly high tone.
“He will be fine. He wi….”
“Stop telling me he will be fine when he’s not!”Luca yelled angrily at her and stood up to his feet.
Tears welled up in my eyes again. Why did I choose to save my father instead of my husband?
Why am I so cruel to the person who changed his ways and perspectives about women because he wanted to satisfy me?
I don’t really deserve to be here with him, I should have just forced Dad to stab me earlier.
My pregnancy even made things more complicated for me.
How do I tell him that I’m carrying his baby?
“Luca!”Amanda scolded.
He dropped the spoon angrily beside her and stormed out of the room angrily.
“Hazel are you okay?”Amanda asked after noticing me wiping my tears for the time.
“I will get some fresh air.”I excused myself from the room immediately.
I went to the rooftop to let out my emotions. I cried for such a long time that I didn’t notice it’s night already.
I stood up from the cold floor and went back to the hospital.
Thankfully, Amanda and Megan slept off already, Luca was just coming out of their room.
He shot me a stare and made to leave but I held his hand.
“What now, Hazel?”He groaned, pushing his hair back.
“Can you please stop being angry at me? I can bear it if Megan is mad at me but I really can’t watch you avoid my stares all the time. I knew what I did was wrong and inhumane but can you please cut me some slack?”I asked politely.
Luca sighed before withdrawing his hands from mine.
“Give me some time to think about this. Maybe when Stefano wakes up.”
“Luca, please.”I begged as I watched him leave but he didn’t spare me a glance.
My eyes are now blurry due to incessant crying.
I entered the room fully just to see Stefano’s Mom massaging Amanda’s body.
I wanted to leave immediately but she called me the moment she saw me enter the room.
“Are you okay? Where have you been?”She asked, walking closer to me.
“I’m fine. I went to the rooftop to get some fresh air.”
“Oh, the doctor told me to give you this.”She handed a bag to me.
I collected it from her and made to leave but she held my hand.
“I checked the drugs. Folic acid and other drugs for pregnant women. What’s going on?”She asked, making me turn back to her.
My eyes widened immediately, I couldn’t stare at her straight in the eyes.”I’m sorry.”I sobbed but she only pulled me to a hug.
“You should have told me. The stress wouldn’t have been too much on you.”She scolded me.
“I’m sorry. I just don’t want you to worry about me.”
“Now, I am. I searched the whole hospital looking for you. You’re carrying a baby, Hazel.”Her face was beaming with happiness but I just didn’t know how to react to it.
“I don’t deserve to carry his baby. I don’t think I can do it.”I shook my head, sobbing.
“Let’s talk about this once he wakes up, Hazel. I’m proud of you for this, Thanks so much for holding up. I love you.”She mumbled, crying while I’m still in her arms.
“Thank you for not being angry at me. I didn’t know he was bleeding when I pushed him away from my Dad. I knew Stefano had anger issues but one thing he will never do is disrespect me, I shouldn’t have misunderstood him.”
“Don’t beat yourself too hard for this. He will be fine. The doctors assured me that he will be waking up soon. Don’t blame yourself. Let’s focus on taking care of you and your baby.”
“Please, don’t tell him or anyone until I’m ready for it. I will break the news to him myself.”
“I won’t. I promise.”