When Dorothy walked out of the ultrasound room, there was a look of defeat on her face.
The doctor’s words echoed in her mind over and over again, lingering in her ear and not going away.
She had not gotten pregnant. She had no child in her belly. The reason her period had not arrived was that since she had been mentally telling herself she was pregnant, her body had shown false signs of pregnancy.
She looked at Germaine’s hopeful eyes and felt an amount of sorrow stuck in her throat, making her want to cry out loud.
She had worked so hard that night, so why had she still not gotten pregnant?
If she was not pregnant, then how was she supposed to save Belle?
Should she try to find another suitable opportunity to get it on with Credence again?
Seeing how gloomy and decadent Dorothy was, Germaine softened her voice a little. She asked, “Dory, did we fail?”
“Yes.”
Dorothy took Belle from Germaine’s hands, slowly breathed in, and composed her emotions. She tried hard to hold back her tears and smiled bitterly, “I’ve failed this time. I don’t know when I can get pregnant. I’m scared, Germaine. I’m really scared.”
The doctor only gave me a timeframe of one and a half years, which means that I must succeed in getting pregnant in eight months. Otherwise, Belle, she…”
After listening to her words, Germaine was so disappointed that her face darkened too, but soon she cheered up. She pinched her palm with her nails and tried to make her voice normal and calm.
She showed a proud smile.
She patted Dorothy on the shoulder with concern. “Don’t worry, Dory. As long as we work hard and don’t give up, we’ll find a way. If I can let you sleep with Credence once, then I can make you sleep with him again, even countless times if you want to.”
Hearing her words, Dorothy’s agitated mood also eased. She nodded in agreement and said, “Yes, as long as we don’t give up, we will definitely succeed.”
The corners of Germaine’s mouth slowly curved up. She said with a bright smile, “Yes, we must keep on having ambitions. What if we succeed one day?”
When they left the hospital, the three of them called a taxi to Palm City’s airport. They booked three tickets for the latest flight back to Talco City in order to head back in the shortest amount of time.
As they waited for their flight, Dorothy handed Belle over to Germaine and went to the bathroom. When she came out, she found a remote corner and made a phone call to Juelz.
“Dory, why are you calling me?”
Juelz’s passionate and urgent voice came from the phone. “Did you and Belle have a good time in Palm City?”
Didn’t he understand the complexity of the situation? Why was he still asking if she had a good time or not? How on earth was she supposed to tell him?
Dorothy could not help but sob. She took a deep breath and suppressed her urge to shed tears. She gently smiled and replied, “Juelz, did something happen to you recently?”
“I’m doing just fine in Talco City. What can happen to me?”
Juelz’s voice got gentler and gentler, as if he was one with the calm water. He chuckled and said, “Dory, tell me, what rumors have you heard?”
“Juelz, are you still trying to keep me in the dark?”
Dorothy sighed and tried to make her voice sound calm and indifferent. “Credence is constantly pressuring you, and he even wants to shut down your company. I know all of that.”
“Juelz, I’m sorry. I’m the reason Credence is attacking you. I’ve thought about it, and I’m coming back to Talco City. I’m going to face him straight on. You have done enough for me. I can’t drag you down anymore.”
“Dory, it’s not how you think it is.”
At the other end of the phone, Juelz clenched his phone tightly. He could hear how stressed Dorothy was, and he did not give her any more burden. He endured his feelings and said softly, “I’ve been through fire and water to get the company to where it is today. I won’t let Credence destroy it just like that. Don’t worry, since you are already in Palm City, then you can just relax. I’ll be with you and Belle once I’m done with my business over here.”
“Juelz!”
Dorothy’s emotions burst out all of a sudden. She shouted in a louder voice, “Why are you still not telling me the truth? I’ve just seen your company’s share price drop from the highest price of more than 50 dollars to just 10 dollars. Are you only going to tell me the truth when your stock price falls to just one dollar?”
“By then, J&D Group will no longer exist. Don’t you know that?”
“The company is something that you’ve worked hard to establish for so many years. I’m not willing to see your assets get destroyed because of my personal affairs!”
“Dory, this is none of your business. I am the one to blame. I am the one who isn’t strong enough to fight back against Credence. I can’t protect you from your worries in your life!”
Juelz’s tone suddenly turned low and disappointed. Through the screen of the phone, Dorothy felt a strong sense of sorrow.
“No, Juelz, you’re already very powerful. When Credence goes crazy, he’s completely inhuman. I don’t want you to get hurt. I just want you to live well and I want J&D Group to be well too. Don’t make me worry, okay?”
Dorothy’s nose twitched as she finished her sentences, almost bursting into tears.
Juelz and Germaine were the only people in the world who brought warmth and peace to her. If anything happened to Juelz because of her, she would never forgive herself, ever.
“Don’t worry, I’m doing very well. I believe we will all be fine in the future.” Juelz’s voice was mellow and clear as if he was drinking the most delicious wine in the world.
He said, “My dear Dory, I’ve missed you. I miss you so much. I miss my sweetheart Belle too.”
“I miss you too, Juelz! I’m coming back to Talco City at half-past seven this evening. If you have nothing to do, can you pick us up at the airport then?”
“I will definitely be there. See you then!”
They were separated by a screen, cities apart and thousands of miles away from each other. Dorothy did not know her ‘I miss you too’ had swept all the gloominess away from Juelz’s eyes. His bloodshot eyes that had long been fatigued due to lack of sleep were replaced by something that was as gentle as tranquil waters.
His slender fingers stroked the photo of Belle’s bright smile on his phone screen. He smiled with deep satisfaction and whispered, “Dory, just you wait. I will do my best to make you fall in love with me!”
Juelz leaned lazily on the mahogany chair in the conference room. A group of senior executives who were waiting for him to announce the meeting were so frightened that they dared not say a single word.
After intoxicating himself in his feelings for a few minutes, Juelz immediately returned to his energetic state. He drank a full cup of dark coffee, his heart beating rapidly.
He closed his eyes for a while. When he gradually calmed down, he raised his head and waved his hands in high spirits. He shouted, “Everyone, get back to work. We’re going to have a life-and-death battle with Scott Group!”
The fact that Dorothy had missed him while she was in Palm City made him feel happy.
At that moment, If someone wanted his head, let alone his company, he would be more than willing.
Juelz rolled up his sleeves and prepared himself for another long fight with Credence.
No one was certain who would emerge victorious yet.
Just like that, it was already six o’clock in the evening. Juelz glanced at his wristwatch and suddenly remembered that he had to pick Dorothy and Belle up from the airport. He pushed everything aside and rushed to the airport.