“What? Pregnant?”
Still lying on the patient’s bed, Bella shook her head in disbelief. She tried to keep herself composed and calm.
“Could the doctor have made a mistake in the examination?”
Yes, who knows, maybe Doctor Samuel misdiagnosed. Even though Bella had previously engaged in inappropriate activities with Edward, she was sure it wouldn’t have led to pregnancy right away.
Just imagine, Edward only slept with her once. Even that night’s incident happened unintentionally and was over quickly. Or, let’s just consider it a passing fancy. So, it seemed absurd to Bella that she could be pregnant.
“I am very sure that you are pregnant right now.”
Bella blinked. She seemed awkward, continuously trying to deny what Samuel was telling her.
“I don’t even feel nauseous, vomit, or any of the common symptoms pregnant women experience. My appetite is still very normal.”
Samuel didn’t deny that.
“Not all pregnant women experience the same symptoms, Bella. In fact, some only start feeling nauseous and vomiting in their second or third trimester of pregnancy.”
Then, Samuel pointed his index finger. He directed it straight to the plasma screen of the ultrasound machine, which was still on and displaying the condition of Bella’s uterus at the moment. “Take a look and pay attention. There, you can clearly see a fetal sac. Because the pregnancy is still early, the size is still very small. But, I can assure you that you are indeed pregnant right now.”
Bella was stunned for a moment. Her initially calm gaze suddenly changed, turning into a mix of anxiety and fear.
“Pregnant?”
Bella’s voice trembled slightly. She even took a deep breath before speaking again.
“So, I’m pregnant?”
“Yes, Bella. You’re pregnant. And I’m willing to bet that the fetus in your womb isn’t the result of IVF.”
Bella was even more shocked. Not to exaggerate the situation, but pregnancy is usually a happy moment awaited by newlywed couples. Unfortunately, this happened to Bella when she wasn’t in any relationship with the man who impregnated her.
“Have you had any previous relationships with other men?”
Samuel didn’t mean to intimidate. Although he knew from Edward’s story that his friend accidentally slept with Bella, he wanted to hear it from the woman herself. Who knows, he might get other important information.
“I remember, during our first examination, your uterus condition was clean and showed no signs of pregnancy. It’s okay if you want to be honest with me, Bella. I promise to keep your secret,” Samuel said again. He tried to convince Bella to be honest with him.
Bella was obviously confused. She wanted to keep denying, but it seemed that Samuel was too clever to be deceived.
“In fact… Edward and I accidentally—”
“Had relations?”
Bella nodded instantly.
“That night, Mr. Edward was heavily drunk and accidentally fell in front of his room. Seeing him in such a sorry state, I tried to help and assist him to his room.”
“And he, unconscious as he was, forced you to comply?”
Again, Bella nodded. A few moments later, she bowed her head. Her facial expression suggested that she was ashamed and haunted by fear.
“I thought that the incident that night wouldn’t lead to anything. In fact, when he confirmed the incident, I deliberately denied and tried to avoid prolonging what had happened. But unexpectedly, it led to this pregnancy.” Bella paused her sentence for a moment. Taking a few deep breaths, she continued her interrupted speech. “Many of my friends out there have had relations with their partners several times but didn’t get pregnant. Moreover, I haven’t felt anything strange in my body lately.”
Samuel wanted to laugh. He just realized that in this day and age, there are still women who are innocent and naive like Bella.
“Oh God, Bella. Your friends might have used protection like condom during intercourse. Some of them might have also engaged in intercourse when not in their fertile period. Don’t forget, you were also taking fertility drugs. This could be one of the factors that made you pregnant immediately even though you only had relations with Edward once.”
Bella’s head felt like it was going to explode. Honestly, she didn’t know what to do after this.
“So, what should I do, Doctor?”
“In that case, you should tell Edward about this. However, he must take responsibility that the baby in your womb is his flesh and blood.”
Still lying down, Bella immediately shook her head vigorously. She refused outright the advice Samuel gave.
“No! Please don’t do that, Doctor Samuel.”
“Why?”
Samuel’s eyebrows reflexively knit together. He felt strange because Bella refused his suggestion to tell Edward to take responsibility.
“You will clearly lose if Edward doesn’t know about this. However, he is obliged to be accountable for his actions.”
Bella kept shaking her head.
“Mrs. Julia will surely be very angry. She might accuse me of many things. Or worse, she might demand and even ask for all the money she has paid me back. Really, I don’t have the money if that happens.”
Samuel then realized. He thought carefully for a moment, then concluded that this problem was not as simple as he had thought before. Samuel forgot about Julia’s existence, which had to be taken into account.
“So, are you going to keep your pregnancy a secret?” Samuel asked to make sure. “Never think about abortion. I will never let that happen.”
Bella remained still. She thought hard. She was also looking for ways to deal with this problem.
“What if the doctor helps to say to Mr. Edward and Mrs. Julia that the baby in my womb is their baby?”
This time, Samuel was stunned. He carefully considered what Bella had just said. Thinking about the pros and cons, but he didn’t immediately agree.
“Wait… you mean, you want me to tell them that the baby in your womb is the result of their successful IVF process?”
Bella nodded.
“Yes. I think that would be much better.”
“Are you sure you want to sacrifice your flesh and blood for another woman?”
Samuel couldn’t believe it. But, he also couldn’t just judge immediately.
“For now, I have no other way, Doc.”
Now it’s Samuel’s turn to hesitate. If he were to comply with Bella’s request, it would mean he had to lie to Julia and also Edward.
“I beg you,” Bella looked at him with pity, pleading with all her heart for Samuel to help her.
“Please help me just this once, Doc.”
Finally, Samuel relented. In the end, he nodded in agreement to help Bella hide what actually happened.
“Alright. I’ll help you. But, however it may be, someday you’ll have to tell Edward the truth. He deserves to know what really happened.”
At the same moment after speaking, Edward, who had been busy taking a phone call, appeared in Samuel’s office. He sat down calmly and then glanced at Samuel.
“What’s the matter? Is there a problem?”
Samuel then asked Bella to rise immediately. Then, he approached Edward and sat down in front of his friend.
“Fortunately, there’s not the slightest problem. I think today Bella can proceed with the embryo transfer process as before.”
Edward nodded in understanding.
“Alright then. In that case, please do your job. And I hope this time it will succeed.”
Without wasting much time, Samuel then moved Bella to the delivery room. Pretending to perform the procedure, until shortly afterwards he met Edward who appeared to be waiting anxiously.
“I’ve completed the embryo transfer process into Bella’s uterus. Just like before, you can bring her back for another checkup in about two weeks. And I’m confident this time it will definitely succeed.”
Edward echoed Samuel’s words, hoping that the second attempt would be successful and proceed as he hoped.