Darwin immediately approached after seeing Veronica suddenly stumble and fall into Sean, then faint. Taking charge of his wife, he took the initiative to lift Veronica’s body and quickly carried her to the car parked right in front of the building lobby.
With the driver, Darwin decided to hurry and take his wife to the nearest hospital. Instead of taking her home, which might lead to complications, he chose to have Veronica’s condition checked by a specialist. He was afraid that something dangerous or serious might have happened to her.
Upon arriving at the hospital, with the assistance of medical staff, Veronica was immediately taken to the emergency department. While the beautiful woman was being examined by the specialist, Darwin himself appeared to wait calmly right outside the room.
Darwin sat in the waiting room for about 30 minutes. Before long, one of the female doctors who was likely attending to Veronica inside came out and then addressed him.
“Are you a relative of Mrs. Veronica Ashborne?”
Darwin stood up quickly. He stepped forward to approach her.
“Yes, doctor. I’m her husband. So, how is my wife’s condition?”
The doctor smiled. From her calm and composed demeanor, Darwin believed that nothing serious had happened to his wife.
“After the examination, it can be concluded that Mrs. Veronica needs some extra rest or bedrest for a few days to recover. Her blood pressure was a bit low when checked. There are indications of anemia and a flare-up of gastric disease. This could be triggered by unmanaged stress.”
Darwin was taken aback. He hadn’t expected Veronica to become this ill. Just yesterday, he saw his wife, who was also his rival, appearing strong and even ready to fight. Who would have thought that beneath Veronica’s seemingly strong facade, her condition was quite concerning?
“Stress can trigger anemia and gastric disease?”
The doctor nodded. Seeing Darwin’s puzzled expression, the young doctor provided further explanation to clear his confusion.
“So, stress can indeed cause gastric issues or exacerbate them, as stress can increase stomach acid production. Additionally, another reason why stress causes gastric problems is that it can lower the levels of prostaglandin hormones, which play a role in strengthening the stomach lining’s barrier against stomach acid.”
Darwin just nodded in understanding. To be honest, he didn’t fully grasp what the doctor had just explained. As far as he could tell, Veronica’s current illness was definitely linked to stress. And it wouldn’t be surprising if he was one of the causes of that stress.
“But my wife will be fine, right? I mean, her condition isn’t life-threatening?” Darwin asked to make sure. He was genuinely worried. He was afraid that if something happened to Veronica, he might be blamed.
“Her condition will be fine as long as Mrs. Veronica focuses on complete rest. That’s why I recommend that, for optimal recovery, she stays in the hospital for about one to two days. This way, the nurses can closely monitor and provide proper care.”
Darwin nodded in understanding. He thought that it would be better to let Veronica stay in the hospital for a few days rather than risk any complications, ensuring that her condition stabilizes.
“Alright then, do what’s best, doctor. I trust everything to you.”
After the conversation with the doctor, Darwin was asked to wait for a while. Once the VIP ward they had arranged was ready, Veronica was then moved to continue her rest.
After taking care of administrative matters, Darwin decided to inform his parents and Veronica’s parents that she was being treated in the hospital. He thought it would be better to deliver this news directly rather than having them hear it from someone else. He was worried that he might be blamed for not taking care of his wife properly, even though that was the reality.
As he entered the recovery room, Darwin could see Veronica slowly regaining consciousness. After the attending doctor finished the final examination and left the room, Darwin approached slowly to assess his wife’s condition himself.
“Why did you have to bring me to the hospital?”
Instead of receiving a warm greeting or small talk, that was the first question Darwin heard as he approached Veronica’s bedside.
“Why shouldn’t I bring you to the hospital?”
“I’m perfectly fine. There’s no need to bring me to the hospital like this.” While lying down, Veronica protested. Her face clearly showed her annoyance. She probably felt upset because she didn’t like being treated in the hospital like she was now.
Meanwhile, Darwin just smiled dismissively. Ignoring Veronica’s protests, he retorted, “Perfectly fine, huh? Well, the doctor recommended bedrest for you for a few days in the hospital to stabilize your condition.”
“Did the doctor actually say that?”
Darwin nodded. He confirmed Veronica’s question.
“The doctor said that you might be stressed due to various worries. That’s why you might have developed gastric issues and anemia like you have now.”
Veronica immediately smiled sarcastically. In her mind, how could she not be stressed when her husband had been behaving poorly from the beginning of their marriage? She considered herself fortunate that her condition was only limited to anemia or gastric issues. She was worried that due to Darwin’s behavior, she might actually go crazy.
“You should realize that I’m in this condition because of you.”
“Because of me?”
“Yes, because of you. You had to ask all those questions. Have you no self-awareness? Your behavior towards me has been outrageously disrespectful,” Veronica responded without hesitation. Her sharply worded answer made Darwin sigh. He had thought Veronica was a delicate woman, but she turned out to be like a lioness ready to pounce on her prey at any moment.
“So, you’re in the hospital because of me?”
“Yes, who else?”
Darwin let out a long breath. Not wanting to argue, he simply agreed with what his wife had said. Upon reflection, he did seem to have played a role in Veronica ending up in the hospital like this.
“Okay, I was wrong. I apologize. In that case, just rest as much as you need. If you need anything, you can call me.”
***