Make Winifred Dawson pregnant?
When Henry suggested it, Leland Burns showed no reaction, leading Henry to believe he was reluctant to act.
In fact, Leland Burns was indeed hesitant. He liked Winifred Dawson. Many years ago, before he understood what “love” was, he had already learned how to be good to her.
His kindness towards Winifred Dawson came with a sense of “submission,” willing to obey her unreasonable demands. Even after their statuses changed, he felt he had never done anything excessive to her.
But once a seed of desire is planted, it cannot be ignored. The seed sprouted unnoticed and grew into a tree that Leland Burns could not bear to uproot.
He began to wonder incessantly, if Winifred Dawson were to carry their child, what name would they choose? How much would the child resemble him?
Forcing Winifred Dawson to conceive could be detrimental to her health.
At this moment, Leland Burns wanted to show Winifred Dawson some respect-marriage first, then children. Absolutely no premarital pregnancy.
Winifred Dawson’s fingers had healed by now. Although the initial injury was severe and left some aftereffects despite the doctors’ best efforts, her fingers were now prone to trembling and aching in cold weather. They had regained their pale color but were no longer as slender as before.
Leland Burns took Winifred Dawson to the hospital for a full physical examination and carefully inquired about her current symptoms.
The psychological issues showed no signs of improvement. Unlike a common cold, this illness couldn’t be cured with medication alone; even the doctors couldn’t predict when she might recover.
He also asked about the likelihood of her hands returning to their original state.
The doctor’s expression was troubled, indicating that the chances were slim.
After thorough examinations, it was clear that most of her previous injuries had healed. The only remaining issue was Delirium Syndrome. For Leland Burns, curing this illness might not be beneficial; as long as it wasn’t life-threatening, her current state made her obedient and unlikely to leave him.
If she were cured, given Leland Burns’ understanding of Winifred Dawson, she wouldn’t rest until she avenged Gregory Dawson’s death. Hatred would be the only thing standing between them.
After explaining Winifred Dawson’s condition, the doctor asked, “Mr. Burns, is there anything else you want to know?”
Leland Burns was about to leave when Henry’s words suddenly came to mind.
He asked, “Can she get pregnant and have children in her current condition?”
The doctor’s expression stiffened; he hadn’t expected such an irresponsible question from Leland Burns. After regaining his composure, the doctor replied gently, “You know Miss Dawson’s current state-she isn’t even considered normal. Her consciousness is unclear; bluntly put, she has a mental illness. People with mental illnesses aren’t allowed to marry; do you think she can have children?”
The doctor’s tone was calm and honest, but his words left Leland Burns struggling for breath.
Seeing Leland Burns’ frustrated expression, the doctor felt compelled to clarify: “Mr. Burns, if you let Miss Dawson get pregnant now, it would be irresponsible both to her and the child. I hope you respect her wishes and avoid making decisions for her while she’s not in a clear state of mind. Her illness isn’t without hope for recovery; you can decide about children once she’s better.”
If Winifred Dawson recovered, it would be too late… A clear-minded Winifred Dawson would never agree to have his child. At that point… what could he use to keep her? Hatred or the few remaining old feelings between them?
“You say it’s irresponsible for the child; does that mean if she doesn’t recover and has a child, the child will inherit her illness?”
The doctor explained, “No, that’s not it. If Miss Dawson doesn’t recover, caring for the child will be difficult. You need to consider the child’s future…”
Leland Burns understood this reasoning-it indeed would be irresponsible for the child.
Moreover, given Winifred Dawson’s current condition-acting erratically like a child herself-she would need constant supervision during pregnancy to prevent miscarriage. It wasn’t just a matter of days but over nine months of vigilance.
Gradually, Leland Burns dismissed the idea of making Winifred Dawson pregnant but remained unwilling to abandon the thought entirely.
“Are her eggs healthy?”
“The examination shows they are healthy.”
Leland Burns immediately had an idea: since there were no issues with her eggs, he could resort to illegal means and freeze them abroad.
Winifred Dawson wouldn’t need to carry the child herself; they could still have a baby that belonged to both of them without risking her health during pregnancy.
Though using frozen eggs might not create as strong an emotional bond as having a biological child together would bring some connection through bloodline. Sometimes maternal instincts are unpredictable; having a child is better than none-it might soften Winifred Dawson’s heart once she recovers.