Nora’s POV
On the way to the hospital, my mind was racing. I needed to figure out a way to get out of this situation. Ray wasn’t someone who gave up easily, and he was going to keep digging until he got the truth. But nothing was coming to mind-no escape plan, no excuse, nothing.
Finally, we arrived at the hospital, and we both walked in together. As soon as we entered, the doctor rushed out to greet us, exchanging pleasantries with Ray.
“Welcome back, Miss Nora,” the doctor said, his tone laced with genuine concern. “You bolted away last time, and it got us all worried.”
“I’m sorry to have bothered you,” I replied, forcing a polite smile.
“It’s totally okay,” he reassured me with a smile.
“What brought you both back?” the doctor asked, turning his attention to Ray.
“Well, we want to run some tests to make sure there are no complications after Miss Nora’s abortion,” Ray said, glancing at me. “I must admit, I’m not comfortable with the hospital she later chose, so to be on the safe side, I requested that we do a check-up here.”
“That’s totally understandable,” the doctor said, nodding. “We can run some tests and a scan as well, just to ensure there are no complications. That way, you both will have peace of mind.”
“Can I have a moment with you alone in your office?” I asked the doctor, trying to maintain my composure.
Ray looked at me, clearly displeased with being excluded. “Can’t I come along?”
“It won’t take long,” I assured him. “I just want to share some concerns with the doctor. It would be too uncomfortable to have you there.”
Reluctantly, Ray nodded. “Alright.”
“This way,” the doctor said, leading me to his office.
As soon as we stepped into the office and closed the door behind us, I confronted him. “You gave out my information to someone else without my permission! “What happened to doctor-patient confidentiality?”
I demanded, my voice trembling with anger.
The doctor looked genuinely remorseful. “I’m sorry, Miss Nora… I only thought you might be in trouble.”
“What if he was the trouble? What if he was after my life?” I shot back.
His eyes widened with concern. “Is Mr. Raymond threatening you in any way? Do you need help? Should I call the police?”
I quickly shook my head. “No, no, it’s fine. He isn’t threatening me in any way.”
“Okay then, so what is the problem?” the doctor asked, leaning forward.
I took a deep breath, steeling myself. “I don’t want him to know I’m carrying his child. I’m afraid he won’t be a good father. I’ll tell him eventually, but for now, I want to keep it a secret. Can you do that for me? Just tell him I already terminated the pregnancy.”
The doctor looked conflicted, his professionalism warring with the situation. “This… this thing you’re asking of me could put my job at risk, Miss Nora. I’m afraid I can’t do it.”
“Please, doctor,” I begged, tears welling up in my eyes and spilling down my cheeks. “You have to help me. Misdiagnoses happen all the time-no one will blame you. Please, doctor, you have to help me.”
He hesitated, seeing the desperation in my eyes, and finally sighed. “Alright, if you insist… I’ll do it.”
“Thank you, doctor,” I whispered, wiping away my tears. “Thank you so much.”
We left the office, and the doctor led me to the theater where the scan would be conducted. He also drew some blood for the tests, his face betraying no emotion as he carried out the tasks. All the while, I prayed that Ray would believe the lie and that this charade would buy me enough time to figure out my next move.
After the test and all, we were asked to wait in the waiting area. I could see how nervous Ray was, his eyes darting around like he was trying to figure out a puzzle. It made me even more confused. What does he really want? Does he want me, or is it just about the baby?
Why would he fly all the way to Paris because of a text message? I should be angry at him, but instead, I can’t help falling for him even more. Life isn’t fair. Why can’t things be simple and straightforward?
Tears welled up in my eyes, and I quickly stood up, not wanting him to see me like this.
“Are you okay, Nora?” he asked, his voice soft.
I wiped the tears quickly, turning my back to him. “Stop acting like you care, Ray. Let’s just get this over with.” I walked toward the restroom, needing a moment to myself.
In the restroom, I placed a hand on my stomach, rubbing it gently. “I’ll do whatever it takes to protect you, little one. I’m sorry I tried to get rid of you, but from now on, you’re my priority. No one else matters.”
I splashed some water on my face, trying to steady my emotions before stepping out.
When I returned, the doctor was already walking toward Ray with the report.
“Where’s Miss Nora?” the doctor asked.
“I’m here,” I said, quickening my pace.
“Alright, the blood test results are out. They still show positive, which is normal since the HCG levels in your body remain high for a month or two after an abortion. So, a strip test will still show positive. That’s nothing to worry about. However, we conducted a scan to check if the embryo was still present…” The doctor paused, looking between Ray and me. The tension in the room was thick.
“Turns out the procedure Miss Nora underwent was successful, and there were no complications as well.”
I let out a sigh of relief, feeling some of the tension drain from my body.
“Here are some prescriptions to aid your recovery,” the doctor said, handing me a piece of paper.
“Thank you very much, doctor,” I replied, taking the paper.
Ray hadn’t said a word the whole time, standing there like he was in disbelief, unable to accept what he was hearing.
“I’ll get back to work now,” the doctor said, offering Ray a handshake. Ray didn’t take it, leaving the doctor to lower his hand awkwardly. The doctor gave me a polite smile before walking away.
“Can we leave now, or haven’t you satisfied your curiosity enough?” I asked, standing with my hands on my waist.
Ray stood up without a word, his face a mix of conflict and disbelief. But I chose to ignore it. I couldn’t let myself soften toward him, couldn’t allow myself to believe he could take all my burdens away. Once bitten, twice shy. I won’t let myself be humiliated again.
Never. Even if it means begging on the streets, I won’t fall for his charms again.
I walked toward the entrance, ready to hail a cab, completely ignoring him.
“Why did you terminate the pregnancy?” he suddenly asked, his voice laced with frustration.
“You have no right to question my choices,” I shot back, scanning the road for an available cab.
He grabbed my hand, forcing me to face him. “I have every right. It was my child too.”
“You should have thought of that when you were treating me like trash,” I barked, pulling my hand away.
“That doesn’t justify your actions, Nora. It doesn’t justify killing an innocent soul. The child had nothing to do with our conflict.”
“Who do you think you are to judge me, huh? My body, my choices. And I’ve chosen not to have your child.”
“You’re not thinking straight. You’re clouded by anger, and you’ll regret this. You’re still too young to understand.”
“And now you’re calling me a child? Ha! Am I not the one who was referred to as a whore on TV? Or what was it? I don’t quite recall. But for a girl with no class who’s quick to jump into a stranger’s bed, you’re quick to believe the child is yours. What if it’s Jake’s? I was also dating your son, remember? And we had sex. What if the child was his? Or someone else’s? You all were quick to judge me after all.”
I could see his expression shift with every sentence, his anger bubbling to the surface.
“I don’t believe you,” he finally said, his voice trembling.
“You don’t have to, Raymond McLaren. Just know you wasted your time coming all the way to Paris. It was totally unnecessary.”
Just then, a cab pulled up. I gave the driver my location and got in without looking back.