Chapter 9

Leanna raised her head to look at the building. Although she could not see through the glass wall, she

was able to feel the piercing gaze upon her which sent cold chills to her spine. Due to the unforeseen

commotion, she bet that Aidan was resenting her more and even had the heart to kill her once and for

all. She squeezed herself through the jostling throng to see her father under the security guards’

assistance. Fatigue swarmed her almost instantly at the sight of him rolling and tossing on the ground

like a kid throwing a tantrum. “What exactly do you think you’re doing?” Jethro dusted his clothes as

soon as he saw his daughter. “You’ve come just at the right time. Call Aidan right now to discuss the

property division.” “I clearly told you that his money has nothing to do with me.” He raised his voice

after hearing that. “Nonsense! He has slept with you for the past three years, so how can we let him go

just like that when he has a mistress? Stop joking around with me.” Leanna parted her lips, but nothing

was uttered as she had nothing to say to him. She nonchalantly turned toward Jonathan. “Please call

the police.” Jonathan nodded under her behest and she was going to leave until Jethro thwarted her.

“How can you leave like this? I’m doing this for you! I’ll take a part of the money and you can have the

others. Yet, this is how you’re repaying me? Insolent brat!” She pushed him arm away from hers. “You

know whose sake you’re doing this for. If you’re not going to leave, suit yourself then. I can enjoy two

days peacefully if you’re taken into custody anyway. Oh, right. Neither I nor Louis will bail you out this

time, so you can stay in the police station for good. They’ll provide meals and you won’t be chased by

the creditors. Amazing, isn’t it?” Furious, Jethro slapped her in the face and glared at her. “Is this how

you talk to your father? I’ve brought up both of you for so many years and this is how you’re treating

me? You must be looking down on me after marrying a rich man.” “Whatever.” Given that the crowd

was turning into a mob, Leanna had no intention of staying any longer as she lowered her head and

withdrew herself from the people. Now that Aidan was not to be moved and Leanna had gone without a

care for him, Jethro was aware that he would be in real trouble once the police came. He glowered at

the security guards. “Tell your president that I’ll be back in a few days!” The crowd dispersed the

moment Leanna left. Jonathan entered the building and marched toward the man, who was standing

before the French window. “President Pearson, Mr. McKinney is gone.” Aidan thrusted his hand into his

pocket while holding his phone with the other one, exuding an aloof and cold disposition. “What about

Leanna?” “She’s gone too.” Aidan snorted. “Gone?” “Yes, and she was—” Slapped in the face. Aidan

interrupted his secretary before he could finish. “Adjourn the afternoon meeting to tomorrow.”

“Understood,” Jonathan responded. An expressionless Aidan unlocked his phone screen before texting

Leanna. ‘3.00PM. At the Civil Affairs Bureau.’ He received a reply only after ten minutes. ‘Okay.’ Sitting

on the bench by the street, Leanna kept her phone in the bag after replying to Aidan’s message. She

then hugged her legs and buried her head into her knees. If only I could go somewhere where no one

knows who I am. That way, I can start afresh. No Jethro, no Aidan and no embarrassing insults. After a

long while, she wiped off the tears on her face and intended to go to the Civil Affairs Bureau to wait for

Aidan. However, the second she rose to her feet, everything was turning upside down before her eyes

and soon, she fainted. The next time Leanna opened her eyes, the smell of infectants wafted through

her nose, telling her that she was at the hospital. She kneaded her head while checking on the time.

Realizing that it was already 4.30PM, she was rendered speechless. Great. I’m totally screwed. Just as

she was going to contact Aidan to explain her circumstances, a smiling nurse pulled the curtain apart.

“You’re awake. The doctor has done a check-up on you. You didn’t have your breakfast earlier and

you’re currently low on sugar. It’s nothing serious. You can take a rest before being discharged.”

Leanna nodded. “Thank you.” “Oh, you’re pregnant too, but since your body is quite weak, you should

be extra careful especially for the first three months. If you’re free these two days, it is advised for you

and your husband to come for a pregnancy checkup.” The nurse broke the mind-blogging news and

left. The first sentence put Leanna into a trance, the shock and helplessness were no less better than

the night she found out that Jethro had passed the buck of an enormous debt to her. It was as if

someone had built up a towering wall in front of the exit when there was only one step left to take

before breaking free from the darkness. No matter how much she tried, she could never surmount it.

She got off the bed and went to the OB-GYN, putting Aidan to the back of her mind. When the checkup

had ended, the gynecologist said, “You are pregnant for about 40 days. The baby is fine, but your body

is quite weak for not resting well after a miscarriage. It’s a miracle to see you pregnant right now.

However, there’s nothing to be nervous and anxious about. All you have to do is to recover your body.”

With blank eyes, Leanna questioned, “What if… I don’t want the baby? Is it possible for me to have an

abortion?” The doctor was stunned for a moment, for it was not the reaction she had expected. “It’s

possible, but I advise you to reconsider it. It’s not easy for you to be pregnant due to your body

condition. Thus, the abortion will inflict long term damage to your body. You might not be able to—” “I

might not be able to get pregnant in the future?” “You can, but it will be hard. It depends on how your

body is.” Leanna lowered her head in silence. The doctor then suggested, “Please reconsider your

decision. It’s highly inadvisable to have a surgery right now due to your poor health anyway. If you’ve

made up your mind, please come after two weeks.” “Okay, thank you.” At the end of the day, Leanna

did not even know how she managed to leave the hospital in such a state of mind. The idea of telling

Aidan flashed across her head, but she deemed it unnecessary. In addition to his abhorrence to the

idea of pregnancy, he was still suspecting that she had ulterior motives for wanting a divorce. If she

was going to level with him, it would only give him all the more reason for her ‘crime’. Furthermore, he

would never welcome the baby as it would only fuel his resentment. Leanna surfed the Internet along

her way home to realize that birth control was not a hundred percent safe. And who can I blame for

this? When Zoe returned home at night, the house was dark. It was not until she turned on the lights

did she notice that Leanna was sitting on the couch like a stationary monument in a quail. Zoe seated

herself next to Leanna before waving her hand in front of her friend. “Are you meditating?” Leanna

slowly opened her eyes; with serenity, she dropped the bomb. “I’m pregnant.”

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