Chapter 5
Emily didn't deny it. She simply said, "Yes."
Before the surgery, she'd already reviewed Sophia's health check report. Sophia had a long history of smoking and drinking, and she'd gone through several miscarriages.
With her physical condition, even if she managed to have a child, there was no guarantee the baby would be healthy.
Plus, with Emily's criminal record, she didn't believe Sophia could ever be a good mother.
Emily was just about to come clean, but Andrew lost his temper and stormed over, grabbing her wrist with a fierce grip. "Emily, after all these years as a doctor, did you lose your heart somewhere along the way?
"Sophia's health is so fragile. She finally managed to get pregnant, and you killed her baby with your own hands. You're absolutely heartless."
The nurse standing nearby couldn't hold back anymore and interrupted, "Mr. Sterling, Dr. Rivers didn't terminate the pregnancy for no reason. It was because of Ms. Lane's health."
Sophia suddenly started coughing, grabbing Andrew's attention right away.
Andrew quickly said, "Sophia, you just got out of surgery. Try not to get too emotional."
Sophia gazed at Andrew with teary eyes, looking just like a pitiful little bunny. "Andrew, it's fine. I can have another child someday. But you and Dr. Rivers are getting married soon. Please don't let me ruin things between you two."
Emily sensed the provocation in Sophia's words, and a cold shiver ran down her back.
Sophia already knew about Emily's thing with Andrew. She did this on purpose.
Sophia's bloodwork showed she might've used abortion pills in the last three days.
Emily just couldn't wrap her head around it. Sophia was pregnant with Andrew's baby, but she secretly aborted it without telling him.
"Sophia, you've really been through a lot," Andrew said, his voice gentler now.
He was completely taken in by Sophia's pitiful act. Seeing her trying so hard to hold back her tears, he couldn't help but soften. "Sophia, don't worry. I promise, your baby won't have died for nothing."
With that, he wheeled Sophia back to her room without even glancing at Emily.
He didn't spare Emily a single look the whole time.
Emily rubbed her wrist, bruised from Andrew's grip. She looked up at Andrew's cold, unfeeling back and clenched her fist, trying to hold herself together.
Memories of Andrew once defending her flashed before her eyes. Thinking about how close they used to be, her heart felt like it was being ripped apart, raw and bleeding.
"Dr. Rivers, please don't be sad," the nurse murmured.
Not knowing what else to say, the nurse simply patted Emily's shoulder, hoping it would help.
Emily forced herself to calm down, pushing down the bitterness she felt. She said quietly, "I've already requested leave to study elsewhere. That was my last surgery before I walk away from this place."
With the nurse staring at her in shock, Emily took off her white coat and went back to her office to gather her stuff.
After moving her things back to her apartment, she started sorting through the clothes she'd need for her time away.
But as soon as she opened her closet, Emily froze.
All the clothes she'd neatly arranged in her closet had been torn to shreds.
At the bottom of the closet, a pair of scissors lay next to a used condom.
Emily was so furious she could barely stand, her whole body shaking. For a moment, it felt like the air was thick with the scent they'd left behind.
She rushed to the bathroom sink, clutching her stomach as she dry-heaved. When she finally looked up, she met Andrew's icy, menacing gaze in the mirror. "Are you pregnant?" he asked, his voice chilling.
His question hit Emily like a bolt from the blue. Her mind went completely blank.
That was when it dawned on her. She'd been feeling wiped out lately, no appetite, always nauseous.
Before she could say a word, Andrew stormed over and grabbed her by the throat. "Emily, we always used protection. How the hell are you pregnant?"
Emily's brain short-circuited. Suddenly, a memory flashed. Two months ago, Andrew was wasted. She'd dragged him out of the bar, and he'd thought she was Sophia.
Back then, when she heard him call out "Sophia," she thought she'd heard wrong.
Now she realized he'd been calling for Sophia all along.
Turns out they were already a thing back then.
Emily placed her hand on her belly, eyes rimmed with tears as she stared at Andrew. Her voice was steady. "Andrew, let's break up. After this, the baby's none of your business."
She was ready to walk away, even with a baby on the way. There was no way she was staying with Andrew.
But when Andrew heard her say she wanted to break up, the anger in his eyes finally boiled over. "Emily, whose bastard are you carrying? If you haven't been messing around, why are you breaking up with me?
"Are you scared I'll find out who the real father is once the baby's born?
"Or maybe you've already found yourself a new man? Planning to run off with him and the kid?"
Hearing Andrew's vicious accusations, Emily shoved him away with all her strength.
"Andrew, I've never done anything to betray you," she snapped, her voice raw with emotion.
He could refuse to take responsibility for the baby if he wanted, but she'd never let him call her child a bastard with no real father.
Other than Andrew, she'd always kept her distance from every guy at the hospital, never letting anyone get close all these years.
Andrew let out a cold, mocking laugh. "If you really think the baby's mine, then cut yourself open, pull the kid out, and let's do a DNA test. I only trust the results.
"And if it's not, you have to get rid of it."
Emily's eyes went wide in shock.
Andrew would rather believe that the child in Sophia's womb was his than accept that Emily's child was his.
He actually wanted Emily to cut open her own belly just for a DNA test. This was absolutely insane.
Her baby was barely two months along. If she actually cut herself open now, the kid wouldn't stand a chance.
Emily shot back, her voice unwavering. "I said it already. This baby is mine, and you have nothing to do with it."
"You're just scared because you've got something to hide." Andrew spat, his words dripping with accusation.
He clenched his jaw, eyes burning with fury, looking like he was about to snap and lash out at her any second.
Emily struggled desperately to fight him off, but Andrew's strength completely overpowered her.
He hurled her into the bathtub and cranked the faucet to full cold, letting icy water pour in.
With one hand, he pinned Emily's shoulder down, waiting until the freezing water crept up over her stomach. Only then did he finally speak, sounding almost pleased with himself. "Since you can't go through with it yourself, I'll do it for you.
"As long as you get rid of this bastard, I'll forgive everything you've done. In seven days, I'll still go through with the wedding."