Chapter 9

<p>I sat there, watching him. Suddenly, I had no idea what to say. My throat felt tight, as if something were blocking it. It was not sadness but pure anger. I was fuming, boiling with rage.</p><p>"Henry," I said, my voice trembling. "Did you ever think if you'd chased after me..."</p><p>I couldn't finish. If he'd chased after me, I wouldn't have left. I crushed the words in my mouth and forced them down, swallowing the pain. I'd rather die than say it out loud.</p><p>Henry Carter looked up, locking eyes with me. "I know," Henry said quietly. "I get it now."</p><p>"It's too late."</p><p>"Too late or not, I'm still going after you."</p><p>"I won't... " I started. But before I could finish, the door suddenly swung open.</p><p>Alex came in with a grin, holding two cups of coconut water.</p><p>Then he saw Henry crouched in front of me, with my eyes red and puffy. His smile froze. "I didn't see anything," he stammered.</p><p>He set the cups down on the cabinet by the door and hurried out.</p><p>As the door clicked shut, I heard his voice in the hallway, hushed but urgent. "Lily, don't go in. Henry's confessing his love in there."</p><p>Then a woman's voice shrieked, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps.</p><p>Someone was listening at the door. Henry and I both turned to look at it. Under the door, I could see at least three pairs of shoes.</p><p>I buried my face in my hands. This was social death, from the operating room to the office, one cringe moment after another. Seriously, when would this endless social death going to stop?</p><p>Henry stood up, strode to the door, and yanked it open.</p><p>Three people, including Alex, a middle-aged female nurse, and a male doctor with glasses, tumbled in like dominoes.</p><p>"Get out," Henry said, his voice cold enough to freeze hell over. The three of them scrambled out in a panic.</p><p>But I could still hear Alex yelling as he ran off, "Go for it, Henry. Don't let her get away."</p><p>Henry's girl? They're already calling me his girl?'</p><p>Henry closed the door and turned back to me. We locked eyes for a second. Then I saw the corner of his mouth twitch. He was trying not to laugh.</p><p>"What's so funny?" I demanded.</p><p>"I'm not laughing," he said.</p><p>"You're totally laughing."</p><p>"No, I'm not," he said, coming over and handing me the cup of coconut water. "Here, have something to drink. You don't look so good."</p><p>I took the cup and sipped it. It was sweet and very soothing. It was so cozy. "Henry," I said.</p><p>"Yeah?" he replied.</p><p>"I don't want to talk about getting back together right now."</p><p>"Okay."</p><p>"I had a baby only a few days ago. I need some time."</p><p>"Okay."</p><p>"Don't push me."</p><p>"I won't."</p><p>"But don't think because you did all this, I'll go soft on you."</p><p>"Okay."</p><p>I looked up at him.</p><p>He stood right in front of me, sunlight pouring through the window and lighting up his white coat.</p><p>There was a calmness in his face, and a gentle warmth in his eyes.</p><p>He wasn't the same man who told me to leave eight months ago. He looked like someone who'd made a decision." I only have one request," Henry said.</p><p>"What is it?" I asked.</p><p>"On the baby's birth certificate, in the father's name section," Henry paused.</p><p>I knew exactly what he meant.</p><p>"Let me be the one who puts my name there," he said softly.</p><p>I lowered my head, staring at the coconut water. After a long pause, I finally said, "Let's wait until after the paternity test."</p><p>Henry smiled. It was a real smile, not a polite or cold one, but the kind that came from deep relief when a huge weight finally lifted off his chest.</p><p>"Okay," he said. As he spoke, I heard a muffled cheer from the hallway.</p><p>"Henry's girl said yes," Alex shouted.</p><p>"Alex, keep it down," someone said.</p><p>"Oh my god, Chief Carter actually smiled. I can't believe it." Another voice exclaimed.</p><p>Henry's expression darkened. He marched over and yanked the door open. This time, five people were pressed against the door. "Everyone in the department will work overtime today," Henry announced, his voice icy.</p><p>A chorus of groans exploded from the hallway.</p><p>I sat in the office, holding my cup of coconut water, and for the first time since I'd set foot in this godforsaken hospital, I finally burst out laughing.</p><p>The paternity test results were finally in.</p><p>It was the fifth day.</p><p>When Henry walked into my hospital room with the report, he looked like he was about to announce a royal decree.</p>