Chapter 3
Lily followed me, patting my back and snarking, "Damn, that guy's way out of your league. Angela, you totally hit a brick wall this time."
I leaned against the wall, gasping for air, feeling utterly hopeless inside.
For the next hour, I moved through the tests like a puppet, checking off each item on the list one by one.
As the cold needle pierced my vein for the blood draw, I barely registered any pain.
Every sensation was drowned out by overwhelming panic and unease.
During the ultrasound, I lay on the cold exam table, staring at the tiny gestational sac on the screen, tears nearly spilling over.
Baby, I thought I really messed this up.
After all the tests were done, I stood outside Ethan's office again, clutching a stack of reports.
This time, I didn't even have the guts to go in.
"What am I supposed to do, Lily?" I asked, totally at a loss.
"What else can you do? It's gonna hurt either way. Just go in! He's not gonna eat you alive," Lily replied, giving me a little shove.
I took a deep breath and pushed the door open.
Ethan was giving instructions to a nurse when I walked in. He looked up, gestured for her to leave, and she quietly exited the room.
Once again, it was just the two of us.
I handed him the stack of reports, and Ethan took them, examining each page with meticulous attention.
While Ethan was going through the reports, I finally got a chance to steal a glance at him when he wasn't looking.
He seemed a bit thinner, his jawline more defined than before.
That white coat really highlighted his aloof, almost icy vibe. And honestly, damn, it just made him look even better.
My thoughts were all over the place.
"The embryo is developing well, and your HCG levels are doubling just as they should," Ethan said calmly, setting the reports. "From the numbers, everything looks good, a healthy baby."
I gripped the hem of my shirt, not saying a word.
"But," Ethan added, "there are a lot of things you need to pay attention to in early pregnancy. Your diet, your sleep, even your mood, every bit of it affects the baby's development."
He pulled out a notebook and pen from his drawer and started jotting down notes. "Starting tomorrow, breakfast has to include milk and eggs.
"For lunch, two meat dishes and one vegetable. Make sure there's deep-sea fish.
"Dinner should be light, and no eating after 7 PM. And absolutely no spicy, raw, or fried foods."
Ethan wrote fast, his handwriting just as neat and sharp as he was. He continued, "No coffee, strong tea, or soda, not even a sip.
"Make sure you get eight hours of sleep every night, and be in bed by eleven, no exceptions. And no phone for at least an hour before bed."
My jaw dropped. I was completely dumbfounded. Were these doctor's orders or prison rules?
"And one more thing," Ethan said, tearing off the page and sliding it over to me. "I need your WhatsApp and phone number, so I can monitor your health at all times."
I stared at him, and finally, I just couldn't hold it in anymore.
"Ethan," I hissed, my voice low, my emotions fraying at the edges. "What exactly are you trying to do? We're over."
Ethan finally looked up, locking eyes with me.
Those beautiful eyes of his looked like they were forged in ice, yet burned with a fierce heat.
"What do I want?" he repeated my words, then slowly stood up and walked toward me, step by deliberate step.
I instinctively backed away until my back hit the cold wall, with nowhere left to go.
Ethan stopped right in front of me, one hand braced against the wall beside my head, trapping me between his body and the wall.
A familiar, clean soap scent wrapped around me, sharp and fresh. It was the same soap he used back at Aladia University.
"Angela," Ethan murmured, his voice low and a little rough, with a hint of frustration as he leaned in close to my ear. "You just reminded me.
"Yeah, we broke up. After you used me and tossed me aside, then accused me of cheating. Out of nowhere.
"So right now, I'm not talking to you as your ex-boyfriend."
His breath hit my ear, hot and almost ticklish, making my skin prickle.
Ethan added, "Right now, I'm your doctor, and I'm calling the shots."
"Or..." he paused, a dangerous smile curling in his voice, "do you want me to ask as the father? So, whose baby is it, Angela?"
My whole body shuddered, and I jerked my head up to meet his gaze.
His eyes weren't icy lakes anymore. They were churning with a deep, unfathomable whirlpool I couldn't begin to read.
My heartbeat went totally haywire in that instant.
*****
In the days that followed, Ethan had me under constant surveillance.
I had no idea how he got my new phone number, but three times a day, morning, noon, and night, he'd check in without fail.
He'd ask, "Did you have breakfast? What did you eat?"