She stared at her phone screen, the chat page with Brandon open, and rubbed her temples in frustration. Seeing Natalie’s troubled expression, Johanna chuckled and advised, “Just say what’s on your mind. What can’t be shared between husband and wife?”
Resting her head on Johanna’s shoulder, Natalie murmured, “I’m just scared…”
Shaking her head, Johanna smiled and took the phone from Natalie’s hands. “Mom, what are you doing?”
Natalie jumped up, alarmed that Johanna might message Brandon without her consent.
She lunged for her phone. Johanna evaded her grasp and shook her head with a gentle chide.
“Silly girl, if you can’t find the words, then just wait. Staring at your phone and overthinking will only increase your anxiety.”
Soon, the car pulled up to a private hospital. Despite being steps away from her destination, Natalie felt frozen, reluctant to exit the car and torn with indecision. “Maybe… we can do this another day?”
Natalie suggested hesitantly. Sighing, Johanna gently prodded her, “I’m not pressuring you.
I just want you to know about your health status.
You can’t run away from this forever.
It’s something you’ll have to confront eventually.”
Her mother’s words of concern stirred Natalie to action.
“You’re right, Mom.
I shouldn’t contemplate escape.” Johanna offered a supportive smile.
“That’s my girl.
Don’t fret about your examination.
I’ve arranged an appointment with a top specialist.
Even if there’s an issue, they’ll find a solution.” Johanna’s team of specialists was extremely professional, and Natalie quickly completed her checkup.
Now, she sat anxiously in the hospital’s VIP room awaiting the results. The suspense of waiting was torturous for Natalie.
She paced the room nervously, her mind spiraling into an abyss of fear and apprehension. What if… what if she was infertile? What if they could never have their own child? Brandon had often spoken about wanting a family.
Clearly, he loved children.
If she couldn’t provide him with one, would he be devastated? Would he leave her? The mere thought of it threatened to unravel Natalie’s composure, her fear so potent she could taste the salt of imminent tears. Witnessing Natalie’s pallor deepen, Johanna felt a pang of sadness.
Her heart ached for her daughter.
She took Natalie’s hand and guided her gently onto the sofa, her voice a comforting whisper.
“The results aren’t here yet.
Don’t torment yourself with ‘what ifs’.
And remember, no matter what the outcome, your dad and I will be there.
We won’t let you face it alone.”
Natalie bit her lip and absent-mindedly nodded, a mere acquiescence to Johanna’s comforting efforts. Johanna could see the storm raging in Natalie’s mind, but she also knew that acceptance had to come from within Natalie herself.
No amount of external persuasion would make a difference unless Natalie was ready to accept the possibility.
Suddenly, Natalie clutched Johanna’s sleeve, her tears cascading down like broken pearls, as she sobbed fearfully, “Mom, if… if the issue is indeed with me, should I… should let Brandon go? He loves children so much… I don’t want him to live with regret…”
Her voice gradually faded into a whisper, leaving only the soft echo of her sobs within the confines of the VIP room.
Just as Johanna was grappling with her own heartbreak and struggling to find words of comfort for Natalie, the ringing of Natalie’s phone punctuated the poignant silence Despite her internal anguish, Natalie maintained her professional diligence, afraid to miss any update from her studio.
She unlocked her phone.
The message that greeted her left her utterly flabbergasted.
This was a message from Clyde, featuring no text, only a photograph. The image depicted Brandon and Suzanne in what appeared to be a moment of intimacy. Natalie, already dealing with the emotional toll of her health check -up, was thrown into chaos upon seeing the photograph.
She felt an immediate wave of weakness wash over her and her phone slipped from her grasp, clattering onto the floor. Seeing Natalie’s pallor and the despair etched on her face, Johanna’s heart clenched.
As she was about to pick up the phone to understand the cause of her daughter’s distress, Natalie swiftly retrieved it, whispering to herself, “The photo must be doctored, it has to be…” “Natalie…”
This was the first time Johanna had seen her daughter in such a state.
She was taken aback and asked anxiously, “What happened?” Ignoring her mother, Natalie was absorbed in scrutinizing the photograph, desperately searching for inconsistencies. After what felt like an eternity, she released a sigh of relief and muttered, “It’s fabricated… I knew it, Brandon isn’t that kind of person.” Upon calming down, Natalie finally noticed the incongruities.
While the two people in the image seemed extremely close, a closer inspection revealed that was because of the photograph’s angle. Furthermore, the picture was taken in front of the Larson Group’s building.
Suzanne was professionally attired, and her demeanor was senlous—it was apparent that she was there for business with Brandon. Natalie couldn’t suppress a sardonic chuckle. She’d allowed herself to doubt Brandon because of a cleverly manipulated photograph. However, even with the knowledge that the image was distorted, she felt a pang of discomfort. Although things were currently stable between her and Brandon, there was no guarantee it would always be so.
What if she couldn’t bear children? Would Brandon leave her because of that? Plus, Brandon was extraordinary, with a plethora of socialites and heiresses wanting to be with him.
Did she have any right to expect that he would be faithful to her alone? As Natalie was drowning in her thoughts, a nurse entered, pulling her back to reality.
“Excuse me, are you Miss White? Your test results are ready.
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The doctor would like to discuss them with you in his office.” Both Natalie and Johanna abruptly stood up.
Johanna turned to the nurse expectantly.
“May I ask, how is my daughter’s condition?”
“Well…”
The nurse hesitated, casting a pitying glance at Natalie.
The nurse’s sympathetic gaze caused a wave of dread to wash over Natalie.
She cautiously asked, “Has the doctor determined what the condition is?” “You’ll understand better when you speak with the doctor.
I can’t divulge the specifics,”
the nurse responded, extending her hand in a gesture of invitation. Johanna and Natalie, their moods somber, made their way to the doctor’s office.
Natalie felt a chilling nervousness that left her legs weak and unsteady. Although Johanna was equally anxious, she knew that showing her apprehension would only exacerbate Natalie’s own fears.
She managed a reassuring smile and encouraged, “Don’t frighten yourself.
With today’s advanced medical technology, there’s no hurdle that can’t be overcome.”
Gulping nervously, Natalie finally summoned the courage to reach for the doorknob, her hand trembling with anticipation.
Upon witnessing the stern expression on the doctor’s face, Natalie felt her heart plummet.
Johanna too sensed a looming negative outcome, yet she maintained her poise, calmly inquiring, “Doctor, could you share the results of my daughter’s tests, please?”
The doctor exhaled deeply before pushing the test report across the desk towards them.
As he pointed to the complex medical terminology, he began to explain, “Miss White has a congenital abnormality in her uterine development.
Although it won’t adversely affect her health, it could considerably complicate her ability to conceive.”