novelraw Chapter 366 - 367: Prenatal Examination, A Narrow Path for Adversaries
Chapter 366 - 367: Prenatal Examination, A Narrow Path for Adversaries
Chapter 366: Chapter 367: Prenatal Examination, A Narrow Path for Adversaries
Pauline Briggs had prejudices against Adrian Desmond, so no matter what Adrian said or did, it was wrong in her eyes. Sienna Johnson couldn’t help but think of herself in the past. Back then, Pauline didn’t like her and favored Sabrina Johnson, so no matter what Sienna said or did, it was ultimately wrong.
Adrian wanted to explain something, but Sienna stopped him, saying, "I feel a bit sleepy. Can you take me back to the room so I can lie down for a while?"
"You haven’t had breakfast yet."
"I’ll eat later."
If they stayed any longer, who knows what Madam Johnson would say.
Rose Collins said, "You go to sleep. I’ll keep the food warm for you, so you can eat right away when you wake up."
"Thank you, Mom."
"Silly child, there’s no need to be so polite with me."
Pauline Briggs, standing nearby, was very upset. Sienna called her—Pauline, her own biological mother—"Madam Johnson," yet she called her adoptive mother "Mom." Is she doing this just to spite me?
"Alright, I’ll help you back." Adrian got up and helped Sienna to their room. Pauline anxiously said, "Breakfast is ready. At least eat something before you sleep."
"I’ll eat later."
After they returned to the room, Adrian continued to apply an ice pack to Sienna’s face. Seeing the handprint on her fair skin, Adrian felt his heart ache more and more. "Look at this," he said, "how could she hit you so hard? When I slapped your face yesterday, I was holding back my strength."
"It’s alright, I didn’t even feel the pain."
"Sigh... don’t overthink it. I’ll try to come back early tonight to be with you, so you won’t keep having bad dreams."
The anticipation for their child was now tinged with melancholy due to Sienna’s discomfort. Sienna had been eating plenty of nutritious food, but not only had she not gained weight, she seemed to have lost a couple of sizes. Adrian felt both anxious and helpless.
"In the future, if Madam Johnson says anything, you don’t need to explain. Just ignore her. She doesn’t like you, so no matter what you say, she won’t listen," Sienna advised.
"If I don’t explain, wouldn’t her misunderstanding of me grow, and wouldn’t she end up hating me even more?" Adrian countered. Besides, why should he have to swallow his anger and act like an oppressed little wife?
"She dislikes you. No matter how you explain, it’s useless; it’s purely a waste of breath. This is entirely based on my own experience. Back then, Madam Johnson favored Sabrina. Everything I said or did was wrong. Your current situation is just like mine was."
"Alright, don’t worry about this. Just focus on taking care of yourself and getting better. If I had known you’d be tormented like this, I wouldn’t have wanted this child..."
Sienna quickly covered Adrian’s mouth, stopping him from saying more. She then spoke softly to her belly, "Baby, your daddy is just joking, don’t take it seriously. You have to be good and healthy, okay?"
After gently reassuring the baby, Sienna turned to Adrian with a stern expression. "What nonsense are you talking about? You’re a grown man, yet you still speak so carelessly."
Adrian knew better than to provoke her now. "Alright, alright, it’s all my fault. I won’t talk nonsense anymore."
"How’s the company?"
Even at a time like this, she’s still thinking about the company, Adrian thought with dissatisfaction. "Don’t you trust my ability? Are you afraid I’ll bankrupt your company?"
"What do I have to be afraid of? Sixth Master has so much money; my little company is nothing in his eyes."
"So, don’t worry about it. Just focus on getting better."
"I want to know how Frederick Pharmaceuticals is doing."
Adrian knew Sienna had been constantly thinking about this. He also knew that if he kept it from her, her habit of worrying needlessly would lead her to imagine all sorts of things, so he told her everything.
"...Frederick Pharmaceuticals’ stock price has plummeted; it’s down to 5.8 yuan now. I took the opportunity to buy up all those stocks that were being sold off. You’re now the third-largest shareholder, second only to William Stewart and Frederick Stewart."
Sienna’s heart leaped with joy, feeling as if a heavy stone had been lifted from her chest. "Did you give the evidence against Michael Stewart, the evidence Lucas Robertson collected, to the prosecutor?"
Michael Stewart was Frederick Stewart’s paternal uncle and currently a ministerial-level leader in the central government. The Mayor of Sileria City was Michael Stewart’s maternal uncle, wielding considerable power. It was precisely because Sienna was wary of Michael Stewart’s influence that she had endured for so many years.
"Not yet."
"Why not?"
"The time isn’t right!"
Adrian stopped Sienna from continuing. "Okay, don’t worry about it. Just rest and focus on your pregnancy."
"Okay."
After applying the cold compress for a while, her cheek was less red. Knowing Sienna hadn’t slept well the previous night, Adrian suggested she lie down for a bit longer. Sienna’s heart ached for him, so she pulled him down to sleep with her for a while. Lying next to a familiar presence, Sienna quickly fell asleep. Adrian, however, couldn’t sleep at all; he lay awake, his eyes open, pondering matters.
「...」
A month later, when they went for a checkup, Sienna was terribly emaciated. People who knew she was pregnant understood, but those who didn’t know the details assumed she had a terminal illness.
During this month, not only did Sienna lose weight, but Adrian also became much thinner. If Sienna wasn’t doing well, how could Adrian be?
Every time Adrian looked at Sienna’s belly, his expression was strange. When Sienna was pregnant with Curly, she had experienced morning sickness, but it hadn’t been nearly this severe. Seeing Sienna so thin, with sunken eye sockets and sallow skin, Adrian’s heart ached immensely. Consequently, his anticipation for the child lessened, replaced by a hint of resentment.
This baby is already causing so much trouble in the womb; if it’s born, who knows if it’ll be a little hellion.
「At Sileria Maternal and Child Health Hospital.」
Sienna never expected to run into Sabrina Johnson there. It truly was a case of enemies often crossing paths.
Sienna was pregnant, and unexpectedly, Sabrina was pregnant too. The child belonged to Master Leland. Master Leland, at his advanced age, was overjoyed at the prospect of having a child so late in life, happier than anyone.
Master Leland had been persuading Sabrina to leave Frederick Stewart and marry him, but how could she willingly marry an old man with one foot in the grave?
"Sister, what happened to you? Did you contract some terminal illness? How did you end up looking so ghastly?" Sabrina cursed.
Having completely torn off all pretenses, Sabrina dropped all pretense, and her words towards Sienna became sharp and harsh.
Sienna was feeling very unwell, and bumping into Sabrina made her even more agitated, so she simply ignored her.
However, she hadn’t expected that they were both headed to the obstetrics department for a checkup. Sabrina sat down next to her.
"Sister, are you pregnant?"
"..."
"What a coincidence, I’m pregnant too. I’m just over a month along..." Sabrina’s feelings for the child in her belly were complicated. She had always wanted a child, but the fact that the father was an old man made her feel deeply repulsed.
"..."
"But Sister, whose child is in your belly? Kenneth Brown’s or..." Sabrina glanced at Adrian and giggled. "Don’t tell me the child isn’t Mr. Desmond’s. Did you marry a disabled man just to find a father for the child in your belly, Sister?"