Chapter 4: She is Pregnant

Ella stood in the living room, holding Leo tightly. She felt like her entire world was collapsing.

"Mommy, I'm cold." Leo said softly in her arms.

Ella looked down at her son. Only then did she realize Leo's face was frighteningly pale. His little face was flushed red with fever. She reached out to touch her son's forehead. The burning temperature made her heart tighten.

"Leo? Baby, what's wrong?"

Leo's eyes looked unfocused. "Mommy, I feel terrible..."

Before he finished speaking, the child's eyes rolled back. His body suddenly went limp.

"Leo!" Ella screamed. She held her son tighter. "Leo, wake up! Baby, look at Mommy!"

Her hands were trembling. He must have caught cold sleeping on the sofa waiting for Alexander. How could she be so careless? How could she let the child wait so long?

Ella carried Leo and rushed to the garage. She held the child with one hand and started the car with the other. Tears blurred her vision, but she didn't dare stop to wipe them.

"Hang in there, baby. We'll be at the hospital soon." She repeated it over and over. She didn't know if she was comforting her son or herself.

The emergency room lights were bright. Ella rushed in holding Leo. "Doctor! Doctor! My son has a high fever and passed out!"

Everything that followed felt like a nightmare. Registration, blood tests, waiting. Ella ran up and down alone. During this time, she called Alexander four or five times. But Alexander didn't answer any of them.

At three in the morning, Leo was finally wheeled into a hospital room. He began receiving IV fluids. The nurse said, "The fever reached 104°F. Good thing you brought him in time."

Ella sat by the bedside. She held her son's small hand. That hand still had a needle in it. She watched the transparent liquid drip into her son's veins, drop by drop. She couldn't stop the tears.

If she had noticed earlier. If she hadn't let Leo wait so long. If she could have been stronger and not argued with Alexander in front of the child...

"I'm sorry, baby." She kissed the back of her son's hand. "It's all Mommy's fault."

At four-thirty, Leo's eyelids finally moved. Ella immediately sat up straight. "Leo? Baby, are you awake?"

Leo slowly opened his eyes. But he didn't look at her. His gaze moved past her. It fixed on the hallway outside the hospital room.

Ella followed his line of sight. Her heart felt like someone had squeezed it hard.

At the end of the hallway, Alexander was supporting Jessica as they walked slowly. Jessica wore a hospital gown. She leaned against Alexander, looking extremely weak. Alexander had one hand around her waist. The other hand supported her arm. His movements were careful. His eyes were focused.

Leo's eyes instantly reddened. He opened his mouth. In a hoarse voice, he called out, "Daddy..."

The voice was too soft. But Alexander still heard it. He looked up. He saw Leo in the hospital room. Surprise flashed across his face.

"Leo?" He let go of Jessica and quickly walked into the room. "Why are you here? What happened?"

Leo didn't speak. He just looked at him. Tears silently streamed down.

A nurse came in to change the medication. She glanced over and said, "The little one caught a cold and had a fever. It reached 104°F. The fever has broken now. Nothing serious."

Alexander touched Leo's forehead. It truly wasn't hot anymore. He breathed a sigh of relief. "You scared me. How did you suddenly get a fever?"

"He fell asleep on the sofa and caught cold." Ella's voice was icy. "Waiting for you."

Alexander's expression became awkward. He looked at Ella, then at Leo. "Daddy is very sorry. But now your fever is gone, right? Mommy will take good care of you." He turned to Ella. "I need to take Jessica to see the doctor. She still needs some tests—"

"Daddy." Leo suddenly spoke. His small hand grabbed Alexander's sleeve. "Don't go."

Alexander crouched down. He tried to gently pull his hand back. "Leo, be good. Daddy will be back soon—"

"Is it because I'm not good?" Leo's tears fell faster. "Is it because I'm not good that Daddy doesn't care about me?"

"No, Leo—"

"Then why do you rush to her when she's sick, but you want to leave when I'm sick?" Leo began to cry out loud. "I had a fever too. I felt terrible too. Why won't Daddy stay with me?"

Ella couldn't hold back anymore. She hugged her son. Tears dripped onto Leo's hair.

Alexander's expression softened. He was about to say something when Jessica at the door let out a sharp dry heave. "Alex... I don't feel well. The doctor said I can't smell disinfectant..."

Alexander hesitated for one second. In the end, he still stood up. "I'll come back to check on you later."

With that, he turned and left.

Ella held Leo. She watched his retreating figure. Her heart turned completely cold.

The next morning, Leo's fever was completely gone. His spirits were much better too. The doctor said he could be discharged.

Ella packed their things. Deep dark circles hung under her eyes. She hadn't slept all night. She just watched her son like this. Afraid something else might happen to him.

"Mommy, let's go home." Leo said. His voice was soft. "I want to go home."

"Okay. Let's go home." Ella took her son's hand.

After returning home, Ella opened the door. She said to Leo, "Baby, go back to your room and sleep a bit more, okay? You still need rest. I'll take you to school this afternoon, okay?"

Leo obediently nodded. He followed Ella slowly up the stairs.

Ella watched her son's small figure. A sharp pain pierced her heart. In just one night, Leo seemed to have suddenly grown up. He no longer acted spoiled. He no longer threw tantrums. He was so quiet it hurt.

After settling Leo in, Ella had just returned downstairs and poured herself a glass of water when she heard the sound of a car braking at the front door.

Ella looked up. She saw Alexander walk in. Behind him was Jessica.

Jessica began looking around as soon as she entered. She pretended to be delicate as she held onto Alexander's arm. She asked sweetly, "Alex, these decorations in the living room—can I change them? I don't really like the style of those ornaments. Can I really redecorate according to my own style?"

"Redecorate?" Ella stood up. Her voice was icy. "What did you say?"

Jessica turned her head. A flash of triumph crossed her face. But it quickly changed to grievance. "Ella, I just wanted—"

"This is not your home. You're not welcome here." Ella interrupted her. "Get out."

"Ella." Alexander frowned. He stood protectively in front of Jessica. "I'm the one who asked Jessica to move in. She's pregnant."