Chapter 9

Ivy's POV

“You’re not eating.”

His voice was calm, and low… yet it pulled me out of my thoughts instantly.

I blinked and looked down at the plate in front of me. I hadn’t even realized I’d been staring at the food this whole time.

The table was set neatly, everything arranged with quiet elegance. The kind of place I had only seen from afar, never imagined sitting in. The soft clink of cutlery, the faint hum of conversations around us, the polished glass and warm lighting—it all felt too expensive.

“I… I am,” I said quickly, picking up the fork like I needed to prove it, but my hands weren’t steady.

Sitting across from him. The same man who had just stopped me outside my workplace. The same man who was now watching me with that unreadable expression.

I swallowed nervously and took a small bite, though I could barely taste anything.

Silence settled between us for a moment.

“I was the one who brought you to the hospital.”

My hand froze mid-air.

Slowly, I lifted my head, my eyes meeting his.

“…what?”

His gaze didn’t waver. “You collapsed on the road,” he said simply. “I happened to be there.”

The words echoed in my head, slow and disbelieving. “You…” My voice came out barely above a whisper. “You were the one?”

He nodded once.

And just like that, everything the doctor had said came rushing back.

My chest tightened. “You didn’t wait,” I said, my voice trembling slightly as I stared at him. “Why didn’t you wait? I didn’t even get the chance to thank you.”

“It wasn’t necessary.”

My brows pulled together immediately. “Not necessary?” I repeated, disbelief clear in my voice. “You helped me when no one else would. You paid my bills. You…”

My throat tightened, emotions rising too quickly for me to control.

Before I could stop myself, I pushed my chair back and stood up.

“Thank you so much…” I said, my voice shaking.

And then… I knelt down right there.

Ignoring the sudden shift in the atmosphere around us, ignoring the few curious glances from nearby tables.

None of it mattered.

“I’m really grateful,” I said, lowering my head, my fingers tightening against the fabric of my clothes. “I don’t know what would have happened to me… to my baby… if you didn’t help me.”

My voice broke slightly. “Thank you. Truly… thank you.”

For a moment, there was silence.

“I didn’t do it for that.”

His voice came quicker this time, sharper than before.

Before I could even react, his hand closed gently but firmly around my arm.

He pulled me up without effort. “Don’t do that again,” he said, his tone low but leaving no room for argument.

I blinked, slightly startled as I looked up at him. “I just wanted to…”

“You don’t need to kneel to thank me.”

I swallowed slowly, nodding. “O-okay…”

He let go of my arm, but his gaze remained on me for a moment longer before he returned to his seat.

I hesitated before sitting back down, my heart still racing.

“I spoke to the doctor before I left,” he said after a moment.

My fingers tightened slightly. “You did?”

“Yes.”

My heart skipped.

“He told me about your condition.”

A chill ran through me. “My… condition?”

“Your pregnancy,” he said, his voice calm but more serious now. “It’s not stable.”

I lowered my gaze immediately, my hand moving unconsciously to my stomach. “I know…” I whispered.

The doctor’s words echoed again.

“They said you need proper care,” he continued. “Rest. Nutrition. Less stress.”

A small, bitter smile formed on my lips.

He paused.

Because maybe… even he could see how impossible that sounded for someone like me.

“I’ll try,” I added quickly, not wanting him to think I didn’t care. “I will. I just need to figure things out first.”

“You won’t ‘figure it out’ if you continue like this.”

His tone sounded a little harsh. And somehow, that made it harder to argue.

“I don’t have much of a choice,” I admitted quietly. “I just lost my job today.”

His gaze sharpened slightly. “Why?”

“I missed work,” I said, forcing a small, dry laugh. “Apparently collapsing and ending up in the hospital isn’t a good enough excuse.”

Silence followed.

“I’ll find something else,” I added quickly.

He studied me for a moment, like he was trying to understand something deeper than my words.

Then he asked again. “Have you registered for antenatal care?”

The question caught me off guard. “…no.”

“You should.”

“I know, I just…” I hesitated. “I don’t have the money for that right now.”

The words sounded embarrassing.

“I’ll handle it.”

I blinked. “What?”

“I’ll pay for it,” he said calmly. “Register for antenatal care. Get the proper check-ups. Whatever you need.”

For a second, I thought I misheard him.

“You… you’ll what?”

“I’ll cover the expenses.”

My heart started racing. “No, I can’t…” I began immediately.

“You can,” he interrupted.

“It’s too much,” I said quickly, shaking my head. “You’ve already done so much. You paid my hospital bills, and now this? I can’t keep taking things from you like this.”

“You’re not taking anything,” he said.

His gaze held mine.

“I just want to make sure your child survives.”

The words hit deep. My throat tightened, and before I knew it, tears started forming in my eyes.

“I…” I tried to speak, but my voice failed me.

Why?

Why would he do this?

A stranger.

Someone who didn’t know me. Someone who had no reason to care. Yet here he was… offering more than anyone ever had. Even the people who were supposed to love me.

A tear slipped down my cheek.

Then another. “I don’t understand…” I whispered.

“You don’t need to.”

“But I do,” I said, shaking my head as more tears followed. “Because people don’t just do this. Not for someone like me.”

His expression didn’t change, but there was something in his eyes. “Just accept it,” he said quietly.

I wiped my tears quickly, though they kept falling.

“Thank you,” I whispered. “Thank you so much… I don’t even know how to repay you.”

“You don’t have to.”

But I felt like I did. Because this… this wasn’t something I could forget.

As I sat there, my hand slowly moved to my stomach again, resting there gently.

My baby.

A shaky breath left my lips as a thought formed quietly in my mind.

Maybe…

Maybe God hadn’t completely abandoned me. Maybe after everything I went through… after all the pain… he had finally answered me.

I glanced at the man sitting across from me.

My chest tightened as the thought grew stronger.

You sent him… didn’t you? But I didn't say it out loud.

Another tear slipped down my cheek as I lowered my head slightly.