Chapter 69 Congratulations

" I am your spouse; my name is Diego. Diego stretched out his hand to give him a squeeze. "

"Nice to meet you, sir." I'm Dr. Green. The doctor shook his hand and quickly went through a folder with the report. "I just received your spouse's test results.

"Is there anything wrong?" Diego asked, his obvious concern.

- No, don't worry, it's nothing serious.

" That's great". Diego exhaled relieved.

"Come with me, please." His spouse is already awake, and I would like to talk to both of them.

The doctor took out of the pocket of his gown a cap, a pair of gloves and an extra mask that he gave to Diego, and he quickly put it on, and then followed the doctor to the room.

Isabella was lying on a bed, through a line attached to her wrist, some serum was passed to her, her cheeks and lips were still somewhat pale, the young woman's look seemed tired, although you could see in her eyes some concern.

"Diego?" Isabella frowned, confused, she could barely recognize Diego, since his face was covered with a medical mask. "What... What's going on? Did you bring me here?

"Yes, Isabella, you fainted in college. Diego settled on the side of the stretcher, caressing her forehead carefully, as if he wanted to reassure her.

"What?" I don't remember...

Isabella tried to sit down, but Diego stopped her with a gesture. He had to calm her down while the doctor reviewed some monitors and another folder with a general report.

- Don't worry, this is... It's my fault. I should have imagined that something like this could happen. Diego looked down in embarrassment.

"What are you talking about?"

"I knew you were trying too hard. I noticed it every day and I didn't say anything. I should have intervened. It is my duty to take care of you, I should not have allowed you to put yourself under so much stress. Diego pursed his lips in a line, he seemed disappointed with himself.

Isabella felt bad when she saw his sad and worried expression. He was about to refute Diego's claims when the doctor interrupted them.

"Very well, ma'am, sir..." The doctor looked at them seriously. “I think they are getting ahead with their assumptions. The doctor approached the other side of Isabella's bed.

"What?" Diego and Isabella looked at each other, completely confused.

"Although I haven't spoken directly to the patient yet, and I just heard that she has been under a lot of stress and overexertion lately, which may have influenced the fainting..." The doctor quickly leafed through the folder he was still holding in his hand. “I don't think that's the main reason why it happened...

“What do you mean? Diego stood up, with a palpable concern on his face.

“Congratulations to both of you...

"What?" They both turned to look at each other, even more confused.

"Mrs. Sinclair is pregnant.

Time seemed to stand still for Isabella and Diego at that moment.

Pregnant? Isabella's hands slid inertia into her belly, and her expression turned to surprise and concern. His heart began pounding, as he tried to take in the news.

"Pregnant..." Isabella murmured, almost to herself, trying to process the information.

After the momentary amazement, the first feeling that approached her was happiness, a genuine and absolute happiness... She had a baby, there was a little boy or girl growing inside her, a life, her son or daughter.

She had never planned it, living on the street she did not think about becoming a mother, but now that reality put this wonderful opportunity in front of her, she could not help but rejoice.

A baby? A little one? What will he be like? Will he look like Maximo? Isabella wondered in her mind, while her hands ran sweetly over her belly and she smiled silly, in love, excited about this new opportunity.

However, the minute of happiness immediately crumbled... Maximum? A puncture shook Isabella's heart and mind: Máximo could not find out.

Isabella's heart began to beat wildly when she remembered what she had heard that afternoon in the penthouse, Maximilian had told Máximo that they did not have to wait for the pregnancy, that they would solve it later.

They expected her to be pregnant and then what would they do?

Now that they had an heir, they could all the more exile her and then snatch her little one from her arms, just as Maximilian had done with Marian.

Raising him themselves, with their protocols and rules, without a spark of love, affection, or empathy, while Isabella would be condemned to see her son or daughter only, when necessary, maybe, during their marriage, just like Marian.

No! Impossible, she wouldn't allow that.

Although there was the remote possibility that Maximus did not agree with those plans and was being extorted by his father, Maximilian was definitely capable of doing so.

Or, rather, he did want to.

Máximo could not find out, much less Maximiliano, in fact, no one could find out, it was too great a risk, Isabella concluded, almost hyperventilating.

"Isabella?" Isabella? Isabella?! “A voice that at first sounded distant, now it became louder. "Isabella!! Diego called her in a shout, taking her out of his thoughts. She looked up. "Are you okay?"

Isabella nodded, swallowing thickly, the doctor made her lie down and began to check her, she looked paler and sweatier, her heart rate had increased considerably as well as her tension.

"Mrs. Sinclair, please take a deep breath, close your eyes, and try to relax. I think he's having a panic attack. The doctor's voice was calm and calm.

"What?" Diego looked at the doctor, visibly confused.

“This happens more often than you imagine, especially when you receive such shocking news. The doctor explained seriously. “Didn't you expect this pregnancy? Weren't they looking for it?

"What?" Isabella turned to the doctor; her confusion evident. Noticing that she was beginning to calm down, the doctor decided to give the couple a moment to process the news.

"Well, I'll leave you alone for a moment." - The doctor said, as he took his folder. "I will order an ultrasound and other necessary tests for you, Mrs. Sinclair. I will be back shortly for additional check-ups.

The doctor left, leaving Isabella and Diego stunned.

Pregnant? The woman he loved was pregnant by another man. Of course, that had to be obvious, since she was married to him, however, that did not lessen the pain.

Everything Diego had dreamed of since he was a child, had crumbled in seconds, Isabella had not only married and not only had she fallen in love with her husband, but also, she would give him a child.

Diego literally wanted to tear out his heart and throw it in the trash can, that's where it should be, because from now on, it wouldn't be of any use to him.

He had stupidly thought that he had overcome her, that he had already resigned himself to the fact that she loved another man, but the overwhelming feeling of feeling how he was losing her now more than ever, showed him that it was not so, that he still had in the most remote and deepest place of his heart, a small hope.

But with this news, he had died.

"Congratulations..." Diego murmured, his voice empty, moving away from the stretcher and taking out his cell phone.

"Diego, I..." Isabella felt a deep sadness when she saw his expression, that desolation on his face. Diego looked devastated, and she didn't want to ignore him.

"You don't have to say anything. He cut him off, turning to walk away.

"What...?" Are you leaving? Isabella stammered, trying to understand his reaction.

- Don't worry, my duty is to take care of you, right? He looked at her from a distance, with a weak and forced smile. "I'll call Máximo to inform him." Would you rather, do it?

"No! Isabella screamed, terrified.

For a moment, she had forgotten that Diego was there not only to take care of her, but also to keep an eye on her.

"What?" Diego looked at her confused, seeing the fear in her eyes.

- Diego, wait, you can't call him! Don't tell him anything! Isabella almost begged, her voice filled with panic.

"Okay, I'll do it myself. Diego, still confused by Isabella's reaction, agreed to her request.

- No, you don't understand... Máximo can't find out that I'm pregnant. Isabella spoke with difficulty, swallowing thickly.

He knew that Diego was Máximo's employee, in charge of fulfilling his duties, but he had also been his friend. If she gave him enough reasons, maybe she could convince him to help her.

"What?" No... I don´t understand you. Diego approached slowly, his heart beating again with hope. - He is your spouse, how is it possible that he cannot know that you are pregnant?

Isabella hesitated for a moment, her eyes filled with tears, and she trembled as she passed her hands over her own arms, as if trying to comfort herself.

"Isabella?" Diego insisted. "Can you explain to me why Máximo can't find out?"

"Because..." she muttered, closing her eyes tightly.

I had no choice. I had to trust Diego. It wasn't what she wanted, but she needed to convince him to help her.