Chapter 3 3

TAYLOR'S POV

Alexander stayed silent, neither confirming nor denying my suspicions.

"How's Henry?" I asked again.

Alexander suddenly looked anxious, avoiding discussing Henry's condition. It was clear he didn't want to talk about it.

"Take care of yourself. Don't worry about anything else," Alexander replied, sidestepping my question about Henry.

Days passed quietly until an unexpected visitor disrupted the peaceful routine, injecting a sense of panic back into my life.

That day, I sat upstairs as usual, lost in thought or perhaps in a state of emptiness:

"Taylor, your best friend Raven is here."

Raven's voice echoed from the staircase, accompanied by a smile on her face, as if we were still in our carefree days.

Before I could respond, anger surged through me. "I don't remember having a friend like you. If you hadn't tricked me with those drugs and lured me into Alexander's room, I wouldn't be in this miserable situation now!"

Unfazed by my cold reception, Raven retorted, "Don't be so angry. I have something rather interesting to tell you. Are you interested?"

She gazed at me with a cunning smile, not bothering to address the issue of the drugs.

Pushing aside that subject, I turned my attention to Raven, waiting to hear what she had to say.

"Do you know why Alexander fell for me first?" Raven whispered in my ear.

Her question piqued my curiosity. It was a puzzle that had long perplexed me.

Alexander knew full well that he would never be attracted to someone like Raven.

"Because I told him I was the one who rescued him from the fire. Haha, didn't see that coming, did you?" Raven giggled mischievously.

She rolled up her sleeve, revealing a disfigured scar left by the fire. "See this? I intentionally burned my skin to make him believe me."

"You..." I was seething with anger.

Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I controlled my emotions and tried to keep my voice steady. "When did you tell Alexander this?"

"After you saved him from the fire, you fainted. I wasn't far away then. I took him to the hospital, took care of him, and stayed by his bedside day and night until he woke up. I wanted him to see me and know that I was the one who saved him."

Raven looked at me with a smug expression, her face turning pale. She continued, "When Alexander found out that I rescued him, you should have seen the look of astonishment on his face. I then told him that I had secretly loved him for years, and he believed me. He accepted my confession."

Raven couldn't help but laugh at her triumph.

"Raven, you're a fraud!" I roared, "You don't actually like Alexander. You're after his wealth and his family background."

Seeing my furious reaction, Raven reveled in my distress. She tilted her head, her lips curling into a teasing smile. "Look at that angry and pitiful face of yours!"

Fighting the urge to explode, I yanked my chin from her grip and snapped, "Raven, the greatest regret of my life is ever knowing you."

"Is it?" Raven lifted her chin defiantly, her eyes gleaming with a victorious gleam. She sneered at me and declared, "Do you think everyone is obligated to adore you just because you're Miss Parker? When we met Alexander, why wouldn't he be allowed to like me?"

I sneered back, "I never imagined you could be so shameless. Alexander will see through your facade eventually. What will he think of you then?"

"Haha, and if he learns the truth? Would he believe you? Your standing in his eyes is only diminishing. I'll make you feel even more hopeless, driving you to give up!"

With that, Raven retreated, inching back toward the solid wood railing behind her.

Bang!

A cry of pain echoed through the villa!

"Taylor, I was just trying to help you get rid of the mosquito on your stomach. How could I hurt your baby? You've misunderstood me. You're so heartless!" It was Raven's voice.

Just then, a figure appeared at the entrance.

"Raven, what happened?"

Upon entering the villa, Alexander saw Raven's forehead colliding with the railing, causing her to bleed.

He hurried up the stairs and lifted Raven from the ground.

"Taylor, are you crazy? Do you want to ruin Raven's face? I never expected you to be so malicious. Let me make one thing clear: even if her face is damaged, I will still care for her. Don't expect me to look at you any differently."

I tried to explain, my voice filled with exhaustion, "I didn't do anything to her. She bumped into the railing on her own."

"I heard Raven crying. Are you trying to deceive me again? Apologize to her now."

"Why? Even if I apologize to anyone, I won't apologize to her."

I held my ground, meeting Alexander's gaze with unwavering resolve.

Witnessing my determination, Alexander shot me a stern glare and then turned to cradle Raven, preparing to leave.

As he turned away, Raven extended her leg without warning, aiming a kick at my stomach.

The touch seemed casual, but it was surprisingly strong, throwing me off balance and causing me to fall to the ground. The pain in my abdomen was dull but distinct. Clutching my stomach, I winced and turned pale.

"I'm sorry, Taylor. I didn't mean to," Raven stammered apologetically.

Alexander, watching from a distance, thought I might be exaggerating the pain to gain sympathy. He dismissed my discomfort, saying, "Taylor, stop pretending. Raven's leg barely touched you. Don't overreact."

However, when he noticed the beads of sweat on my forehead, he realized I was genuinely in pain.

Without hesitation, Alexander let go of Raven and scooped me up, rushing to the car. My blood stained his clothes as he held me.

"Drive faster!" he urged the driver impatiently.

The distance between us and the villa grew, and Raven's figure became smaller in the distance.

Her furious expression was etched in my mind, her eyes aflame with anger.

Taylor, you will pay for this!

At the hospital, the doctor's examination confirmed that both the baby and I were safe. The doctor remarked that the situation had been dire, and timely intervention had been crucial.

During my time in the hospital, Alexander visited me every day, bringing food made by the nanny each time.

I couldn't shake the feeling that he was driven by guilt.

After a few days, I was finally discharged from the hospital.

Sitting in the car on the way back to the villa, I mustered the courage to say, "Thank you."

I genuinely appreciated his help. Without his prompt action, I might have lost my child.

Could it be that he truly cared about our child?

Alexander's expression shifted uneasily. "Don't read too much into it. I'm just doing it to comfort Raven. She feels responsible for your hospitalization, and I feel guilty. Originally, she was planning to take care of you, but I couldn't leave her alone. That's why I came."

With that, he left without looking back.

I managed a wry smile.

He was taking care of me on Raven's behalf?

Could he really be kind to Raven?

Maybe he would protect Raven!

As I contemplated this, a tear escaped my eye, mingling with the bitterness in my mouth.

Time passed steadily, and though the child was safe this time, the fear lingered.

I dreaded the possibility of another miscarriage. So, I focused on taking care of myself and my baby, and thankfully, Raven didn't bother me again.

Consulting the pregnancy guidebook, I realized my next prenatal appointment was approaching. I made the necessary preparations, determined to prioritize the well-being of my child.

The day of the appointment arrived. Familiar with the process, I completed the examination quickly. Both the baby and I were declared healthy.

Exiting the Obstetrics and Gynecology department, I spotted the Pediatrics section nearby. Peering through the open door, I wondered whether I'd bring my child here in the future.

As I hesitated, my attention was drawn to the room's occupants. To my astonishment, I saw Alexander and Raven speaking to a doctor.

Intrigued, I listened in on their conversation through the partly open door. I caught snippets of their discussion, and my sense of unease intensified.

Returning to the villa, my spirits dropped. Over the next few days, I thought about how to approach Alexander about what I'd overheard. I feared what I might uncover, uncertain about the future.

Every day, I sat on the sofa, waiting for his return.

After a week, Alexander finally came home.

Summoning my courage, I confronted him directly. "You don't love me, do you? You only asked me to have a baby to save your 'treasure'?"

"I've explained this to you many times!" His response was as cold as ever. His gaze bore into me for a moment before he turned and headed upstairs, his footsteps carrying a hint of heaviness.

"Alexander, don't think I'm unaware. You wanted me to have a child simply to save Henry, didn't you?"

His pace halted on the stairs, and he replied icily, "And what else do you know? Go on, tell me!"

"Is it true that Henry has leukemia?"

"Yes, it's leukemia, a type of blood cancer," he responded after a brief pause.

"And there's only two months left for Henry?"

He nodded in confirmation.

I stood up, my voice tremulous, "Is it too late for our child to be born? Are you asking me to induce labor at seven months?"

Alexander's face tightened, and he turned his gaze away. "Don't even think about it. There won't be any issues. Medicine has advanced enough that a child born at seven months can lead a normal life. As long as their condition matches Henry's requirements, it will save Henry."

"Who can guarantee the success of such a match? What if it doesn't work?" I inquired, my voice laced with uncertainty.