Chapter 834 Natalie, the Child is Temporarily Safe
The storm raged on.
Clayton drove as fast as he could to get Natalie and Manuel to the nearest hospital.
As soon as the car stopped, doctors and nurses rushed out with a stretcher, braving the rain.
In the chaos, Natalie was wheeled into the emergency room.
She was fully conscious, the pain was excruciating... but she didn't cry out.
She bit her lip hard, her small face pale. Lying on the operating table, she looked helplessly at Clayton.
Clayton's heart was breaking.
More than losing the baby, he was heartbroken for Natalie. He held her hand tightly, his voice hoarse, "If it hurts, cry out! Natalie..."
He wanted to comfort her, to tell her they could have another child.
But the words stuck in his throat, his lips trembling. That was his child too!
Natalie was in a daze from the pain.
She looked at Clayton's face, unable to distinguish between reality and illusion.
She couldn't remember if it was morning or night, only Clayton and their past...
When the pain became unbearable, she clutched Clayton's arm with her thin hand, her voice raspy, "Clayton."
Tears welled up in Clayton's eyes.
The doctor urged him to leave, "Family members need to wait outside! We need to start the emergency procedure!"
Clayton wanted to stay.
He wanted to be with her, afraid she would be scared. He didn't want to leave her again.
But the operating room was no place for him. He was covered in mud and dirty water, unhealthy and unsanitary.
Clayton stepped out, enduring a long wait.
Gavin was the first to arrive.
He had been at the hotel when the typhoon hit shortly after Natalie left. Driving was impossible... Worried about Natalie, he called The Devereux Mansion.
They said Natalie hadn't returned.
Gavin, looking at the weather, couldn't shake his concern. He insisted Chloe and Molly stay at the hotel while he drove back alone...
The typhoon was fierce, making driving difficult.
On the way, he even considered writing a will.
Later, he saw the Devereux family car overturned on the private road to The Devereux Mansion... In that moment, his blood ran cold.
Gavin was a calm person. In such a situation, his first call was to Clayton.
Fortunately, Natalie was in Clayton's car.
But the situation was dire!
When Gavin arrived at the hospital, he saw Clayton pacing anxiously outside the operating room...
Gavin understood his feelings. At this moment, all grudges had to be set aside. Natalie and the baby were the priority.
He walked over and patted Clayton's shoulder. "Thanks."
Clayton took off his shoes, pouring out the water. "Natalie is my wife. She's carrying my child."
Gavin hesitated, then stayed silent.
Time dragged on, each second an agony.
Gavin wanted a cigarette, but when he pulled out the pack, he found they were soaked. He couldn't smoke; the cigarettes were ruined.
Gavin tossed the pack away and sat next to Clayton. After a moment, he turned to him. "You wanna change clothes?"
Clayton shook his head. He had no mind for changing clothes now.
Late at night, the typhoon outside subsided, and the rain eased.
Chloe and Molly arrived from the hotel. Chloe felt guilty, thinking if she had stayed with Natalie, this wouldn't have happened.
Gavin held her hand, speaking gently, "Mom, you being there wouldn't have changed anything. It might have just meant another person getting hurt."
Despite his words, Chloe still felt bad. Molly stayed close to her.
At 10 PM, there was good news about Manuel. After emergency treatment, his leg was saved.
Manuel's wife, Azalea Bailey, came to thank Clayton, repeatedly saying, "Thank you so much, Mr. Percy! If it weren't for you, Manuel might have lost his leg today!"
She paused, then softly reassured, "The baby will be fine! Ms. Devereux is such a good person."
Clayton remained silent throughout. So did Gavin.
Both were usually eloquent in business, but now they couldn't find the right words. All they had was worry for Natalie.
Finally, the operating room door opened, and the doctor came out, removing her mask.
She looked for Clayton, speaking softly, "The baby is strong! We've managed to save it for now, but we need to monitor closely."
She added, "The mother will need to stay in the hospital for at least a month to ensure the pregnancy is stable."
To prevent any surprises, she gave a precautionary warning.
Clayton stood there, stunned, not reacting. Chloe and Molly were also stunned, then began to cry softly, "Thank goodness, the baby is still there!"
Azalea took the opportunity to say a few kind words. She quietly wiped away tears.
Manuel had told her that Natalie had braved the storm to find help for him. He said his life now belonged to the Devereux family and urged Azalea to come and assist.
Azalea composed herself and said, "After such a night, everyone must be exhausted and hungry. I'll find a kitchen in the hospital and make some food to replenish everyone's strength. Ms. Devereux will definitely need nutrition now."
Clayton finally responded, thanking her quietly.
Then he turned away, silent for a long time.
Gavin patted his back. "Go see Natalie."
At 1 AM, in the VIP ward.
The food Azalea brought had gone cold, and Natalie was still unconscious.
Clayton had taken a shower and changed into clean clothes, sitting by her bedside.
When he finally came to his senses, he noticed his hands were covered in cuts, some deep enough to see the flesh.
But he didn't care.
He stared intently at Natalie.
On the other side, Gavin couldn't bear to watch anymore. He turned to Chloe and Molly. "I'll take you home."
Chloe refused to leave, feeling guilty and wanting to stay with them.
Gavin considered for a moment.
He spoke in a slightly firm tone. "Let Clayton stay with her tonight."
Chloe hesitated.
Molly always listened to Gavin, believing he was always right, even if he wasn't.
In the end, Gavin took Chloe and Molly home.
On the way back, he drove quietly, then said, "After tonight, I think their relationship might change. Whether they stay together is up to Natalie. No matter what, Clayton is the man willing to risk his life for her. That's worth more than sweet words! Of course, he's still unforgivable."
He thought Natalie understood this in her heart as well.
Chloe felt sad hearing this, and Molly gently held her hand, speaking softly. "Mom, Natalie isn't a child anymore! She's capable and will make the best choice."
Gavin glanced at Molly in the rearview mirror.
He suddenly smiled. "Yes, just like Molly did back then."
The atmosphere relaxed with his smile.
Chloe smiled too.
Only Molly blushed, lowering her head, then stubbornly protested to Gavin. "It wasn't my choice back then! You seduced me, then went on dates!"
Gavin's voice turned gentle.
He whispered, "Mrs. Devereux, can you forgive me?"
With Chloe still in the car, Molly blushed even more.
Gavin dropped them off and didn't return to the hospital.
But he didn't sleep either. He talked with Chloe for a while, then chatted with Molly in their room.
After Molly fell asleep, he couldn't sleep, worried about Natalie, so he smoked on the balcony.
As he smoked, he watched Molly sleeping on the bed.
His heart was filled with tenderness.
God had been kind to him!
Molly slept lightly, and perhaps feeling Gavin's gaze, she woke up. After a while, she found Gavin on the balcony. Wearing her robe, she walked into his arms.
Gavin held her, his chin resting on her head.
He whispered, "Why aren't you sleeping?"
Molly didn't speak, fully embracing Gavin. Her greatest wish was to be his wife, a modest ambition, but one Gavin appreciated.
After a long while, she asked softly, "Will Natalie and Clayton be together?"
Gavin's voice was softer than the night.
He said, "I don't know. What about you, Molly? Do you want them to be together?"
Molly feared his anger, hesitant to speak.
Gavin lowered his head, kissing her lips, a long, gentle kiss before whispering, "I won't be mad."
Molly then whispered, "If Clayton doesn't hurt her again, I hope Natalie can be with him. Gavin, I don't trust anyone else!"
Gavin said nothing more, holding Molly through the tender night.
Back at the hospital.
Natalie woke at 3 AM, her first instinct to touch her belly. It was still noticeably rounded.
The baby was still there.
Tears welled up in Natalie's eyes. She tried to hold them back but couldn't, tears streaming down her face.
Her nose turned red.
Clayton, who hadn't slept, saw her wake and immediately leaned in, asking softly, "Does it hurt? The doctor said the baby is safe, but you'll need to stay in the hospital for a month."
Natalie continued to cry, her large tears soaking the white pillow.
Clayton gently kissed away her tears.
He knew what she was thinking, what she was worried about. He said, "It's okay if you don't forgive me. I can keep trying, keep asking for your forgiveness. Natalie, I'll do anything... Just don't cry! Please don't cry!"
But her tears fell even harder!
Her vulnerability was heart-wrenching.
Clayton knew he was taking advantage of her, but he couldn't help kissing her gently, capturing her lips in a tender kiss, devoid of desire but deeply moving.
Natalie was momentarily stunned, then she opened her lips, letting him in.
Clayton deepened the kiss, changing angles, kissing her tenderly.
Perhaps on this harrowing night, they both needed each other to soothe their shaken souls, to find some comfort.
When the kiss ended, he propped himself up beside her.
He whispered, "Manuel's wife made some food. I'll heat it up, eat a little to regain your strength."
Natalie nodded slightly.
Clayton stared at her for a few seconds before getting up to do it, while Natalie watched his back, her feelings complicated.
After a while, she gently touched her lips.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
