41

“You have to eat Laurel.” Aunt Sarah placed a plate of still hot food in front of Laurel. “Let's give it a try even if it's just a few bites.”

Laurel glanced at the food on the plate. The food was delicious and, if she weren’t feeling dizzy, the sweet smell would surely make her salivate. However, at that time Laurel felt dizzy and did not want to eat. Nevertheless, she saw Aunt Sarah looking at her expectantly.

The woman who is like her mother must have gone to the trouble of cooking this meal for her. Laurel did not want to disappoint her.

Just to please Aunt Sarah, she ended up taking the plate and taking a bite of her food. Her stomach, which had not been filled all day, greeted her with an overwhelming feeling of nausea. However, Laurel held it back. She continued to eat the food for up to three bites, and then gave up, staring at Aunt Sarah with an apologetic look.

“I am so sorry, Auntie.”

Aunt Sarah smiled and nodded understandingly. “It's okay, as long as your stomach is filled.”

Aunt Sarah looked at her and concluded. Judging by her attitude and the fact that she ran away to this dorm, it seemed she still did not know that Aunt Sarah had anything to do with Aaron, that he arranged everything. Aunt Sarah had actually considered being honest with her, but then gave up.

Right now, the matter between Aaron and Laurel was complicated enough. She did not want to add any new problems between them. After all, regarding this, maybe later Aaron himself would explain it to Laurel.

“How do you feel?”

Laurel took a deep breath. “I'm fine, Auntie.”

“That guest, she's Aaron's mother, right?”

Laurel nodded her head. Her expression remained flat that Aunt Sarah had to ask again, “Did she manage to change your view?”

Laurel pondered. Did Aaron's mother manage to change her view? Maybe. Mrs Irish tells something new that her son is living with guilt. She was also trying to convince her that Aaron really loved her.

However, is all that true? Deep in her heart, Laurel realized that warm feeling was still there when she thought of Aaron, but there was also hatred that rose when she remembered that he who had caused her father's death. This made Laurel confused and did not know what to do.

In the early morning, she woke up feeling very nauseous. She ran to the bathroom and vomited all the contents of her stomach. Her stomach and her head hurt. With a sigh, she washed her face and staggered into the room, then lay down on the bed.

Her period has not come yet. She was not sure how long it had been. Laurel counted to herself, and then felt dismayed to find that she was almost a week late.

That dizziness and nausea… is she pregnant?

Laurel rubbed her stomach nervously. What if she did become pregnant, carrying the fetus from her relationship with Aaron? What should she do?

If he really wanted to run away and get away, she would have to change all her plans. This pregnancy is a very important consideration. Laurel would have a hard time finding a job if her stomach grew. Not to mention, who will look after her when her womb is too big for her to work?

Her eyes stared up at the ceiling. She had to buy a testpack tomorrow morning and confirm it first, and then she would think about her next move.

_______________

Aaron crossed his arms and looked at his beautiful mother. “Mom met Laurel?”

“Yes.” His mother looked at him apologetically. “I'm sorry if I didn't ask you for permission beforehand. I may be impulsive, but at least she's willing to listen to my point of view.”

“How is her condition?” Aaron whispered softly; imagining Laurel made his heart throb.

He missed her, missed his wife. Every night he woke up, trying to find Laurel's warm body for him to hug, but she was not there. Then he felt a very deep emptiness in his soul and stayed up all night.

“She’s fine. Only her eyes are puffy from crying a lot.” Mrs Irish looked at her son who looked miserable. “You yourself, how are you?”

“I can survive.” Aaron tried to smile. “When the time comes, I'll pick up Laurel.”

“Hope you can melt her heart,” her mother said sincerely, for Aaron's sake.

Her son was already living with a feeling of guilt that was getting heavier and heavier. She, as a mother, would not be able to bear to see that burden added with heartbreak.

_______________

Early in the morning, Laurel was already walking to the pharmacy that was a few meters from the hostel complex. Luckily, the pharmacy was open twenty-four hours, so it wasn't a waste of time to walk.

As soon as she came home and arrived at the dorm, she carefully opened the device and followed the instructions. She had to wait for three minutes to get the result. With a pounding heart, she looked at the device as she counted the numbers from one to one hundred and eighty. When it was finished, Laurel peeked at the device.

Her heart was beating fast.

She actually tested positive for pregnancy, carrying the baby of Aaron Silverwhite.

“Aunt Sarah, I think… I'm pregnant.”

Laurel's face was deathly pale. She went to the only woman who could help her right now. Aunt Sarah looked taken aback, but then she saw the testpack results that Laurel had shown.

Her eyes shone gently. “Oh, Laurel, congratulations, honey, you're going to be a mother!”

Laurel grimaced at Aunt Sarah's congratulations. She hugged herself in confusion. “Auntie, I'm confused. What should I do?”

“Why are you confused? The baby might be a sign that you should reconsider your relationship with Aaron. You two will soon be cradling a child. Wouldn't that be an important consideration?”

Laurel sighed, looking around restlessly. “But I… plan to leave and start a new life.”

“Leave?” Aunt Sarah widened her eyes. “What do you mean, Laurel?”

“I plan to leave all this behind, cut off all ties to my past.”

“Gosh, Laurel, think carefully before making such a decision! You are married and have a husband. How could you leave it all behind?”

“I'm scared, Auntie. Aaron had started it all with a lie. How can I continue a marriage based on lies?”

Aunt Sarah took a deep breath. “Laurel, whether it's based on a lie or not, there's currently a child coming among you that you should think about. You're going to be a mother, it's a huge responsibility and, I'm sure, if you will give Aaron a chance, you can sort this thing out.”

Laurel unconsciously stroked her stomach, feeling confused.

Was she supposed to give Aaron another chance to explain?

_______________

Laurel woke up from her nap and looked for Aunt Sarah. She was about to ask Aunt Sarah to take her to the gynecologist for a check-up. Slowly she walked towards Aunt Sarah's room.

This hostel is quiet, because it's a semester break. Many dormitory residents take advantage of this holiday to return home to their parents' homes. Two or three female students are still living because they are pursuing the completion of their thesis, so there won't be much activity in the dormitory for some time to come.

Laurel was about to knock on Aunt Sarah's half-open door when she heard Aunt Sarah's clear voice, talking on the phone. Laurel actually wanted to walk away and would come back later when Aunt Sarah had finished the call, but the voice of the woman's conversation held her back, stupefying her.

“She's got a positive test, Aaron,” Aunt Sarah muttered to the person she was talking to. “Laurel showed it to me. She's almost certainly pregnant.”

Aunt Sarah talking to Aaron?

Silence for a moment. Aunt Sarah seemed to be listening to Aaron's voice on the other end, and then she replied, “I think you should pick up Laurel now, then go see her and try to melt her heart. It is the right time. That baby could be an important consideration for you to ask her to come back to you.”

Aunt Sarah was silent, listening, then there was a smile in her voice as she spoke, “Yes, yes, I understand you, its fine. You were never a burden to me. From the start, when I agreed to help you provide a place to stay for Laurel, I had intended to do so with all my heart. Pass my greetings to Mrs Irish; I will be stopping by this weekend to give her a financial report on this and several other houses.”

Laurel couldn't take it anymore. She walked away trembling. When she reached the room, she closed it and leaned against the door confusedly.

What had she just heard? So, Aunt Sarah had been Aaron's acquaintance all along… his accomplice? Therefore, Laurel didn't get this dorm just by luck. Judging from Aunt Sarah's words on the phone just now, this hostel belongs to Aaron's mother.

Was everything in her life the result of Aaron's interference? The man acts as if he is God, by managing Laurel's life, directing her how and where according to his scenario.

Another lie; she wondered, how much more had Aaron done to her without honesty?

Well, this time Aaron won't get what he wants. Laurel will show that she is not a doll that can be directed at will according to the scenario and desires of the man.

Laurel quickly packed up. She will leave everything behind. Aaron will never be able to find her again, nor try to organize her life again.