Chapter 141 The Child, Gone
After hours at the Medical Evaluation Center, the place was mostly empty except for a few doctors working late.
Yvette rushed out of the main entrance, her mind a mess, unable to control her emotions. She jogged to a bench on the tree-lined path outside and sat down, still trembling.
Albert's words cut deep, wounding her fragile heart.
A mother should protect her child, but she felt she had failed, even being accused of killing her baby for money.
Yvette took deep breaths, but it didn't help.
Just as she felt dizzy, a voice called out.
"Yvette!"
She paused and saw David, looking worried.
Yvette's sorrowful eyes met David's, but she quickly masked her feelings and forced a smile.
"Why are you here? Looking for me?" she asked.
David saw through her act. He sat beside her. "Yeah, I came to check on you."
"When did you get here?" Yvette asked.
"I've been here a while," David said, concerned. "Why are you sitting here? The bench is cold, and you're not well. You just had a miscarriage; your body is still weak."
Yvette looked uncomfortable and clenched her fists. "I know, I just got off work and needed a break."
"Alright," David said gently. "I'll sit with you for a bit."
David's care was breaking down Yvette's defenses. She knew she couldn't hold on much longer, so she shook her head. "No need, I'll head back now."
She stood up, but David grabbed her arm and gently pulled her back down.
Yvette bit her lip. "Didn't you say I shouldn't sit on the cold bench? Why pull me back?"
"You've been sitting here a while," David said, facing her. "If you need to cry, just cry."
David's gentle voice calmed her a bit.
Yvette's chest heaved. "I'm fine, nothing to cry about."
David interrupted softly. "You don't have to say anything, I heard it all."
His words made her heart ache. The pressure of the unhealthy child, the despair of the miscarriage, and the end of her relationship with Albert weighed heavily on her.
She couldn't hold it in anymore.
Yvette cried for the first time in a long while.
She bit her lip, her cheeks wet with tears, her eyes hollow.
David watched with heartache and gently embraced her.
He knew she needed a shoulder to lean on.
Yvette fell into his unfamiliar embrace.
Even though David and Albert were twins and looked identical, even their parents had trouble telling them apart. But Yvette had a knack for distinguishing them instantly, and now she could even feel the difference in their embrace.
David's hug felt completely different from Albert's, even their scents were distinct.
But right now, she was too fragile, needing someone to lean on or she'd fall apart.
Yvette couldn't stop crying. She clenched her fists, gripping David's shirt, and whispered, "Thank you."
David didn't say anything, just gently patted her back.
Yvette felt his comfort and softly murmured, "Thank you."
Albert stood still, watching the scene of them embracing.
His hurried steps halted, and his heart skipped a beat.
At that moment, his mind went blank, only his heart ached.
Albert's phone rang, breaking the silence.
Albert frowned, and David and Yvette looked over to see him.
Albert gazed at Yvette, not moving, just quietly watching her tear-filled eyes.
One second, two seconds, three seconds.
Yvette still didn't let go of David.
Albert lowered his eyes, a self-mocking smile tugging at his lips, and turned to leave without a word.
When Albert rushed back to North Airlines, the work review had already ended, and the post-review meeting was underway.
In the meeting, the leader criticized Albert's recent work performance by name.
Albert listened, his mind elsewhere.
He and Yvette seemed to have never truly loved each other. Their journey had been fraught with difficulties. Yvette was like a thorny rose, always pushing back with her stubbornness.
Between them, it seemed there was only torment and pain left.
Albert knew he couldn't let go, but forcing it would only be a disaster for both of them.
Thinking of this, Albert's fingers tightened, and the pen in his hand snapped with a crisp sound.
After the meeting, the leader, clearly angry, didn't even call him for a private talk, just left without a word.
Victor saw something was wrong and asked, "Why are you here?"
Albert frowned. "Didn't you call me several times to come?"
"I called you to come early for the meeting, not to come after it's over and get scolded!" Victor was exasperated. "Either come early or don't come at all!"
Albert gave him a cold glance.
Victor thought for a moment and leaned in. "Didn't you say you were going to find Yvette? Did you two have a fight? How'd it end so fast?"
Hearing the word "end," Albert's lips pressed into a thin line, and the image of David holding Yvette flashed in his mind, his hand clenching into a fist.
Victor questioned, "Why do you have that look? What did she say?"
Albert looked up, suppressing his emotions. "She said she wants a divorce."
Victor, after a brief shock, quickly regained his composure. "Don't take it seriously. Emotions are all over the place after pregnancy. If you did something wrong, just apologize sincerely. She has your child; she won't divorce you, it's just angry words."
Albert thought of the unborn child, his throat tightening. "The child is gone."
