Chapter 147 Is Aria Pregnant?
Suddenly, Hayden slammed the table, his voice laced with irritation. "I'm still sitting here, and you guys are just talking nonsense?"
Anne pouted and stomped her foot, shouting, "Dad, I'm just worried about your health. Why do you have to criticize me?"
I had to give it to Anne; she had a real talent for playing the cute card. She could charm anyone, no matter their age. Hayden couldn't resist her and just waved his hand, "Alright, let's eat."
But right after he said that, he started coughing violently. Aria and Anne rushed to his side, patting his back gently. Meanwhile, I just sat there, not moving an inch. As Anne mentioned, I had a slight cold. If I got too close and infected Hayden, who knew what kind of blame they'd throw at me. Just as I was thinking this, a sudden wave of nausea hit me, and I bolted to the bathroom, hugging the toilet and throwing up.
When I came back, Anne was already gone. Seeing me return, Clara and Hayden exchanged a glance, a barely noticeable smile tugging at the corners of their mouths. That smile made me feel a bit uneasy, but I couldn't quite figure out why.
The violent vomiting left me with a splitting headache and no appetite. So I just sat there quietly. The meal was particularly somber, with the four of us not saying a word, and Anne never returned to the table. Edward never showed up for dinner either. Although I said I didn't care, I was still curious. How could he miss such an important family gathering? Maybe Hayden saw through my thoughts, and after dinner, he called me into the study.
"Take a seat, Diana," Hayden said, pointing to the sofa. Then, he walked over to another sofa and sat down.
"Aren't you curious why everyone is here today, but Edward didn't show up?" Hayden asked me bluntly.
"He's probably too busy with work," I replied casually, not wanting to embarrass him.
"No." Hayden sighed softly, a hint of complexity in his expression. "He feels guilty towards you, so he doesn't dare to see you."
I was stunned, staring at Hayden in confusion, not understanding why he would say that. Why would Edward feel guilty towards me? Our relationship was complicated, but I didn't think there was anything that would make him feel so guilty he'd avoid coming home.
Was there something I didn’t know? I watched Hayden, waiting for him to continue. The study grew tense, the silence broken only by the ticking of the wall clock, as if counting down the tension.
"Aria is pregnant," Hayden said calmly. To me, his seemingly calm words were like a bomb dropped into a deep pool, completely shattering me.
"Is it Edward's child?" I asked, my lips trembling.
"Yes, but they did it through IVF." Hayden seemed to want to comfort me, but coming from an older man, his attempts only made me feel worse.
I had always wanted to have a child with Edward, and I had researched IVF. I knew it had a certain success rate, but I never expected Edward and Aria to succeed on the first try. Edward had always said he loved me and couldn't live without me, but now Aria was pregnant with his child.
Alongside the deep sadness, a wave of bitterness washed over me. If Edward could so easily have a child, what was the point of all those bitter medicines I took to try and conceive? What was the value of the unwavering love I had for him?
As these thoughts consumed me, tears suddenly welled up and streamed down my face uncontrollably.
"You're the daughter-in-law of the Howard family, so I hope you can be reasonable and not let your stubborn and selfish thoughts hinder Edward's progress," Hayden said.
Seriously? He expected me to just be sensible and not let my feelings get in the way of Edward’s so-called progress. How ridiculous!
Hayden kept talking, but my mind was a mess, and I couldn't take in any of it. Here was a father justifying his son's infidelity like it was no big deal. He claimed Edward felt guilty and didn't dare to face me—what a load of crap.
I didn't even remember how I said goodbye to Hayden or how I walked out of his study. All I could think about was drafting a divorce agreement and getting out of this mess. I felt a bit relieved that I had sold my shares in the Cooper Group earlier. Cash would be easier to handle in the divorce settlement. I planned to head back to the Howard Villa and pack up all my stuff in one go.
As I drove out of the Howard Mansion, I saw Melissa standing by the roadside waiting for a cab. I rolled down the window and asked, "Melissa, are you heading back too?"
When Melissa saw it was me, her face lit up with delight. "Mrs. Howard, it's you! I'm so happy to see you today. It's been so long since I last saw you!"
I forced a smile and responded, "Melissa, get in the car. I'll take you back."
As she got in the car, Melissa said, "Mrs. Howard, how have you been? You look like you've lost some weight."
I gripped the steering wheel tightly, and after a moment of silence, I said, "Melissa, I'm planning to divorce Edward."
Melissa looked shocked. "Are you and Mr. Howard really going to go that far? You two seemed so good together before."
I gave a bitter smile. "Good? That was just a facade. There's nothing left in this family worth staying for."
Melissa hesitated, then said, "Mrs. Howard, I know it's not my place to say this, but he does care about you. I've been at the Howard Villa for many years, and I can tell."
I laughed at myself and said, "If he cared about me, he wouldn't have done those things. Melissa, you don't need to explain for him."
Melissa sighed and said, "Mrs. Howard, I can't say much if you've made up your mind. I just hope you can live well in the future. You're a kind person and deserve a better life."
I stared intently at the road ahead, my gaze like a torch cutting through the darkness, unwavering. "I will. I'll leave here and start anew."
My foot unconsciously pressed harder on the gas pedal, and the car sped through the night like a wild horse. The scenery outside the window flashed by like a slideshow, turning into a hazy blur.
Inside the car, the dim light made my vision as hazy as the flickering lights in the distance. Whether it was my chaotic thoughts or the sudden nausea that caught me off guard, I felt the car suddenly veer out of control towards the roadside.
In that instant, the world seemed to spin, my mind went blank, and I lost consciousness. Before the darkness consumed me, I only heard Melissa's terrified scream, sharp like an alarm piercing through the endless void, followed by a deathly silence.
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