Chapter 163 Taking You Home
After Aria took off, Clara kept on trying to convince me. "Another kid is a good thing for our family. Why are you so hung up on her? Even if she's carrying Edward's baby, she's not part of our family. Hayden and Edward have already decided. Once she has the baby, they're sending her back to Veridian. You'll still be the rightful lady of the Howard family. And from the looks of it, you and her are due around the same time. You can just say you had twins, and everyone will be jealous."
I continued eating in silence, contemplating her reasoning. It wasn't without merit. Just as I put my bowl down, the doctor walked in with the latest test results.
He smiled at me and said, "Mrs. Diana Howard, congrats! You're well enough to go home. Just make sure to rest up and keep a happy, relaxed mindset. Don't overdo it."
The doctor went over all the precautions, but my mind was spinning from everything that had happened. The news had struck me with the force of a hammer, leaving my thoughts in disarray. I needed time to process it all, especially the reality of Aria and her unborn child. It felt like I had to make room in my heart for her, and that was tough.
Clara had to get back to take care of Hayden, so she left after cleaning up.
I sat on the hospital bed, took a deep breath, and called Lila to tell her I was getting discharged. I tried to sound upbeat. "Lila, guess what? I can go home soon!"
Lila was just as excited, and I could almost see her smiling. "Really? That's awesome!" She paused, then got serious. "But what are you gonna do after you get out? Share your husband with Aria?"
I licked my dry lips and said, "I haven't figured it out yet. It's really hard." I rubbed my throbbing head.
Lila sounded urgent. "What's so hard about it? You just need to decide."
I started pacing by the bed. "You don't get it. If I don't accept her now, it's like going against the Howard family." I sighed and looked out the window at the swaying tree branches.
"What are you scared of? You're gonna divorce Edward anyway," Lila said, brushing it off.
I gave a bitter smile. "It's not about what he can do to me, it's just..."
Edward's threatening eyes flashed in my mind. I wasn't worried about myself; I couldn't let my friends get hurt because of me. He'd already warned me that if I didn't comply, my friends would suffer.
I didn't want to worry Lila, so I kept Edward's threats to myself. On the other end, Lila was still happy about my discharge.
"Diana," Lila's voice buzzed with excitement through the phone. "I've already set up a nursery in your apartment! When you get out, I have to be the one to pick you up, and I'm bringing a huge bouquet of fresh flowers and a special gift."
Her tone was so mysterious, and I couldn't help but be curious. I thought about all the gifts she'd already given for my baby and smiled. "You've already spoiled my kid with so many gifts. What's this one?" I asked.
But she kept it a secret, sounding proud. "You'll see. It's a surprise, and it's a big one."
I smiled, feeling warm and excited. "Alright, just make sure you're there early tomorrow. I can't wait to see this mysterious gift."
"Don't worry, I'll be there on time!" Lila replied, all cheerful.
After hanging up, a wave of anticipation for my discharge washed over me, lifting my spirits considerably. I started packing my stuff, though there wasn't much. Just a few personal items and some gifts Anne had brought when she visited.
I hadn't planned on keeping anything from Anne, but thinking about the sincere look on her face made me feel guilty. Whether she was genuinely trying to make up for the past or just aligning with me because of Aria, it seemed like she didn't mean any harm now.
But the night before Lila was supposed to pick me up, a bunch of bodyguards suddenly barged into my hospital room. My relief about being discharged vanished, replaced by tension.
"Who sent you? Why are you here without my permission?" I asked, wary.
The lead bodyguard stepped forward, and the group bowed in unison. "Mrs. Diana Howard, we're here to take you home."
Just then, Melissa walked in, still smiling kindly. "Mrs. Diana Howard, I've already prepared the house for you. From now on, it'll just be you and the baby at the Howard Villa."
I looked at the bodyguards warily, then pulled Melissa into the hallway. "Melissa, what's going on? I don't want to go back to the Howard Villa."
She sighed. "Mrs. Diana Howard, since Mr. Hayden Howard and Mrs. Clara Howard found out you were pregnant, they asked me to prepare a room for you. They promised no one would disturb your family of three anymore. Even Anne has moved back to the Howard Mansion."
"Anne? What happened with her?" I asked, confused.
Melissa nodded. "Yes. After Anne visited you last time, she went back to the Howard Villa, packed her things, and moved back to the Howard Mansion. The next day, I redecorated the room to your liking. Mrs. Diana Howard, is there anything you're not happy with?"
I paused, then asked, "Why did she suddenly move out?" My confusion only grew.
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