Chapter 440 Two Lines
Nina followed the instructions, laid the pregnancy test flat, and started timing.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
She opened it to find Margaret standing there, holding Sweetie.
"Nina, Sweetie has a fever. I took her temperature, and it's almost over a hundred degrees. She's burning up. Your dad and Zaire are out of town, and Kelsey is at Jack's place. I'm worried and want to take her to the hospital," she said, clearly anxious.
A child's fever was always scary—it may result in convulsions, seizures, and potentially graver complications such as brain damage.
Nina touched Sweetie's forehead and frowned, "She's really hot. Hang on, I'll grab the car keys and a coat, and we'll head to the hospital."
She quickly went back to her room to get her things, and then they headed to the hospital.
They registered for the emergency room, drew blood, and waited for the results.
It was finally diagnosed as a lung infection.
Considering Sweetie was so young, the doctor recommended hospitalization for treatment.
Margaret was terrified when she heard the diagnosis.
She grabbed the doctor's hand and repeatedly asked, "Doctor, is this serious? Is it treatable? Sweetie is so young; will there be any lasting effects?"
The doctor reassured her, "It's just a common viral infection. With timely treatment, she should be fine."
Margaret still looked very worried.
While Nina went to complete the admission procedures, Margaret accompanied Sweetie to the ward, and by the time they arrived, it was nearly midnight.ost midnight.
As Nina pushed open the ward door, Sweetie was already asleep, her small body making the narrow hospital bed seem spacious.
A cooling patch was on her forehead, and one small hand was tightly gripping Margaret's finger.
Sweetie appeared so serene and well-behaved, making it heart-wrenching for them.
Margaret sat beside the bed, half-leaning on it, lovingly gazing at Sweetie's sleeping face.
Hearing footsteps, she wiped her slightly wet eyes and looked up. "All done?"
"Yes, all done," Nina confirmed. "A nurse will come by regularly to check her temperature tonight. If the fever doesn't go down by tomorrow, the doctor will start her on an IV."
"Okay," Margaret nodded. "I've always taken care of Sweetie, and this is her first time being sick. She is still so young; seeing her like this makes my heart break."
Nina squeezed Margaret's shoulder gently. "The doctor said it's a minor issue. Try not to worry too much."
"Okay," Margaret sighed. "It's late; you should go home and rest. You have work tomorrow."
Nina shook her head, placing her bag on the sofa.
"It's too late to get much sleep if I go back now. Besides, I can't leave you and Sweetie alone in the hospital. I'll stay here tonight and go to work after the doctor checks on Sweetie in the morning."
In the quiet of the night, Nina still couldn't sleep.
She lay there with her eyes open, suddenly thinking of the pregnancy test she left in the bathroom at home.
She wondered what the result was. She was curious but also felt a sense of relief from avoiding it.
She wanted to know the result but was also afraid to find out, because she feared disappointment.
A nurse came in to check Sweetie's temperature.
Nina got up to adjust the room's air conditioning, then poured herself a glass of water, and looked at the hazy moonlight outside.
She suddenly missed Isabella.
"Bella," she murmured, tears welling up in her eyes.
The next morning, Nina went downstairs to buy breakfast.
She also picked up another pregnancy test.
After a night of reflection, she was ready to face the result calmly.
Back in the hospital restroom, she took the test.
As the urine slowly soaked the strip and a second red line gradually appeared, her heartbeat and breathing grew erratic.
It was really two lines! Nina picked up the test and stared at the two red lines for a long time.
To avoid any misunderstanding, Nina went to the clinic to get a blood test.
Though the lab results would be ready in just 20 minutes, Nina stood by the printout machine, checking her phone every few seconds, wishing she could fast-forward time.
When the time was finally up, she walked over.
The screen indicated a report was being printed. She watched as the paper emerged, noting the significantly elevated HCG levels.
Having been pregnant once before, she knew exactly what this meant.
Nina took a deep breath and brought the report to the doctor.
The doctor glanced at it, "Congratulations, you're pregnant. Probably over four weeks."
Counting the time, it was right after her last time with Richard.
Happiness washed over her; this little life had been growing inside her for a month. "Doctor, are you sure?" she asked, still in disbelief.
The doctor looked up at her, misinterpreting Nina's reaction.
She suggested kindly, "Are you not planning to keep it? I found that your uterine lining is thin. Have you had an abortion before? At your age and with your current condition, getting pregnant again and having such a stable state is already very difficult."
"If you have another abortion, I'm not exaggerating; it might be very hard for you to get pregnant again."
Nina was stunned and quickly shook her head. "No! I want this baby. I just can't believe it. It all feels like a dream as it happened so suddenly."
The doctor smiled. "That just means you and this baby are meant to be."
Leaving the clinic, Nina sat on a bench for a long time, lost in thought.
She held the report in her hand, thought for a moment, and took a photo to send to Richard.
Like the countless messages she had sent before, there was no reply.
"Richard, we have a baby," she whispered to her phone, tears of joy streaming down her face. "You must be happy too, right? I'll wait for you to come back. The baby and I will wait for you."
After Sweetie stayed in the hospital for five days and finally recovered, Nina came to pick her and Margaret up.
During these days, Margaret's mind was entirely on Sweetie and she had been in a state of constant worry.
At this moment, as she carried Sweetie out, Margaret finally had a bit of a smile on her face.
Nina hadn't had a chance to tell Margaret about her pregnancy yet.
She heard that Steven and Zaire would be back tonight, so she planned to share the news when everyone was present.
Ophelia had been dealing with a divorce case recently, and Nina had been helping her a lot.
When Ophelia heard Sweetie was in the hospital, she came to visit and even brought some gifts.
Back home, Sweetie sat on the carpet, surrounded by a pile of toys.
Soon it was time for dinner.
The Jose family dining room was aglow with warm light, and everyone had gathered, engaging in hearty discussion, save for Zaire, who seemed lost in thought.
After some small talk, Nina put down her fork and stood up. "I have some news to announce."
Everyone looked at her expectantly.
Nina paused, gathering her thoughts before saying, "I'm pregnant."
Kelsey was the first to react, jumping up excitedly. "Really? Nina, who's the father?"
Margaret pulled Kelsey back gently. "Who else could it be?"
"Richard's?" Kelsey asked, her eyes wide with excitement.
Nina blushed and nodded. "Yes."
"That's fantastic! Does Richard know? What did he say? Wait, am I going to be an aunt again?" Kelsey practically squealed.
Steven looked lovingly at Nina and suggested, "Nina, sit down and let's talk."
Margaret immediately asked the caregiver to prepare some soup to nourish Nina, who had lost weight from working too hard recently
Kelsey moved closer, reaching out to touch Nina's flat belly.
She whispered excitedly, "Hello, little baby, I'm your aunt. Are you a boy or a girl?"
Nina was amused by Kelsey, but when she looked up, she met Zaire's grave and profound gaze.