Chapter 450: Blood Draw
Nina finished speaking and turned to leave.
She really couldn't stay here any longer.
Every extra second made her feel suffocated and uncomfortable.
Normally, Nina only felt nauseous when she smelled certain foods, but now just seeing Richard and Elodie made her stomach churn.
However, after taking a few steps, two maids blocked her path.
Elodie's voice came from behind Nina, "Nina, let's just cooperate to avoid any future issues, okay?"
Nina turned to look at Richard.
When Nina met the man's eyes, she felt an indescribable dull pain in her chest.
Richard looked at her, "The doctor will be here soon. It won't take much of your time."
In the end, Nina was forcibly made to stay.
After Nina entered the house, Elodie instructed the maids to bring tea and snacks, but Nina didn't even sit down and glance at them, just stood there.
Richard's gaze unconsciously drifted towards Nina.
At this moment, Elodie picked up an orange and handed it to him, "Richard, I want to eat an orange."
Richard glanced at it, took and peeled it.
Elodie ate two slices of the orange and said with a smile, "so sweet."
Richard asked, "do you want more?"
"No," Elodie said coquettishly, "I have to put on makeup tomorrow morning. If I eat too many sweets tonight, I'm afraid it will affect my condition tomorrow."
"My wedding dress is so beautiful, I want to be in the best state to wear it, showing it off perfectly. Only then will I be worthy of you."
"You look good no matter what." Richard casually complimented.
"Really?" Elodie deliberately glanced at Nina, "so, do you think I look better, or does Nina look better?"
Richard's smile froze.
Although he was still looking at Elodie, his brows furrowed slightly, and the light smile in his eyes disappeared, showing that he was unhappy.
Elodie, being competitive, pretended to be pitiful and murmured, "I know my question is silly. If it were before, when my legs were still fine, I wouldn't have asked such a question."
"But now I can never stand again. Richard, I'm a cripple, I feel like I can't compare to anyone."
Richard lowered his eyes, sweeping over her legs, with a flash of displeasure in his eyes.
He paused, then reached for Elodie's hand.
Richard replied earnestly, "I told you, I will take care of you for the rest of your life. You don't need to compare yourself to anyone, just be yourself."
"Richard," Elodie exclaimed, her face full of emotion.
But Richard quickly looked away.
He was looking in another direction, his gaze unfocused, his attention entirely on Nina.
Richard looked over and saw Nina standing quietly, not moving at all.
"Richard," Elodie called him again.
Richard felt a bit irritated. He didn't look at Elodie and coldly asked the maid, "Why isn't Jason Griffin here yet?"
The maid, looking fearful, answered softly, "Doctor Jason is on his way from home, it will take at least twenty minutes."
"Call Jason and tell him to hurry up!" Richard barked.
The maid said timidly, "I already called to urge him."
Richard's impatience reached its limit, "tell Jason to hurry up!"
The maid was about to leave when a man in his thirties, carrying a medical kit, strode in.
This must be the Jason Richard mentioned.
As soon as Jason entered, he sensed the tense atmosphere.
His gaze swept over Elodie and Nina's faces, then cautiously asking, "Who needs the examination?"
Jason had come over as soon as he got the call. Richard had instructed him to do a blood test to check for pregnancy.
On the way, Jason thought it was Elodie who might be pregnant, but upon arrival, he saw there was another woman.
And the atmosphere felt off.
Before Richard could answer, Elodie spoke first, "Jason, this is my friend Nina. Please do a blood test for her. We all want to know if she's really pregnant."
Jason had once been Bruno's private doctor and was later given to Richard. It was clear to everyone that he was just a spy Bruno had placed by Richard's side.
Richard was the standout in Black Family. Over the years, half of the Black Family's achievements were due to Richard.
The Black family should be grateful to Richard, but his outstanding achievements might provoke jealousy or fear within the family.
At the peak of Richard's success, Bruno found an excuse to demote him and assigned him to Lakina to oversee a small casino.
Richard had been quite content in Lakina over the years. Although he wasn't as prominent as before, he was at ease.
If it weren't for Nina and Isabella, Richard probably wouldn't have returned.
Elodie felt assured with Jason conducting the blood test for Nina.
Jason turned to Nina, opened the medical kit, "Nina, please sit down."
Nina took two steps back, looking at Richard with disappointment in her eyes, "Richard, do you really have to do this to me?"
Richard had promised to protect Nina for a lifetime, to love and cherish her, never to abandon or betray her.
Richard had once seen Nina stuck in a loveless marriage and had reached out to help her get a divorce.
But now, those vows still echoed in Nina's ears, and Richard stood before her, the memories of past events flashing before her eyes and then dissipating.
Richard's voice deepened, "Nina, it's just a blood test. Please cooperate, it will be quick."
"What if the blood test shows I'm pregnant?" Nina asked.
Richard pressed his lips together, "I'm confident you are not pregnant."
Nina let out a light laugh.
Nina didn't understand why Richard was so certain she wasn't pregnant.
Nina clenched her sleeves, "I won't do this test, not unless I'm dead!"
The hurt and humiliation she had suffered today were already too much. She didn't want to drag her child into this dirty mess.
"Nina, it's just a test. Why are you so agitated?"
Elodie sighed softly, deliberately provoking Nina with her words, "Are you reacting so strongly because pregnancy is just an excuse, a lie?"
Nina completely ignored Elodie.
Richard frowned and instructed, "Jason, just draw the blood."
Jason responded and approached Nina with the syringe.
But as soon as he reached out, Nina knocked the syringe away.
Elodie immediately commanded the maids in the villa, "Hold Nina down! Don't let her escape!"
Several maids swarmed over. Nina was no match for so many people and was quickly pinned down on the sofa.
Nina's hands were tightly protecting her belly, afraid of hurting the child.
Seeing this, Richard was provoked.
Without thinking, Richard stood up and turn to Nina.
The maids were desperately trying to pull Nina's arms apart, attempting to get one arm free for Jason to draw blood.
But no matter how hard they pulled, they couldn't move Nina's arms.
Nina's hands were clasped together, protecting her abdomen, her arms covered in scratches from the maids' nails.
Richard angrily kicked away the maid who was being the roughest.
Then the maid immediately fell.
"Richard!" Elodie exclaimed.
Elodie was afraid Richard would soften and go to save Nina at this moment.
But after kicking the maid away, Richard placed one hand on Nina's shoulder, grabbed her arm with the other, and pulled.
His strength was clearly much greater than the maids'.
Nina turned to see it was him, momentarily stunned.
In that moment, Nina's hand was pulled out and placed on the table.
The needle pierced Nina's skin, with bright red blood flowing into the tube.
Nina lay on the sofa, her eyes glaring at Richard with unwillingness, finally shedding a tear.