Chapter 15 A Prenatal Checkup Alone
Indeed, in the following month, Quentin didn't return even once.
Lauren felt dazed. She could hardly recall whether Quentin had actually come back before, for the empty villa held not a single trace of him.
Lauren forced a wry smile, neither inquiring about Quentin's whereabouts nor holding any extravagant hope for his return. It was fine this way, allowing her to live her life in peace, nurturing the baby—wasn't that good enough?
The butler was puzzled, wondering why Quentin had suddenly stopped coming home. Could the young couple have had a fight?
Observing Lauren lost in her thoughts, the butler approached her and said, "Madam, are you alright?"
Lauren snapped back to reality with a small smile. "I'm fine, I'm quite alright."
Her pale complexion, however, betrayed her current physical condition.
The butler was visibly concerned, "Madam, you look unwell. Is there something bothering you?"
Lauren, hearing the butler's words, touched her cheeks only to find them feeling normal. She grabbed a mirror and saw for herself how pale she was.
She reflected on her recent condition; two months into her pregnancy, her morning sickness had worsened. To keep it hidden, she always rushed to her room to be sick.
Perhaps due to the severe nausea, Lauren had lost her appetite entirely, unable to eat, which left her feeling weak.
"It's nothing, Uncle Robinson. Maybe it's just the sudden weather changes I'm not acclimated to," Lauren deflected.
The butler nodded reluctantly, "Madam... did you and Quentin have a fight? You're both young, it's best to talk things out. Don't act in haste and hurt each other's feelings."
Lauren appreciated the butler's kindness but knew that her situation with Quentin was far too complicated for anyone else to understand.
Feelings? Perhaps her love for Quentin was deep, yet she sensed he likely harbored animosity toward her.
"Thank you, Uncle Robinson, I understand," Lauren said with an awkward smile before excusing herself to her room.
Restless in her bedroom, Lauren flipped open her prenatal checkup booklet and dialed the clinic.
"Hello, can you put me through to Dr. Olivia in obstetrics and gynecology, please?"
"Of course, just a moment," the nurse replied.
Shortly after, the call was picked up again, "Hello."
"Hi, Dr. Olivia, it's Lauren. I have an appointment scheduled with you in a week for my two-month prenatal checkup. But I haven't been feeling well lately, and I'm worried something might be wrong. Is it possible for me to come in for an earlier checkup?" Lauren asked, a hint of embarrassment in her voice.
"Mhm, okay, let's set it for today at three in the afternoon," Dr. Olivia said.
After thanking her and hanging up the phone, Lauren sincerely hoped that everything was right with the baby inside her.
When the afternoon finally arrived, Lauren left her house two hours early and took a cab straight to the hospital. Entering obstetrics, Lauren saw several pregnant women with their bellies proudly displayed, each accompanied by a family member, be it a husband, a mother-in-law, or a friend. She was alone.
Their faces radiated happiness—the expression of a soon-to-be mom. Lauren felt as if their joy was infectious. She mustered a smile, telling herself she was no different from them. In the near future, she would be caressing her rounded belly, feeling the life within, and she too would be enveloped in happiness. She comforted herself with these thoughts.
Undergoing a prenatal checkup alone must be one of the loneliest experiences, she thought as the passing expectant mothers glanced at her as if she were an oddity. Was she really that different?
"Honey, did you come here by yourself?" a pregnant woman with a big belly sat beside Lauren to rest, striking up a conversation.
"Yeah," Lauren replied with a smile, keeping her response brief.
"Where's the baby's father?" the woman inquired further, a gossiping tone in her voice.
Lauren didn't feel like elaborating on Quentin's affairs, so she vaguely answered, "He's just really busy with work."
The pregnant woman laughed with a knowing look, "It must be hard on your own! I've been there; I understand. Doing prenatal checkups alone isn't safe, so try to have someone accompany you if you can."
Lauren nodded again, "Thank you, I'll be careful."
The woman nodded politely and then got up to walk away. Lauren didn't intend to eavesdrop, but the pregnant woman's voice was, unfortunately, just audible.
"It looks like another case of an unmarried pregnant girl—a shame for the child, probably going to be aborted," she said to her mother-in-law.
Lauren stood up abruptly, wanting to confront the woman and set the record straight, to stop her from jumping to conclusions. However, she hesitated, realizing there might be some truth in the woman's words—was she any different from those women who got pregnant in secret? Except she wouldn't use the child as a bargaining chip.
Just then, Lauren's name flashed on the screen. She took a deep breath and walked into the doctor's office.
"Lauren, have a seat. Let me see... your prenatal checkup is scheduled for next week. Why did you come in early?" asked the doctor.
The OB/GYN clinic was always busy, and Lauren understood that, so she carefully explained her situation again.
"Dr. Olivia, I've been feeling really awful lately, with severe morning sickness; I'm throwing up nearly everything I eat. I wanted to get checked out to see if the baby might be affected, maybe suffering from malnutrition or something," Lauren articulated, her worry evident. As a first-time mom, even a sneeze made her fear for the little one's safety inside her womb.
Dr. Olivia observed Lauren and said, "You do look quite pale. And you're too thin, you could be at risk of hypoglycemia if you're not eating properly. Let's start with a blood test and then proceed to an ultrasound to check on the baby's development."
Lauren clenched her fists, tense, "And what if I do have hypoglycemia, Dr. Olivia? What happens to the baby?"
"A slight case of hypoglycemia won't have much impact on the baby, but if your condition is severe, it could lead to a miscarriage," Dr. Olivia informed her with professional reassurance.
The word 'miscarriage' sent Lauren collapsing into her seat, "My baby... could miscarry..." She trembled at the thought, feeling as if her world was crumbling down.
Seeing Lauren's despair, Dr. Olivia comforted her, "Miss White, don't get too worked up, I only mentioned a possibility, which is the worst-case scenario. Medical advances these days are remarkable, and we'll do everything possible to keep your child safe. You need to reduce your stress and learn to relax. The more you worry, the worse it might be."
Lauren took a deep breath, drying the tears in her eyes and trying to appear strong.
"Yeah, I'm not stressed, not nervous at all. Dr. Olivia, I'll follow your advice, as long as my child is safe, I'm willing to do whatever it takes."
Dr. Olivia sighed, empathizing with the universal concern of all parents.
