Chapter 67 Sowing Discord
Lauren, in high spirits, went to the hospital early the next day.
Even though she was over four months pregnant, her slim figure didn't clearly show her baby bump. Standing tall among a group of pregnant women, Lauren stood out. She took a number and waited outside the door. Just as it was almost her turn, she spotted a familiar figure—Wendy.
Wendy emerged from the obstetrics and gynecology clinic and immediately noticed Lauren. She walked straight toward her.
"Lauren, or I should call you Mrs. Robinson" Wendy's sharp voice rang out, tinged with a strong sense of disdain.
Lauren disliked Wendy. Despite her innocent and harmless appearance, Wendy's actions were far from honorable.
Turning away, Lauren ignored Wendy. However, Wendy came prepared and wasn't about to let Lauren off easily.
"Are you pretending not to recognize me with that cold look? Or are you holding a grudge against me? After all, I'm the only one Quentin brought home." Wendy's tone was arrogant as if she were Quentin's true wife.
Lauren didn't want to discuss private matters with Wendy in a public place, so she said, "I have something to attend to, excuse me, I have to go."
Little did she know, Wendy had no intention of backing down. "Lauren, do you want to hide like a turtle? You should be well aware of how Quentin has treated you these past two years. Let's speak openly somewhere, it's for your own good."
With a cold expression, Lauren replied, "I have nothing to say to you. If Quentin has any plans, he should come to me to discuss them. After all, we are a couple."
Wendy was taken aback by Lauren's response. She hadn't expected Lauren to be so strong-willed and to confront her directly. It seemed she had underestimated her.
Wendy's eyes gleamed with malice. "A couple? Haha, how long do you think your married life will last? Do you know what's going on between Quentin and me? Do you still not understand why I'm here at the OB-GYN clinic?"
Lauren's expression turned grim. She didn't want to believe the suspicions forming in her mind. But here she was, unexpectedly encountering Wendy. Could things really be as Wendy claimed?
After being discharged from the hospital the day before, Wendy had her people investigate Lauren's information at various hospitals. As she suspected, Lauren was pregnant. So, she had a fake pregnancy test report prepared and waited for Lauren at the hospital she was visiting that day. When she saw Lauren, Wendy pretended to come out from a consultation, thus ‘bumping into’ Lauren.
Observing Wendy closely, Lauren tried to find some clues. Seeing Lauren's reaction, Wendy thought she had succeeded in deceiving her and seized the opportunity to hand over the fake test report.
"I'm pregnant, less than a month along, it was during Grandma Robinson's birthday last time." Wendy looked down on Lauren contemptuously, exuding an air of superiority.
Lauren didn't take the test report from Wendy. Wendy threw it on the ground, where it mixed with an ultrasound report, clearly stating that patient Wendy was four weeks pregnant.
Lauren felt like her world was collapsing. Quentin, the deceiver, had assured her that he had no relationship with Wendy! Yet here was Wendy, also pregnant. What was she going to do?
"Are you carrying Quentin's child?" Lauren asked, her voice trembling.
"And what else would you think?" Wendy chuckled softly, asserting her victory.
At that moment, Lauren was at a loss. She wanted to leave quickly, hoping this was all just a nightmare. But as she turned to go, Wendy grabbed her.
"Lauren, haven't you seen the reality yet? Now that I'm pregnant with Quentin's child, are you going to cling to him forcefully? Haven't you noticed Quentin's visits to you have become less frequent lately? That's because he knows I'm pregnant and has stayed back to be with me. And I didn't go abroad because we both suffered injuries together." Wendy continued to rub salt in Lauren's wounds.
Hearing Wendy's words, Lauren's heartache nearly numbed her.
She realized Quentin hadn't been coming home because he was with Wendy.
She had been so foolish and naive, believing his previous moments of tenderness were genuine. Little did she know it was all just a figment of her imagination.
‘Quentin, you've underestimated me. Did you think I couldn't live without you? Did you think I'm a fool, so deceiving me is acceptable? Did you think I would settle for the sake of the child? You're wrong. You don't know me, you've never truly understood me.’ Lauren's heart was now completely broken. She blamed herself for allowing others to hurt her, realizing it was all her own doing.
Seeing Lauren's desolate expression, Wendy suppressed her joy.
She adopted a more pitiful tone and continued, "Just let us be, don't use Grandma Robinson to pressure Quentin. Grandma Robinson is the person he respects the most. Without her, our children would have grown up by now."
Lauren sneered, "It was all my own delusion. I will leave, I definitely will!" Lauren said firmly.
With those words, Lauren dropped the number tag in her hand, turned around like a lifeless body, and walked away, leaving behind a smug Wendy.
The clinic was calling out, "Number 159, Lauren, please proceed with your appointment." But today, she would never show up.
Wandering the streets like a lost soul, Lauren felt she had no place to go as if there was no room for her in this world.
The autumn noon was especially scorching, and Lauren, dragging her weary body, crossed the street. Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice the red light flashing. A car screeched to a halt in front of her.
"Are you trying to get yourself killed? Didn't you see the red light?" The driver angrily scolded Lauren.
Turning her pale face toward the driver, Lauren was met with a shocked expression. "Crazy!" the driver muttered before angrily driving off.
‘Crazy?’ Lauren thought to herself. Perhaps she had indeed gone mad. If her mind was sick, would she not feel sadness or pain? Would she live happily?
With a bitter smile, Lauren realized she had become so negative.
Her relationship with Quentin had always been forced. She had pressured Quentin into marrying her, so this ending was a form of karma. But she couldn't help but feel sorry for her child, who was destined to not have a complete family.
"My child, I'm sorry. If there's a next life, wait for me to find the right person before coming to me again," Lauren whispered softly.
