Chapter 546 No Harmony
Benjamin stopped in his tracks, his eyes cool as if refreshed by a splash of cold water, and regarded her with puzzlement.
Isabella's resolve solidified despite the shy flutter in her chest at his gaze. With her decision made, there was no turning back. She bit her lip, summoning her courage, and gently rested her hand on the man's sturdy waist.
The distance between them closed suddenly as if they could feel the thick hormonal scent, as well as their differing heartbeats.
But for Benjamin, it felt like an invasion of his territory.
A strange scent entered his nostrils, and he frowned, clearly resistant.
The hint was crystal clear, and as a man, Benjamin certainly grasped Isabella's meaning; he simply had to glance down to catch sight of her bashful and timid face, her soft eyes lowered with gentleness.
Objectively, they were already engaged and had been in love for years, so anything that happened would seem only natural.
However, perhaps because the room was well-lit, there wasn’t any hint of romance.
An irritation rose within Benjamin without reason; he brushed the hand on his waist aside and stepped back, widening the distance between them.
The atmosphere turned awkward, with the air becoming almost tangible.
Isabella went pale—this clear rejection left her uncertain of what to do next.
Benjamin, agitated, ran his hands through his hair. He felt extremely uncomfortable being in the same room as Isabella, experiencing a near-instinctive repulsion for some reason.
After a long pause, he spoke heavily, "You rest, I'm going out for a bit."
Isabella clasped her clothes anxiously, managing a forced smile.
"Okay... Come back early, though."
"Don’t wait up for me."
Benjamin quickly changed his clothes in the room, grabbed his car keys and phone, and left the house with clean, swift motions, not dallying in the slightest.
Benjamin had no real reason to leave his hotel room, but he knew that if he stayed in that room any longer, the irritability he had been suppressing all day might erupt. So, he got behind the wheel of his car, steering with one hand while the other lazily stroked his chin as he wandered aimlessly.
He couldn't understand why his relationship with Isabella didn't feel more intimate. Instead of familiarity, he felt a sense of alienation, even rejection. Just moments ago, alone together in that room, the lack of chemistry was puzzling.
Even with memory loss, if two people had been in love for years, their bodies would surely remember some kind of connection.
A quiet voice in the back of Benjamin's mind whispered that the woman he loved... shouldn't be Isabella.
While he was still lost in thought, a dog suddenly darted in front of the car and sprinted across the road.
Benjamin's eyes narrowed sharply as he swerved the steering wheel. A dull thud echoed as the undercarriage of his Maybach collided with the curb of a flower bed, sending a tremor through his arm that numbed it.
The stray dog had made it to the other side of the road, glanced back twice, and then pranced away, tail wagging nonchalantly.
Benjamin flexed his wrist, wincing at the sharp pain emanating from within.
"Damn it! I've sprained my wrist!" he muttered, sucking in a breath of cold air.
Too impatient to check his car, which didn't seem too badly damaged from the sound of the impact, he restarted the vehicle and drove single-handedly to the hospital.
Oddly enough, despite the fact that his current predicament was due to a car accident, he felt no fear driving alone.
'Memory loss to this extent is something to marvel at,' he thought with self-deprecating humor.
At the hospital…Sarah had just registered and was sitting in the obstetrics and gynecology waiting area for a prenatal check-up. Her stomach had been aching more frequently over the past couple of days. After James reminded her that morning, she decided it would be best to have a comprehensive check-up for peace of mind.
Even in the evening, the hospital was bustling. Her attending physician finished with a prior patient and came out to call her. "Ms. Miller, you're up next."
"Okay," Sarah responded, looking up.
Dr. Sancho, familiar by now, had been conducting her check-ups since she found out she was pregnant, offering care that was diligent, responsible, and amiable, endearing him to her.
Due to unpleasant memories from past experiences at the hospital, Sarah had chosen a different facility this time for her prenatal care. The staff here didn't know her or her history, which gave her a feeling of safety.
Dr. Sancho handed her a form for an ultrasound and a blood test, as part of the routine examination.
After getting the results, Sarah walked back to the doctor's office and handed over the medical report. The recent frequent sharp pains made her increasingly anxious. "Dr. Sancho, could you please check if there's anything wrong?"
Dr. Sancho took the report and glanced at the data. "Have you noticed any spotting?"
Sarah shook her head. "No, just that it's been hurting quite a few times."
"Is it more of an aching pain or a stabbing pain?"
Sarah sat up straight, thoughtfully recalling, "Both, the aching isn't too bad, but the stabbing pains come and go quickly."
Dr. Sancho nodded thoughtfully. "Don't worry, there's nothing serious."
She jotted down all of Sarah's symptoms in a notebook before seriously advising, "However, now that you're past the 12-week mark, you need to be careful about nutritional supplements, and what's more...
"Although there are no problems with the fetus right now, the fact that the fetal image isn't stable means that you should focus on nutritional intake, avoid overworking, and try to rest more."
Sarah took notes. "I understand, thank you, Dr. Sancho."
"You're welcome."
Dr. Sancho smiled, stood up, and fetched two boxes of medicine from the cabinet to give to Sarah as she escorted her out of the office. "I'll give you some folic acid and calcium as well. Remember to take them regularly and take good care of yourself."
Sarah was one of her VIP patients—well-off, respectable, and very approachable, yet she always came to her appointments alone.
Dr. Sancho, with one hand in her white coat pocket, couldn't help but be curious about Sarah's family situation.
Sarah always claimed that the baby's father was extremely busy with work and frequently away on trips, which explained his absence. However, despite his busy schedule, it seemed implausible that he would miss every single appointment.
Dr. Sancho couldn't avoid thinking of the possible family dramas and controversies. She hesitated but decided to voice her thoughts.
"Actually... It would be best if the baby's dad could be around more often. A father's presence and his male hormones can influence the mother's hormone levels, which can have some positive effects on the fetus. Ms. Miller, how long will your partner be away on his business trip?"
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