Chapter 20


    Leonora didn’t have a shred of sympathy as she vented her frustration over the phone, “Is this all


    my fault? Would I have argued with your father if he hadn’t been such adies‘ man?n, let me tell


    you, I’ve made up my mind about ra. I will not let that woman stay by your side, not even as a


    mistress!”


    With that, she coldly ended the call.


    chair.


    A few dayster.


    After ra had helped her father with lunch, she received an unexpected call from the hospital’s


    OB/GYN department. Following her recent miscarriage, she had undergone aprehensive


    gynecological exam, and it seemed the results were in.


    She stepped out of the hospital room and answered the phone.


    “Ms. ra, there’s an issue with your test results. It would be best if you came in right away”


    A sinking feeling told ra this wasn’t good news. She hung up, gave her father a few instructions,


    and made an excuse to leave.


    The doctor furrowed his brow and scanned the report. He then fixed his gaze on ra. “Do you


    frequently use emergency contraceptives?”


    ra nodded.


    The doctor looked at her with a sympathetic eye. “Your uterus is tilted, and the inner lining is thin.


    On top of that, the frequent use of emergency contraceptives is showing early signs of ovarian


    aging. Getting pregnant is going to be difficult for you. It was already a miracle you conceived, but


    you didn’t take care, and the miscarriage and subsequent bleeding did significant harm to your


    body. ording to the report, your chances of conceiving again are quite low, no more than twenty


    percent.”


    The words struck ra like a knife to the heart, making it hard to breathe. Her cold, trembling hands


    clutched


    the fabric of her dress.


    ra remembered her rtive, who had a forty percent chance of pregnancy and, after five years


    of marriage, still hadn’t conceived. ra wondered if she’d ever experience motherhood as she had


    a twenty percent chance


    of pregnancy.


    ra’s voice was hoarse with emotion as she asked, “Doctor, isn’t there anything that can be


    done?”


    The doctor shook his head helplessly. “I can prescribe some remedies to help bnce your system,


    which might increase the odds. But I must warn you, no more emergency pills. For a woman to lose


    the ability to be a mother is something you might regret for a lifetime. If a man truly loves you,


    there are many ways to practice contraception. He wouldn’t just think of his own pleasure at the


    expense of your health.”


    ra offered a bleak smile.


    Indeed. Ifn truly loved her, how could he let her bear all this?


    Còntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Clutching the prescription, ra staggered out of the office. As she reached the door, the next


    patient came in. She was too distraught to recognize the face, brushing past in her hurry.


    Just a few steps out, she heard a familiar voice. “Doctor, I’d like to have a pre–pregnancy check-up.


    I’m nning to have children right after getting married.”


    14.08


    23


    ra froze in ce. After what felt like an eternity, she slowly turned around.


    There stood Heidi, her face aglow with happiness.


    It was trueparisons bring injuries to the heart.


    ra had never felt more heartache than she did at that moment. Rigid with shock, she made her


    way toward


    the exit.


    Only a few steps out, she stumbled into a familiar embrace. Before she could regain her


    composure,n’s cold voice came from above her head.


    “Are you pregnant?”