Chapter 17

What Genevieve saw before her was a hospital. Tristan spoke indifferently. "Your complexion looks as pale as a ghost. If Grandma sees you like this, she'll come after me with questions again." When she didn't move, he impatiently yelled, "Get out and get checked! Don't die on me and then try to blame me." She felt a slight relief in her heart. She thought he had discovered something and was taking her to the hospital for a check-up. She glanced at him before dragging her tired body out of the car. Without looking back, she walked into the hospital, unaware that in the car, he was staring strangely at the back of her pants. Genevieve had been running a mild fever for two days, and her stomach had been hurting for two days. She had even noticed blood on her pants after using the restroom. She thought that her baby was possibly no longer with her. Though she had already decided to let go of the child, the realization that the baby might be gone made her heart ache more than she had expected. The doctor looked over the test results and smiled at her. "Luckily, the bleeding is minimal, and the numbers are doubling nicely. It seems your baby is very strong." Genevieve was surprised, looking at the doctor. "My baby is still alive?" "Yes, your baby is still very much alive inside you." The doctor looked at her red-rimmed eyes and smiled. "It seems your baby really wants to be with its mother, so it's staying strong. If possible, you should keep it." The doctor's words deeply touched her soft spot. Along with the joy of having something she thought was lost, she decided to keep the baby. Once she made the decision, her heart felt lighter and clearer. When she left the hospital, she was surprised to see that Tristan's car was still parked there. Was he waiting for her? She quickly hid the test results in her bag and got in the car. "You haven't left yet?" He leaned back in his seat, smoking a cigarette. His long and defined fingers rested on the window sill, and he looked especially handsome in the setting sun's reflection. Tristan ordered Ethan to drive, and the car engine started. Genevieve bit her lip, her fingers subconsciously brushing her flat abdomen. She still didn't feel anything there. She wondered whether she should tell Tristan about the baby. If, by some chance, he would accept the child, she wouldn't have to hide anymore. She could wait for the baby to be born without fear. She bit her lip and decided to test the waters. While squeezing her bag tightly, she looked at his cold profile. "Do you really want to divorce me that badly?" Tristan curved his lips, his smile cold and mocking. "What do you think?" He might as well have the word "divorce" etched on his face. Genevieve cautiously said, "If we want to divorce sooner, we'd have to have a child..." He suddenly straightened up, and his cold, indifferent eyes narrowed as he looked at her. "I advise you not to waste your time. I won't let someone like you have my child." She asked boldly, "What if one day I really end up pregnant with your child?" He suddenly let out a chilling laugh, making her feel as if she were in a frozen tundra. He sneered, "Do you think you're worthy? Even if you did get pregnant with my child, I'd still get rid of it. No matter what, the child you give birth to would be a disgrace." Tristan's eyes were as cold and merciless as his words. Genevieve felt her heart twist sharply, and a bitter, self-mocking feeling rose within her. She seemed overly hopeful, trying to test this cruel and heartless man. Tristan took a drag from his cigarette. His gaze was cold as he stared at her. "I've made myself clear. Don't push me to my limits." "Okay," Genevieve replied quietly, feeling downcast. It seemed she would have to come up with a plan to escape the Burtman residence before her pregnancy became visible. According to what she had read online, pregnancies didn't show much during the first three or four months, and even by the fifth month, no one would notice it if she wore loose clothing. After calculating the time, she had at most three months to prepare for her escape. Before she left, she would have to clear Charlie's name. When she thought about his case, Genevieve felt a sense of urgency. She couldn't get to the construction site alone, so she asked Heidi to have her father, Ivan Dean, help her make some connections. Heidi was quick and efficient. The next day, Ivan had secured the necessary contacts. "Genny, they're in the private room on the second floor. We couldn't get any information on the new boss' whereabouts this time, but the executives we found are all connected to the construction site boss, so they should be able to help. "Sorry, Genny. My dad could only find these connections." Genevieve hugged her. "Thank you, Heidi." "Aren't we friends? Why thank me?" Heidi smiled at her. "By the way, I scolded my dad about what happened the last time. This time, he found connections with family men, the kind who look respectable, so they shouldn't make any advances. "But just to be safe, if anything feels off, call me immediately, okay?" "Okay." Genevieve hugged Heidi again, feeling touched. This time, Ivan had arranged the meeting in a restaurant, probably in consideration of her safety. She arrived on the second floor and looked for the room number. She was so focused on searching that she didn't notice Herman walking past her. He watched her retreating figure with a thoughtful look, a playful smile tugging at his lips. Tristan returned to his small villa. Genevieve wasn't there, and the dark, small villa felt even more desolate than usual. He couldn't help but feel a bit of self-mockery. In the past, he had never thought of the small villa as desolate. He had just settled onto the couch when Herman's call came through.