Chapter 10

My mother's attending physician had been changed to Greg Hill. After speaking with him, I left his office with a heavy heart. A mix of emotions churned within me—relief and apprehension. Relief because Greg advocated for traditional medicine to ease her pain. He assured me he would do his best to make her final days as comfortable as possible, as long as she stayed in good spirits. Apprehension because he had also emphasized the importance of a calm and stable environment. Any emotional turmoil could be devastating for her fragile state. If my marriage were to face any upheaval, she wouldn't be able to handle it. Lost in thought, I made my way back to her room. Pausing outside the door, I took a deep breath, massaging my stiff face into a smile before stepping inside. "Mom, Gavin went out of his way to buy your favorite bayberries. I just tried one—they're so sweet!" Smiling, I picked up a berry I had washed earlier and gently placed it in her mouth. My mother laughed as she ate it, but her gaze flickered toward the door. "Where's Gavin?" "He had to rush back to the office for an emergency," I said lightly. Her expression dimmed for a moment, but she quickly covered it with a smile. She picked another berry from the bag and popped it into my mouth. "Did you tell Gavin about the pregnancy? He must be thrilled!" Feigning a mischievous tone, I replied, "I can't just tell him such wonderful news so easily! I need to plan a big surprise for him. "Mom, you and Alex have to keep this a secret too. Don't accidentally let it slip in front of Gavin!" I added with mock seriousness. "Alright, alright," my mother said with a helpless chuckle. "You're about to be a mother yourself, yet you're still so childish." "Even if I become a mom, I'll always be your child," I teased, leaning closer to her. "You little rascal…" my mother said, her laughter soft but filled with warmth. … After spending a long time chatting with my mother in the hospital, I finally left when I noticed she was starting to look tired. On the drive back to the Gould residence, I found myself dozing off in the car. Perhaps it was because of the pregnancy, but I had been feeling particularly sleepy these days, as if no amount of rest was ever enough. I didn't know how much time had passed before the car door suddenly opened, and a gust of cool wind brushed against my face. Groggily, I opened my eyes. "Gracie, you're still sleeping?" Amelia greeted me with a bright smile, gently holding my wrist. "We've been waiting for you! The wedding dress we ordered has arrived. Come on in and try it on. If there's anything that doesn't fit, we can have the designer make adjustments tonight—the wedding is just around the corner." The wedding dress had been ordered a month ago, and my measurements were taken at the time. But when I tried it on, I noticed the fabric around my stomach felt a little tight. The designer seemed to notice too and joked with a smile, "It seems Mrs. Gould has been taking good care of herself lately—there's a little tummy showing!" I smiled awkwardly, about to respond when the designer added, "Could it be a double celebration?" As soon as those words left her mouth, Amelia's eyes lit up with hope, her gaze fixed on me with unspoken anticipation. My heart skipped a beat, and I clenched my hands tightly, my nails digging into my palms without realizing it. Facing Amelia's expectant look, I couldn't bring myself to deceive her. She was one of the few members of the Gould family who truly treated me well. But with my marriage to Gavin teetering like a fragile raft in a storm, I had no choice but to harden my heart. "Probably just from eating too much lately," I said, deliberately lowering my head to emphasize a double chin. "I have gained a bit of weight." Amelia chuckled, shaking her head. "Nonsense! You were too skinny before—keep eating and stay healthy." She turned to instruct the designer to adjust the dress slightly. "By the way, where's Gavin? Didn't you two go to the hospital together to see Elizabeth? Why did you come back alone?" I lowered my head to hide the ache in my chest. "He probably had something urgent come up at the office." Amelia's brow furrowed. "It's that Mandy again, isn't it?" Her words hit the nail on the head, and I couldn't help but admit it. "Gavin left as soon as he got a call from her." "That bastard!" Amelia's anger flared instantly. "He's just like his father!" I didn't respond, biting my lip instead. I had heard whispers about Victor's history with Mandy's mother, though the details were unclear. What I did know was that Victor had always favored Mandy as his ideal daughter-in-law. Even now, he probably wished Gavin would divorce me and end up with her. "Grace, don't get upset. When Gavin gets back, I'll give him a piece of my mind!" Amelia promised. If this had been in the past, I might have felt a glimmer of comfort. But now—what was the point of keeping him if his heart wasn't with me? … After trying on the dress, I moved on to shoes and jewelry. By the time everything was done, Gavin had returned. "You finally decided to come back!" Amelia didn't hold back, scolding him with a string of complaints while giving him meaningful looks. "Leaving Gracie alone at the hospital? What's wrong with you? You're acting more and more irresponsible! "Go try on your suit," she added. "The wedding's next week. Act like an adult for once." Gavin put on the suit, his gaze flickering toward me as if testing the waters. I was too drained to engage with him. Finding an excuse, I quietly headed upstairs. After washing up, I lay down, hoping for some peace. But Gavin walked in moments later. I ignored him and turned away, but he came up behind me, wrapping his arms around me and burying his face in the crook of my neck. His voice was low and tinged with exhaustion. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to leave you at the hospital. It won't happen again." I pushed his arms off and turned to face him. "What did you promise me last night, Gavin? It hasn't even been a day, and you've already forgotten!" "It's not like that. Mandy's depression acted up, and I was worried something might happen—" "Did anything happen?" I interrupted coldly. He hesitated before finally admitting, "No." I let out a bitter laugh. "Every time it's about Mandy, you lose all sense of reason. Gavin, I've said it before—if you still have feelings for her, we should…" Before I could say "divorce," Gavin cut me off, his voice rising. "I've told you, there's nothing between us anymore. It's over! All that's left is a sense of gratitude." "Is that so?" I asked, my tone icy. "If you want to repay her, it should be her ex-husband, Andrew, you're thanking. She's divorced now, Gavin. What exactly are you trying to repay her for?" His brows furrowed as he rushed to reassure me. "I promise this won't happen again. I'll make sure of it." "I'm tired," I said flatly, turning away. "Grace…" "I need to rest." Gavin's lips pressed into a thin line, his patience clearly wearing thin. After a long pause, he took a deep breath. "I've already apologized. Let's not fight anymore, okay? I swear it won't happen again." He added in a lower voice, "Even if you don't care about yourself, think about Elizabeth. She can't handle any more stress in her condition."