Chapter 7

Samuel was dressed in a dark gray suit. His tall frame and sharp features were highlighted by the tailored cut of his suit that accentuated his broad shoulders and narrow waist. He looked down at Shelmaine. His eyes were calm, yet there was a piercing coldness to his gaze. It was as if he were staring at a complete stranger. For a few seconds, the air between them was heavy with silence. Shelmaine felt as if she were outside her own body. She hadn't expected to see Samuel again so soon. This was their first encounter since the divorce, and he was still as distinguished and handsome as ever. But then, a sudden wave of nausea surged in Shelmaine's stomach again, and her face turned pale. Unable to hold back the urge to vomit, she quickly turned and hurried back to the restroom. Meanwhile, Samuel stood where he was and frowned as he observed Shelmaine's sudden reaction. In front of the mirror, Shelmaine's face was ghostly pale now. Her appearance was so ghastly that she thought she might scare someone if she stepped outside like this. Not to mention, what if Samuel were still there? So, Shelmaine deliberately took her time, lingering for a while before finally stepping out. When she did, she saw that the hallway was empty. Samuel was nowhere to be seen. Relieved, she returned to her seat. When Shelmain got back, Trevor noticed her pallor and asked in concern, "Do you need to go to the hospital? You don't look well." "No, it's nothing. I just haven't been sleeping well lately." Trevor leaned in closer. "Are you sure you're not running a fever?" "No." Shelmaine noticed his closeness and instinctively moved back a little. "Thank you for your help tonight, Trevor, but I need to head back to the studio. I'll contact you if anything comes up." Trevor looked slightly embarrassed as he said, "Alright." Shelmaine grabbed her bag and stood up only to see Samuel standing not too far away. He had a cigarette in hand, which he had just lit. His expression was calm, but his sharp gaze was fixed on her, like a knife cutting through the air. A moment later, Samuel turned and walked away. Shelmaine averted her gaze, not wanting to dwell on whatever expression Samuel had on his face. Then, she and Trevor left the restaurant. Shelmaine intended to call a car for herself, but Trevor was insistent on driving her back, so she reluctantly accepted his offer and got into his car. For some reason, as soon as she got in, the discomfort in her stomach returned. She couldn't help but cover her mouth, trying to swallow it down. "Ms. Clarke, are you alright?" Trevor asked. Shelmaine hesitated. "I'm… fine." "Do you feel like you're going to be sick?" "My stomach's just a bit upset," Shelmaine's voice lacked confidence as she began to feel more and more uncertain. If she really was pregnant, what would she do? Should she keep or abort the baby? Doubt began to creep into her heart. Trevor suggested, saying, "Maybe you should still go to the hospital." "There's no need. I'll be fine after taking some medicine at home." Shelmaine insisted, declining again. She did need to go to the hospital, but not with someone. If word got out, it would only create unnecessary trouble. Shelmaine had Trevor drop her off near the studio and waited for him to leave before she headed to a nearby pharmacy to buy a pregnancy test. When she got back to the studio, she went straight to the restroom and waited for the results. Five minutes later, she tossed the used pregnancy test into the trash, her mind swirling with panic. At that moment, her phone suddenly rang. The sound of her ringtone echoed throughout the silent office like a thunderclap, startling her. Shelmaine looked at the screen and saw that it was Samuel calling. Why was he calling now? Shelmaine didn't really want to answer his call though. Fortunately, the phone stopped ringing after a few moments, and Samuel didn't call back. Still shaken, Shelmaine immediately called Isabelle. Her voice trembled with uncertainty as she said, "I… I think I might really be pregnant. What should I do?"