“I’m fine now. I don’t need any more IVs.” I could not forget what he said to the doctor, so I automatically rejected anything he gave me.
Usually, he would go with anything I said. Now, though, he uncharacteristically refuted my refusal. “No, you’ll get better with an IV. Once you heal up, we can have another baby.”
See? He knew I really wanted a baby.
I abruptly pulled my hand back and kicked him away from the bed. “No means no! What part of ‘no’ do you not understand?!”
Victor caught his footing before he fell, his gentle expression turning livid.
I lay down and covered my head in the blankets. I thought I could escape by refusing the drip, but I somehow still lost consciousness, my mind fading to black.
When I next woke up, three days had passed. I knew the worst had happened, but I still prayed for a miracle.
After hesitating for a long time, I pulled up my shirt. The bright red sutures on my stomach proved that it was too late. I stared at the ceiling helplessly, all the strength gone from my body.
Victor walked into my room and tucked me in tenderly when he saw I was awake. “You passed out that day, and the doctor diagnosed you with choriocarcinoma. They had no choice but to give you a hysterectomy.”
He even showed me the signed medical reports. If I had not overheard that conversation, I would have believed him wholeheartedly.
I rubbed the scar through my shirt. That surgery removed my uterus and took away my love for Victor.
It was all because Victor betrayed me. I hated him with every fiber of my being.
He wiped the tears flowing down my face gently and soothed me. “I know you really wanted kids, Nina. We still have plenty of time. Once you recover, let’s adopt one!”
