The Substitute Bride: Making Memories Of Us (Lois Stone)
Chapter 56: The Baby In Her Belly

Chapter 56: The Baby In Her Belly  

Ayla had been lying in bed for hours, but she wasn't getting better.Her face was so pale now that itmade her look lifeless.

Beads of sweat streamed down her forehead as the pain got worse.Maria touched Ayla's forehead, andher eyes widened in shock.

"Mrs.Clark, we have to go to the hospital."

Ayla struggled to prop herself up and get out of the bed.

But as soon as her feet touched the floor, she fell down and lost her consciousness.

Maria screamed in fear.

Brian was in the study talking with someone on the phone.

When he heard the noise, he rushed to Ayla's room.

"What's going on here?"

There was a clear hint of displeasure in his cold voice.

"Mr.Clark, Mrs.Clark fainted."

Maria was panic- stricken.She looked at him, not knowing what to do.

"Tell Lyle to take her to the hospital."

He then turned around and left.

When Ayla regained her consciousness, she was already lying on the hospital bed.

"You're finally awake.How are you? Are you feeling better now?" asked the doctor standing beside herbed.

"Doctor, what happened to me?"

She could still feel pain in her lower abdomen.

"You are pregnant.The first trimester is the most crucial stage of pregnancy, so it is not advisable forwomen to have sex.Fortunately, you and the baby are safe now.Next time you come to the hospital foryour prenatal care checkup, ask your husband to come with you," the doctor replied.

Ayla was so shocked that she stared at the doctor incredulously.Was this some kind of a joke? Howcould she get pregnant? She was taking contraceptives regularly.

"I'm pregnant? Doctor, are you really sure about that? There must be a mistake."

She still didn't want to believe it, so she had to reconfirm it to the doctor.

The doctor shook his head.

"No, we can't be wrong.You are indeed six weeks pregnant.Here's the result of your pregnancy test."

The doctor handed her a piece of paper.

Ayla stared at it for a long time, her eyes wide and mouth agape.

The doctor wasn't kidding.

She was really pregnant.

Her bleeding last night might be because the baby in her belly was hurt.

The doctor's words and the document in her hand were proof that she was really pregnant.

Then she remembered Brian.

He was a man who never took others into account when he had sex with her.He could surely hurt thebaby.

Her head was in a mess.

What should she do next? How could she protect the baby in her belly? If Brian knew about it, he woulddefinitely get rid of the baby.

"Doctor, I have a favor to ask from you.Can we just keep my pregnancy a secret? I don't want myfamily to know about it for now."

Ayla needed time to think carefully.

She felt so disoriented that she didn't know what to do with the baby.

The doctor respected her decision, so he just nodded.

Ayla went out of her ward to personally go to the pharmacy.

The doctor prescribed her some medicine to prevent miscarriage.

But she happened to meet Maria, who went out to buy a cup of hot tea for her, in the hallway.

"Mrs.Clark, where are you going? How do you feel now?"

"I'm fine, Maria.Don't worry about me now," Ayla replied with a smile.

Her knees were still trembling, and she felt so weak, but she had to pretend that she was okay.

The fewer people knew about her current condition, the better.

Obviously, Maria was relieved.

"Mrs.Clark, have a cup of hot tea first.I'll just call Lyle so he can come and pick us up."

Ayla just stayed in bed when she got home.

The doctor recommended she be on bed rest for a while.

Otherwise, she might lose her baby.

She still had a high risk of miscarriage at this moment.

"Baby, please tell Mommy what to do," she murmured while caressing her belly.

She didn't want to give up the innocent child.

But if she hid it from Brian, could she give birth to the baby safely? And the big question was, could sheeven hide it from him? Maria went to her room with a package in her hand.

"Mrs.Clark, Mr.Brown sent this here."

Ayla looked at the package with a frown.

But she took it from Maria and opened it.

Inside the package was a long white coat.

It was the style she liked.

But why did Toby suddenly send her a coat? Molly would definitely get upset once she found out.

"Maria, give this back to them."

She couldn't accept it.

Besides, she didn't need it.

She had enough clothes to wear now.

Maria hesitated for a moment and said, "Mrs.Clark, the shop assistant, who brought this here hasalready left.Just keep it.Don't worry.I won't tell Mr.Clark about it."

Ayla said that she had no special relationship with Toby, and Maria believed her.So perhaps he senther this coat as a present for a friend.There was nothing wrong with it.

"All right, I'll just keep it."

Ayla also thought that if she returned it, Toby might be worried about her.She didn't want him to comehere again.

Since Ayla was on bed rest, Maria was the one who prepared meals for two consecutive days.

But Maria was not aware of Ayla's condition.

She only thought that Ayla was still not feeling well because of her menstruation, so she just sent Ayla'sfood upstairs.

Ayla looked at the food in front of her.

She had no appetite at all.

But for the sake of the baby in her belly, she had to force herself to eat.

"Mrs.Clark, don't you like this food? What do you want to eat? I'll cook it for you," Maria said when shenoticed that Ayla was not touching her food.

“No need, Maria.Everything is fine.I am not picky."

Actually, her biggest problem was her morning sickness.

It was getting worse and worse.

As soon as Maria went out with the empty plates, she ran to the bathroom and retched.

She vomited everything she had just eaten.

"Baby, please stay safe inside Mommy's belly, okay?"

She was so scared.

She didn't know anything about pregnancy, and she had no one to talk about it either. Ayla lay in bedthe whole week.

And with the help of the medicine she was taking every day to prevent miscarriage, she felt better.

Wearing a thick down jacket, she went downstairs.It was warm inside the villa, but she still felt cold.

Maria was surprised to see her in the living room.

"Mrs.Clark, why are you here? Are you feeling better now? Mr.Clark just called.He said he would behome for dinner tonight."

Actually, this whole week, Maria had followed Brian's order to cook nutritious food for Ayla every day tostrengthen her body.

Ayla tensed up upon hearing what Maria said.She couldn't say anything, so she just nodded.

Sure enough, Brian came home on time in the evening.

Ayla stood far away from him, not knowing what to do.She wondered if he was going to have sex withher tonight.

"What? Are you afraid of me?" he asked with a frown.

"Make coffee for me."

Ayla was so nervous the whole time, even during dinner.

The dishes in front of her all looked mouthwatering, but she had no appetite at all.

Her stomach had been churning, but she was trying her best not to retch.

She couldn't act strange in front of Brian.

Brian glanced at her coldly.

Maybe he noticed her uneasiness, so he asked, "What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing.I..."

Before she could finish her words, she covered her mouth and shook her head.

Maria walked into the dining room and said, "Mr.Clark, Mrs.Clark has not been feeling well these days."

Brian just looked at her and said nothing.

He then put down his chopsticks and went upstairs.

Ayla followed him.

"Mr.Clark, I'm still not feeling well tonight.I...I'm not comfortable."

She tried her best to avoid him, even just this once.

The doctor said that the first trimester was the most crucial, and she couldn't have sex.

"Okay,"

Brian replied without looking at her.

She was surprised that he agreed so easily, but she was also relieved.

She quickly went back to her room, afraid that he might change his mind.

Toby was standing in his study, thinking of Ayla.

He knew that she should have already received the coat he sent to her, and he hoped she liked it.

Although she didn't call him, it was already enough for him that she didn't return it.

Molly entered the study.

"Honey, are you still busy? It's late now."

"I'm almost done.You go to bed first."

Toby sat at the desk with several documents in front of him.

Molly walked to his side and said, "You've been so busy these days that you don't have time forme.Can't you accompany me tonight?"

"But I really have to get this done.This is urgent" Toby said.

But it was only an excuse.

"It's okay.I can wait for you."

Molly was so eager to always sleep with Toby because she wanted to get pregnant.

She believed that if they had a child, they could live a happy life.

Toby wanted to say something.

But before he could open his mouth, she suddenly said, "Honey, you promised that you would onlyhave me in the future, right?"

Molly reminded him of his promise.