Twisted Ties of Love
Chapter 82

They've been married for four years, and even though she's always used birth control, she still went to the gynecologist regularly, just in case she ever wanted to have a baby. Unfortunately, Brett never gave her the chance to become a mother.

Later, as she was diagnosed with late-stage stomach cancer, she couldn't even take care of herself, let alone carry another life.

There's a saying in a book that having a child gives people something to live for, but for her, it's not a blessing, it's a freaking curse.

Presley knew she loved kids; after all, she used to tell him all the time how she would feel like having a baby.

Izabella stared at her own belly, her eyes empty. She gently stroked her abdomen, silently thinking this baby had to pick the right parents next time.

Her empty gaze suddenly became determined for a moment, "Presley, help me get rid of this baby, if you don't want to, I can go to another hospital." Her attitude made it clear that she couldn't have the baby, and no one could convince her otherwise.

Presley withdrew his hand, staring at the computer, several images flashing through his mind. "Your body isn't suitable for an abortion right now. If you really insist, we can wait half a month and then try again, giving you time to think it through."

She didn't need to reconsider; Presley was just as stubborn, there was no way he would perform the abortion today.

The two fell silent, Izabella stared at the examination report on the table and glanced at Presley.

That's when she noticed that Presley's complexion was terrible, and he even had dark circles under his eyes.

She had thought it was just the computer screen light making his complexion look bad, but after a closer look, she realized it wasn't.

"Have you not been sleeping well recently?" Izabella clearly saw Presley's face stiffen for a moment, and she propped her chin up, "You don't look so good."

Presley touched his face, "Really?"

Izabella nodded, "You used to have such good skin, and now you have dark circles."

"I've been dealing with some complicated cases lately, and there are meetings every day." Presley explained, but his eyes seemed evasive. He took the opportunity to point to Ryker, who had been standing outside, successfully changing the subject. "Who's that guy standing out there?"

"I just met him today too; he's the one who brought me to the hospital."

"He looks pretty dopey." Presley didn't want to say "dumb," so he changed his wording to be more respectful.

Izabella tactfully said, "He grew up in an orphanage and suffered a severe head injury, so he has some intellectual disabilities."

So he was really dumb? "Do you want to have a brain exam for him later?"

"That depends on what he thinks. He's been like this for fifteen years."

"Fifteen years?" Presley couldn't help but frown, "That's pretty troublesome."

The brain is the most complex structure in a person. If a single part is damaged, the whole system will fail unless that part is replaced. However, some brain neurons aren't replaceable. Izabella suddenly remembered the scene under the big tree in the orphanage and asked Presley, "He gives me a familiar feeling, have I met him before?"

"If you don't even remember, how would I know?"

Izabella continued, "I just wanted to ask if you have any impression of him."

Presley looked at Ryker's face and, now that he mentioned it, the guy was quite handsome. Even though Presley had seen many handsome guys, he couldn't help but be amazed. Presley shook his head, "I haven't seen him, and I don't think you have either. He was in an orphanage, and you never went to one when you were little."

Izabella sighed, feeling empty inside.

Presley entered the remaining data into the computer and saved it. "Izabella, I was planning to tell you later."

"Tell me what?"

Presley's expression suddenly became solemn, and she felt uneasy.

"I'm going abroad."

"That's sudden, for how long?"

"I'm not sure."

Izabella asked, "What are you going abroad for?"

"Doing cancer research."

"Is it for me?"

Presley stopped and glanced at her. "Don't flatter yourself. I'm doing it for the sake of medical research."

Although he said that, Izabella still felt upset and couldn't suppress her feelings of loss. "Why is this so sudden?" Doing research could take years, if not more.

"It's not exactly sudden, the medicine I gave you was recent research results too, you're the first one to use it, so you're sort of my test subject. By the way, after I leave, you need to come to the hospital every month for a blood test, it'll be a great help to our research."

Izabella frowned, looking unhappy. "I thought you were going abroad for me, but it turns out you're just using me as a test subject. You really are a jerk sometimes."

Presley couldn't help but laugh, pinching her cheek.

Izabella masked the loneliness in her heart with cheerful laughter. She never thought that Presley, who had grown up with her, would leave her too.

Presley's expression was somewhat uneasy, "I've already arranged for a new primary care doctor for you. I've explained your condition to her, so you can replace her for any medical issues later on."

Izabella rested her head on the table, "You haven't even left yet, and you've already arranged everything, did you have a plan all along?"

He hadn't planned it. He had only made the decision in the last few days. The Felton family was in trouble because of Brett. It was unexpected, and the only thing Presley could do was flee the country. He couldn't tell Izabella, fearing her guilt and self-blame, and even more, fearing that she would bite off more than she could chew.

"Enough of that, I'll introduce you to Dr. Amelia later."