There were more people waiting in line outside the ultrasound room than Flora had expected. She had to wait for a long time before her name was called.
The city hospital was always overcrowded at this hour. Doctor's appointments could be scheduled in advance, but clinical... The ultrasound room had a clear priority, giving preference to serious patients, the elderly, and children.
Without a choice, the number of ultrasound rooms and doctors were limited, and the only option was to wait.
"If I had known, I would've taken you to a private clinic. Waiting like this, who knows when our turn will be." the worry on Patrick's face did not fade a bit. He paced restlessly.
Flora grabbed Patrick's sleeve, stopping his incessant pacing, she weakly smiled: "You're the one who said the doctors at the city hospital are more reliable than those at the private clinics. Don't stress so much, it's actually a good thing that we're not prioritized."
Not being prioritized meant that her condition was not too serious. A simple logic, yet, Patrick had to be reminded by Flora to understand it. It was the disorder caused by excessive concern.
"Is Miss Flora present?" The nurse, her face obscured behind a secure mask, emerged from the ultrasound room, calling out loud.
Flora stood up, the nurse nodded: "It's your turn, please come in."
The doctor spread a thin layer of gel on Flora's abdomen, then moved the probe back and forth on her skin.
About ten minutes later, the doctor offered her a faint smile: "There's nothing to worry about. It's quite late now, come back for the results tomorrow. But it would be best to have a color ultrasound, it will give a clearer picture... Anyway, the doctor will give you specific instructions when he examines you tomorrow."
The words of the doctor in the ultrasound room left Flora feeling a little hazy.
She didn't quite understand his implications, but she was sure her health wasn't in any serious trouble.
"I'm very grateful for today." Outside the house, Flora politely smiled, thanking Patrick.
On Patrick's lips was a strained smile: "Aren't you going to invite me in for a while?"
"Uh..." His sudden proposal caught Flora off guard: "It's quite late already, perhaps another time."
Her refusal was clear.
In fact, Patrick had long realized that recently, Flora had intentionally kept her distance from him.
Especially after he'd impulsively suggested moving in together so he could care for her more conveniently.
He sighed deeply: "Is it really... impossible between us? I won't force you, but..."
"Don't say that.
Patrick, don't let it get to the point where we can't even be friends." Anticipating what Patrick was about to say, Flora hastily interrupted him: "What happened between us is long over.
Whether I want to admit it or not, right now, there's only Matthew in my heart."
Matthew - the man who had caused her so much pain and anguish.
But no matter how much pain or grief, her heart was still only directed towards him.
In a world filled with billions of men, there was only one who could stir her emotions.
It wasn't because the others weren't good enough.
It was a matter of the heart's choice, which had nothing to do with whether the others were good or not.
Emma was slightly surprised at Flora's solo return.
The young girl opened her wide eyes, stretching out to survey the exterior.
Only after confirming that Flora had returned alone did she voice her puzzlement.
"Miss, wasn't it... that gentleman who took you to the doctor? Why have you come back alone?"
Flora shrugged: "He has a home to return to, naturally he must go back to his own place."
Emma didn't mean it that way.
She was still at an age where she daydreamed about love, her eyes filled with sparkling fantasies.
To Emma, Patrick was an incredibly good man, perfectly suited to their young mistress.
"I think that gentleman treats you very well." The little girl's eyes sparkled: "He's handsome, wealthy, kind, and gentle, and he loves you too. Where can you find such a suitable man?"
"There are so many good men in the world, must I be with all of them?" Flora laughed.
She was past the age of unrealistic dreams, and she had seen her heart clearly.
The present Flora wasn't blindly pursuing love, nor was she choosing to stay with a man just because he was good to her.
Ultimately, the choices of an adult always had to go through a lot of considerations.
Emma pouted: "Of course not.
The other good men don't love you, but this gentleman not only is good but also loves you, that's different from the others." She snuggled closer to Flora, winking: "Miss, weren't you and that gentleman childhood sweethearts?"
They were indeed childhood sweethearts.
But childhood sweethearts who had been apart for seven years were simply strangers who had once been familiar.
Without answering the inquisitive young girl's question, Flora retorted: "Given the choice, would you choose the person you love or the person who loves you?"
The man one loves and the man who loves you, two male figures constantly measured on the scales of women's hearts.
Each person has their choice, governed by their own reasons.
Emma, without a trace of hesitation, replied: "The one I love.
I love him, being beside him, seeing him every day would be pure bliss! Waking up each morning to gaze at the face of the one you love, oh goodness... just imagining it fills me with happiness already!"
The young girl, still brimming with youth, was so immersed in her rosy daydreams that she couldn't help but beam with joy.
After a few minutes, she shook herself from her reverie, furrowing her brow: "This won't do, this won't do... Miss, we were supposed to be discussing your matters, weren't we?"
"I also said to choose the one you love, so why do you advise me to opt for the other?" Flora shook her head, an involuntary smile curling at her lips.
"I don't know anything! It was your mother who told me..." Emma's eyes widened in surprise, she hastily covered her mouth with both hands: "I didn't say anything! I didn't reveal anything!" Then she fled back to her room, slamming the door behind her.
Flora, caught between laughter and tears, returned to her room too.
She had early suspicions about the young girl, Emma's unusual behavior.
It turned out to be her mother's advice.
As she reclined in bed, preparing to surrender to sleep, she drowsily contemplated telling her mother not to meddle with her matters anymore.
The moonlight, mysterious and hazy, streamed through the window, casting a dim glow on the sleeping form.
A vague sigh echoed through the night, the man's gaze lingering on the soft curves beneath the thin blanket.
With a click, the door closed again, its noise unavoidable despite the intruder's best efforts to be gentle.
The figure on the bed stirred, her eyes blinking open in a daze.
"Matthew? What are you doing here?"
Matthew's hand stretched out before Flora.
In its center, a silent key lay reflecting the warm amber glow of the bedside lamp.
"A key?" Flora's confusion was soon replaced by realization, understanding how Matthew could have intruded into her room in the dead of night: "It seems I overestimated your character.
I didn't expect the CEO of S.E.I Corporation to have a petty theft habit."
Matthew shook his head: "It's not exactly petty theft.
I just... came home a little late."
His remark made Flora burst into laughter.
A bitter, helpless laughter.
Her hand clenching the thin blanket, she gently yet firmly shook her head.
"You left the city only a few days ago and already forgot where your home is? Matthew, you're married, and not to me.
You and your wife love each other so much, yet you come to tease others.
You come and go as you please, breaking my heart once wasn't enough for you?"
Flora's heart felt suffocated, the pain unbearable.
Her choked words, like revealing her agony, laid bare her bleeding wounds in front of the man she loved.
Repeatedly teasing her, causing her harm.
In the end, what did he see her as?
Matthew's throat tightened, all the loving words he carefully thought about seemed stuck, unable to voice them out.
All he could do was reach out, firmly embracing Flora's delicate figure.
"I will explain everything to you.
Can you give me some time?" He pleaded earnestly: "Can you, Flora? I love you, our child.
I will never betray the three of you... I will give you a satisfying answer, and... will never leave you three."
Flora had never seen a Matthew so willing to humble himself, almost begging for others.
The man she loved should stand at the pinnacle of life, always high above, scoffing at everything.
Such an attitude softened her heart, yet left her in a dilemma.
After all, the human heart is also flesh and blood, Flora had always been a woman easily touched.
She unconsciously bit her lip, not realizing the pain until it was too late, sighed: "But Selena is your wife..."
"Not for much longer. Trust me, give me some time!"
Flora half-closed her eyes, silently reaching out her hand to pat Matthew's back.
Then, she pushed him away.
The dim light of the bedside lamp wasn't clear enough to see the thoughts hidden in his eyes.
She hesitated slightly: "What about my mother?"
Matthew frowned: "Why wouldn't your mother come with us?" He had always thought that Flora's mother, with only one daughter, who she dearly loved, would respect her choices.
Of course, his mother-in-law could choose to join his family or not.
Regardless, he would do his utmost to ensure her safety.
"I don't know." Flora shook her head: "Mother doesn't approve of us being together..." And that was an understatement, her mother at present would rather bundle her off to Patrick's house.
Sometimes, she too couldn't fathom her mother's thoughts.
Taking her delicate hand, Matthew gently reassured: "It's fine, we respect your mother's choices.
If she doesn't like me, I will try even harder... Or should we pick up the kids, and pay her a visit as a family?"
Flora was slightly taken aback.
If earlier, she was half-doubtful, now her heart nearly tipped towards "trusting the man in front of her".
Just because he was willing to make an effort to live harmoniously with her family.
Suddenly, a sharp pain appeared in her lower abdomen.
Flora furrowed her brows, her hand clutching her stomach.
Close by, Matthew nearly immediately noticed her changing complexion.
He anxiously asked: "What's wrong? Stomachache? Let me take you to the hospital."
"No need." Flora shook her head: "I had a check-up at the hospital today, the doctor said there's nothing to worry about."
To avoid causing him too much worry, she didn't mention the ultrasound appointment scheduled for the next day.
After all, the doctor said there was nothing to fear, better not to inconvenience others too much.
The next morning when Flora woke up, Matthew had already left, leaving only a note and a side of the bed as cold as ice.
Flora reached out to touch the empty side of the bed, sighing deeply.
One can't help but wonder when she, he, and the two children can truly live together as a complete family.
The pain in her stomach from the previous day had dissipated.
She wearily got out of bed, slipping her feet into her slippers and went outside.