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Novel Catalog
Chapter 18 Regretting It
Nathaniel’s mind was clouded with frustration as he stared at his phone, the absence of calls from Cecilia gnawing at him. His thoughts were interrupted when he heard the cold automated voice, reminding him that her number was unavailable. He tossed the phone aside, unable to shake the bitterness that had settled in his chest. He lit a cigarette, staring out the floor-to-ceiling window, the soft glow of the city lights doing little to ease the storm brewing inside him. Cecilia’s words echoed in his mind, and the regret in her voice only added weight to his already conflicted heart. Just then, he heard a woman’s voice behind him, breaking the silence.
“Nathaniel, you should cut down on smoking. It’s bad for your health.”
Nathaniel’s heart lurched at the sound of the voice, and for a fleeting moment, he thought it was Cecilia standing there. But when he turned around, it was Stella, dressed in a way that screamed perfect housewife material. His gaze was sharp as he asked, his tone cold, “Why are you here?”
Stella looked at him with a gentle smile, but there was an underlying tension in her expression. “Mdm. Elena asked me to come. She knows about Cecilia finding someone new so soon and wants you to not dwell on it.”
The mention of his mother, Elena, stirred something in Nathaniel, but his expression remained unreadable. Stella, with her carefully crafted demeanor, continued, recounting an incident from years ago when Cecilia had saved Elena’s life by donating blood after a car accident. Stella, ever the opportunist, had tried to ingratiate herself with Cecilia during her hospital stay, but she also knew how to take advantage of the situation. While Cecilia was recovering, Stella had “accidentally” taken credit for saving Nathaniel’s mother, hoping that it would bind Nathaniel to her. But instead, Elena had arranged for Nathaniel to marry Cecilia, despite her hearing impairment, all for the sake of his career and power.
Nathaniel’s gaze grew distant as he absorbed Stella’s words, the weight of their history hanging between them. He spoke softly, his voice tinged with something more bitter than he cared to admit. “Who is her new lover?”
He couldn’t wrap his mind around the fact that Cecilia, after everything, would be with someone else for the sake of three hundred million. Was all the love she’d shown him over the years just an act? He couldn’t bring himself to believe it, but the possibility gnawed at him.
Stella hesitated before answering, and Nathaniel could see the uncertainty in her eyes. “I don’t know either.”
Her silence made Nathaniel’s frustration spike. “Since you don’t know, don’t mention it again,” he said, his voice cold. Stella nodded, slightly taken aback, and left the room, her presence now more a reminder of what Nathaniel had lost than any comfort.
That night, Nathaniel remained distracted, lost in thoughts of Cecilia. Meanwhile, at Tudela Hospital, Cecilia was clinging to life in the intensive care unit. The respirator’s rhythmic sound was the only thing filling the otherwise still room. Calvin had arrived just in time, pulling Cecilia from the edge of death. Despite her weakened state, Cecilia glanced at Martha, who was crying by her side. The sight of her friend, now showing the signs of immense worry and grief, only deepened Cecilia’s sadness. Gathering all her strength, Cecilia squeezed Martha’s hand and whispered, “I’m… not in pain. Don’t cry.”
Martha’s sobs broke through, her grip tightening around Cecilia’s fragile hand. “Ceci, listen to me. Let’s focus on getting better, then live a good life, okay?”
Cecilia couldn’t make any promises, not with the heaviness in her heart. She had always been fragile, both physically and emotionally, and now, the weight of everything was too much for her to bear.
Outside the room, in the hospital corridor, the doctors were gathered, their faces serious. One of them approached Calvin, who was pacing impatiently. “Mr. Reese, after the surgery, we ran more tests. We found that she’s already around two weeks pregnant.”
The words hit Calvin like a jolt of electricity. He stood frozen for a moment, trying to process what he had just heard. A million questions rushed through his mind, but one thought rose above all others: Cecilia is pregnant.
