Alastorâs body tensed for a moment, and he frowned at Anastasia with a look of disgust in his eyes.
âYouâre overthinking.â
Anastasia grinned in silence.
âGrandma asked me to buy you some fruits and ribs. You can handle them yourself.â Alastor gestured toward the ingredients on the table by the entrance, then turned around to leave.
âAlastor, are you doing charity by raising someone elseâs child?â Anastasia felt an unexpected surge of unwillingness and was unsure why Alastor was getting on her nerves.
Alastor turned around with a composed expression and looked at Anastasia. âSo, can you tell me now whose child it is?â
Alastor had never believed that the child in Anastasiaâs belly was his.
âWhy donât you believe the child is yours?â Anastasia asked, her voice choking with emotion.
âAnastasia, weâve been married for four years. You should know how cautious Ive been in our intimate moments. Even if there were an occasion where we forgot, I would remind you to take the contraceptive pills. Given all this, what are the odds that this child is mine?â Alastor lowered his gaze to look at Anastasia, his tone carrying a sense of interrogation.
Anastasia took a deep breath Having been married for four years. Alastor indeed wasnât a person with strong desires in that aspect.
Due to past traumas, Anastasia also had reservations in that regard, so she had never suspected anything amiss with Alastor.
It turned out, he simply didnât have any feelings for her.
âThis child, is it Jasonâs or Xavier Alastor inquired once more, directing his question at Anastasia.
With her head lowered. Anastasiaâs voice sounded numb. âItâs yours,â she stated the truth.
But Alastor didnât believe it at all âAnastasia. Im waiting for your DNA paternity test.â
Anastasia smiled numbly âOkayâ
Alastor gazed deeply at Anastasia, his eyes holding a depth of emotions, struggling to find words to say.
As he reached the doorway, Alastor addressed her once more. âI was the one who approached Sienna for your journal and that sketchbook. It was also me who pressed Sienna to reveal your relationship with Xavier. Thereâs no need for you to hold. a grudge against Sienna. If you donât want others to know, the best way is to avoid doing it in the first place.â
He wasnât particularly concerned about how Anastasia would manage her family affairs.
A single warning would be enough Snowballâs meow echoed with protest as it desperately clung to its male owner.
The sensitivities of small creatures are perpetually delicate, and it likely intuited that the family was about to fall apart. âWeâve agreed to get a divorce, and in the future there wonât be any need for you to come back.â Anastasia stated in a hoarse voice as she gazed at Alastor.
âDonât come back, I still wish to continue living,â she reflected The ongoing hurt caused by Alastor would eventually bring about her downfall.
âAlright,â Alastor agreed, seemingly cager not to return. âEven if this child isnât mine, this house still belongs to you.â He had already shown enough generosity and magnanimity toward Anastasia.
Anastasia smiled. âSnowball, come here.â
Snowball looked back at Anastasia and continued desperately trying to hold onto Alastor.
Alastor lowered his head and looked at Snowball, clearly becoming somewhat impatient. With one swift motion, he kicked Snowball away and left without looking back.
In a state of panic, Anastasia scrambled to her feet and rushed over to hug Snowball. She sat on the ground, feeling numb for a while.
Because the love had faded, even the effort to pretend had become too much to muster.
He disliked children, and he had never liked small animals either.
Snowball was also startled, seeking refuge in Anastasiaâs embrace, meowing incessantly.
While Anastasia continued to console Snowball, she was actually providing comfort to herself too.
Lake Snowball, she too was a forsaken wanderer, clutching onto a newfound haven of warmth, fighting to maintain her grasp, only to be callously cast aside in the end.
09:201 Perhaps the fate of wanderers was to forever roam. Destined to never find a foothold.
Anastasia visited Hork General Hospital for another round of check-ups. She had to exercise extreme caution to ensure the childâs safe growth.
âThe baby is very healthy, but youâ¦â The attending physician appeared somewhat concerned.
âAnastasia, have you thought this through?â
Time passed in the blink of an eye, and Anastasiaâs bulging belly had already begun to show signs of pregnancy.
If the pregnancy isnât terminated in a timely manner, it wonât be feasible to do so at a later time.
However, given Anastasiaâs condition, she wouldnât be able to endure until the end of her ten-month term.
âAnastasia, thereâs a team of experts from Atharia consulting with our Hork experts. They will provide the most authoritative treatment plan for your situation. Youâre fortunate to have this opportunity, and I can help secure it for you. You donât have much time to consider. If you insist on keeping this child, whether itâs a natural birth or by cesarean section, both will pose life-threatening risks to you. You might not survive, the doctor informed Anastasia with a grave tone.
Anastasia sat numbly on the stool, her voice hoarse as she finally spoke. âDoctor⦠give me some time.
Just a little more time, please.â
âAlright.â The doctor nodded. âChristmas is just around the corner. Take your time to think it through.
Come see me after Christmas.â
âAnastasia⦠Donât you think you should discuss this with your husband or family? This isnât a trivial matterâ¦â the doctor asked in a hushed voice.
Anastasia smiled. She had become quite familiar with the doctor over time. âYouâre aware of my family situation. My father is paralyzed, weâve just finished the divorce lawsuit, and Meredith is in prison.
There isnât anyone left in my familyâ¦
She didnât really have any family left.
The doctor sighed, âLife tends to be most fragile at its weakest points. Thatâs life.â