Chapter 20 Leonora didnât have a shred of sympathy as she vented her frustration over the phone, âIs this all my fault? Would I have argued with your father if he hadnât been such a ladiesâ man? lan, let me tell you, Iâve made up my mind about Clara. I will not let that woman stay by your side, not even as a mistress!â
With that, she coldly ended the call.
lan, fuming with anger, shook a cigarette out of the pack and lit it, inhaling deeply as he leaned back in his chair.
A few days later.
After Clara had helped her father with lunch, she received an unexpected call from the hospitalâs OB/GYN department. Following her recent miscarriage, she had undergone a comprehensive gynecological exam, and it seemed the results were in.
She stepped out of the hospital room and answered the phone.
âMs. Clara, thereâs an issue with your test results. It would be best if you came in right awayâ
A sinking feeling told Clara this wasnât good news. She hung up, gave her father a few instructions, and made an excuse to leave.
The doctor furrowed his brow and scanned the report. He then fixed his gaze on Clara. âDo you frequently use emergency contraceptives?â
Clara nodded.
lanâs urges were unpredictable, and sometimes, in the heat of the moment, they wouldnât have protection, leaving her no choice but to take the morningâafter pill. Her last pregnancy was a result of lanâs vigorous loveâmaking. She had fallen ill with a high fever and forgot to take her pill.
The doctor looked at her with a sympathetic eye. âYour uterus is tilted, and the inner lining is thin. On top of that, the frequent use of emergency contraceptives is showing early signs of ovarian aging. Getting pregnant is going to be difficult for you. It was already a miracle you conceived, but you didnât take care, and the miscarriage and subsequent bleeding did significant harm to your body. According to the report, your chances of conceiving again are quite low, no more than twenty percent.â
The words struck Clara like a knife to the heart, making it hard to breathe. Her cold, trembling hands clutched the fabric of her dress.
Clara remembered her relative, who had a forty percent chance of pregnancy and, after five years of marriage, still hadnât conceived. Clara wondered if sheâd ever experience motherhood as she had a twenty percent chance of pregnancy.
Claraâs voice was hoarse with emotion as she asked, âDoctor, isnât there anything that can be done?â
The doctor shook his head helplessly. âI can prescribe some remedies to help balance your system, which might increase the odds. But I must warn you, no more emergency pills. For a woman to lose the ability to become a mother is something you might regret for a lifetime. If a man truly loves you, there are many ways to practice contraception. He wouldnât just think of his own pleasure at the expense of your health.â
Clara offered a bleak smile.
Indeed. If lan truly loved her, how could he let her bear all this?
Clutching the prescription, Clara staggered out of the office. As she reached the door, the next patient came in. She was too distraught to recognize the face, brushing past in her hurry.
Just a few steps out, she heard a familiar voice. âDoctor, Iâd like to have a preâpregnancy check-up. Iâm planning to have children right after getting married.â
1/2 14.08 Chapter 20 23 Clara froze in place. After what felt like an eternity, she slowly turned around.
There stood Heidi, her face aglow with happiness.
lan was unwilling to marry Clara but was willing to have children with Heidi. He even had Clara consume countless emergency contraceptives to prevent pregnancy, reducing her chances to a mere twenty percent. Yet, he was ready to marry his true love, Heidi, and start a family.
It was true comparisons bring injuries to the heart.
Clara had never felt more heartache than she did at that moment. Rigid with shock, she made her way toward the exit.
Only a few steps out, she stumbled into a familiar embrace. Before she could regain her composure, lanâs cold voice came from above her head.
âAre you pregnant?â