"What''s your plan then?"

    Jasmine could only listen to her best friend as she pours out all the things she''s been keeping in her heart for so long.

    "There''s only one thing in my mind right now." She released an amount of air. Eyes were looking down but the gloomy atmosphere disturbed Jasmine.

    "Don''t tell me…." Her eyes widened in disbelief. Can she really do it? She thought knowing about her best friend''s strong devotion towards the man. She had loved him since she was young!

    "Yes." She gave a painful smile while ??r?ssing her belly. "God knows how much I love him but I don''t want to raise my child in a loveless marriage."

    "Are you sure about that? The child would ask for the father someday, that''s for sure!"

    Jade bitterly smiled as she looks at her best friend. "I''ll just cross the bridge when I get there. And don''t worry too much because I have enough savings. But you must promise me not to tell anyone about this."

    Her facial expression tells Jasmine how serious she is with her plans. "What if the chairwoman asked me about you? You know I can''t lie in front that old woman."

    "Then I won''t tell you where I''m going."

    "Jade!"

    "It''s safer that way. But once I am settled, I''ll send you a message, I promise."

    The two had a long talk before Jasmine bid her goodbye. She also told her about the news spreading all over the country since she''s insisting to go to work today. As if she has a choice. However, she succeeded in persuading Jade to take a day off for the meantime.

    "What?! Jade is not answering any of the phone calls?" Marcus creased his brows.

    "I''m sorry, Sir, but I can''t reach her. I''ll try to call Susan to check on her." Sonny was about to leave his office when Marcus suddenly stopped him.

    "Go back to work, I''ll call Susan instead."

    "Yes, Sir."

    As soon as Sonny left the office, Marcus took his phone and dialed the house extension number. Luckily, Susan is quick to answer the phone.

    "Miss Jade? I thought she had gone to work." Susan is quite surprise to know that the young miss isn''t in the office yet. "Her friend came by early this morning and they had their breakfast here. I thought she went out with her since she''s well-dressed ready for work. But let me check on her." Susan placed the phone on the table and run to the master''s bedroom.

    She knocked thrice but she heard no response at all so she decided to open the door to take a look. To her surprise, someone was lying on the bed. It must be the young miss. She may be fully covered with a thick blanket but her strong shivering was not hidden to her attention. Therefore, she immediately run towards her and staggered in fear when Jade is breaking in big sweats.

    "Miss Jade! Are you alright?" The woman became anxious when she realized that the woman''s temperature spiked up abnormally. "I''ll be calling the ambulance!" She quickly run downstairs to notify Marcus before calling for an ambulance.

    As soon as Marcus learned about Jade, he called Sonny to cancel all his appointments for the whole afternoon before rushing to the parking lot. He intends to meet Jade''s ambulance at the hospital. However, he got upset when he suddenly saw a lot of media folks waiting at the hospital''s entrance.

    Dang! he forgot that Rachelle was also inside this hospital!

    One of the reporters recognized his car so they all flocked to where he was. Damn it! he cursed aloud. He then called the hospital''s director to dispatch some of his security personnel to help him out since he''ll surely have a hard time passing through the media folks. A few seconds later, twenty big men in gray uniform was seen rushing to the scene. Then they made a way for the young CEO while protecting his privacy.

    "Mr. Hanes, is it true that Miss Henry is pregnant?" A woman shouted from the crowd. Then another spoke until almost everyone keeps asking the same question.

    "Is it true that you are the father of her child?"

    "According to our resources, you are already a married man, is it correct?"

    Questions after questions are being thrown at him but he didn''t bother to answer any of them. He can also feel their contempt and hostility towards him since it was obvious that they all know that he married an unknown commoner.

    Jade! Marcus yelped within him as soon as he confirmed it is his wife. Therefore, he rushes to get inside not minding the crowds at all. He managed to enter the hospital lobby. The hospital director and some of the prominent doctors were waiting for him.

    The security personnel made sure that no reporters will be able to enter inside the hospital to ensure the protection of the young CEO''s privacy.

    "Mr. Hanes…" The hospital director greeted.

    "Make sure she gets a proper treatment as well as the best room." He uttered.

    "Of course. I''ll show you to her room now." The director headed to the right wing but Marcus immediately halted. The hallway is kinda familiar to him.

    "Mr. Hanes, is there any problem?" The director asked while the other doctors looked at him confused.

    "Mr. Han, I think we have quite a misunderstanding. I''m not here to visit Ms. Henry but the woman from the ambulance a while ago."

    "I-I''m sorry, Mr. Hanes." He apologetically bowed before turning his heels towards the emergency room.

    "Do we have a patient whose name is Jade? Jade Hanes?" The director whispered to the head nurse on watch at the emergency room.

    "Jade Hanes? I don''t think I have a patient with that name, doctor." The head nurse who seemed to be in his fifties responded. "But I have a woman named Jade Arria, Sir." She pointed to the left bed.

    A young woman was seen shivering while breaking in cold sweats.

    Seeing her condition, Marcus scowled. No one was tending her, not even a single nurse.

    "Why isn''t anyone checking up on her!?" He angrily shouted at the doctors and nurses present before rushing to where Jade was. He''s mad, it was painted all over his face.

    The other doctors run to where the patient was while the hospital director looked sternly at the head nurse.

    "D-doctor, we didn''t ignore her. In fact, Doctor Mengxi was the one who checked on her." She explained.

    "Then where is he?" The director wears a scowl on his face.

    "I----"

    "Don''t touch her!" They heard a middle-aged man running towards the group of doctor who''s currently surrounding the woman''s bed.

    "Doctor Mengxi!" The director also joined the others. "Did you already check on her?"

    "I did." Doctor Mengxi replied. "But I can''t simply give her a shot to reduce her fever."

    "What do you mean?" Marcus asked. "Why can''t you gi----"

    "She''s pregnant."

    Marcus held his breath in shock upon hearing what the doctor just said.

    "She''s two months pregnant."

    "W-what?" Marcus couldn''t believe his ears.

    "Yes, Mr. Hanes, your wife is pregnant."

    Pregnant? Jade is pregnant? For real? Marcus doesn''t know what to feel at the moment. His mind suddenly went blank.

    He stumbles backward, good thing a male doctor who is in his mid-thirties held him.

    "Why don''t we move her to the VIP room. You too, Mr. Hanes, I believe you need a comfortable place to rest too." The director advice.

    They immediately transferred Jade to the VIP lounge before they run another series of test on her. Now that they know she''s pregnant, they need extra care to protect the little gal inside her w?mb.

    Marcus sat on the soft couch while watching the sleeping woman, still breaking in sweats.

    Two months? Jade is pregnant for two months now? Why did she keep him uninformed? Or could it be that she doesn''t know about it as well? Impossible!

    Well, only Jade can answer that.

    He was in deep thought when his phone suddenly rings.

    Rachelle.

    "Marcus, where are you?" The woman''s weak voice resonates in his ears. "Aren''t you going to visit me today?"

    He didn''t say a word for a few seconds.

    "Marcus?" the woman voice once again.

    "I don''t think I can make it." He replied.

    "Are you that busy? How ab-----"

    "I''ll drop by later." He managed to say one sentence before hanging up. His mind is a mess at the moment and any phone calls from anyone irritates him.

    ***********************

    She slowly opened her eyes when she heard a familiar voice.

    Her eyes were still adjusting to the bright light inside the room

    A dextrose? She muttered before looking around the unfamiliar room and spotted two figures facing the window.

    She was sure that the tall one is Marcus but unsure who the middle age man wearing a white lab coat. A doctor?!

    She was about to say a word but Marcus'' words froze her.

    "Yes, please do that. Make sure no one knew about this." Marcus uttered. "Once her pregnancy is revealed, I will hold you responsible."

    "I-I…I understand, Mr. Hanes."

    "One scandal is enough. I can''t let those people spread anymore rumors. So please, I hope you''ll preserve the privacy of Jade''s pregnancy."

    Jade teared up. Did she hear him right? Marcus wants to protect Rachelle while he keeps her pregnancy a secret from the public? T-that''s… That''s inhumane!