CHAPTER 155: CHAPTER 155: THE UNBLESSED ILLEGITIMATE CHILD? (1)

Supporting Seraphina Thorne to sit at the dining table, Ivy Langley returned to the kitchen.

Moments later, she brought her a large bowl of noodles with a poached egg on top.

"Eat up." Handing the chopsticks to Seraphina, Ivy smiled as she sat across from her, "If it’s not enough, I’ll cook more for you."

Seraphina took the chopsticks, lowered her head; she didn’t have much appetite, but she forced herself to eat the entire bowl of noodles.

On the plane, she had cried and pondered.

Her father needed care, and her brother’s case wasn’t settled yet.

No matter what happened, she had no reason to give in to despair.

After swallowing the last mouthful of soup, Seraphina lifted her face and smiled at Ivy.

"Don’t worry, I’m fine."

Those six words nearly brought Ivy to tears on the spot.

Grabbing a tissue, Ivy coughed twice to control her emotions.

"What are you planning to do?"

"Go to work, earn money, live life." Seraphina chuckled self-deprecatingly, "Not much different from before."

She stood up, starting to clear the empty bowl from the table.

Ivy hurriedly snatched the bowl into her own hands, deliberately making her tone lighthearted.

"I’m on a diet lately, don’t compete with me for the chance to work."

Seraphina rolled her eyes at her, "Diet and you’re still eating instant noodles?"

Ivy grinned mischievously, "Of course, without a full stomach, where would I get the energy to diet?"

The two good friends burst into laughter simultaneously.

Amid the laughter, Seraphina suddenly raised her hand to cover her mouth and rushed into the bathroom.

Ivy was startled and chased after her.

The noodles Seraphina just ate were all vomited out, and after several bouts of retching, she finally stopped feeling nauseous.

Ivy handed her a cup to rinse her mouth, pulled out a tissue to help wipe her lips, "What’s going on?"

Seraphina shook her head lightly, "Nothing!"

"What do you mean nothing when you’re vomiting so severely?" Ivy frowned and helped her out of the bathroom, "Put on your coat, I’m taking you to the hospital."

"Ivy!" Seraphina stopped her, "I’m really not ill."

"You’re not ill and yet vomiting so badly?"

"I’m pregnant."

Ivy froze for a moment, then immediately flared up.

"Looking like this, that bastard just let you come back alone from abroad without care? That jerk, I’ll call him right now."

"Ivy!" Seraphina grabbed her arm, "I didn’t tell him."

Holding her phone, Ivy’s face was puzzled, "Why?"

Sitting on the sofa with her, Seraphina briefly explained to Ivy about how she reconciled with Ethan Sterling and went abroad together after Ivy left on a business trip.

"He originally planned to take me to pay respects to his late mother, and then we would go to choose our engagement dress together."

"Then...why did he divorce you?"

"You know about Zenith and Sterling & Co." Seraphina lowered her gaze, "He needs help now, and returning to the Sterling Family is his best choice. His father doesn’t want me with him."

"So it’s for money? That bastard!" Ivy cursed angrily, "You’re pregnant now, and he abandons you like this—what kind of person is he?"

"The company is his years of hard work. To see it destroyed, he couldn’t bear it." Seraphina curled up her legs, wrapped her arms around her knees, "I understand him, and I don’t blame him."

In the past, she might have naively believed that love alone was enough.

After these upheavals, Seraphina was no longer so innocent.

"I thought he was better than Adrian Chamberlain, but they’re both bastards." Ivy gritted her teeth, "I won’t let him off easily, even if he wants a divorce, I want to make him suffer!"

"He doesn’t owe me anything; I’m the one owing him feelings." Seraphina lifted her face, "Don’t go looking for him. Let’s part peacefully, shall we?"

These past days, Ethan had helped her too much.

Without Ethan, her father might not have had the money for surgery, and might not be alive.

Without Ethan encouraging her, she might not have participated in the competition, let alone won the championship.

Their marriage was originally a deal; Ethan doesn’t owe her anything.

Ivy remained silent for a while, eventually calming down.

"What are you planning to do with this child?"

Seraphina gently stroked her lower abdomen with her right hand.

"I’ll go to the hospital tomorrow."

With her current abilities, she simply couldn’t afford to care for a child.

Moreover, it’s an illegitimate child without a father and unblessed?

"Alright." Ivy nodded lightly, "I’ll accompany you tomorrow."

The next morning, the two woke up early.

Ivy drove Seraphina to the gynecology and obstetrics department of the Renmin Hospital.

The department was crowded, mostly with couples coming for check-ups.

Contrary to Seraphina’s imagination, an abortion wasn’t something that could be done immediately.

Before the procedure, various checks and tests were required.

Blood tests, examinations, ultrasounds...

There were just as many items as a regular pregnancy check-up.

It was almost noon by the time Seraphina completed all the checks and returned to the clinic.

The doctor carefully examined her test results, adjusted his glasses, and pulled down his mask.

"Is your family here?"

"I’m her family." Ivy replied.

"You’re good friends, right?" The doctor explained earnestly, "I mean immediate family, friends aren’t considered immediate family."

"Can’t I sign on my own?" Seraphina asked.

"Even a painless abortion is considered surgery." The doctor shook his head with a smile, "This is the hospital’s policy; it’s also for the sake of your life and safety."

Seraphina was unwilling, "Then...is there no other solution?"

"Unless you opt for a regular abortion, but the process is a bit painful."

"Definitely not!" Ivy instantly pulled Seraphina’s arm, leading her out of the clinic, "Call Ethan and have him come sign for you."

Mr. Thorne was still in the rehabilitation center, Caleb Thorne was in prison, and Ethan was Seraphina’s only immediate relative.

Seraphina lowered her lashes, "I don’t want to trouble him."

"Trouble? He enjoyed himself, and letting him off without responsibility is already being lenient. Having him come to sign a paper—is that too much?" Ivy picked her phone from her bag, "If you’re too embarrassed, I’ll call him."

"Ivy!" Seraphina tried to stop her, "Let’s wait for a few days, until he returns from abroad. When we finalize the divorce, I’ll tell him then."

Knowing Ethan was still abroad and wouldn’t return soon, Ivy reluctantly put her phone back in her bag.

The two left the hospital together, Ivy didn’t forget to remind Seraphina.

"I’m telling you, Seraphina, don’t you dare undergo that regular abortion, otherwise...I’ll never forgive you in this life."

Seraphina nodded lightly, "I know."

"What do you know, really? If you truly knew, you wouldn’t have let him drive without a cover, wouldn’t have gotten pregnant." Ivy’s tone was irritated.

"Yes, I was wrong." Seraphina paused at the steps down, "You go to the law firm; I want to visit the old house to pack some of my things."

"I’ll drive you there." Ivy offered.

"No need, it’s not on your way. I’ll just hail a cab."

Ivy frowned, still a little worried.

"It’s just a divorce, nothing major. Are you afraid I’ll think about suicide?" Seraphina laughed and gently pushed her, "You don’t go, I’ll go!"

Waving to Ivy, Seraphina turned and walked to the hospital’s entrance.

She hailed a cab, smiled back at Ivy, and slid into the back seat.

"Sovereign Villa District."

As the taxi entered the expressway, Seraphina’s smile faded.

Raising her hand to support her head, she sighed deeply.

Her pretense of nonchalance was merely to deceive Ivy, how could she truly not care?

Thinking of Ethan still in the hospital, Seraphina was indeed a bit uneasy, wondering how he was doing now?

As the taxi moved forward, she took out her phone and found Ethan’s number.

She hesitated, then scrolled down to Sean Hale’s number.

Her fingers hovered over the dial key for a few seconds, ultimately moving away.

Now, what right did she have to inquire about Ethan’s situation?

Pressing her lips together, she slipped her phone back into her bag.

As the taxi entered the Sovereign Villa District, it stopped in front of the Thorne Villa.

From her backpack, Seraphina retrieved the keychain with the little rabbit.

She couldn’t help but remember Ethan handing her the keys again.

Who would have thought she’d have to return the keys so soon?

Shaking her head, she cleared distracting thoughts from her mind.

Clutching the key, she opened the hall doors, stepping into the villa.

She walked upstairs to her master bedroom.

Gently pushing open the door, she immediately saw the person sitting beside the bed—

Ethan!