Outside the ward, I sat silently on the bench, exhaustion slowly settling into my bones.

‎

‎Not long after, Maria arrived carrying breakfast and a few necessities.

‎"Good morning, sir," she greeted carefully.

‎I gave a slight nod.

‎Her gaze shifted nervously toward the hospital room before returning to me.

‎"How is Madam Alicia?" she asked hesitantly. "And... the baby?"

‎"They’re both fine," I replied quietly. "There’s nothing to worry about."

‎

‎Maria visibly relaxed.

‎"You can go inside," I added. "Just make sure she eats something."

‎"Yes, sir."

‎Maria pushed open the ward door and entered.

‎She didn’t close it completely.

‎From where I sat, I could see part of the room through the small gap.

‎Maria placed the breakfast containers carefully on the table beside the bed before sitting near Alicia.

‎Then She spoke softly to her.

‎A few quiet words were exchanged.

‎

‎Then Maria opened the food containers, trying gently to persuade her.

‎But after a while, Alicia only turned her face away again and closed her eyes. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

‎

‎Maria sat there helplessly for a moment before finally walking back outside.

‎"Sir..." she said carefully. "Madam Alicia refused to eat."

‎My brows furrowed instantly.

‎Alicia had barely eaten these past few days already.

‎And now this.

‎A faint irritation rose in my chest, mixed with helplessness.

‎Even if she didn’t care about herself right now

‎she should at least think about the baby.

I stood outside the room for a while before finally deciding to get the doctor.

Maybe if he explained things to her properly, she would calm down enough to eat something.

Maria remained seated by the door while I walked away.

A moment later, I returned with the doctor.

I stopped at the entrance instinctively, but he motioned for me to follow him inside.

After a brief hesitation, I stepped into the room and walked over to Alicia’s bedside.

Seeing the doctor, she didn’t close her eyes again, though she completely ignored my presence.

"How are you feeling, Mrs. Blackwood?" the doctor asked gently.

"Don’t call me Mrs. Blackwood," Alicia replied calmly.

The doctor glanced at me briefly before correcting himself smoothly.

"Alright then... how are you feeling, Mrs. Alicia?"

She stayed silent for a moment before answering quietly, "I’m fine. Just a little headache and exhaustion."

He nodded and jotted something down.

"The headache is most likely from exhaustion. As long as you rest properly and take your medications on time, it should improve soon."

Alicia didn’t respond.

The doctor’s gaze shifted toward the untouched food containers beside the bed.

"I’ll prescribe some additional medication for the exhaustion," he continued carefully, "but before taking it, you need to eat something."

"I’m not hungry," Alicia said flatly.

"This isn’t about hunger, Mrs. Alicia," the doctor explained patiently. "What happened yesterday was most likely caused by stress, emotional instability, and not eating properly. Although nothing serious happened this time, we still need to avoid a repeat situation."

At his words, Alicia’s gaze slowly lowered toward her stomach.

A flicker of guilt passed through her eyes.

"So the pain yesterday..." she asked quietly, "...was because of stress?"

The doctor paused briefly before his expression softened.

"Actually... part of what you felt was likely the baby moving for the first time."

Alicia froze.

So did I.

"The baby... moved?" she asked softly, almost in disbelief.

"Based on the timing and symptoms, that’s most likely what happened," the doctor replied. "At this stage, it’s perfectly normal. Some women experience mild discomfort the first time, especially under emotional stress."

Instinctively, I turned to look at Alicia.

Her hand had already moved to her stomach, her expression blank with shock, as though she still couldn’t process it.

Truthfully...

it felt unreal to me too.

I had been worried for the past few days about the baby not moving yet.

And now it suddenly happened—

during a moment like this.

The doctor studied both our expressions before continuing gently, "The stress and sudden physical strain likely made it feel more painful than usual, but there’s nothing to worry about. From now on, you’ll probably begin feeling the movements more often."

Then his gaze shifted back toward Alicia.

"Especially if you start eating properly and taking your medication on time."

This time, Alicia nodded quietly before slowly sitting up.

Instinctively, I reached out to support her, but she immediately pushed my hand away.

Then she tried to get out of bed herself.

I frowned slightly. "Where are you going?"

"I need to use the bathroom and brush my teeth before eating," she replied without looking at me. "Why are you stopping me?"

She still looked weak.

And I knew she wouldn’t allow me to help her.

After a brief silence, I sighed softly. "Then stay here. I’ll ask Maria to help you."

Alicia didn’t argue again and simply sat there quietly.

The doctor smiled faintly at the interaction before turning to me.

"Mr. Blackwood, I’ll have a nurse bring the additional medication shortly. Make sure she eats enough before taking it."

"Alright. Thank you, doctor."

He nodded before leaving the room.

I glanced at Alicia one last time before quietly stepping outside to call Maria in.

"Maria, you can go inside now."

She hesitated briefly before nodding and entering the room.

Just then, my phone started ringing.

I pulled it out of my pocket and glanced at the caller ID.

Aunt Angela.

I sighed tiredly.

Ever since she arrived in Velaridge City for the funeral, we hadn’t properly spoken. She had wanted me to return to the Blackwood mansion with her afterward, but I refused.

Partly because of Alicia.

Partly because I already knew how the conversation would go.

The call rang out unanswered.

But almost immediately, she called again.

Closing my eyes briefly, I finally answered.

"Alexander, where are you?" she asked the moment the call connected.

"At the hospital."

Her tone instantly changed. "Hospital? What happened? Are you alright?"

"I’m fine," I replied flatly. "I’m here with Alicia."

There was a brief silence.

Then she scoffed lightly. "So that woman finally upset herself into the hospital too?"

My expression darkened immediately.

"Aunt."

"She looked so devastated yesterday that I almost thought she finally understood what she’d done," Angela continued coldly. "If she had any shame at all, she would’ve left our family long ago."

"Don’t talk about her like that," I said sharply.

Angela paused slightly before huffing. "What? Did she not tell you we met yesterday?"

A bad feeling crept into my chest.

You were the one who spoke to Alicia?"

"Of course I was," she replied unapologetically. "Someone had to make her understand her place."

My grip around the phone tightened instantly....