"I’m sleeping at the station tonight, not coming back." Seth Sutton was about to leave, his hand just on the doorknob when he heard Mina Thorne’s suppressed and sorrowful wailing behind him.

He hesitated for a long while, ultimately unwilling to leave, he went back and hugged Mina, kissing away her tears.

"Our situation is different from your dad’s." He patiently comforted her in a soft voice, "Your dad had a partner and a child before he met your mom, so he couldn’t let go of that, that’s normal. But before I got with you, I didn’t have a girlfriend. Besides work, I spend all my time with a group of old men at the station. The rest of the time, I’m with you. I’ve already done all this, but you still don’t feel secure? You might as well just keep me in your pocket and carry me around 24 hours a day!"

Mina hugged him, crying and laughing.

Seth took the chance to make her laugh: "And you said my eyes were glued to your sister. A few years back, you were obsessed with that pretty boy, the one that sings and dances on TV. Didn’t your eyes stick to him every day? You even set your phone wallpaper to his picture, did I ever doubt you?"

"...Well, over the years he’s gotten a tan and has muscles now, he’s no longer just a pretty boy."

"Look at that," Seth clicked his tongue, "You’ve even noticed his muscles, if I tried to fuss like you do, how could I survive?"

Being together for ten years, Mina was soon coaxed into a good mood.

A week later, Mina found out she was pregnant. While announcing the good news to the elders, she also mentioned that the two of them planned to live well together and wouldn’t be divorcing.

In fact, their reconciliation happened before discovering the pregnancy, but there was a few days’ gap in between, making the elders believe they decided not to divorce because of the child.

During that time, Seth had been persuading her, for the sake of the baby in her belly and her own health, not to keep grudging against Melinda Linton and her daughter. And because she herself was now pregnant, she truly understood how unfortunate it was for Melinda back then to wander and remarry with her lover’s child due to the persecution from the Grant Family.

As a mother, she tried to objectively view the events of the past, and finally untangled her knots, reconciling with Sienna Thornton...

.

"Mina, we’re here, let’s get out of the car."

Mina Thorne returned to her senses, "Okay."

Sienna Thornton smiled, picking up her bag as she got off the car, she reminded, "Be careful."

It was noon at that time, and the hospital parking lot was crowded with cars and people, some leaving after morning appointments, others visiting patients during their lunch break.

Sienna weaved through the crowd with her bag, Mina following, naturally linking arms with her.

She had only linked arms like this with Maeve, so Mina’s sudden action took her by surprise, making the arm linked with Mina feel a bit stiff.

As they walked towards the outpatient building, heading to the last clinic on the second floor at the obstetrics and gynecology department to find Joyce Sutton.

There were no more waiting patients outside the clinic. Sienna stepped forward and knocked on the door, and soon a nurse came to open it.

Joyce Sutton sat inside, standing up warmly upon seeing her through the door crack, "Director-General Thorne, please come in."

Sienna linked arms with Mina, entering the clinic, "Dr. Sutton, we’re really sorry for troubling you today, staying past your off-duty hours for us."

Joyce laughed, "It’s nothing, I usually rest at the hospital during noon anyway, don’t go home." She looked at Mina, "You sisters really look alike, both equally beautiful."

Mina blushed, "My sister is prettier."

Joyce glanced at Sienna in her professional attire, smiling, "The sister is intellectual, and the younger one is cute. Different kinds of beauty."

The compliment made Mina happy, her eyes crinkling with her smile.

Joyce led her into a room to personally measure her abdominal circumference and other data.

The nurse recorded alongside, while Joyce chatted softly with her during the procedures: "Is this your first prenatal checkup, and your husband couldn’t make it?"

"My husband’s a policeman, he just happened to have a mission today."

"I see," Joyce smiled, "It’s fortunate you have your sister here, otherwise it would be lonely coming for a checkup alone."

Mina also smiled, "Yes, she specifically took time off this afternoon to come with me, even though her work is also very busy."

"Your sister’s child is only over eight months old, right? It’s quite rare to balance work and family, and still find time to accompany you for a checkup. Most of the pregnant women I see here are either accompanied by their husbands or come alone, very few have sisters taking time off to be with them. Especially with someone of Director-General Thorne’s status. The saying ’hands-on approach’ is easy to say and write, but few can truly do it."

Joyce’s words made Mina even more grateful towards Sienna. Having experienced loneliness before, she now deeply appreciated what her sister’s companionship meant to her during such times.

After measuring all the data, Mina followed Joyce out.

The nurse had already prepared the registration materials for Mina, helping her fill them out and occasionally asking for information.

Joyce then chatted with Sienna from her seat, "So now that you’re working, who’s taking care of the baby?"

"A nanny and the elder family members take care during the day, and at night, her father and I both take turns."

Joyce nodded, "That’s good, it’s lucky you have elder family support. Otherwise, giving up your job to stay home with the baby would be too much of a pity."

Sienna teased, "Then I won’t stay home with the baby, let the father do it."

Joyce laughed, her eyes shifted to the materials and she recalled something, asking, "I heard Robin mention the other day that Young Master Blackwood seems to want you to change units, has he discussed this with you?"

"Hmm?" Sienna was surprised, "Not yet, for now."

She composed herself, not probing further, and shifted the topic, "My sister’s having an ultrasound and blood drawn today, right? But aren’t those departments off for now?"

"Yes, they’ll start at two. Let’s have a meal together at noon, and at two I’ll take you both, first for blood tests, then for an ultrasound, get the report immediately, and later pick up the blood report. We’ll aim to have you leave the hospital by three."

Things went as Joyce planned, they had lunch at a nearby western restaurant and returned to the hospital by two, getting through all the checks and had the report before half past two.

Mina’s progesterone was low, Joyce suggested she try consuming more hormone-rich foods to help her body produce progesterone, and return in two weeks for a recheck. Joyce also provided Mina with very detailed pregnancy care advice.

They left the hospital just at three, with Sienna driving Mina home.

On the way, Mina said, "Sis, thank you so much for today. I had a checkup at another hospital before, but the doctors didn’t give any advice, just confirmed it was an intrauterine pregnancy through B ultrasound and let me go." She wanted to say knowing people really made a difference but felt shy to say so directly.

Sienna laughed, "Dr. Sutton is that thorough with every patient. Even if you hadn’t asked her, Dad would have found you an even better doctor."