Chapter 3

3

I requested an extended sabbatical from the hospital.

Packing my bags, I booked a flight to a breezy coastal town I had always wanted to visit.

On the twentieth day away from home, Chase finally called.

"Valerie, where on earth have you been? Even throwing a tantrum has its limits!"

When I remained silent, his tone softened, trying to sound reasonable.

"Don't take what Mom said to heart. She was just desperate for a grandbaby and spoke without thinking."

He paused, seemingly choosing his words with care.

"Honey, Savannah and I discussed it. Once she gives birth, I'll give her a payout and send her overseas for good."

"You'll be the child's legal mother, and the three of us can live happily as a real family."

I played along, sounding tearful and deeply moved over the phone.

The second I hung up, I opened the apartment's security feed.

On screen, Chase was lounging on the sofa with his arms around Savannah, his voice dripping with smug triumph.

"Don't worry, I've got Valerie wrapped around my finger."

"Once you deliver the baby, I'll file for divorce. A barren woman won't have any ground to fight you for custody or assets."

My mother-in-law was beaming, handing Savannah a bowl of rich herbal broth.

"My son always has a plan! Keep that useless jinx pacified so she doesn't cause a scene and stress your pregnancy."

"Savannah, eat more. You must give us a healthy, bouncing baby boy!"

Watching this sickeningly sweet scene, I laughed until my stomach ached.

With Savannah's ravaged immune system, they actually believed a healthy pregnancy was possible?

It would be a medical miracle if she even survived past the second trimester.

Living and eating with her without the slightest precaution, that mother and son were already thoroughly infected.

Sure enough, only a few days later, Chase called again.

This time, sheer panic bled through the line.

"Valerie… Mom is sick. It's bizarre―she has an unyielding high fever and her whole body is covered in rashes."

"Even I haven't been able to eat or sleep. My entire body aches terribly."

Suppressing my amusement, I feigned deep concern.

"Honey, the weather has been fluctuating. It could just be a severe flu or some viral bug."

"Take good care of Mom first. As soon as I wrap things up here, I'll book the earliest flight back and get you whatever prescription drugs you need."

"Okay… please hurry…"

His voice sounded noticeably weak and trembling.

After hanging up, I calmly booked a flight to my next vacation resort.

I dragged things out for another week.

During that time, Chase's calls came constantly.

Annoyed by the ringing, I simply blocked his number.

Until one afternoon, Chase's executive assistant called me, his voice shaking with terror.

"Mrs. Hayes! Mr. Hayes collapsed in the boardroom today and was rushed to the ER!"

"His mother was admitted to the ICU yesterday too―the doctors said she's suffering from multiple organ failure and might not last the week!"

Hearing this, I knew the time was ripe.

I booked the next red-eye flight and flew straight back to the city.

When I arrived at the hospital, the attending physician called me privately into his office.

With a solemn expression, he handed me a thick stack of lab results.

"Mrs. Hayes, as the immediate family, we feel it's best for you to break this news to your husband."

He hesitated, his eyes filled with profound sympathy for me.

"The blood tests for Mr. Hayes and his mother came back, and the situation is catastrophic."

"They have tested positive for over twenty infectious pathogens, including advanced HIV and syphilis. I strongly urge you to get tested immediately as well."

I nodded, taking the reports with an unreadable expression.

"I understand. Thank you, Doctor."

After putting on a full hazmat suit, mask, and protective goggles, I walked into Chase's isolation ward completely sealed.

He was lying in the hospital bed, his face an ashen gray.

IV lines were taped to his hands, and monitors beeped steadily beside him.

Seeing me in full protective gear, his glazed eyes looked confused at first.

Then, a wave of dread washed over his face.

"Valerie… what illness do I have? Is it really that bad? The doctors won't tell me anything…"

"Have you seen my mom? How is she doing?"

I didn't answer right away.

I quietly sat down by his bed and slid the diagnostic report into his hands.

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