###Chapter 49: Leaving Him for Good
Nina Wainwright returned to Avelon Residence, packed her things, and then called Adrian Pemberton. "I’ve settled things on my end. I can go straight to the hospital you ntioned."
Adrian’s gentle voice ca through the phone. "Are you sure he won’t have people watching you?"
The question made Nina’s heart skip a beat.
It wasn’t impossible.
"You’re not going to a hospital this ti. It’s a resort villa run by an old traditional Chinese dicine doctor I know. When you get there, just give him my na. His wife will arrange everything for you. She’s a master obstetrician, though she’s retired now," Adrian said, his tone serious.
"Then how do I get there?" Hearing him say that, Nina knew he must have planned everything for her.
"I’ve already asked Catherine Grant to pick you up. She’s your best friend and won’t reveal your whereabouts. Plus, if you need anything, she can co see you right away," Adrian said softly.
Nina was taken aback for a mont.
He had thought of everything so thoroughly.
"Thank you, Adrian." A warmth spread through Nina’s heart. At that mont, she was incredibly grateful that fate had brought them together again.
Without him, she didn’t know how she would have made it through these difficult days.
"What’s there to thank for? You call ’big brother’, so I’ll look after you for life," Adrian said in a low voice.
Nina couldn’t help but chuckle. "Just this once. But if you’re ever in trouble, I’ll go through hell and high water for you."
Adrian was silent on the other end.
Nina felt sothing was off. "What’s wrong?" she asked. "Is there sothing else?"
"No. Just... take care of yourself when you get there. Most importantly, stay in good spirits. That’s the only way the baby can grow up healthy..." Adrian’s voice softened considerably.
"Okay," Nina’s tone softened as well.
When Catherine Grant ca to pick Nina up, she was only carrying a single bag with just a few changes of clothes inside.
"You’re already planning to divorce him, so why are you still having the baby? It’s really hard to raise a child alone," Catherine said, trying to reason with her as she took her bag.
Nina sighed softly. "I’m afraid of being lonely. My parents don’t love , and once I’m divorced, I won’t have a single person to care about in this world."
Catherine was at a loss for words.
But she could understand. The misery of her marriage had probably stripped away all her sense of security.
After they got in the car, Catherine told her, "If you get tired, you can unbuckle your seatbelt. I can fold the back seat flat so you can lie down and rest. It’s a pretty long drive—it’ll take several hours."
"A town on the outskirts?" Nina asked, leaning back against the seat. For the first ti, her body and mind felt completely relaxed.
"Mhm. When Adrian told about it yesterday, I managed to find so ti to go check it out. The resort has beautiful scenery, like an ancient town. You’ll definitely like it there. It’s quite lively, too." Catherine, usually a firecracker, was much more composed now.
Nina knew she was only acting this way for her sake.
She felt a pang of guilt.
She had stubbornly insisted on marrying Zachary Hawthorne, only to end up in this state, worrying her friends and disappointing her teachers... ’I really can’t do anything right.’
It would be a lie to say Nina wasn’t sad, but more than that, she was disheartened.
Before she married Zachary, everyone who saw her dance praised her, saying she had a boundless future and was sure to beco a famous dancer... But for the sake of a ridiculous love, she had given up her most promising path.
And now she had ended up like this... ’I guess I deserve it.’
By the ti they reached the resort villa, the sky was completely dark.
Catherine had been driving for hours and was exhausted. When she got out of the car, her legs felt like jelly. She couldn’t help but yawn as she carried Nina’s bag. "Well, looks like I’m staying the night here."
"I’ll call Adrian in a bit to let him know we arrived safely. After we check in, you can shower first. I’ll order us so food while I’m on the phone," Nina said gently to Catherine.
Catherine stretched her shoulders and back. "After my shower, I’ll see if there’s a massage place nearby—but since this is a resort, they should have that kind of service, right?"
Nina wasn’t sure either, and just said vaguely, "We can ask later."
The two of them entered the quaint and elegant resort. In the lobby, a young woman spotted Nina and imdiately said, "Nina! We’ve been waiting for you all day."
Nina was a bit surprised. "Are you talking to ?"
"Of course! Adrian told us to wait for you here. You’re finally here! We have your room ready. Just follow upstairs." The receptionist’s eyes curved into crescents as she smiled, her expression full of sincerity.
Catherine leaned close and whispered, "Adrian is such a great guy. You should really consider him. Good n get snapped up fast. If you don’t make a move, soone else will."
Nina gave a helpless smile. "You just had to go there. I respect him, and I see him as a big brother."
Catherine huffed. "If you ask , you’re just clueless. You’re always so stubborn, and by the ti you regret it, it’s too late."
Nina had to admit that her friend had a point, but right now, she still couldn’t completely let go of Zachary. Three years of marriage... she could say it was over, but would her heart let her? Would her emotions?
She wasn’t strong enough to just cut everything off at a mont’s notice.
Besides, she and Zachary weren’t even divorced yet. If she developed feelings for Adrian now just because he was being nice to her, then she truly wouldn’t be the right person for him.
Nina was loyal in her relationships. The emotional fallout from her three years with Zachary was so imnse that she probably wouldn’t even consider dating or getting married for many years to co—or maybe ever again.
Once they got to their room, Nina thanked the receptionist and then called Adrian.
But Adrian, who always answered her calls, didn’t pick up this ti.
Nina tried several more tis, but no one answered.
Sighing, she put down her phone, guessing he might be in surgery.
As the night deepened, Nina, fresh from her shower, sat with Catherine on the tatami mat by the window. She held up the nu. "Everything looks delicious. How about this spicy and sour beef noodle soup? It looks appetizing."
"They say pregnant won crave sour things. I guess it’s true. Let’s get that, then. And order a pitcher of juice too," Catherine said, propping her chin on her hand while searching for a nearby massage parlor on her phone.
She had to drive ho tomorrow, after all. Her body really wouldn’t be able to take it if she didn’t get a massage tonight.
After placing the order, Nina tried calling Adrian again, but there was still no answer.
She looked out the window.
In the pitch-black night, a few dim streetlights stood along the winding, intersecting roads.
The low chirping of unknown insects filled the air.
Adrian was slapped awake, then doused with a bucket of ice water.
The ice cubes hit the wounds on his face, the pain making him suck in a sharp breath.
"The record that was deleted from the hospital’s obstetrics system... that was Nina’s, wasn’t it? She’s pregnant. Whose baby is it?" a distorted voice echoed in the darkness.
Adrian tried to identify the speaker, but to his dismay, his eyes were blindfolded. *****
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