Chapter 679 This business trip was unavoidable. Still, Jarrod wanted to keep Elodie calm, to make sure she wouldn't do anything drastic while he was away.
As long as he got back in time, he could try to soothe her, talk her down, maybe even persuade her.
Elodie considered this.
Three days from now-Saturday-was the appointment she'd made with the hospital for her procedure.
The timing lined up perfectly.
"Alright," she replied, her tone composed.
She agreed-there was no reason to hide anything from him, and honestly, she didn't see the point. She'd tell him on Saturday.
Seeing her acquiescence, Jarrod knew Elodie was the type to keep her word. He exhaled silently in relief.
Instead of having someone from the research center drive her home, Jarrod took her himself.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtHe needed to leave early and get back as soon as possible. The matter concerned the SX Alloy project; he had to handle spaperwork and couldn't risk anything derailing Elodie's work at the center.
Once Jarrod left, Elodie finally opened the fridge.
Inside, she found the fruit he'd washed and cut for her, along with a freshly- prepared dinner-just needed reheating.
Jarrod didn't know her door code, but the lock had a mechanical override; he probably had a spare key. Maybe, Elodie thought, it was tto switch to a code-only lock.
Friday afternoon.
Elodie made her way to the hospital.
She was here to see Dr. Elias Warwick for her pre-op evaluation, making sure everything was in order for the procedure the next day.
It stung that her reason for being here was this, a slow, aching bitterness settling in her chest.
She sucked in a steadying breath, forcing down the heaviness, and marched into the lobby.
As soon as she stepped inside, a strange sensation pricked at her. She glanced over her shoulder, feeling as though someone's gaze had lingered on her. With the steady stream of people coming and going, she couldn't be sure-maybe she'd imagined it.
Rubbing her brow, weary, she took the escalator upstairs.
Elias had two surgeries scheduled that day, but he made tto write up her evaluation forms: a pelvic exam and an ultrasound.
"These results should cback quickly," Elias explained, passing her the paperwork. His calm blue eyes met hers. "The exam will confirm everything's normal with your uterus, and we'll also do a general anesthesia assessment. There's no need to be nervous. If you'd like, Ms. Mercer can ckeep you company." Elodie shook her head. "No, I haven't told her. It's just a checkup today; no need to make a fuss." The procedure wasn't until tomorrow-she could handle today alone.
Elias easily read the worry in her eyes, hidden beneath her calm façade. She was... grieving.
He checked his watch. "I have a surgery coming up. It'll take about an hour. Afterward, I'll cfind you. Having someone around can help." Elodie just smiled. "Thank you, but you don't need to trouble yourself." With that, she turned and left.
The exams took stime. The anesthesia assessment clast.
After a long wait in the corridor, it was finally Elodie's turn.
She needed a physical and then a pre-anesthesia evaluation.
But as soon as she entered, the nurse led her to a different operating room.
"Not in that one?" Elodie gestured toward the nearby room, noticing most people were being taken that way.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmWithout looking back, the nurse replied, "Your case is special. There are a couple extra steps." Elodie didn't argue. Her situation was different, so it made sense.
Inside, she saw a doctor in a surgical mask. "Just lie down," he instructed.
Elodie nodded absently and climbed onto the table.
As she lay there, her hand instinctively drifted to her abdomen, unwilling to let go.
There was already a slight curve-she was naturally thin, barely able to eat these days, so evenal her pregnancy advanced, herbelly wasn't that obvious Now, her heart pounded in her chest, frantic and uneven.
The reality crashed into her: these tests were all for the sake of ending 1x her pregnancy der throat tightened painfully, eyes burning with tears she refused to shed. She bit the inside of her cheek, forcing herself to be ruthless.
The doctor stepped into her line of sight, momentarily blocking the harsh fluorescent lights.
Elodie opened her eyes- And found herself staring into a cold, indifferent gaze.
The doctor pinned down her arm and pressed the plunger on a syringe, injecting the contents into her vein.
Elodie snapped back to alertness, a cold sweat breaking out, "What is this? Is an injection part of the assessment?" The doctor didn't answer. Instead, he signaled for the nurse to restrain her.
Panic surged through Elodie. Sensing danger, she tried to sit up, but the doctors hand clamped down on her shoulder, forcing her back onto the table...