"Wake up, Autumn, it's time for dinner." After carrying the food upstairs, Charles entered their bedroom, turned on the light and shook Autumn awake. However, Autumn, who had been sleeping for hours, woke up in a daze and told Charles that she was not hungry and wanted to go back to sleep.
"Oh, please get up and join me for supper." Charles frowned. "Get out of bed and eat something, love. Please don't forget, you're carrying our baby so now you have to eat for two people."
Their relationship was now treading on delicate grounds owing to Autumn's occasional outbursts which were caused by her illness. Taking advantage of her sobriety, she apologized sincerely, "Charles, I'm sorry for all the trouble I've been causing lately. It must be very hard on you, I am so very sorry..."
"Oh it doesn't matter, Autumn. Please forget all about it, " Charles interrupted her immediately, as he looked into her eyes lovingly. "We're husband and wife, and you deserve everything I do for you."
"I mean it, my behavior was unwarranted for and I can't imagine what I made you go through on my account." Autumn looked back into his eyes deeply. She was fully aware of how her illness had affected those around her, and bearing that guilt in her mind, she wanted to express her apology to her closest ones without losing control of her emotions.
"Look, Charles, if I lose my temper again, just leave me alone until it passes because I do not know what I am saying and it means nothing, " Autumn advised. "I really feel guilty about bothering you so much."
"Don't say that, " Charles said sadly as he helped Autumn sit up in the bed. "No matter how long or what it takes, I will find a way to cure you and help our baby be born safely, " he added firmly to assure her.
After only a few bites, Autumn put the bowl and chopsticks down. Her appetite had almost died. So Charles helped her to lie down. And soon she fell in deep slumber.
In most cases, pregnant women gain a couple of pounds, but instead of gaining weight, Autumn was shedding weight owing to the stress and side effect from the medicines. Charles was heartbroken as he realized this.
In the early hours of the next morning, Isla came to visit Autumn. Tears welled in her eyes at the sight of Autumn, who was thinner than the last time she saw her. "Oh, dear, how haggard you seem. Damn it! Who on earth has done this to you?"
Isla cried and cursed the unknown culprit, and then blamed Charles for not protecting Autumn completely.
The pregnancy was supposed to be a blessed period, but no one was happy about Autumn's pregnancy now. After cursing for what seemed like a long minute, Isla sat on the bed beside Autumn and asked her with red eyes.
"Now, Autumn, please tell me why are you so foolish as to insist on keeping this child after knowing what you do about your condition and the consequences?" Isla wept just at the thought of her ordeal.
Autumn had already been through rounds of people's incomprehension and advice. "You'll understand when you get pregnant."
It was because of a mother's unconditional love.
She looked expectantly at Autumn's tummy, where a life was growing. At the same time, she was worried about Autumn. Ambivalent feelings haunted her all the entire time.
Autumn instantly comforted her and told her that she was now actively cooperating with doctors and would be fine soon.
These words reassured Isla. She stayed with Autumn for a long time. By the afternoon, Autumn was caught in a bad mood swing again. She clamored for Charles to settle accounts, and asked Isla who she was.
Isla was upset and furious to see her like this.
Not knowing what to do in the situation, she had to call Charles. When Isla arrived this morning, Charles went to the office to take care of things at office. He was in a meeting when he got the call from Isla. As soon as he heard that Autumn was in bad condition, he hurried home, leaving the shareholders in the meeting room dumbfounded.
After a short while, the meeting room became very lively and the shareholders were discussing Charles. As Leila, who pricked up her ears, heard that Autumn was pregnant, she clenched her fists tightly.
'Why? Why does Autumn come out and disrupt everything every time I get a little closer to Charles? It seems like nothing will work in my favor so as long as she is alive...' she cried out in her heart, feeling tired and helpless of being caught in this recurring situation.
'Now that Autumn is pregnant, how can I win Charles over from her?'
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