Abandoned by All I Took It All Back novel Chapter 133

Janina wasn't sure how she left the doctor's office, but she found herself standing woodenly at the payment window.

Her hand hovered in the air, unable to insert her insurance card.

The people in line behind her grew impatient, urging her to hurry.

She snatched her hand back and turned, walking towards the restroom. Once inside a locked stall, she finally broke down, covering her face with her hands.

Maybe it was just in her head, but she felt a faint stirring in her abdomen, like a protest, or maybe a plea.

For the past three months, she had tried to convince herself that this was just a problem to be dealt with, not... two lives.

When she returned to the doctor's office, a nurse was waiting with the pre-operative consent form.

The nurse handed her a pen. "Just sign here and we can get you ready. The procedure is very quick, don't worry."

The nurse glanced behind Janina. "Is there no family here with you?"

Janina shook her head. She had only told her mother about the hospital visit, not her friends in The Graces' Chat. She had thought it would be a minor procedure, nothing to make a fuss about.

Not until the doctor said they could schedule it immediately.

Suddenly, a dull ache tightened in her chest, making it hard to breathe.

Janina stared at the words "Termination of Pregnancy" on the consent form. The tip of the pen trembled, unable to make a mark.

She looked up at the nurse. "Will the babies feel pain?"

The question hung in the air, silencing the room.

Even the doctor, who was preparing the surgical instruments, froze, her hand suspended mid-air. It was the first time a patient had ever asked that.

A flicker of surprise crossed the doctor's eyes.

But professional duty required her to answer every patient's question.

"You're over three months along. The fetuses' brains and nervous systems are already developing. They can perceive pain from the moment of conception to the end."

The doctor's words pierced Janina's heart like a needle.

Janina messaged her mother back, reassuring her and telling her about the decision to keep the babies.

Grace called immediately, so overjoyed she was choking back tears, unable to speak clearly.

Truthfully, she had desperately wanted her daughter to keep the babies. Once her leg healed, she could help take care of them.

But as a parent, she would never force her own wishes on Janina. The only thing she could do was offer unconditional support and trust her daughter's judgment.

Perhaps because she had so many children of her own, she had a deep love for kids. Her sons were getting older and still weren't married, which worried her.

But given the Holt family's circumstances...

She sighed.

What girl would be interested in them? She blamed herself for their situation.

Grace cleaned her tears and just told Janina to be careful on her way home and to come back soon.

After hanging up, Janina shared the news in The Graces' Chat.