After All the Hurt, She Chose Herself novel Chapter 22

“Aria.” Gideon, who had been silent until now, spoke in a cold voice. “She has Rh-negative blood. She can save Lilith.”

Roxanne’s eyes widened. “So, is Aria pregnant now? I saw her at the hospital today! She’s pregnant, isn’t she?!”

Charles also looked at Gideon.

The thought of Aria with Gideon made his expression darken slightly.

“No,” Gideon said succinctly. “But she will be.”

Hearing Gideon’s certainty, Roxanne relaxed a little, but she couldn’t help but urge, “Then it needs to happen as soon as possible. Lilith’s condition can’t wait.”

They talked a little longer.

Since Lilith didn’t want the family to worry, Roxanne had to pretend she knew nothing and go home.

The elevator doors opened.

Roxanne and Aria came face to face.

“Aria? What are you doing here?”

Aria’s brow twitched. “I have a project to discuss.”

She subconsciously hid her true purpose.

“You must be thrilled, aren’t you? That Lilith has osteosarcoma.” Roxanne glared at Aria, gritting her teeth. “So you came to see how miserable she is, is that it?”

Aria frowned.

As herself, Aria would have ignored Lilith’s illness, but she was also a doctor. She couldn’t just stand by and watch Lilith die.

“Mom, please don’t jump to conclusions. I’m really just here for a business meeting.”

*Smack—*

Roxanne slapped Aria across the face.

Aria’s head snapped to the side, a clear handprint already forming on her cheek.

The sting was fiery, but her heart turned to ice.

“I won’t allow you anywhere near Lilith! Get out!”

Roxanne’s chest heaved with anger.

Aria didn’t dare provoke her further, worried it would trigger her mother’s health issues. But then she remembered that her professor might already be at the hospital waiting for her…

After hearing such hope in his voice, Aria couldn’t let him down a second time.

“Mom, I’m just going upstairs for a project meeting. I’ll be down really quickly, I promise. I won’t go near Lilith.”

“I forbid it!”

Roxanne grabbed Aria’s hand, her voice cold. “If you go up there, I’ll die right here! You decide!”

“Divorce Gideon. After the baby is born, you’ll give it to Lilith to raise.”

As if bestowing a great charity upon her, Roxanne added:

“If you agree, you won’t have to pay back the thirty million dollars. From what I know, Gideon is indifferent to you, so he probably doesn’t give you much money. You won’t get much from the divorce anyway.”

Aria couldn’t help but clench her fists.

In Roxanne’s eyes, she was nothing more than an object to save Lilith.

Her phone buzzed. Aria looked down and saw a message from her professor.

[I've reviewed the hard copy of the chart. Her attending physician did a biopsy, and it is indeed late-stage osteosarcoma. How could you make such a mistake?]

Aria bit her lip.

She had to go upstairs and see that chart.

“I don’t need your charity. I said we were cutting ties, and I won’t give you a penny less than what I owe. As for my marriage and my child, they have nothing to do with you from now on. You don’t need to tell me what to do.”

Besides, she had already been planning to divorce Gideon. But she wouldn’t say it, not wanting Roxanne to think she was still the same obedient girl.

“Not only will I not divorce Gideon, but I’ll also stay with him forever. Lilith will always be the other woman.”

As she spoke, Aria’s gaze froze. The elevator doors slid open, revealing a man standing inside, his gaze heavy as he stared at her.