Betrayed by the Father Reborn in His Rival's Arms novel Chapter 501

Madeline furrowed her brow.

When was the last time she went to the hospital?

It was about a month ago, the day she went with Quentin for a fertility check-up.

They had run a full hormone panel and checked a few serum indicators. The doctor told her she was perfectly fertile and would conceive once she relaxed.

She remembered now—one of her test results had seemingly vanished from the system at the time. She didn't know if the staff had skipped it or if there was a glitch, but she hadn't paid much attention to it then.

"This is she. How can I help you?"

She heard the rustling of papers on the other end before the nurse's voice returned, laced with apology:

"I'm so sorry, Ms. Monroe. When you came in for your check-up last time, one of the test results wasn't entered into the system promptly due to a technical error.

Later, when our nursing staff tried to follow up, we discovered your old phone number had been disconnected, and we couldn't reach you.

We only recently updated the system and found your new number, which is why we're notifying you now."

"Which test?" Madeline asked.

"You had a serum HCG test done," the nurse explained. "The results show elevated HCG levels, which indicates that you're pregnant.

Based on the numbers, that was roughly over a month ago.

We highly recommend you come back to the hospital as soon as possible for a follow-up ultrasound to confirm the gestational age and check the baby's development."

Madeline stood in the hallway between the kitchen and the living room, her phone pressed tight against her ear.

The nurse's voice felt like it was drifting up from deep underwater—every word perfectly clear, yet muffled by a strange, buzzing distance.

Pregnant.

She was actually pregnant?

It made sense now. She hadn't gotten her period in quite a while, but because her cycle had been irregular from birth control pills in the past, she hadn't thought much of it.

Her hand instinctively drifted down to her stomach, her fingertips brushing against the soft fabric over her lower abdomen.

A month ago—she mentally traced the timeline. It was right after she returned from The York Family estate that she started feeling unwell. She had thrown up, felt constantly lethargic, lacked energy, and experienced sudden changes in appetite.

She had assumed she caught a chill in Empire City, or that she was simply exhausted from the crushing stress of everything going on.

She had never even considered this possibility.

"Ms. Monroe? Are you still there?"

"I'm here," Madeline's voice wavered slightly. She cleared her throat, forcing her tone to sound as normal as possible.

"Thank you for letting me know. I'll come in for a check-up."

After hanging up, she leaned heavily against the hallway wall, her legs suddenly weak.

She was pregnant.

She was carrying Quentin's child.