The Lies Behind Her Marriage novel Chapter 280

Doctor Hermione Jones.

The other day, Nathaniel brought Serena to her friend, a neurologist.

This friend of Serena was Doctor Hermione Jones.

Serena had met the doctor almost three years ago when she introduced the Vanguard AI Body Scanner to Rexam Medical Center. Doctor Jones had since left for Europe to take part in a neurological research project and had now returned to practice in her field.

“Serena! It’s good to see you again,” Dr. Jones greeted.

They embraced for a few seconds, and when they pulled away, Serena said, “I’m so happy you are back. I have been having occasional headaches. I’ve seen another doctor, but since you are back, I’d rather trust you.”

“Oh.” Hermione chuckled. “Let’s take a seat then.”

“Wait,” Serena said, holding her arm. “Let me introduce you to my ex-husband… I mean, my fiancé and my future husband.”

Serena laughed because, to her, their situation was truly amusing. They were exes who found their way back to each other.

“The scumbag ex-husband,” Hermione noted.

Serena had never told anyone in Rexam who her ex-husband was, so this would be the first time Hermione would learn about him.

“Yes, and well, despite the past, we managed to fix things, especially for the kids,” she admitted. “Although the pain of the separation was real, there were some misunderstandings that we have managed to clear, and it’s all good. I gave him a chance, and it’s working well.”

Serena made a face and revealed, “In fact, I’m pregnant again.”

Hermione’s mouth fell open. “Serena? How could you just forgive him?”

Serena had to tell the doctor everything, including about Victor Kline and how he was alive, how Nathaniel had lived across from their estate, and how he had saved him from the kidnapping. Then she added, “And no matter how I tried to push the feelings away, I still couldn’t deny how much I love him. So, I want to give it another try. I really felt his sincerity. My whole family did.”

Nathaniel was taking a call outside the clinic. He walked in just as Serena finished telling the doctor everything.

“This is my fiancé, and the father of my kids, Nathaniel Thorne,” Serena said.

“It’s nice to meet you, Doctor,” Nathaniel said, extending his hand to Hermione.

The first thing Serena noticed was how Hermione froze on the spot. She blinked a few times before she stuttered, “Your… your ex-husband is… Nathaniel Thorne?”

Nathaniel leaned back. As he put his arm around Serena, he asked, “Have we met before?”

“You don’t remember?” Hermione asked. “We met in Germany during a medical conference.”

Nathaniel frowned. He thought back and even glanced at Serena.

It was Serena who answered, “Nathan often attends conferences, especially after starting the research institute.”

“I’m really sorry,” Nathaniel said. “I have met so many people over the years.”

“Oh.” Hermione smiled. “That’s fine.”

She paused for a while, second-guessing before she finally spoke again. “So, about your headaches.”

Serena and Nathaniel explained the headaches.

Serena blinked.

“No,” she muttered under her breath. “Nathan and his mother are very excited about this baby.”

“I can help you,” Hermione said. “I can explain things to Nathan. Why don’t we schedule the procedure as soon as possible? We can meet with a surgeon today—”

“No, wait.” Serena stood up. “I need to talk to my family about this.”

“But Serena, it’s an emergency case. The tumor is located in a critical area near your brainstem, and it’s creating pressure in your brain. If we delay the surgery, it would risk your life entirely,” Dr. Jones explained. “Take a seat. Let me explain everything to you.”

Hermione showed the scans on her tablet.

Serena had a medical background, and she recognized that there was, indeed, a tumor. But neurology was not her field. She could not fully verify whether the images matched Hermione’s explanation.

“Surgery carries considerable risk,” Hermione said evenly. “We are looking at roughly a thirty percent survival rate, with a high likelihood of neurological complications. However, delaying treatment will only increase those risks.”

Her head was spinning. Serena could not think straight. But if there was one thing she was sure of, it was that she could never terminate her pregnancy. To Serena, her baby’s life was more important than her own.

Serena stood up. “I’ll discuss this with my family. Thank you for updating me, Dr. Jones.”

“Serena? Serena, wait!” Hermione called repeatedly. She even chased after Serena in the hallways.

However, Serena’s steps were faster. She made her way out of the hospital, with Milo tailing behind her.

Instead of going to her parents, she went straight to see Alice.