"Ah! It hurts so much." Ariel couldn't hold back her screams.
She gripped the medic's hand, begging, "Please, save my baby. She's been in my belly for nine months. I need to deliver her! Don't call anymore. Just take me to the delivery room. I'll take responsibility for whatever happens."
After those words, Ariel lost consciousness completely. Before everything went dark, she remembered what Remi had said.
"Ariel, you're so heartless. Aren't you afraid our child will be cursed for what you've done?"
"If the baby dies, it's her own doing."
Those two sentences proved he didn't deserve to be her child's father. She didn't know how long she was out, but she regained consciousness briefly to the sound of voices around her.
"Hurry! Her water broke and the baby's heartbeat is weak. We need to operate now!"
"Isn't this Mrs. Callahan? Where's Mr. Callahan?"
"You mean Remi Callahan? I just heard he's throwing a party today for his son's one-month celebration!"
"What party? His wife is right here, and their baby's still in her belly!"
"It must be the mistress' kid. She had her baby here too!"
"What kind of man does that? He came to every checkup with Mrs. Callahan before. I thought he really loved her. Turns out it was all fake."
"Mrs. Callahan, hang in there! You can do this! The baby's almost here!"
When she woke again, the midwife stood beside her holding a baby.
"Mrs. Callahan, congratulations. You have a daughter."
Just then, the legal advisor from the base rushed over and handed her a document. "Mrs. Callahan, here's your divorce certificate. All the paperwork has been completed."
Ariel took the certificate and looked at the official seal. She felt completely at peace.
She looked up at the midwife. "Can you help me contact the train station? I want to leave this place as soon as possible."
…
At the celebration, Remi left early that morning with Ella. His friends arrived one after another to congratulate him.
"Congratulations! Have you picked out a name for the baby yet?"
"Commander, it's such a big day. Where's Ariel? Don't tell me she still hasn't accepted you and Ella?"
"Right? Why is she being so petty about this?"
Remi didn't answer. He felt inexplicably anxious. The banquet was about to start, and there was still no sign of Ariel.
Was she still angry? He'd lost his temper yesterday, but he hadn't meant it.
Ella held the baby and urged him, "Everyone's waiting for us to go in, Remi. Ms. Slater probably won't come. Let's just forget it."
Remi pulled out his phone to make a call. Ella tried to stop him. "Can we go in first? We're already running late."
Remi ignored her and dialed.
"Why did you keep calling me last night? Where's Ariel? Where is she? Bring her to Ella's baby's celebration right now. I don't want people talking…"
One of his men answered, "Commander, Mrs. Callahan was in the pool for four hours last night before she started hemorrhaging. We took her to the clinic.
"The medics worked on her all night to save her. And… your baby with her… was already dead when they delivered her."