Chapter 819
Pierre went still upon hearing this.
"The appointment for the 4D ultrasound scan is tomorrow. We should go together as a family." With that, Selena nuzzled into his embrace and drifted off into an easy sleep.
The following morning, Pierre arranged for a scrumptious breakfast spread. Selena had only just woken up and made her way downstairs when he beckoned her over to the dining table. She shot him a quizzical look, to which he responded with, "I'll be going to the company today, Selena. It's about time I let them know that I'm still alive and kicking."
Upon hearing this, she stiffened.
He grew worried when he saw the odd look on her face. "What is it? What's wrong?"
"Didn't I tell you about the prenatal check-up today? Moreover, today is the day for the very important 4D ultrasound scan."
His face fell when he heard this. "Oh, I... I must have forgotten about it. I swear, my memory's getting worse. I'll go with you for the appointment."
"Fine," she answered with a stony expression.
Pierre might be a lot of things, but he was not a forgetful man. He had also been the one who promised to go along with her for all the scheduled prenatal check-ups, so it was unlikely that he would forget something as important as a 4D ultrasound scan.
She found that his behavior had only grown more erratic since the day of his return.
She remembered asking him a serious question the night before, but he had distracted her with the topic of Jude, and she was so over the moon that she forgot to ask him about anything else. Now that I think about it, he was probably doing it on purpose! He deliberately changed the subject!
At the thought of this, she grabbed his hand and pleaded, "Pierre, if there's anything going on with you, promise me you'll tell me about it. I can't stand living every day of my life in fear and panic." She was even beginning to question the truth of his retirement. He could have spun her the story in the interest of an even more important mission.
Presently, he patted her hand assuringly as he said, "All you have to do is focus on the baby. You won't have to live in fear anymore. I'm retired now, remember? I won't ever have to leave you again." "Tell me the truth, Pierre. Are you really retired?"
He flashed her a smile and pinched her nose affectionately. "I'm really retired. I swear I'm telling you the truth. Would you like to see the retirement scheme they gave me? Maybe then you'll believe me." She buried her face in his shoulder, choosing to believe him. Nonetheless, she couldn't help being skeptical over a lot of things, and her distrust probably had something to do with the aftermath of his staged death.
Upon their arrival at the hospital later that day, they went into the ultrasound room together.
The doctor was moving the transducer over her baby bump while gesturing at the monitor with his free hand, saying, "See, that's the baby's little fist; this is the spine; this is the little feet; and this is the baby's pretty little face."
Pierre broke into a smile at the image displayed on the monitor, and so did Selena.
"Now, let's hear the baby's heartbeat, shall we?"
Soon, the strong and steady clopping of the baby's heartbeat was projected from the machine.
The doctor declared with a sense of approval, "The baby's heartbeat is strong and healthy. Let's take a photo of the baby."
With that, he gently nudged the transducer and captured the still images from the ultrasound. "How. cooperative of the little fella! Look we've managed to capture the baby's face in the picture. Alright, the both of you can wait outside while we process the image and the disc for you."
Having heard that, Pierre helped Selena prop into a sitting position, and they were beaming as they left the room.
It wasn't long before the disc and the image were produced and handed over to them.
"Whom do you think it takes after?"
"Definitely you. You're so good-looking."
"Well, you're rather pretty yourself. I think our baby might take after you," Pierre remarked, then gently kissed her on the lips. "You've done so well, Selena."
That night, Selena woke up feeling
thirsty, only to find that Pierre was not lying in bed next to her. She lifted the covers and tumbled out of bed, then walked out of the bedroom. When she saw that the lights in the study were on, she
made her way over.
The door was left slightly ajar, and she quietly peeked into the room.Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.
That was when she saw Pierre seated at the desk as he stared unblinkingly at the computer screen in front of him, and, much to her disbelief, he was actually crying.