Filed to story: A Second Chance with My Billionaire Love
After Halston and Flossie had confided in each other that night, Halston felt a lot more relaxed, like a burden had been lifted from his shoulders. Early the next morning, he booked the best private obstetrics hospital for Flossie’s pregnancy check-up. However, Flossie took her sweet time to wake up, and she seemed absent-minded.
“What’s the matter?” Halston realized something was wrong and asked gently.
“Well, I’ve just gotten pregnant. Isn’t it too soon to get a check-up?” Flossie asked hesitantly.
“Too soon?” Halston frowned in confusion. “Shouldn’t people get a full check-up right after they learn that they’re pregnant? I actually wanted to get you an appointment with a specialist last night.”
“No, it’s too fast. Why don’t we wait a little…” Flossie reached out, feeling the warm sunlight on her palms. “The weather is nice today, so why don’t we go sunbathe in the garden?”
Halston looked out of the window and saw that it was indeed bright and sunny outside, but he felt like Flossie was purposely trying to avoid the check-up. He held her hand and asked softly, “Is there anything troubling you, or are you worried about something?”
“Ah, you found me out.” Flossie smiled awkwardly in Halston’s direction and said reluctantly, ‘Do you think it’s suitable for me to go out? I’m afraid of embarrassing you.” After being bullied by a child in the supermarket and humiliated by someone’s fans, her self-esteem and confidence had suffered greatly. Honestly, she had lost the courage to go to public places.
“What are you talking about?” Halston felt sorry for Flossie as he looked at her pitiful expression. “It’s my fault that I didn’t protect you. I promise I won’t let you suffer like that again.”
“That’s not it. You can’t always be with me, and the malice won’t stop. People might make casual remarks, but I’ll be upset over their comments for a long time. I’m not strong enough to endure that now, so I think I’d better stay home. I’ll go out after I get used to this. What do you think?” Flossie patiently explained to Halston. People always tried to motivate her, saying that she should be brave and strong. They felt that she should learn to face these challenges, but they didn’t know that sometimes people didn’t have the energy and confidence to. Sometimes, they just wanted to hide from the rest of the world.
Halston was silent for a while, then asked carefully, “Is that what you think?”
“Yeah. I don’t want to go out and meet anyone other than all of you. I don’t want to be strong or bold; I just want to take refuge here for a while. Can I do that?” Flossie finally revealed her inner thoughts. In the past, she had forced herself to face any challenge even though she felt weak, but now… she didn’t want to pretend anymore. Why couldn’t she be weak?
“Okay, do whatever makes you feel comfortable. I’ll always support you.”
Halston finally understood Flossie’s thoughts and hugged her gently as he whispered, “Don’t worry—you have me. I’m your biggest support. You can do whatever you want to. If you don’t want to meet people, we won’t. If you want to stay home forever, I’ll stay here with you. It’s not a big deal.”
“Thank you. You’re the best!” Flossie leaned into his arms, her eyes watery. In the past, she had achieved many things, but now she finally knew what true happiness was. It was not about status or wealth, but feeling secure with loved ones who made you happy.
“It’s okay if you don’t want to go out, but you must have the check-up. We can’t ignore you and the baby in your belly.” Halston thought about it for a while, then came up with an idea. He patted her belly and said reassuringly, “Just leave it to me. I’ll arrange it.”
Flossie was lying in a lawn chair in the backyard and enjoying some sun that day when a professional obstetrics team moved into Ellsworth Manor with advanced equipment.
Halston spent a great deal to build a check-up room in one of the rooms there, and it greatly resembled a real obstetrics check-up room. Besides, the chief doctor attending to Flossie was a big shot, someone whom many noble and rich people could not hire regardless of the money they spent or the connections they manipulated.
By the time Halston had gotten everything ready, it was afternoon. The sunlight warmed the manor comfortingly, and Flossie almost dozed off. “Dear, the doctor’s here. Let’s go over and let him have a look at you, okay?” Halston whispered in Flossie’s ear softly.
“Mm?” Flossie woke up sleepily and asked in his direction,” Who is it?”
“The doctor.” Halston smiled mysteriously. “He’s a friend of ours.”
“No way. You brought a doctor here?” Flossie asked in shock. She had just been worrying about it in the morning, but Halston had resolved it by the afternoon. She had no idea what he had planned.
“You didn’t want to go out, so I asked them to come here. I even moved the equipment for the blood test and ultrasound machine here. Let’s go to the library on the first floor.”
“Huh? I’m going to have the check-up in the library? You’re very effective.” Flossie was amazed at Halston’s plan.
“No, it’s not about that, it’s about your status…” Halston trailed off, then held Flossie’s hand and urged, “Let’s go.
These big shot doctors are usually impatient.”
The library on the first floor of Ellsworth Manor was spacious, so it made a good check-up room, equipped with all the necessary equipment. When Flossie entered the library, the scent of disinfectant hit her hard. Anxious, she leaned closer to Halston. “Are you sure it’s just a check-up?
They won’t… dissect me, right?”
Since Flossie was blind, her senses of touch and smell were extremely sensitive, and she knew the library had been transformed the moment she entered it. The former smell of books had been replaced by the smell of disinfectant, and even the lights felt hotter, like the lights found in hospitals. At that moment, she placed her life in Halston’s hands. She would resign to her fate even if he wanted to dissect her.
“What a rich imagination you have! Our kid might be a novelist in the future,” Halston said in amusement as he led her into the library.
“Ms. Ellsworth, we’re going to take your blood now. We need to perform a full body check-up on you and test your blood,” a nurse explained to Flossie gently.
“Fine, go ahead. After all, I’m in your hands now.” Flossie held her hand out and chuckled nervously. After that, she heard some rustling and felt something sharp prick her arm.
“Be gentler,” Halston barked when he saw Flossie wince, and watched her blood fill the tube.
“Mr. Guajardo, you certainly adore your wife. My assistant is here to assist me, not suffer through your lovey-dovey moments. Stop showing off.” A voice said teasingly. It seemed to be the big shot doctor Halston had talked about.
Flossie tilted her body towards the person and said in surprise, “Why does he… sound so familiar?”
“Well, of course. He’s our close friend.” Halston faked a smile.
“It’s…” Flossie tried her best to recall who it was, then blurted out, “Owen?”
“Haha! Ms. Ellsworth, I’m honored you still remember me. Well, I’ve won this bet. Mr. Guajardo, don’t forget —you owe me a meal.” Owen laughed brightly, smug that Flossie immediately recognized him.
However, Halston was a little upset and jealous. “It’s not weird that my wife remembers you since you saved her man and brother. That’s all it is.”
“Mr. Guajardo, are you jealous of Ms. Ellsworth and me? Ugh, stop showing off how sweet you both are!” Owen groaned teasingly. Owen usually wouldn’t make house calls, but he was generous with those he considered his friends. Owen had made a bet with Halston before he went there, claiming that Flossie would know who he was once he spoke. Halston, however, proudly believed that Flossie didn’t notice other men, and was sure she wouldn’t recognize Owen’s face, let alone his voice. Owen knew how observant Flossie was, so they had bet on a meal, and since Flossie had recognized his voice, Owen had won the bet. Halston felt awkward now, and tried to save face.
“Okay, stop. Don’t make me a part of your game,” Flossie grumbled at their childishness, then asked Owen curiously,” Dr. Wagner, aren’t you a neuroscientist? How do you know about obstetrics?”
“I’m actually a general practice doctor, but I specialise in neuroscience. I’m very good at obstetrics too. I just don’t always pay house calls,” Owen explained, then went into his strengths and weaknesses, as well as the link between neuroscience, gynaecology, and obstetrics. It baffled Halston and Flossie.
“Okay, stop talking about your profession. Take a look at my wife and baby.” Halston interrupted Owen and urged him.
“Let me listen to Ms. Ellsworth’s heartbeat and check her blood work.”
After that, Owen fished out a stethoscope. He was about to put his hand under Flossie’s clothes.
“Wait!” Halston yelped, and pushed Owen’s hand away. “What are you doing?”
“I’m trying to listen to her heartbeat. What do you think I’m doing?” Owen asked in bewilderment.
“Let me do it.” Halston took the chest piece from him and said seriously, “My wife is shy, so I should do it. All you have to do is listen to her heartbeat.”
Owen was speechless.
Halston asked stubbornly, “What’s the matter? Can’t I do it?”
“I mean… you can. But don’t you think it’s strange?” Owen asked hesitantly.
Halston replied, “No, it’s not. What’s strange is if you touch her that way.” He wouldn’t know if Owen accidentally touched other areas while performing the check-up. It was fine if he wasn’t present, but since he was watching, he couldn’t accept it.
“So… I guess all those romance novels are true. You’re a textbook example of an overbearing president,” Owen grumbled under his breath. Reality seemed more exaggerated than the novels when it came to Halston and Flossie.
“Cut the crap and just tell me where I should put it,” Halston ordered Owen as he held the chest piece.
“Ugh… Put it on the junction between the midline of the left clavicle and the fifth rib,” Owen answered finally.
“Okay.” Halston nodded and put the chest piece under Flossie’s pajamas, looking for the right area.
“Ahem!” Since Owen was wearing the earpieces, he could hear where Halston had put the chest piece, but he couldn’t say anything since Halston insisted on it. He merely let Halston do whatever he wanted.
“I can’t wait to see how you’ll handle the internal inspection if you can’t even take this,” Owen muttered as Halston struggled to find the right spot.
“What did you say?” Halston frowned.