Love in the Midst of Mistaken Identities

“I still feel that it’s strange. Shall we get a doctor tomorrow to take a look at Manni? She always sees the same doctor, and he doesn’t reveal anything. He’s not a quack, right? I just can’t stop worrying.” As Chu Jiang listened, he felt something was amiss, too. “This kind of doctor can’t be trusted. We must find another one to be on the safe side, one who has authority in this area. This child is the only baby from our family, one whom we have been waiting for so long. We can’t let anything go wrong. If one is unable to give us a proper diagnosis, we will find a second one. Even if it takes ten doctors, we will keep finding.” Chu Jiang continued.

Song Wan considered for a moment and came up with a foolproof solution.

“Perhaps, we can find a private doctor. Ah Lui has to go to work every day, and we can’t possibly come every day. With only a few maids, I really don’t feel at ease.”

“Okay, let’s do it this way.” They would feel more assured even if they were not around. It might have just been a three-month-old baby, but the pregnancy was still quite stable. Besides, they truly cared too much for this child.

Li Manni came out of the kitchen carrying two cups of tea. Her head was lowered as she listened to every word of their conversation. At the moment, her hair was blocking her eyes. However, her lips were visible. They were pursed into a very straight line.

“Dad, Mom, have some tea.” She made her way towards Mr. and Mrs. Chu. Her actions were gentle and elegant. Everything she had done was impeccable as though she was born to marry into the Chu family.

Song Wan took her hand and said.

“Manni, you see. Ah Lui is always not with you. We really don’t feel safe with you being alone by yourself. We are preparing to hire a private doctor for you so we can feel more at ease.”

Li Manni nodded and smiled exceptionally sweetly. “Mmm, I was thinking of the same thing, too. Thank you, Mom.”

She looked down and gathered the teacups from the table. No one noticed the look of impatience flashed across her face when she had lowered her head.

After her parents-in-law had left, Li Manni went into the kitchen again to set the teacups aside. Her hand went to her tummy which was as flat as before. At three-months pregnant, it still looked the same. In fact, nothing would change ten months down the road. It would not grow. Even if it grew, there would only be lumps of fat. Nothing was there. How could she possibly give birth? If she did, there would only be air.

As for her, she had never been pregnant so she could never experience morning sickness. The amount of tonics and supplements that Song Wan had given her was enough to make her vomit though.

She rested her back against the wall behind her, allowing the coldness of the wall to seep into her body. It seemed as though she could not delay this any longer. If she did, people would find out that she had faked her own pregnancy. It would be leaked very quickly. Right now, she could not take the risk.

Moreover, this concerned Chu Lui.

The hand on her stomach clenched into a fist. An unusual cold look of appeared on her face.

The next day, she was helping Chu Lui to tidy up his attire; and she asked him, acting nonchalant, “Lui, are you going to be busy today, like the past few days?”

“How did you know?” Chu Lui looked at Li Manni whose face was flushed from sobbing.

“How can I not know? Have you forgotten that we share the same bed as husband and wife? You haven’t been having a good night’s sleep lately. Of course, I know.” Li Manni reached out and rested her hand on his face. “Lui, don’t tire yourself out. The baby and I will feel the pain.”

In an instant, Chu Lui’s features softened as he held her hand tight. “Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing.” His hand shifted to her tummy. “Remember to take good care of our child. All of us are waiting for his arrival.” Chu Lui’s gaze darkened when he said this. He was still upset that he had been unable to save that little girl because of his child. No one had reprimanded him except himself. He had forgiven his own action.

However, he had not regretted what he had done. This was his choice, and so naturally, he had no regrets.

“I know.” Li Manni smiled in agreement. She walked Chu Lui to the door with her hand around his elbow. She stood by the window and watched him drove out of the driveway. Finally, she made her way to her room. Her facial expression now, brutally cold after she withdrew her smile. It actually looked twisted.

She closed the door. The maids that Song Wan had hired for her were cleaning outside. Li Manni walked to a cabinet and took out a brand-new paring knife. She waved it in her hand as it reflected her cold face. She bit on her lips hard as she pulled her skirt high up. Li Manni hardened herself and pierced the knife deep into her thigh, drawing blood.

She paused and felt a sharp pain. Her face turned as white as paper because she had never had to suffer an injury like this one. It hurt her really bad until she almost passed out.

She looked down at her thigh and endured the piercing pain while blood flowed down her thigh. It did not take long for the smell of blood to fill the room.

By doing this, she would have lost the baby even if she wasn’t pregnant. She swayed, feeling giddy from losing too much blood. She started to sway violently, but she bit down harder on her lips. After she wiped the blood off the paring knife, she put it back where she found it. At last, she lay on the floor. She was obviously bleeding and in great pain, yet her mouth was curled upwards into a smile.

She had made all the necessary arrangements. The hospital staff would be waiting for her at its entrance when she arrived. Her lie had started there, and thus, it would end there.

“Help... help me...” she called out repeatedly, weakly. The blood from her thigh resembled one of a woman who had suffered a miscarriage. It was exactly the same.

The maid outside heard her calling out continuously. They panicked and ran towards her room. Had something happen to the Madam?

The maid came and stood at the door, but there was no sound coming from within. Perhaps, she was mistaken, and Madam had been sleeping.

However, she thought for a moment and made the decision to go in and see for herself.

She pushed the door open and was met with the thick scent of blood.

“Aahhh!” she screeched loudly which alerted another maid to run in her direction. The second maid was shocked beyond her wits, too. She could not believe what she was witnessing as she stared wide-eyed at everything in the room. Their mistress was laying on the floor, her face ashen and weak. Blood had continued to flow from her lower body. Anyone who had some general knowledge knew that she was having a miscarriage. There was so much blood; clearly, she had lost the baby.

Chu Lui was having a meeting in the Chu Enterprise. The sound of a mobile phone ringing broke their concentration. Everyone was exchanging looks with one another. No one knew who had been so daring as to leave his or her phone ringer on. They took a cautious glance at the man whose expression had turned as black as a blackboard in a matter of seconds, and they sneaked a peek at their phones. Each one of them heaved a sigh of relief when they realized they were not the culprit.