Chapter 316

“Malaria?” Steven's eyes went wide, his grip on the phone so tight his knuckles turned white. "You mean Cody doesn't have leukemia?"

The doctor nodded quickly and handed him the test results, his excitement barely contained. "That's right, Mr. Heath. We ran the tests three times to be sure. It's malaria that's causing leukemia-like symptoms, not actual leukemia.”

"This is rare, but in the early stages, the symptoms look almost exactly like leukemia. That's why we got it wrong at first."

He pointed to the report. “See here? This is the malaria finding. With the right medication, we'll get it under control fast. He'll be completely fine-—no lasting effects at all."

Steven grabbed the report and stared at the key lines, his heart feeling like it was being squeezed tight-then suddenly released. The relief and joy that flooded him was overwhelming, almost dizzying.

He read it three times, just to make sure he wasn't imagining it. "This is incredible. Truly incredible."

"Cody's okay... My son doesn't have leukemia..."

"Doctor, start treatment right away. Use the best meds and the best plan you've got. I don't care what it costs."

"Don't worry, Mr. Heath. We're ready to go. Cody can start treatment right now," the doctor replied, wincing a little as Steven gripped his arm in gratitude.

Steven let go, took a shaky breath, and tried to calm himself down. "I need to go see Cody."

He turned toward the pediatric ward, barely taking two steps when the emergency room door swung open.

The doctor who had been treating Lucie walked out.

Steven rushed over, voice trembling. "Doctor, how's Lucie? Is she okay?"

The doctor slowly pulled off his mask, looking uncertain. "Mr. Heath, Ms. Anderson is pregnant."

Steven and Lucie were divorced. The doctor didn't know if he should congratulate him, or even if the baby was his.

Steven stood there in shock for a few seconds, staring at the doctor like he hadn't heard right. "What... did you just say?"

The doctor hesitated, unsure if Steven was happy or furious. He stammered, "Ms. Anderson is pregnant. She's in early pregnancy."

Steven froze, everything around him fading into a dull buzz. The doctor's words echoed in his mind, hitting him like a thunderclap.

"She's pregnant? Lucie's pregnant?"

He looked toward the closed emergency room door, heart pounding so hard he thought it might burst through his chest.

The doctor saw his reaction and quickly added, "Yes, the test is clear. She's about three weeks along. Ms. Anderson is very weak, and the stress made her faint. She needs to rest and take care of herself now, and she really can't go through any more stress."

Three weeks...

Steven did the math in his head. That was the night he'd made her stay.

His child. Their child.

The happiness that hit him was so intense, it nearly swept him away. It was even stronger than the relief he'd just felt about Cody.

He let go of the doctor, barely holding back a laugh that wanted to burst out of him.

It felt like the universe was finally throwing him a lifeline. Cody was safe, and now he and Lucie were having another baby.

"Thank you, doctor. Thank you! Can I go see her now?"

"Mr. Heath, Ms. Anderson hasn't woken up yet."

"That's fine. I just want to see her."

Steven slipped quietly into the room and walked over to the bed.

Lucie was still out cold, her face pale as porcelain.

He sat beside her, eyes tracing her features before settling on her flat stomach.

Right there, a tiny new life was growing. A child that belonged to them both.

“Lucie, we're having another baby... Do you hear me?"

"This time, we'll protect him. Not just like we did for Cody-better.”

He watched her sleeping face, emotions swirling in his eyes-relief, hope, and a desperate kind of determination.

So what if they were divorced? So what if she loved someone else? She was carrying his child now felt like fate-a bönd tying her back to him, stronger than anything else.

But the smile on his face faded.

"She hates me so much. Would she even want to keep this baby? If she decides to end the pregnancy, ` won't be able to stop her no matter how

woream content belongs

"And Bria-she'll never accept this child. If she finds out, she'll..."

Steven forced himself not to finish the thought. If Bria found out Lucie was pregnant with his child, she lose it. She might even hurt tucie again.

Lost in his worries, he barely noticed when Lucie stirred and let out a weak cough.

Steven snapped back to the moment, gripping her hand. "Lucie, you're awake."

It took Lucie a few seconds to focus, her eyes finally settling on his face. “Let go of me..."