I was rushed to the hospital after passing out from morning sickness, and my attending physician was my ex-boyfriend. He gave me a cold smirk: “Severe morning sickness is usually because the man’s quality sucks. Of all the guys you could pick, you chose some weak sauce dude.” I secretly grumbled in my head: “You got that right, you weak sauce bastard!” The words had barely left my mind when the look in his eyes changed completely. “Who did you just call weak sauce?” Me: … Wait, how did he hear my thoughts?! Chapter 1 Three in the morning. I had just sent the revised proposal to the client when a wave of acid reflux hit my stomach. By the fifth time I was convulsing over the toilet, I finally realized this bout of morning sickness was seriously messed up. The ringing in my ears was getting louder, and I quickly fumbled for my phone to dial my emergency contact. “Cece, I…” Before I could get to the point, another jet of sour bile erupted from my throat. A dizzying, spinning sensation suddenly overwhelmed me. Before I blacked out, I only heard Cece’s booming voice screaming. When I regained consciousness, I found myself lying on a gurney. Cece’s face suddenly popped into my vision, and she started sobbing. “My queen, you’re finally awake! You almost scared me to death!” I tried to talk, but my throat was painfully raw. The ambulance took a sharp turn, and my stomach immediately churned again. The nurse quickly handed me an emesis bag, and I grabbed it and started throwing up. “Hyperemesis Gravidarum. She’s already dehydrated. Contact the ER, prepare for IV fluids.” Hearing the nurse’s words, my hand trembled uncontrollably. Looking at the nurse’s uniform, it was from St. Jude’s Hospital. He worked at St. Jude’s. I had deliberately detoured to St. Mary’s—the one farther from home—for all my check-ups. Just to avoid running into him. There’s no way... I couldn’t be that unlucky to run into him, could I? I instinctively reached a hand to my lower abdomen, filled with deep regret. I wish I hadn’t drunk so much that night two months ago. Now I was paying for it. By the time the ambulance stopped, I had thrown up twice more. Cece half-carried, half-dragged me out of the vehicle. The harsh light of the emergency room made me squint uncomfortably. A nurse wheeled over a chair, and I sank onto it, feeling limp and useless, like a waterlogged biscuit. In my fuzzy state, I heard a nurse tell her colleague: “Did you notify Dr. Chen?” The surname hit me like a jolt, instantly clearing my chaotic mind. There’s no way this is happening... No, no, no, it can’t be, Chen is a common surname. But wait, at that reception, didn’t someone introduce him as an OB-GYN at St. Jude’s... I sucked in a cold breath and reached out to grab the nurse’s sleeve, about to ask. A pair of long, lean hands took the chart from the nurse and quickly flipped through the pages. The hands had defined knuckles, and the nails were meticulously manicured. These were the very hands that, just two months ago, had ruined my rented dress! Not only did it cost me a fortune to replace, but it also led to this entire ordeal. I lifted my head and met Ethan Chen’s gaze. His eyes, behind the wire-rimmed glasses, were still as cold as frost. His entire demeanor radiated a powerful Stay Away vibe. He looked at me as if he didn't know me, yet calmly spoke my name. “Sophie Li?” Chapter 2 My heart stuttered. This was utterly excruciating... I worked overtime on a project, and now I was sent to the hospital because of morning sickness. And the doctor treating me was the ex-boyfriend I’d had a one-night stand with two months ago! Why does everything bad happen to me! Maybe it was the pregnancy hormones, but I suddenly felt terribly wronged. My nose stung, and tears began to fall. The nurse, thinking I was scared, kindly tried to comfort me: “Don’t worry, this is very common. Dr. Chen is back from his fellowship abroad and he’s excellent. He’ll make sure both you and the baby are safe.” Of course, I knew he was excellent. Back in college, he was the highly admired academic superstar. Not only was he brilliant in school, but in other aspects... he was perfect. Ethan didn't say anything, his eyes quickly moving between me and the medical record. “Hyperemesis Gravidarum?” I nodded awkwardly, my throat too dry to speak. My stomach cramped again. I quickly doubled over, dry-heaving into the emesis bag. A cold sweat instantly drenched my back. “Get an IV line started. Fluids first.” “Check blood ketones and electrolytes.” When Ethan’s fingers landed on my wrist, I flinched uncontrollably. He frowned, his tone firm. “Don’t move.” His breathing was right there, close, and he smelled faintly of mint. I froze, but my heart was pounding furiously. The intimacy two months ago could be dismissed as an alcohol-fueled mistake. But now... Fortunately, Ethan quickly pulled his hand back and took the newly arrived lab report. “Nine weeks pregnant. Ketones three-plus. Electrolyte imbalance.” He let out a cold snort, his voice precise like a surgical cut. “Throwing up this badly. Her partner didn't come with her?” I bit my bottom lip, not daring to answer. He suddenly gave a short, cynical laugh, loud enough for the nurses around to hear: “Severe morning sickness is often due to poor sperm quality from the partner.” He looked up, his eyes sharp as a razor behind the glasses, his voice edged with anger. “Of all the guys you could pick, you had to choose a weak sauce dude.” The nausea surged again. Hearing Ethan’s comment just then made me feel even more miserable. But I couldn't talk, so I just vented in my head. “Oh, yeah, exactly, you’re so right! You weak sauce bastard!” Ethan instantly looked up, his eyes widening in a strange, intense way. “Who did you just call weak sauce?” The chaotic emergency room instantly fell silent. The nurses all turned to look. I was startled. Wait, I didn’t speak! I clearly cursed him in my head! Did I... somehow say it out loud? Chapter 3 A nurse smoothly broke the deadlock, walking over with the IV bag. “The line is ready.” Ethan immediately returned to his collected, professional doctor demeanor. “Observe for four hours. Recheck blood ketones after the fluids are done.” “If it’s still positive, we’ll consider admission.” Admitted! I wanted to cry. “If I’m admitted, I’ll have to face Ethan Chen on his rounds every single day?!” “No, please, can I request a different doctor?!” Ethan, who had turned to leave, suddenly stopped and walked back to me. He leaned close to my ear, his voice a devilish whisper: “A hospital isn't a restaurant, you can’t order off a menu. Besides—” The corner of his mouth lifted into a smile devoid of warmth. “Ms. Li, you’re high-risk for hyperemesis. As your attending physician, I have a responsibility to personally follow up.” He deliberately emphasized “personally,” making me feel vaguely that he was asserting some kind of ownership. “Get some rest. We’ll have a... proper chat later.” Ethan paused, then looked up slightly. “Don’t even think about running away again.” My jaw dropped. He really can hear me! I was absolutely certain I didn’t speak that time! My God, how can he hear my inner thoughts? Does that mean he already knows the baby is... And this “proper chat” of his, is he going to try to convince me to get an abortion? But this is my baby. I’ll give birth to it and raise it myself. Even if the sperm is his, we have no relationship now. He can’t stop my decision! At that thought, I had only one idea in mind. RUN! The moment the IV finished, I practically scrambled up. I grabbed Cece and fled the hospital without looking back. Once in the car, Cece worriedly wiped the cold sweat from my forehead. “What happened? You look terrified... Oh my God! Ethan is at this hospital. You didn’t...?” Tearfully, I nodded and recounted everything that happened in the emergency room. “Cece, he... can he really hear my thoughts...?” Cece immediately burst into loud laughter. “Are you sick to the point of brain damage? Mind reading? Seriously? But only you would dare call Ethan Chen weak sauce. Do you realize he’s the star OB-GYN at St. Jude’s now? How many pregnant women are clawing their way to get an appointment with him...” Cece's eyes were alarmingly bright with amusement. “Tsk, tsk, tsk. The cold-as-ice campus god ended up being tamed by you into a perfect boyfriend... Hey, wait a minute! Forget the mind reading. Nine weeks pregnant! The night two months ago... do you think he figured it out?!” I shook my head, exhausted. It didn't matter if he knew or not. This city was huge; as long as I made an effort, it would be hard to run into him again. Cece sighed, her voice full of concern. “Why don’t you just tell him? You’ve gotten so thin from the morning sickness. If you have him, a professional and the baby’s father, it would be so much easier on you.” My fingertips trembled slightly as I silently watched the neon lights flash past the car window. How could I? He must hate my guts. Ethan was one year ahead of me. So when I graduated, he, the med student, also finished his undergrad. The beautiful, wealthy girl and the excellent, devoted, handsome academic—it looked like a fairy-tale ending. I thought so too, initially. Until graduation neared. My family went bankrupt, my dad took his own life, and my mom was diagnosed with liver cancer. Meanwhile, he held an offer from Johns Hopkins Medical School; his future was boundless. A massive gulf opened up between us. I couldn’t stand the thought of becoming a heavy anchor dragging down his brilliant career, and I was terrified he would give up his dreams for me. So I chose to escape. Before leaving, I staged a performance. At our graduation party, I borrowed Cece’s then-boyfriend and showed up in front of Ethan, publicly accepting the guy’s “confession.” Ethan looked at me with raw disbelief, demanding an explanation. In front of all his friends, I sneered at him. “You’re leaving the country. You honestly think I’m going to wait for you? Ethan Chen, you can’t give me the stability I want.” “We’re over. Don’t you ever contact me again.” Block, disappear. I made a clean break. A month later, I happened to overhear his friends talking at the restaurant where I was waitressing. They mentioned he had left for his program abroad. His friend asked the others if they had my contact information. “What a pity. Ethan entrusted me with a message for Miss Sophie Li.” Curious, I listened in. “What else? She messed with my brother’s heart for four whole years. He told me to pass on three words to Sophie if I ever had the chance.” Three words. There were so many combinations that could be loaded with meaning. But when I heard those three words, I couldn’t stop crying. [Go to hell.] I didn't die, but I certainly got my retribution. My mother passed away in less than a year. This accidentally conceived baby was now my only family. Ethan, who hated me enough to damn me, would never tolerate this child. Chapter 5 Cece drove me home, her face etched with worry. “Are you really not going to stay at my place? What if you start...” I quickly cut her off. “Knock on wood! Don’t jinx me! I’m just exhausted from working all night. Once this project is done, I’ll ask for time off and rest.” I paused, still bothered by the ER incident. Since I wasn’t sure if Ethan knew about the baby, I needed to preempt him. “Cece, you have to help me create a baby daddy persona! The kind that would make Ethan Chen absolutely furious!” Cece’s eyes lit up. “A 6’3” jock? A six-pack, golden retriever type? Or a DILF CEO?” I couldn’t help but smile viciously. “All of the above! Starting today, the baby’s dad is a 6’3”, 25-year-old, eight-pack wolf cub!” After Cece left, I had just settled down when my phone rang abruptly. It was an unknown number. I hesitated for a long time before answering. Ethan’s cold voice came through the receiver: “Sophie Li, who gave you permission to run? Are you suicidal?” I felt inexplicably guilty. “It was an emergency... I... my records are at St. Mary’s. I’ll follow up with the doctor there...” Ethan’s cold voice cut me off. “The ER chart lists you as my patient. Hyperemesis Gravidarum requires strict follow-up. 11 AM tomorrow, OB-GYN Clinic 3, for your check-up.” “I’m not...” He gave a harsh scoff, interrupting again: “That’s a doctor’s order. Don’t make me come and get you myself.” He hung up immediately. I stared at the phone, my hand shaking with anger. This was a world away from the Ethan who used to hang on my every word! But a moment later, Cece called me back. “My friend just said Ethan contacted their department chair, asking about your medical files. What did you two do now?” I gritted my teeth and repeated Ethan’s words to her. Cece laughed out loud. “Then go! It’s the perfect chance to test if he can truly hear your thoughts.” I... Fine. The next morning, I reluctantly went to St. Jude’s. Clinic 3 was crowded. I hid in a corner until the screen flashed my name repeatedly, then slowly dragged myself in. Ethan was sitting behind his desk, reviewing a chart. He didn't look up, only pointing to a chair. “Sit.”
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