When Love Costs a Womb

"I don't have cancer. I want to be retested! I want a different doctor!"

Jack let out a sigh, pretending to be at a loss. "Emma, even if you're mad at me for not being there for you lately, you can't play around with your health. Let's just get the surgery over with, and after you're better, you can hit me, yell at me—whatever you want, okay?"

Mabel quickly spoke up, "Emma, is that fair? Dr. Gray has been up for days and nights because of you, and now, you won't let him do the surgery just because he wasn't with you enough?"

Even the patients walking by thought I was being unfair.

"Young lady, when you're sick, you need to get better. Why are you making such a fuss?"

"Dr. Gray is a brilliant doctor. You're lucky to have him do your surgery. You should be happy instead of complaining."

"Don't waste his time. There are lots of people waiting for Dr. Gray to save them. Why are women so dramatic these days?"

"You have cancer, but you don't want surgery. You're not hiding something embarrassing, are you? Are you afraid that Dr. Gray will find out?"

"Dr. Gray, you might want to look into this. Maybe your wife is up to no good and scared you'll find out something if you do the surgery."

"Emma is just really scared. She's not trying to cause trouble. I've been at the hospital a lot lately for work and haven't been home much, but I know she won't betray me."

Jack tried to defend me softly, but it just made people think I was guilty of being unfaithful.

Everyone started to feel sorry for him and blame me.

All I could do was cry out, "Help me! I really don't have cancer. Please believe me..."

However, no one did.

I was wheeled into the operating room with people's harsh words ringing in my ears.

I could only watch as the operating room doors slowly closed.

Was I doomed to meet my end because of Jack and Mabel again?

"Anesthesia.

"Disinfection."

Jack picked up the scalpel and started giving blunt commands.

He seemed like a heartless butcher, and I felt like an innocent lamb. I closed my eyes in despair, waiting for the surgery I did not need. The moment the chilly scalpel grazed my skin, the operating room doors burst open.

"Stop the surgery! I've been given full charge of Emma's care by the director of the hospital, starting now."

The person who entered hurried over to me, lifted me from the table, and carried me away.

It was Samuel Ellison, a student from my mom's medical college. I felt a wave of relief wash over me—my parents had a plan, after all!

Samuel quickly set up an emergency check-up for me.

The tests showed I had a bad stomach ulcer, not cancer. I was also three months pregnant.

"Your ulcer is really bad. They've perforated and are bleeding. You need surgery for it, and I'm afraid we can't save the baby," Samuel said, showing me the X-ray with a serious look on his face.

"That's okay. Go ahead," I said.

The baby did not do anything wrong, but I could not have a child with a monster who had hurt my family.

I could not risk my life for a baby that was not even born yet.

I felt sorry for this little one who did not even have a chance to see the world. I hoped that in another life, this child would find a happy, peaceful home.

"Okay, I'll get everything ready. You just focus on resting."

Samuel was super quick at getting things done. He arranged for me to have a painless abortion that same day.

The surgery for my ulcer was set for the next day as per my request.

I did not want to wait and let things get worse.

However, I did not realize just how mean Jack could be.

After the procedure, I saw Samuel being pushed and yelled at by a bunch of people. I tried to go see what was wrong, but Jack yanked me back to my ward.

He shoved me onto the bed so hard that my shoulder almost felt like it was breaking. "Emma, you had the nerve to get rid of my baby!"

"You're the one who didn't want the baby first. You're the one who wanted it gone! You even wanted to take out my uterus. Get off me! I can't stand your touch!"

I could not understand how he could twist things around and act like he was the one wronged.

"Emma, I never thought you'd know so much," Jack whispered in my ear with a laugh that made me shudder.

"Samuel's in trouble for taking bribes and doing unnecessary treatments. The patients' families are upset, and he's going to be suspended for an investigation. So, who do you think will do your surgery now?"