Chapter 1037
Anika’s heart clenched. “Please… you have to help me keep the baby safe!”
The doctor calmly withdrew her hand from Anika’s desperate grip. “Whether the baby stays healthy isn’t up to me. It’s up to you. You need to stay calm while you’re carrying. The baby is small and unstable right now. If you don’t take care of yourself, no one can help you. Since these are only early signs, there’s still a chance the pregnancy can stabilize if you nourish yourself properly from now on.” She gestured toward the door. “Go pay the bill. I’ll write the ultrasound order.”
Anika nodded quickly. “Yes, doctor.”
After Annabel paid through her phone, the doctor escorted Anika to the ultrasound.
The ultrasound room was large, with six machines lined up. Each station had a bed and a curtain drawn around it for privacy.
The doctor looked at Anika. “Alright. Lie down. Lift your top, and pull your pants down a little.”
Annabel stayed close, helping Anika follow the doctor’s instructions.
Anika lay on the bed and looked at Annabel with anxious eyes. Annabel nodded at her, silently reassuring her that everything would be fine.
“Doctor, how is my baby?” Anika asked, her voice trembling.
The doctor glanced at the screen and then asked, “Have you been coming in for regular prenatal checkups?”
“I’ve been… busy lately,” Anika admitted. “I haven’t had time.”
The doctor’s expression hardened slightly. “Prenatal checkups are crucial. They’re how we monitor growth and detect problems early. You need to come regularly from now on.” She tapped the chart and continued, “The baby isn’t developing as well as it should. I’ll prescribe some medication, and you’ll need IV treatments for the next five days.”
When the ultrasound ended, Anika sat up. Annabel pulled the curtain aside for her, and they were about to leave.
Then Anika lifted her head—and froze.
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Katie was in the same ultrasound room.
Anika immediately yanked the curtain closed again, her breathing turning shallow. She didn’t want Katie to see her there, and she definitely didn’t want her to find out the baby was at risk.
The doctor noticed her reaction and asked, “Is there someone outside you don’t want to see?”
Anika nodded.
The doctor pulled the curtain open just a crack and glanced out. “Who is it?”
“The woman in green,” Annabel answered quietly.
Understanding flashed across the doctor’s face. She walked over at once and drew Katie’s curtain tighter, blocking her view completely.
Only then did Annabel guide Anika out.
“That was too close,” Anika breathed once they were outside, finally letting out a shaky sigh.
As they followed the doctor down the hall, the doctor spoke in a measured tone. “Right now, the baby is still an embryo. It hasn’t fully developed yet. If there are concerns about the pregnancy, you should think carefully about whether you want to continue. A child needs a stable environment to grow up well.”