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Chapter 5 - CHAPTER 5

That night, Arabella slept peacefully, free from nightmares. She woke up feeling refreshed and realized how much better it felt not to stay up late working overtime on her designs.

The VIP ward of the top private hospital was as luxurious as a high-class hotel suite. Arabella could ask for anything she wanted.

Yet, all morning, there was no sign of her husband, Ashton, nor did her phone ring.

Arabella picked up her phone and attempted to dial her husband's number. A robotic voice answered, "The number you have dialed is not in service...."

It turned out her phone bill wasn't overdue. It was simply that no one cared enough to call.

Arabella was taken aback. Did she truly have no friends?

She scanned her call history and saw numerous calls from unfamiliar numbers. None gave her a clue which one might be Ashton's. The only saved contact was her grandmother, Margaret.

Margaret was the one person who genuinely cared about her. Arabella decided she needed to cherish that bond.

After a while, Margaret picked up.

"Hello, Grandma..." Arabella hesitated before speaking, unsure of how to address her.

"Arabella, how are you?" Margaret's worried tone was apparent. Upon hearing about Arabella's kidnapping the previous day, Margaret had been so distressed that she accidentally fell from the second floor.

Unwilling to let her family see her in that state, she had chosen to rest at home instead of going to the hospital. She only woke up when Arabella called.

"When Adrian comes home from kindergarten, I'll ask Ashton to bring him to the hospital to see you," Margaret said gently.

She chatted with Arabella for a long time before hanging up, leaving Arabella deep in thought.

At 26 years old, she had been married to Ashton for six years.

And yet, the memory of her actions filled her with shame. How could she have even considered cheating on him?

A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts.

"Madam, the dessert you requested has been specially airlifted from Paris to ensure the finest quality," a servant from the Harts' household announced.

Arabella had always loved desserts and was particular about their ingredients. This one cost over ten thousand dollars.

No wonder her belly was so large.

She had looked in the mirror earlier. Her natural beauty stood out—bright eyes, white teeth, and an elegant oval face that needed no heavy makeup. However, after giving birth, she had neglected her figure. Her belly had grown noticeably, and her preference for dresses that highlighted this flaw only worsened matters.

"Thank you, but I'll pass. You can have it instead," Arabella said, swallowing her desire for the dessert. As much as she loved it, her newfound awareness of her appearance held her back.

Something about her kidnapping felt suspicious. Until the truth was revealed, she knew she couldn't leave Ashton's protection. But her current state—both physically and emotionally—would only deepen his disdain for her.

She turned to the servant. "Please don't prepare this for me in the future."

Since her call with Margaret, unease had settled heavily in her chest, growing stronger by the hour.

"Lucy, what time does Adrian finish school?" Arabella asked hesitantly.

Lucy, a caretaker sent by Margaret, kept her tone polite but formal. "4:30 p.m."

In the past, Arabella had barely shown interest in her son. She didn't even know when school ended. The last time she asked had been on Adrian's birthday, and even then, she abandoned him for a reception after receiving a phone call.

Adrian had waited up until midnight, his disappointment painfully obvious.

Arabella's neglect left an impression on Lucy, who struggled to mask her disapproval.

Arabella glanced at the clock. There were 30 minutes left. She decided to avoid the awkwardness of facing her son or Ashton by pretending to be asleep.

Soon, she heard the sound of tiny footsteps approaching the room.

Peeking through the door was a small, adorable boy. Seeing his mother asleep, Adrian sighed in relief and quietly entered.

"Mommy..." he whispered softly.

Arabella remained still, unsure how to face him.

"Daddy is talking to Uncle James outside," Adrian murmured as he placed his schoolbag on the floor. Struggling to climb onto the hospital bed, he continued in a small voice, "Uncle James came to the kindergarten activity today. My classmates thought he was my daddy and laughed at me because I don't look like him."

Adrian didn't expect his mother to respond. If she were awake, he wouldn't have dared to speak so candidly.

Mommy had told him to be strong and never cry.

Arabella's heart ached. Her son's vulnerability stirred something in her, and she longed to pull him into her arms.

Outside the door, Ashton spoke quietly to his assistant, James.

He reached into his pocket for a cigarette, only to find that he had left them behind. "Give me one," he demanded.

"Sir, this is a hospital. Smoking isn't allowed," James reminded him.

Ashton's irritation deepened. The kidnapping had been a repayment for the debt he owed Arabella's parents, who had once saved his grandmother. That debt was now settled, and he was ready to sever ties.

"Tell the lawyer to prepare the divorce papers. I want them delivered within four days," Ashton ordered coldly.

"But, sir... what about Margaret?" James hesitated. He knew the divorce would upset her.

Ashton shook his head. "There's no need to involve her. If she finds out what kind of woman Arabella truly is, it'll hurt her even more."

He was convinced that Arabella, with her love for wealth and status, would agree to the divorce without hesitation. As for Adrian, Ashton believed the boy was already accustomed to a motherless existence.

When Ashton returned to the room, he froze.

Adrian was hugging Arabella tightly, his small frame clinging to hers.

"Adrian, come down," Ashton commanded, his tone sharp and stern.

"Daddy..." Adrian's voice trembled, his reluctance evident. "Mommy is sick. I want to stay with her."

For a brief moment, the boy mustered the courage to defy his father, hoping that this small act of love might finally win his mother's affection.