Chapter 3 What Do You Want?
Wendy thought she must be hearing things and stuttered, “S-Sorry, what? Are you serious, Ms. McPherson? Isn’t this what you want all along?”
Eileen was like an entirely different person overnight.
With red eyes, Eileen said, her voice hoarse, “I’ve thought it through. This isn’t a good time for me to get pregnant. Could you arrange the procedure for me?”
Wendy sighed, “I’m afraid you’ll have to wait because the fetus is still too small. It’ll have to be at least the fortieth day of your pregnancy. I can put you down for three weeks from now. Maybe use the time to think again.”
As Eileen walked out of the hospital, Wendy’s words echoed in her ears.
“Ms. McPherson, I’m sure you know your condition. After your uterus was damaged, you’ve been recuperating for three years. The abortion is gonna be second damage. If you ever want to get pregnant again… I don’t like the odds.
“No matter what, the baby is innocent.”
Of course, Eileen knew that.
She loved the baby more than anyone else. But what would her life become if she kept the baby?
As she was lost in thought, she looked up at the sky and saw a few birds flying freely.
Should she let a baby tie her down for the rest of her life?
She had chosen to give up everything for her family, but in the end, Fremont failed her.
This was her only chance to resist, to leave the abyss.
Once she gave birth, everything would be too late.
It took Fremont only three years to ruin her future and cut off all her connections.
What would happen after five years? Or even ten years? By then, she’d lose both her youth and her means to make a living. If he no longer loved her, what should she do?
“No,” she thought, the sadness in her eyes fading away, “it’s not the life I want.
“Since Fremont blocks my path, I’ll take another one.”
Fremont might be the ruler of Warington, but he didn’t get to call the shots in the entire showbiz.
He didn’t have influence in Palsbury.
Welburn Cottrell, her mother’s ex-husband, came to her mind.
In Welburn’s prime, he was the heartthrob A-lister with countless fans in the country. With his help, she entered showbiz.
It had been years since his last film.
She heard he had moved to Palsbury to develop his career three years ago.
She found him in her contacts and was surprised to see that his profile picture was a photo they had taken together back when they were filming together.
In the photo, clad in black, he was on one knee.
It seemed he was yielding to her.
With so many scenes they had shot together, she could no longer remember which one this was.
Over the past three years, she had barely paid attention to showbiz. Besides, with the rise of short dramas, the film industry was facing a downturn, and many actors and actresses chose to switch their careers. She hadn’t heard anything about him.
Maybe he no longer used this WhatsApp account.
And the only post on his Instagram was sent three years ago.
It was a clip from that film. He had probably posted it for promotional purposes.
Cornered, Eileen texted him tentatively, “Hey, are you there?”
She figured she wouldn’t receive any reply at all.
However, he texted her back quickly, “Yes.”
She was stunned at how quick his reply was.
After all these years, was he still filming?
Her phone buzzed when she was hesitating.
Just then, Welburn texted her again, “I’m waiting for you.”
She replied immediately, “If it’s OK, can we meet?”
He replied, “I’ll give you the address.”
Glad that he was more agreeable than she had pictured, she booked the earliest flight to Palsbury.
She had been uneasy during those four hours on the plane.
She thought, “I don’t even know whether he’s still filming. Besides, I don’t even have a script. Isn’t it a bit rude that I come to him so bluntly?
“I remember Welburn always left right after finishing shooting. Maybe he hates being disturbed.”
Stepping out of the terminal, she spotted the handsome man standing in front of a black car at once.
He was no longer boyish, and his slender, straight posture as well as his striking features made him stand out easily. The look on his face was as cold as ever as he pursed his lips into a thin line.
The tailored suit accentuated his beefy figure, and his whole being exuded an air of nobility and aloofness.
He slowly raised his hand, revealing his slender fingers and his utterly fair wrist, the obsidian bracelet on which further added a touch to his icy restraint.
As his eyes landed on her, Eileen seemed to see something complicated within them.
He said slowly, his voice cold and deep, “It’s been a while.”
“It’s been a while, Welburn.”
They shook hands, and as his palm enveloped hers, she felt his body heat, which almost burned her skin.
Except for shooting, it had been years since she had had physical contact with any man.
A second later, she quickly withdrew her hand.
As their gazes met, his eyes seemed as calm as ever, but as any ocean, what hid underneath was unfathomable.
They got into the car.
Welburn didn’t say anything, but his domineering aura somehow made her even more uneasy.
Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at Eileen, who sat utmost upright.
Over the years, she had changed a lot. She had been worn out so much, looking haggard, her previous radiance all gone.
Her slightly curled hair cascaded over her white wool coat. Compared to Warington, Palsbury was very warm, and he could see the sweat on her slightly pale face.
As exhausted as she looked, her face was still breathtakingly beautiful.
She used to be a dazzling rose, and now she was as gentle as a lily.
She clutched the hem of her coat so tightly that her knuckles turned pale. It seemed she was waiting for the right moment to speak.
The sun had set, and it was time for dinner.
“Are you hungry?” Welburn asked.
“No. I ate on the plane. I…”
Her stomach rumbled, interrupting her.
His gaze swept over her rosy cheeks as he said, his voice still steady and calm, “Let’s eat something first.”
Biting her lip, she was a bit embarrassed. “Alright.”
He then took her to a private kitchen restaurant. To her surprise, he ordered Warington cuisine.
They sat opposite each other.
As his eyes landed on her wool coat, he asked, “Aren’t you hot?”
Only then did she take off the coat, revealing a shirt and jeans underneath.
She looked like a student instead of a rich man’s wife.
Taking a hair tie from the waiter, she neatly tied her hair into a ponytail.
Holding a glass of water with both hands, she said, “I’m sorry for reaching out so suddenly. I just wanted to know if you’re still interested in filming. I want to…”
Under the dim light, Welburn took off his suit jacket and undid two buttons of the white shirt, which added a touch of laziness to his indifferent temperament.
The only thing that remained was his innate domineering aura, which was particularly strong in a confined place like this. Somehow, Eileen felt that she had accidentally intruded on his turf.
A dangerous, meaningful glint flickered in his gaze falling upon her under the dim light.
She didn’t know if it was her illusion or not—his gaze seemed to linger on her ring finger for a while.
She had removed her ring, but the faint band from years of wearing it could still be seen.
“Yeah?” His voice was deep, lazy, and pleasant to the ear. “What do you want?”
