Part 60

60

"Please, Celine. Just this once, understand that Chelsea is not in good condition."

"You should also understand that I'm curious about the news you want to share. There's nothing wrong with that, right? Just convey it, we can discuss it later."

"I can't convey it right now because Chelsea's condition is more important than that news."

"So, she's more important than me?"

"Absolutely. What's wrong with it? Is there something wrong with a child prioritizing his mother?"

"But she's not your biological mother."

"Even though she's not my biological mother, she can replace my biological mother's position in my father's heart, making our lives much better. As you know, since my mother passed away, my father also fell apart, just like when her body was buried in the ground. So you better have some self-awareness that Chelsea's position is indeed more important than yours, and there's a possibility I might cancel sharing all the good news because of your actions."

"Van, that's enough." Chelsea interrupted, taking a deep breath and exhaling it slowly. "It's better if you settle your issues with Celine. Just order a taxi for me, and I can leave peacefully instead of you two arguing like this and making me seem like a disruptor in your relationship."

"That's Chelsea, aware of her position, but you seem to not care at all. Let me help her order a taxi, and then you can come with me to my office, and we can talk there."

"No?!" Vano brushed away Celine's hand and opened his car door, gesturing for Chelsea to enter first before closing the door again. "I didn't expect that you wouldn't change at all and learn from your mistakes. Look at what you've done. You hurt Chelsea's feelings, even though she's the one who tirelessly helped me until I wanted to tell you that my father has given his blessing to our relationship. And it seems I'm canceling that blessing, and I'll tell Dad that we no longer need it because I want our relationship to end right now!" Vano emphasized each word that came out of his mouth.

Leaving Celine speechless, her mouth agape. She couldn't say anything because the man had firmly decided to end their relationship.

"W-what? You're breaking up with me?"

"That's right." Vano stated firmly before getting into the car and stepping on the gas. He was truly confident in the decision he had just made. There was no point in continuing a relationship with Celine, who had always been selfish and unwilling to understand her place. Perhaps Carlos' decision all this time not to give his blessing was the right one; he was just blinded by love and didn't know how to discern what was good and right.

However, after witnessing Celine's treatment of Chelsea, Vano suddenly had the desire to end their relationship that had been going on for the past 5 years.

Vano felt that he didn't need a selfish woman like Celine; he could find another woman who could make him happy, just like Chelsea, who brought happiness to his father.

"Why are you getting emotionally involved like Celine? Don't you love her anymore to the point where you can end the relationship just because of me?"

"Because of you, you say? While all this time, you've been the one fighting for both of us, and she has never appreciated you at all. Especially you being my stepmother, Chelsea. Of course, your feelings are more important than hers. I don't know why, but I feel like I care more about your feelings than that selfish woman," Vano grumbled, feeling uneasy because Chelsea was still defending Celine, even though she had hurt him repeatedly.

Chelsea had been hurt by her actions time and time again.

"It's normal, Van. Because she loves you very much, and I'm a woman. So it's normal for her to feel jealous of you. No need to look far for an example; even I, if there were a woman close to your father, I'm sure I would also feel jealous. For example, my mother, she's still your father's girlfriend. If I may be honest, I still harbor jealousy over that, but I put it aside because I know your father is a faithful man. The proof is he no longer greets my mother, even for trivial matters.

But it's different with you and Celine. You tend to be closer to me. Although I'm your stepmother, in the eyes of a girl who loves you and you two don't have a strong relationship, you're just lovers, and you've even broken up before. So it's normal for her to be like that." Chelsea rubbed Vano's arm. "Don't make decisions when you're emotionally triggered, and don't make promises when you're happy. I hope you understand and resolve your issues with Celine. If both of you continue to give in to your egos like this, I can guarantee there will never be happiness for both of you."

Vano tried to calm himself, keeping his mouth shut, not arguing with what Chelsea said because he knew it was the truth. Lately, he and Celine had both been giving in to their egos and anger, so there was no longer any harmony in their relationship. Maybe Celine was indeed overwhelmed by jealousy, so Vano tried to control his emotions before meeting Celine again on campus.

Not wanting Vano to delay the conversation with Celine, Chelsea assured him that she could go to Carlos's office on her own without any assistance. Going to Carlos's office using the elevator alone was not a difficult task for Chelsea, even though she felt extremely weak right now.

Earlier in the morning, Chelsea had eaten a lot of fried rice, but apparently, it hadn't been enough to make her strong and energetic.

"Daddy..." Chelsea murmured, forcing a smile and dragging her steps toward her husband. She immediately sat on Carlos's lap and hugged his neck.

"What's wrong, honey?" Carlos asked, rubbing Chelsea's back.

"I'm feeling weak, and I just want to be in Daddy's arms. I canceled my classes today because my head suddenly started hurting. My stomach feels queasy," Chelsea complained, leaning her head on Carlos's shoulder. She was like a little child who had just come home after playing and suddenly fell ill, seeking comfort from her father. That's how Chelsea felt at the moment, clinging affectionately to her husband.

The only place she could seek comfort and lean on in her life.

"Daddy already told you not to go to class, but you're still stubborn."

"If Daddy scolds, I'll just go home," Chelsea cut in, pulling away from Carlos, ready to get out of his lap.

However, Carlos quickly hugged his wife, preventing her from leaving. "Don't get angry like that, it'll only make you feel worse."

"You started it, Daddy. Your wife came while feeling unwell, but instead of pampering her, you scold her."

"How could Daddy not scold..."

"See, here we go again," Chelsea grumbled, playfully hitting Carlos's chest with her hand. She also whined playfully to get Carlos to stop scolding her. She knew that she had been the one to insist on going to class that morning.

"You, Daddy, should just tell her nicely." Carlos tried to get up while carrying Chelsea, taking her to the room behind the wardrobe. He laid Chelsea down there and covered her with a blanket. "Now, how are you feeling? Still dizzy and nauseous?"

Chelsea responded softly. "Still, Dad. But I can still manage, and I feel like I'll get better on my own after a short nap."

"Are you sure, or should we go to the hospital now?"

"No need, Dad. Just stay here with me. Maybe I caught a chill yesterday because I ate late. Most likely, I'll get better soon. Is there any aromatic oil or something similar here, Dad?"

"There is. I'll ask the office boy to find it in the health room."

"Alright, Dad." Chelsea massaged her temples. "Now, you can go back to work. I'll wait here."

"Are you sure, dear?"

"Absolutely sure." She smiled and let Carlos return to work.

But before Carlos could take a step to leave, Chelsea hurriedly sat down. She ran a little to the bathroom in the room. Finally, she could vomit everything in her stomach, giving in to the nausea she had been holding back since earlier.

"Honey, let's go to the hospital, alright? Daddy doesn't want to hear it." Carlos rubbed Chelsea's neck, genuinely worried as he observed his wife's condition. Chelsea had become even paler and was sweating, despite the room being air-conditioned. It was impossible for her to feel hot.

"I'm okay, Dad. Just feeling nauseous. It's already better."

"If you were okay, you wouldn't be throwing up like this. It's better to go to the hospital right away."

"I'm really okay, Dad. I promise!"

"If you were really okay, you wouldn't be holding onto this sink to avoid falling." Finally, Chelsea nodded, admitting that her condition was deteriorating, even though she had vomited everything and now only had a sour taste in her mouth.

"But before we go to the hospital, I want to rest for a while. It doesn't feel right to walk now. I'm afraid I'll collapse and fall."

"Daddy will carry you to the parking lot and make sure you land safely in the hospital bed."

"Yes, Dad. Just hold on a moment. I still feel like vomiting."

"You can vomit anywhere you want, not just in this sink." Not wanting to wait, Carlos quickly picked up Chelsea. He couldn't wait even for a second. For him, Chelsea had to be taken to the hospital right now.

Although the campus gate was clearly in front of him, Vano decided to turn away from the campus when he received a call from Carlos, saying that Chelsea's condition had suddenly deteriorated, and she had passed out in the car.

As panicked as Carlos, Vano abandoned all his affairs with Celine. Now he focused on finding out how Chelsea was doing, so he didn't care about the curses from other drivers as he drove at an above-average speed.

He didn't care about his own safety either. What mattered was reaching the hospital on time and finding out Chelsea's current condition firsthand. Swearing by everything, Vano's love for Carlos was just as great as the love he gave to Chelsea. There was not a hint of resentment or disappointment when his father had a wife much younger than him.

"How's Chelsea, Dad?" Vano asked, without neutralizing his rapid breathing. He had just run from the hospital parking lot to the ICU room. Carlos shook his head, sitting exhausted in the waiting area.

"The doctor hasn't come out yet; they are still examining your mother," he replied weakly, staring blankly at the tightly closed door. If he didn't respect the medical staff, Carlos would have barged in and seen the treatment for his wife himself.

"Believe me, Mom will be fine," Vano said as he sat down next to Carlos and embraced his father, providing strength and certainty. He assured Carlos that Chelsea would be alright and able to overcome it all. "Mom is a very strong person. I'm sure she just has a common fever and a cold."

"Daddy hopes so too." Carlos forced a smile; he had been convincing himself like Vano, but he couldn't hide his worry.

After nearly half an hour of treatment, a doctor finally emerged from the room, giving Carlos a smile as if there was good news to be shared, while when they entered the ICU, Chelsea was unconscious.

"What happened to my wife, Doctor?" Carlos quickly asked, no longer mentioning that Chelsea was his adopted daughter.

"Wife?" The doctor repeated Carlos' statement because when he entered earlier, Carlos had said that Chelsea was his adopted daughter, needing immediate treatment, and now she...

"Doctor, the one inside is my stepmother. How is she?" Vano added, dismissing all the questions Carlos had asked earlier.

"Her condition is still very weak and needs some rest in the hospital. While monitoring the condition of the fetus in her womb."

"Pregnant?" Vano and Carlos asked simultaneously. They were both surprised to hear the word 'fetus' spoken by the doctor.

"Didn't both of you know that Chelsea's mother is currently pregnant?" Carlos and Vano exchanged glances, their eyebrows furrowing in confusion at the doctor's question.