She fainted

Waiting too long for Maelie who kept locking the door, Erland took the spare key and immediately unlocked it.

"Mae..."

His eyes widened as he saw Maelie lying unconscious on the floor. He quickly lifted her and carried her out of the room.

"Amanda, open the car for me!" he shouted.

Amanda, who was in her room, rushed to the small garage and started the black jeep, then drove it to the yard. She got out and opened the passenger door.

In a hurry, Erland put Maelie in the car, sat her in the seat, and fastened her seatbelt.

"Do you want to stay here or come to the hospital with us?" he asked.

"I'm doing my assignment, but I'll follow later," Amanda replied anxiously.

"Alright...!"

Erland closed the car door, got into the driver's seat, and drove out of the area at high speed, occasionally glancing at the mirror above to see Maelie still unconscious.

'Oh God, what should I do? I can't leave Tiffany; it could disappoint my family and hers, and ruin the company's relationships... I can't do that right now, especially since Tiffany has always been good to me. They'll all condemn me for betraying her. But I can't leave Maelie either... I can't. She's the love of my life, she's carrying my child, she's my happiness... She's the only woman who makes me feel the meaning of love and life... I can't be without her; I can't let her continue to suffer!'

Erland struggled with himself in his heart, haunted by guilt that left him even more confused.

In just a few minutes, he stopped the car in front of a hospital with blue and white tones. He got out and carried his wife, then headed for the main entrance, immediately greeted by two nurses pushing a stretcher.

"Please, save my wife; she's pregnant," Erland said as he placed Maelie on the stretcher.

"The doctor will do his best for her," replied one of the nurses.

Erland let them take Maelie to the emergency room. He followed them and waited in the waiting chair while contacting someone.

"Tommy, I need help," he said when he managed to reach someone.

"What can I do for you, Sir?"

"Maelie knows all about my lies, and now she's in the hospital. She fainted; she's pregnant... I don't know what's happening to her; the doctor is examining her... I don't know what to do... I can't choose; I can't leave her... She's an orphan... and I can't let her continue to suffer... I love her!" Erland poured out all his grievances.

"Oh... God..."

"I'm really confused!" Erland ran his hands through his hair in frustration.

"Now everything is clear, Maelie knows about you, your wife doesn't know about her yet. You should do something to keep hiding your relationship, don't let her meet your wife and reveal your relationship," Tommy said, sounding serious.

Erland fell silent.

"I think you don't need to choose now, but you need to start prioritizing who you want to be with in the future. If this polygamy is known by your family, even published, your reputation will be tarnished," Tommy said again. "You need to start deciding who you will fight for and gradually distance yourself from one of them until you divorce one of them."

Erland fell silent, pondering Tommy's advice while glancing at the closed door of the emergency room, instantly imagining Maelie receiving treatment from the doctor. The shadows of her struggles, her cries, and her suffering all this time seemed to deepen his sense of compassion.

"Maelie needs me more," he said sadly.

"And what about your wife in Nevada?"

"Um... Maybe I'll... I'll divorce her; I'll discuss this gently," Erland said, full of doubt.

"But if you say the reason for the divorce is because you have another pregnant wife, she will be very angry, and then she'll complain to her family and yours, it will be very bad for you and the relationship between both families and the company," Tommy replied.

"I won't say that... I'll find a way later. But that's my decision."

"I hope you won't regret it."

"No, I won't regret it. True love requires struggle..."

"Alright, now what can I do for you?" Tommy asked.

"Please buy a new house with full facilities, the best one... Equivalent to my house in Nevada. Also, buy a car, and a laptop, and prepare two black cards," Erland replied, remembering Amanda demanding a better life.

"Okay, I'll arrange that."

"Everything should be in Maelie's name..."

"Alright..."

Erland ended the call and turned to look at the doctor who had just come out of the emergency room. He immediately approached her, feeling anxious.

"Doctor, how's my wife?"

"She's fine, just dehydration and maybe mental health issues," explained the black-clad female doctor with a white coat and a member card hanging from her neck. "As her husband, you should help her relax so her mind isn't frightened, and she should eat and drink. She might be too lazy to eat or drink now because she's always nauseous, so you should be by her side to help her overcome it all. I'll prescribe an anti-nausea pill and vitamins," she continued calmly.

Erland fell silent, his gaze suddenly empty, hinting a sadness.

"You can see her now; she's awake. But it's better to stay here until tomorrow to recover because she's so weak now," the doctor said again.

"Yes..." Erland nodded, staring back at the doctor. "Thank you."

"Okay, I have to check on other patients; the nurses will prepare a room for your wife as you wish. Just tell them inside," the doctor said, then walked down the corridor to another room.

Erland immediately entered the emergency room and requested care to transfer Maelie to the most comfortable room.

...

After being moved to the most comfortable room with full facilities like a sofa, a table, even a TV, and a floor mattress, Erland approached Maelie and sat beside the bed.

"Divorce me," Maelie whispered without looking at Erland.

Erland sighed, feeling choked, his body trembling.

"I'll give you anything you need, but not a divorce," he said.

"I don't want to be in a polygamous marriage."

"It will only be temporary... Once I successfully divorce Tiffany, I will be yours completely," Erland said with a flat gaze.

Maelie immediately looked at him with angry eyes. "Do you think I'll be happy after that? I won't be happy above another woman's suffering!"

"She won't suffer; she will accept the divorce. Besides, she doesn't love me," Erland said bluntly. "Please... give me time. I prefer her to you, but I need time to let her go without hurting her... I'll divorce her without telling her that I have you... You just need to wait here until I can officially establish our relationship!" he continued somewhat firmly.

Maelie fell silent, turning her face away.

"Please... Never ask for divorce again... I can't live without you. You are the reason why I keep living and can be happy," Erland said while reaching for Maelie's hand. "I love you so much. I won't let you continue suffering... Hold on for the sake of our child. You love it, right?"

"I don't know," Maelie whispered with an empty gaze.

"I know you love it... you're a good mother." Erland kissed the back of Maelie's hand, then pressed it against her cheek while continuing to gaze at her.