Chapter 2 At Riverbend Manor , the large room was in complete disarray , with ceramic shards scattered across the floor as if it had just been hit by a bomb . There were many people standing in the room . But as Derrick's expression darkened more and more by the second , each of them held their breath , afraid to make a sound . Derrick furrowed his brows , his cold face holding back an intense rage , mixed with a hint of barely perceptible anxiety and concern . The doctor put away his equipment and stood up , only to suddenly feel a chill down his spine . He hadn't realized it , but by now his shirt had already soaked through with cold sweat . " How is she ? " Derrick asked in a deep , hoarse voice . The doctor trembled slightly . " The patient's condition is stable for now , but ... " As he spoke , the doctor instinctively glanced at Derrick . Derrick's eyes were fixed on Katherine lying on the bed , her face pale . His gaze moved slowly from the bloodstains on her wrist to the splotches on her white nightgown . Continue , " Derrick said , his voice making the doctor's heart race . www The doctor quickly responded , " Mrs. Graham's health has been deteriorating over the past two years . Pregnancy has been very difficult for her , and if this continues , it's very likely ... " The doctor swallowed hard , struggling to continue , " It's very likely that we could lose both the mother and the child ." A sharp , cracking sound broke the heavy silence in the room . Everyone instinctively turned toward the source of the sound . There stood Derrick , the owner of Riverbend Manor , his right hand clenched into a fist , blood flowing steadily from the gap between his fingers . In his hand was a shard of broken porcelain , which he must have picked up from the floor at some point . " Mr. Graham , " Henry Woods , the butler , cried out in shock . The doctor instinctively reached for Derrick , but Derrick lifted his head , halting him . " It's fine . You all leave ," Derrick said , turning his gaze to the doctor . " I'll need your help these next few months . " The doctor raised an eyebrow , too stunned to respond properly . " Anything you need , sir . It's my duty , " he spoke . Derrick's expression remained terrifyingly cold , yet his demeanor was eerily calm as if nothing had happened .. If it weren't for the fact that he had just lost control and cut his palm , one might have thought that the woman lying on the bed , barely clinging to life , had no relation to him at all . " Henry , take the doctor to the small villa to rest ," Derrick ordered coldly . The others didn't dare linger and quickly exited the room . Henry was the last to leave , casting a brief glance at Derrick , who stood motionless by the bed . Henry then sighed as he closed the door behind hirn , thinking , ' This is truly tragic . ' With everyone else gone , the room fell silent again . There were two people in the room , yet it was so quiet one could hear a pin drop . After a long while , Derrick finally spoke , " Do you really want to die this badly ? " His voice was even hoarser than before , like he was holding back some deep , simmering anger . He took a step forward , leaning down , his eyes locked on Katherine's tightly shut ones . " I'll give you what you want . " Derrick's hand slowly rose , hovering just above Katherine's slender , fragile neck . But after saying those words , Derrick froze , his eyes slowly blinking . His lips then twisted into a bitter smirk . " After all this , you still won't wake up ? " Do you really hate me this much ? Just because you're carrying my child , you want to die ? Katherine , you can't be so selfish . " Derrick's eyes were stormy , devoid of light , hiding a ferocious beast within . But the beast had its claws clipped , relying only on growls to assert its power . I've . Derrick's breath caught in his throat . When he spoke again , there was a slight choke in his voice . 1/3 PP Chapter 2 He muttered , " I've allowed you to love someone else . I've tolerated you helping that guy over and over . Can't you just give me one chance ? You're really driving me crazy . " 20 Hearing this familiar voice , this familiar anger , Katherine felt a sharp pain in her head , her body feeling heavy as if it had been weighed down by lead . " Derrick . " Katherine , lying on the bed , suddenly frowned , her pale face scrunching up in distress . Derrick quickly pulled his hand back , kneeling beside the bed on one knee , his gaze fixed anxiously on Katherine . " Katherine ? " " De ... " Katherine furrowed her brows , and her hand , which was hooked up to the IV , suddenly twitched . It trembled as she slowly lifted it . Derrick looked at her arm , marked with numerous scratches , his gaze lowering for a few seconds as he seemed to be lost in thought . " Derrick , wait for me . " Katherine's voice grew clearer from the bed . Hearing her soft words , Derrick stopped hesitating and quickly took her fragile wrist in his hand . As though finally finding a steady point to hold onto , Katherine placed her hand in his warm palm , her fingers instinctively brushing jover over the inside of his wrist . Next to the most prominent vein , there was a subtle bump , just about one inch long , but it nearly cost Derrick his life . " Derrick , you idiot , " Katherine said , her voice thick with tears , a mix of sadness and anger . Derrick kept kneeling on one knee , listening to her softly scold him . He replied , " Yes , I'm an idiot ." He loosened his grip , gently placing her hand back down , careful not to touch the blanket so it wouldn't brush against the IV . " But I won't be anymore . " Derrick stood up , and all the emotions from before seemed to vanish in an instant . He stared at Katherine , who was falling back to sleep , and whispered , " Give birth to the child , and I won't force you again . Do whatever you want from now on / He turned and left , his steps quick , yet there was a faint unsteadiness to them . Derrick feared that if he slowed down , he would regret it . He thought , ' I've already made her hate me enough . I can't break my word again . As the door closed softly behind him , tears rolled down Katherine's cheek . One by one , they fell , round and clear , like transparent pearls . When Katherine woke from the endless void and haze , two days had already passed . She was jolted awake by a sharp pain in the back of her hand , her vision blurry às she could only make out a figure in white in front of her . Her hands were immobile , and she blinked hard , trying to focus . " Are you an angel ? " Katherine asked . The doctor paused for a moment , then let out a soft laugh . He quickly pressed a cotton ball soaked in alcohol to the needle hole where blood had begun to seep . " Mrs. Graham , I'm not an angel . I'm your doctor , Ethan Bell , " " Ethan Bell , " Katherine repeated the name , her gaze unfocused as they drifted elsewhere , Suddenly , she froze , her eyes widening . " What did you just say your name was ? " Katherine knew Ethan ; he was the family doctor for the Graham family . But she remembered clearly that after her obstructed labor , Ethan had been dismissed . " I'm Ethan Bell ," Ethan replied , emphasizing again . Seeing Katherine's wide - eyed disbelief , he couldn't help but let out a sigh . He continued , " You've been unconscious for two days . No matter how mad you are at Mr. Graham , the child is innocent ." Ethan couldn't help but add , his nature as a doctor kicking in , " And Mr. Graham has promised you that if you give birth to the baby , he'll agree to anything . " Once the baby is safely born , you can do whatever you want . Just bear with it a little longer 2 2/3 P P Chapter 2 Katherine watched Ethan's lips move , but his words seemed to go in one ear and out the other . She thought , ' What's Ethan saying ? The baby ? ' Her hand moved down to her abdomen , now flat . But as she pressed gently , she clearly felt a hard lump that didn't quite match the surrounding softness . This sensation was all too familiar to her . " Dr. Bell , what year is it ? " Katherine asked . Ethan was surprised by her question . He glanced at her hand resting on her stomach and understood immediately . " 2024 , " he said . " You'll probably give birth to the baby by the end of the year . " Katherine's heart skipped a beat . She thought , ' 2024 ? I'm alive again ? Or have I returned to the year I regret the most ? ' Katherine suddenly laughed , her body shaking slightly , and tears streamed down her face . " Mrs. Graham , what's wrong ? " Ethan stood by , flustered and scrambling . At the door , Henry heard the commotion and immediately entered . " What's going on ? " He looked at Katherine , who was crying and laughing at the same time , and turned to Ethan for an answer . I'm not sure , " Ethan replied , bewildered . " She just suddenly started acting like this . " Katherine was still laughing , thinking , ' The universe has truly been kind to me , giving me another chance to fix the mistakes I made and make amends for the man I've hurt . ' " Mrs. Graham , you need to avoid extreme emotions during pregnancy . It's not good for the baby , " Ethan advised from the side . From the way Katherine had asked about the year and gently touched her stomach , Ethan could tell she likely wanted to keep the baby . Henry , seeing this , also chimed in , " Yes , Mrs. Graham , even if it's not for anything else , think about the baby ." At this moment , they didn't dare contact Derrick . They feared that his presence would only upset Katherine further . Katherine suddenly stopped , her hand gently caressing her stomach . She thought , " That's right , I can't let myself be too emotional . My baby needs to be healthy . ' In my previous life , it was because I refused to carry Derrick's child and kept causing trouble during my pregnancy that things turned out the way they did . ' Thinking of her son , who was still crawling on the floor at the age of fiye , Katherine struggled to control her emotions . Her movements were filled with tenderness . She thought , ' Sweetie , this time , I will shower you with nothing but love . I'll make sure you're born safe and sound , healthy and strong . 3/3