Free Web NovelChapter 700: Give It a Shot
The atmosphere was still amiable and fun although there were not as many people at the dining table.
It had been nearly two months since Leah had fallen sick. During these past two months, Michael had not relaxed even for a day.
Luckily, all those unfortunate events were now water under the bridge and his loved ones were safe and sound.
They believed that going forward, there would only be happy times.
Michael’s grandmother had originally planned to leave them after dinner. However, both Wendy and Michael persuaded her to stay the night and join them on an outing that they had planned for the kids the following day.
It appeared that, while the twins were in the hospital, Michael had promised Leah that he would take them to the theme park when they were discharged.
Their great-grandmother accepted their invitation and stayed over.
That night, after washing up, Michael and Wendy settled into bed.
"Honey, I want to hear our child’s heartbeat," Michael requested smilingly, eyeing Wendy’s belly, which was now beginning to show.
Their child was already five months old, with a beating heart, and kicking and stretching in her belly.
In the past, when Wendy had been carrying Jake and Leah, Michael had not been by her side. Neither had he been involved in raising them after they were born.
He had always felt deep remorse about his behavior back then. So, he now wanted to spend every hour and every minute by Wendy’s side, to feel their baby growing inside her.
Blissfully happy, Wendy smiled as she gently rubbed her swollen belly and gestured to Michael to approach.
In the next instant, Michael got on his knees and laid his head against Wendy’s belly.
"Hi Baby. Your Daddy wants to hear you. Shall we put up a little show for him then?"
Wendy murmured tenderly to the baby in her belly.
As though it had heard Wendy’s request, the baby began to stretch its arms.
Sensing his baby’s slight movement, Michael grew indescribably excited. That was the very first time he had felt his baby moving in its mother’s belly. Although he could not find the words to describe that feeling, it definitely included extreme joy and bliss.
"He’s moving, Wendy. He moved," he exclaimed breathlessly.
"Can you move again please? My baby, please move again."
Alas, this time, their baby did not cooperate and refused to move. Not able to feel their baby move again, Michael appeared a tad disappointed.
Looking forlorn, he uttered, "He moved at your request but ignored me when I asked. It looks like I don’t have any authority in this family."
"He can’t even discern anything right now. Why are you being so sensitive?" Wendy chuckled incredulously.
Michael frowned, suddenly looking pensive, "You are already showing with this baby being only a little over five months along. Somehow, I don’t recall seeing your belly this big while you carried our twins, Jake and Leah."
Wendy’s memory was still a little hazy at the mention of the past. She frowned, trying hard to recall it.
Gradually, she began to remember what had happened in the past.
Although she still could not remember the details clearly, she had a fair understanding of those past events.
"Back then..." Wendy began, looking solemn, "You probably did not notice anything because you didn’t love me, and cared even less about my well-being.
"Besides, I was malnourished at the time. That was why the twins were each much smaller than the average baby when they were born."
Michael instantly pulled her into his arms, murmuring, "Sorry, I’m so very sorry. I should not have brought up the past."
Truth be told, Michael now wished that Wendy had not been able to remember anything from the past. Certain memories were better left buried and forgotten.
"It’s all history now, water under the bridge," Wendy smiled faintly.
"From now on, our family of five will only experience increasing joy and bliss."
...
"The past will not repeat itself," Michael declared.
Raising his hand as though taking an oath, he swore, "Going forward, if you or the kids are ever in danger, I will..."
Seeing that he was about to make an oath, Wendy quickly reached out and covered his mouth, saying, "There’s no need to make an oath. I know that you will do whatever it takes to keep us safe..."
"Honey, I’m so sorry," Michael uttered apologetically, choking slightly as he squeezed her hand hard.
Recalling everything that had happened, Michael felt a chill travel down his spine. He thanked the heavens fervently for keeping them safe and unharmed.
"Stop it already. Don’t spoil this wonderful day by bring up the unhappy past," Wendy patted him gently on the shoulder. She said smiling, "It’s late. Let’s get some sleep."
"Ok," Michael released Wendy and climbed into bed. He then reached out and pulled Wendy into his arms again.
Wendy chuckled helplessly feeling a little restricted, "You’re locking me in. I can’t move."
"Stop squirming. Just go to sleep," Michael instructed.
He asked teasingly as an afterthought, "Or would you rather have some action?"
Sensing an ulterior motive in his words and the way in which he said them, Wendy smacked the back of his head, "Dream on. There will be no action in that department in my condition. Wait till the baby is born."
Michael let out a long sigh, "It will be almost five months before the baby is born, and then another month for your recovery. Your poor husband will have to live a celibate life for six months!"
Wendy could not help but laugh as she watched him in his state of despair.
She then said, "Since I don’t feel like sleeping yet, I will see what’s on my phone."
"Stop messing with your phone, it’s nearly eleven. Go to sleep," Michael suggested.
"Early to bed, early to rise. That will benefit both you and the baby."
Wendy was just about to speak up when a notification sounded on the phone.
"Oh, there’s a message. I’ll just take a quick look!" Wendy exclaimed as she reached immediately for her phone.
Knowing that he would not be able to stop her, Michael conceded and let her do what she wanted.
Going to her app, she noticed that there was an incoming message in Michael’s newly formed chat group.
[Yonina: I’ve just seen this. Why is there a new group chat?]
[Yonina: And with only four people?]
[Yonina: And who is Solitary Hand?]
Wendy’s fingers began typing busily.
Very quickly, a row of words appeared.
[Wendy: Identify yourself, Solitary Hand.]
"Wow, Yonina really is a busy bee. She must have been working till now," Wendy commented to Michael.
"Milo has not even responded yet," Michael added, "These two are indeed a perfect match. They’re both such busy people."
"What do you think? Are they really compatible?" Wendy asked. She shared her thoughts, frowning, "Dr. Lawrence needs a woman who’d be able to manage the home that they will build together.
"Although Yonina is a great person, she is also the only person who could keep the Collins Group afloat. She is always up to her ears with work and goes on business trips frequently, often spending up to two weeks away on each trip.
"Truth be told, she needs a man with a less demanding job, someone who’d be able and willing to spend more time managing their home. If these two start dating, my guess is that they would not even be able to see each other more than a few times a month." freewebnøvel.com
"You’ve got a point there," Michael concurred with a nod of his head. "But then again, they are not getting any younger. If they had been able to find someone on their own, why would they still be single?
"If they hit it off and start dating, never mind the fact that they might just see each other a few times a month; even seeing each other a few times a year would still be preferable to being on their own, no?"
Considering Michael’s comment, Wendy could see his point of view.
however, she still had her doubts.
...
"Nobody can challenge destiny. All we can do is to create opportunities for them. It’s up to them to decide whether to take it any further," Michael smiled.
He had barely finished talking when another notification sounded on Wendy’s phone.
She checked to see who the message was from and noted that it was a private message from Yonina.
[Yonina: Who’s the fourth person in the group chat?]
[Yonina: Dr. Lawrence?]
[Yonina: Aarrgghhh! Why didn’t you inform me in advance about this group?]
Michael’s smile broadened when he saw Yonina’s response, "See? Yonina seems interested. Let’s just wait for Milo’s reaction."
[Wendy: You’ve been so busy that you’re only seeing this new group chat now. So, even if I did inform you in advance, you would not have seen my message anyways.] fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm
[Wendy: Since you appeared to be swarmed with work, I didn’t think it was appropriate for me to call you just to inform you that we’ve added you to a new group chat.]
[Yonina: But why hasn’t Dr. Lawrence responded?] [Wendy: He’s probably still at work.]
Wendy noticed an incoming message in their little group after she had responded to Yonina.
She was not surprised to see that it was from Milo.
[Milo: Group chat? What’s this about?]
[Milo: I’m up to my ears with work and have no time for idle chat. Michael, Why have you included me in this group?]
[Milo: If there’s nothing special to discuss, I will leave the group.]
Yonina, who had been about to start typing a message, stopped when she saw Milo’s cold response.
Wendy had not expected Milo to respond so curtly either.
She turned sideways to look at Michael, hoping for advice on how to respond.
Michael took the phone from Wendy and immediately changed the name of the group.
Milo, who had been waiting for a response, noticed that Michael had changed the name of the group to the ’We Care Foundation Discussion Group’.
The very next instant, the tone of his response became totally different.
[Milo: Mr. Lucas, still awake at this late hour?]
[Milo: Is there anything else you wish to discuss regarding the foundation?]
[Milo: A group discussion? Or should we keep it private?]
Wendy was flabbergasted at Milo’s sudden change in attitude.
[Wendy: Mr. Lucas is tucked up in bed with his lovely wife. However, Ms. Collins has some questions that we feel you’d be best placed to answer. Is it convenient to chat now? If you’re too busy, by all means, leave the group now. Don’t let us keep you from attending to your patients.]
[Milo: Oh, I’m not busy. I have time.]
[Milo: @Cabbage, Ms. Collins? If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at any time.]
That said, he sent an emoticon as well, quite uncharacteristic of him.
When they saw the emoticon, Michael and Wendy looked at each other and burst out laughing.
Meanwhile, Yonina was feeling a tad flustered when she saw that Milo had addressed her directly.
Truth be told, she had considered falling in love and finally finding herself a partner.
In the past, she had been attracted to Michael. However, when she saw how much he loved Wendy, she graciously wished them well and watched with envy.
She had also fantasized that a man would one day show up and love her as much as Michael loved Wendy.
Alas, she had yet to meet this elusive man after all these years.
Having met Milo again today, she realized that he appeared different from their previous encounters. Perhaps it was because they were able to spend more time together today instead of the fleeting encounters as in the past.
That was how she concluded that Milo was a good man.
Of course, good looks were also one of the criteria Yonina looked for in a partner. But as of now, it was too soon for her to discern if she liked him.
Nonetheless, she was open to giving it a shot.
