Chapter 1 Pregnant

When Lysander Thorne received the laboratory report confirming her pregnancy, she felt a wave of disorientation. Despite being a skilled obstetrician and gynecologist, the news that she was four weeks pregnant felt surreal. Her emotions were a mix of excitement and unease. She was thrilled because, after three years of marriage, she and her husband were finally going to have a baby. But the timing couldn't have been worse. She was consumed by work, focused on applying for a professional title and considering a potential opportunity for an overseas exchange program. She knew she needed to tell her husband, Josiah Guerra, right away. Just as she reached for her phone to call him, it started ringing. Her assistant, Lynn Vale, was on the line. "Dr. Thorne, I'm sorry to disturb you on your day off, but we have an urgent situation. A pregnant woman in critical condition just arrived in the emergency room!" Years of medical experience had prepared Lysander for such situations. Fortunately, she was already at the hospital. Without hesitation, she hung up and rushed to the emergency room. When she arrived, Lynn was busy performing initial checks on the patient. "Dr. Thorne, you got here so quickly!" Lynn exclaimed in surprise. She had expected it to take at least 20 minutes for Lysander to arrive. Staying professional, Lysander grabbed a white coat and gloves and asked, "I happened to be nearby. What's the patient's condition?" "There was a severe car accident. She's six months pregnant, bleeding heavily, unconscious, and showing signs of shock." "Have her family members been contacted?" "Yes, I reached out. Her—" "Doctor, how is my wife doing?" A man's voice interrupted, breathless and full of worry. Lysander froze when she recognized the voice. Turning to look, she stared at the man, her gaze unwavering, as the sight of his familiar face struck her with an overwhelming sense of disbelief. His reaction mirrored hers—his pupils widened slightly, and an uncharacteristic hint of awkwardness broke through his usual calm demeanor. For a brief moment, neither spoke; their words were lost in the shock of the moment. Lynn, too, recognized him and froze in surprise. That man was Josiah—Lysander's husband. Although her mind swirled with confusion and disbelief, Lysander forced herself to set those thoughts aside. Her professional instincts kicked in, and she turned toward the operating room to focus on saving the patient. Josiah seemed like he wanted to explain, but Lysander didn't look back as she walked away. Once in the operating room, Lysander's thoughts briefly drifted to Josiah's earlier words. He called her his wife. Is this patient Josiah's wife? If so, then who am I to him? His visible panic over the woman was unlike anything she had seen in their three years of marriage. She shook her head, forcing herself to dismiss the thoughts that threatened to distract her. The patient's condition was critical. After reviewing the doctor's notes, Lysander quickly decided on an urgent ligation. After that, she slipped into her surgical uniform and immersed herself in the routine of her job. Upon entering the operating room, she was consumed by hours of intensive surgery and patient care, working tirelessly for nearly six hours. When Lysander finally emerged, her legs felt weak beneath her, and she almost collapsed. Lynn rushed to steady her, a flicker of suspicion crossing her mind as she thought of Josiah waiting near the ward. Could Dr. Thorne's husband be involved in an affair? She cast Lysander a strange gaze. "Dr. Thorne, are you alright?" Lysander shook her head weakly. "Help me sit down for a moment." Guiding her to a chair, Lynn fetched a cup of warm water and handed it over, concern evident in her expression. "Dr. Thorne, this is supposed to be your vacation. You're pushing yourself too hard. But honestly, no one else could've handled such a complex case. The patient truly needed you." Lysander barely focused on her assistant's words. Her thoughts drifted instead to Josiah, who was likely still waiting for an update on the surgery. "You should go and—" Lysander paused, uncertain how to refer to him in front of her assistant. Should she call him her husband? Or the patient's husband? Lynn quickly picked up on her hesitation and responded promptly, "Dr. Thorne, you should rest. I'll handle the conversation with the patient's ... family." Lysander took a deep breath, realizing that wasn't something her assistant should manage. Sooner or later, she would have to confront the issue herself. Maybe there was a misunderstanding, and the only way to resolve it was to talk to Josiah. "Forget it," she said after a moment. "I'll handle explaining things to the patient's family. As the patient's surgeon, it's my responsibility to address the situation personally."