Chapter 24: Retrieving my child
Imogen closed her eyes tightly, pretending to be asleep.
“I can’t see her. I can’t see her. I can’t see her,” she repeated to herself. But her trembling body betrayed her true emotions.
The man’s footsteps drew nearer and nearer, approaching the bed.
Imogen’s heart unded in her throat.
Suddenly, she a chill, and the blanket was pulled off her.
Imogen froze in fear, keeping her eyes shut tight and her legs straight. She told herself, “I’m sleeping, I’m sleeping.”
As long as she couldn’t see his face, he wouldn’t harm her.
The man whispered in her ear, “I know you’re awake. Open your eyes and look at me, or I’ll rape you and then kill
you.”
Her mind went blank, and she opened her eyes in terror, shaking and pleading, “I’m awake, please don’t kill me.”
When she saw the man’s face halfway through, she recognized him – it was Troy. Imogen’s face froze, showing a mix of fear, confusion, and awkwardness.
She had forgotten that Troy was still at home and that the house was secure, so no intruder could have entered.
“Why did you come over?” Imogen avèrted her gaze and blinked.
“It’s thundering outside, and I thought you might have trouble sleeping.”
He didn’t know that Director Imogen, who seemed tough and determined, was afraid of thunder after they got married.
Imogen pursed her lips and replied, “I’m not having trouble sleeping.”
“Really? Oh.”
“Really,” Imogen insisted.
“I’ll leave then.” Troy made a gesture and got up from the bed.
Imogen’s eyes widened, but she didn’t say anything.
She turned over, curling up and muttering in a low voice, “As you wish.”
She heard footsteps leaving, followed by the sound of the door opening and closing.
He had left.
Imogen’s eyes and nose stung.
She wrinkled her nose, realizing that Troy had merely been polite and pretending to
care.
Why did he come here to give her hope and then disappoint her again?
Wasn’t this how Troy always acted?
“You want me to go, so why are you crying?”
She heard a voice, and she stiffly turned over to see Troy standing by the bed.
“You didn’t leave, did you?”
“I didn’t.”
Troy sat beside the bed and patted Imogen’s shoulder. “Okay, go to sleep. I’ll stay here
eep, then I’ll leave.
until you f
A soft “hmm escaped her lips.
Why did Troy have to be like this?
He would hurt her, then treat her kindly, making it hard for her to reject his kindness, even though she knew it was like poison, slowly corroding her heart.
Imogen eventually fell asleep.
The next morning, when she woke up, Troy was gone. All the doors and windows were tightly shut, as if he had never been there.
Imogen freshened up and went to the company after breakfast. She worked there for a while before heading to the studio in the afternoon.
As the day went on, the shooting picked up pace, and Sarah gradually improved. During a break, Alex showed Imogen some of the shots he had taken that day while holding the camera.
Despite having to change locations, the shots were turning out great.
Sarah looked stunning under the spotlight, with her beautiful hair and makeup. Imogen had to admit that, even in her eyes, Sarah appeared somewhat mesmerizing. The shooting for the day was complete, and they wrapped up work.
Alex and Imogen gathered around the camera, looking at the pictures together.
Sarah also joined them to check everything was alright.
“Sarah, do you know who’s coming?” Ylah called out.
Sarah’s eyes lit up, and she exclaimed joyfully, “Troy!”
Troy approached, and his expression suddenly changed. “Be very careful.”
Imogen looked up when she heard the sound, and she saw Troy give her a strong push.
Bang-
The shelf fell, making a loud noise as it hit the ground.
Imogen tumbled to the floor, feeling a sharp pain in her ankle.
Troy hugged Sarah and asked, “Are you hurt?”
“Troy, I was so scared. You came just in time, and it’s a good thing you did. Thank you
for pulling me away just now; otherwise, I would have been hit for sure,” Sarah said, burying her frightened face in Troy’s arms
“It was close; the shelf was just a few centimeters away from you,” Ylah remarked. “Thank goodness Troy was quick. Without him, Sarah would have definitely been hurt.”
Imogen’s eyes hurt from what she saw.
She felt numb all over, and despite her painful ankle, she couldn’t feel it.
In Troy’s e arah was everything. He only cared about Sarah’s safety and put Imogen in harm’s way.
But Troy, if you care so much about Sarah, why did you come last night? Why do keep reopening her wounds just when they start to heal?
you
“Imogen, what’s wrong?” Alex was shocked by the loud noise and couldn’t prevent the shelf from falling in front of him. He quickly put down his camera and helped Imogen regain her composure.
When Imogen moved her ankle, she felt a sharp pain in her lower belly, as if millions of ants were biting her. The pain was faint, but it was excruciating.
Feeling nauseous, Imogen held Alex’s hand and pleaded, “Alex, please take me to the hospital.”
Troy’s expression changed as he saw Imogen sitting on the ground. He immediately reached out and picked her up. “How are you feeling, Imogen? I’ll drive you to the hospital.”
Imogen didn’t pay much attention to Troy’s words at that moment. She just grabbed his arm and said softly, “Hurry.”
The pain in her stomach intensified, and she looked scared and hurt.
Her baby!
She had to protect her child.
Troy hugged Imogen, quickly got into the car, and instructed the driver, “Hurry, take us to the hospital.”
The driver promptly got into the car, and they sped off without delay.
Imogen leaned against Troy’s arms, feeling her consciousness slipping away.
Troy said uncomfortably, “Imogen? Don’t fall asleep, we’ll be at the hospital soon.”
“Hmm,” Imogen whispered, trying to summon her strength.
Imogen was taken to the emergency room in a daze. She mustered the strength to plead with the doctor to save her child. “Please, make sure my child is saved.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll do everything we can to help you.”
Imogen felt relieved by the doctor’s response, but she didn’t forget to add, “The man
outside is my ex–husband. Please don’t tell him I’m pregnant.”
The doctor was taken aback.
The man outside looked very concerned about her. He assumed they were a young couple, but to his surprise, they had already divorced.
Patients have a right to privacy, and since she didn’t want him to know, he would respect her wishes and keep it a secret.
But why did the man outside look like he knew him?