Elisabeth slowly lowered her phone onto the bedside table.
For a few moments, she remained silent while holding Aurora close against her chest.
Her heart still felt heavy after the conversation with Merry.
But strangely… there was also a small sense of relief she could not explain.
At least now, she had finally spoken honestly about her feelings.Aurora moved slightly in her sleep, making Elisabeth immediately look down at her.
The baby's tiny fingers unconsciously curled around the fabric of her clothes.
Elisabeth's gaze softened instantly.
"You really like clinging to me, hm?" she whispered gently.
Aurora only made a tiny sound before falling still again.A faint smile appeared on Elisabeth's lips.Then suddenly.
Buzz…
Her phone vibrated once more.
Elisabeth frowned slightly when she saw Darren's name on the screen.
For some reason, her heartbeat immediately became irregular again.
After hesitating for a few seconds, she finally answered the call.
"Hello…?"
Darren's calm voice came from the other side.
"Did my lawyer arrive safely?"
Elisabeth slowly sat down on the edge of the bed.
"Yes. He already explained everything."
"How do you feel?" Darren asked quietly.
The simple question somehow made her chest tighten.
No one had asked her that sincerely in a very long time.
"I'm… okay," she replied softly.
But Darren immediately spoke again,
"You don't sound okay."
Elisabeth fell silent.
Meanwhile, Darren leaned back in his office chair at the hospital while loosening his tie slightly.
"I know meeting the lawyer must have been stressful," he said gently.
"And I'm guessing William's family has already contacted you."
Elisabeth blinked slowly. "How did you know?"
Darren let out a small breath.
"Because people like them care more about reputation than your feelings."
Elisabeth unconsciously lowered her gaze.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Darren's voice softened even more.
"Elisabeth…"
"Hm?"
"You don't have to go through this alone anymore."
Her fingers slowly tightened around the blanket beside her.Those words felt dangerously comforting.
Too comforting.
Elisabeth quickly tried to calm her heart.
"This marriage is only a contract," she reminded herself silently.
But deep down… her heart was beginning to forget that fact little by little.
Elisabeth remained silent for a few seconds after hearing Darren's words.
Her fingers still gripped the blanket tightly while Aurora slept peacefully in her arms.
Meanwhile, Darren waited patiently on the other end of the call.
"Thank you…" Elisabeth finally whispered softly.
Darren's expression softened immediately.
"You don't have to thank me for something I should've done a long time ago," he replied quietly.
Elisabeth frowned slightly. "What do you mean?"
Darren paused for a brief moment.
"Nothing," he answered calmly.
But deep inside, regret once again tightened painfully in his chest.
If only he had returned sooner… perhaps Elisabeth would never have suffered this much.
Darren slowly rubbed his forehead before speaking again in a gentler tone.
"Did you eat properly this morning?"
Elisabeth blinked, slightly caught off guard by the sudden question.
"Yes…"
"And did you use the breast pump already?"
Elisabeth looked down awkwardly at the pump sitting beside the bed.
"I did."
"Good," Darren said softly.
"You need to take care of your health too, especially while breastfeeding."
Elisabeth lowered her gaze again.
Why does he still care about me this much…?
The question lingered silently in her mind.
Then suddenly Aurora moved restlessly in her sleep and let out a tiny whimper.
"Huek…"
Elisabeth immediately adjusted the baby gently in her arms.
Darren's voice softened even more when he heard the sound.
"Is Aurora awake again?"
"Not really," Elisabeth replied quietly.
"She's just moving a little."
For a brief moment, Darren smiled faintly in his office.
The image of Elisabeth holding Aurora somehow felt strangely warm in his mind.
Almost like… the family life he once dreamed about.
"When I finish my shift later, I'll come home early," Darren said suddenly.
Elisabeth's heartbeat instantly quickened again.
"Y-you don't have to rush home because of me," she replied quickly.
Darren chuckled softly.
"I'm not rushing home because of you."
Elisabeth frowned slightly.
"Then because of who?"
Darren stayed silent for a second before answering in a low voice,
"Because I miss hearing Aurora cry already."
Elisabeth unconsciously smiled a little.
But somehow… deep inside, she knew that wasn't the real reason at all.
"Oh…" Elisabeth murmured softly.
For a moment, silence filled the call again.
Then Darren spoke once more in his calm voice.
"I already sent several health supplements for you."
Elisabeth blinked slightly. "Supplements?"
"Yes," Darren replied.
"You need vitamins, iron, and nutrition support while breastfeeding."
His tone sounded natural and professional… yet somehow still caring at the same time.
"You have to take them regularly, understand?"
Elisabeth lowered her gaze slightly.
"Alright."
A faint smile appeared on Darren's lips after hearing her obedient answer.Then a few seconds later, he suddenly said,
"And tonight, I want to take you to meet my parents."
Elisabeth froze instantly.
"Your… parents?"
"Yes," Darren answered calmly.
"You're going to marry me, remember?"
"So naturally, you should meet my parents."
He paused briefly before adding,
"They just returned from overseas this morning."
Elisabeth unconsciously tightened her hold around Aurora.For some reason, nervousness immediately crept into her chest.
"What if they still dislike me…? she wondered silently.
Darren seemed to understand her thoughts immediately.
"Don't be nervous," he said softly.
Elisabeth let out a small awkward laugh.
"How can I not be nervous?"
"They used to oppose our relationship."
Back then, Darren's parents had never approved of them dating during high school.
They believed Elisabeth would distract Darren from his future.
Darren leaned back in his chair while smiling faintly at the old memory.
"That was years ago," he said calmly.
"They opposed us because we were still in high school."
"My parents wanted me to focus on becoming a doctor first."
His voice lowered slightly afterward.
"And now…"
"I already became one."
Elisabeth fell silent.
Something about Darren's words made her heart beat strangely again.
As if the man had quietly been holding onto their unfinished past all this time.Meanwhile Darren continued softly,
"My parents are not bad people, Elisabeth."
"They just care too much about my future."
Elisabeth slowly nodded even though nervousness still lingered inside her.
"Will they… know about the contract marriage?" she asked hesitantly.
Darren's expression immediately softened.
"No."
"They only need to know that you and Aurora are important to me."
The moment Elisabeth heard those words, her heartbeat instantly lost control again.