After the blood draw, they returned to the waiting area for the results.
The hospital lobby was filled with people. Danielle leaned back in her chair, her eyes fixed on the test order in her hand, her fingertips unconsciously tracing its edges.
Gian came back with a cup of warm milk. “Drink this,” he said softly. “Keep your strength up.”
Danielle obediently took a few sips, the warmth of the milk sliding down her throat.
There were still ten minutes until the results would be ready, but every second felt like an eternity.
She was terrified the test would be positive, throwing all her plans into disarray.
At the same time, she felt a strange, underlying apprehension about facing an unknown future.
“Don’t be so tense,” Gian said, sensing her anxiety. He gently placed his hand over hers, the warmth seeping through her skin. “Whatever the result is, we can handle it.”
Danielle nodded. Just as she was about to speak, a familiar voice cut through the air.
She looked up to see Alexander helping Lorie out of the elevator. Lorie had one hand protectively on her belly, her face soft with the glow of a recent check-up. They walked over and stopped near the waiting area.
Seeing Danielle and Gian, Alexander paused. His gaze fell on Danielle, and his brow furrowed slightly. “Are the test results not back yet? Is something wrong?”
His tone held an unconscious note of concern, his eyes locked on Danielle, completely oblivious to the way Lorie’s expression had instantly stiffened beside him.
Gian’s grip on Danielle’s hand tightened. He looked up at Alexander, his voice sharp with a cool warning. “Mr. Davidson, isn’t it a little inappropriate to be so concerned about my girlfriend in front of your fiancée?”
“I think Chief Engineer Crawford and her friend have a misunderstanding about me. If we stay here, we’ll just be a nuisance.”
As she spoke, she shot a pointed look at Danielle.
Alexander looked at Lorie’s wounded expression and then at the curious onlookers. His face grew even darker, but he didn’t argue. He gave Danielle one last, deep look before turning to leave with Lorie.
As their backs disappeared through the lobby doors, Gian finally looked away and muttered under his breath, “What is wrong with that guy? He’s so clueless, and on top of that, he’s always trying to mess with other people’s lives.”
Danielle sighed softly, her fingers still clutching the lab slip. “That’s just how he is. He can never figure out what he should do, and he never learns to take responsibility for his choices.”
Gian turned to her, a questioning look in his eyes. “Do you think the baby Lorie is carrying is actually Alexander’s?”

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