Chapter 3
I was completely stunned in place.
For nearly a year, Mira and I hadn't been intimate. She said she was frigid in that regard.
This child couldn't possibly be mine.
A surge of frustration rose in my chest. I said to Mira unkindly:
"You're pregnant and still doing such intense activities? Did you two even think about the child?"
"You're completely unfit to be parents!"
Mira, having her sore spot exposed, couldn't help but clutch her stomach, lowering her eyes and stammering:
"We were just seeking thrills. We couldn't hold back."
The allergy medication was working. Tom half-opened his eyes at that moment, having heard those last few sentences.
He lay there, his tone still caustic:
"We do what we want. What are you? Mind your own business!"
"I'm your gold card customer. I can do whatever I want on the plane. You working stiffs will never experience the kind of fun we have in your entire lives. If anyone dares to say another word, I'll file a serious complaint against you!"
Perhaps it was his blood pressure spiking, or perhaps the allergy medication's effect was limited.
He rolled his eyes back and passed out again.
At an impasse, we had no choice but to find the airport's on-call doctor to come over and put him on an IV.
To prevent the two of them from going crazy again, I stood guard at the hospital room door.
Just as the on-call doctor was examining Tom, Mira pulled me aside.
She handed me an agreement and a bank card.
"You're their supervisor, right? I need all the staff who were present today to sign a confidentiality agreement. Anyone who signs gets ten thousand dollars. Go notify everyone and make it happen."
Hearing her imperious tone, I almost laughed out loud.
"Not signing. Don't want it."
I shook her off and walked away without looking back.
Naturally, I didn't see her resentful expression.
I walked to the hospital room entrance. The on-call doctor told me Tom's condition had stabilized.
"The allergic reaction has been stopped. The allergen was a special ingredient in that rose essential oil."
"There's a more serious problem. His reproductive area was overstimulated for too long and has currently lost function. He may lose that ability permanently."
The doctor said there was nothing he could do. It all depended on Tom's own luck now.
I nodded. The equipment in the room suddenly beeped.
The doctor glanced at it, his tone grave:
"He's showing signs of oxygen deprivation. He needs a blood transfusion."
Finding someone on short notice wasn't realistic. If something happened to Tom, Mira would go crazy and drag more colleagues into it.
Thinking of this, I volunteered: "Take mine. I'm type O."
"Go tell his family first. If she gives you trouble, tell her she can come find me."
During the blood draw, my head suddenly felt dizzy, my temples throbbing. I nearly cried out.
I sucked in a cold breath, endured it, and closed my eyes, not wanting to cause more trouble.
The headache still didn't ease. Cold sweat beaded on my forehead.
I clenched my fists, veins bulging on the backs of my hands.
Like this, I held on until the blood draw was complete.
After confirming Tom's condition was stable, I finally breathed a long sigh of relief.
Just as I was about to head back, my feet felt unsteady and I nearly fell.
The on-call doctor quickly caught me.
"Why are you so hot? Carter, do you have a fever?"
I nodded. I'd felt feverish since last night.
The doctor urged me:
"Go back and rest right away. After switching shifts, you've worked two overnight shifts in a row. Work is important, but your health is more important."
I smiled. "It's not quitting time yet. That woman is too difficult. You won't be able to handle her."
The doctor sighed:
"You're too conscientious and responsible. You always take everything on yourself."
"Those arrogant people don't even think about it—without millions of people like you, how could they have pleasant journeys?"
I smiled bitterly but couldn't bring myself to defend Mira.
My true identity was actually the only grandson of the Carter family, the future heir to the family fortune.