Letting his father near his pregnant wife was the last thing he would allow. He had seen how poorly he treated his mother when she was pregnant with Yize. How could he allow such a man near his precious wife and children?

Qingchen began barking orders at the paramedics from the moment he set her down on the stretcher. She drifted back into unconsciousness without being able to comprehend what he was saying.

​​

"My wife is twelve weeks pregnant and she has been having a bad headache since last night. She doesn't have a good appetite and the doctor said it was normal," he said out in a rush.

As the medics took her, he rushed behind and found Li Min getting out of the car, looking distressed.

"Li Min," he growled. "What is wrong with her?" he asked.

Li Min jumped at the fierceness of his voice but she understood. "Mr. Mo, Boss hasn't been able to keep anything down since morning. She couldn't even keep down a sip of water. She vomited at least six times," Li Min informed.

Qingchen's expression was murderous. "And you didn't think to dissuade her from going to the meeting?" he asked. He didn't let her respond. "You didn't think that you should inform me when you know how stubborn she is?" he roared.

Li Min's eyes almost watered at the scolding.

The paramedic from earlier called for Qingchen, saving her a thorough scolding. She heaved a sigh.

"Mr. Mo, please accompany her to the hospital. I will follow the ambulance closely. Please don't be worried. I will reach around the same time and give them details." She bowed and shuffled into the car.

Qingchen didn't wait longer and bolted to the ambulance. He saw his father's grave expression and the look of worry on everyone else. He didn't care what they thought.

As they rode away, Yize turned to her family. "I got the name of the hospital they are taking Qian Meng. I'll follow. Who wants to come with me?" she asked.

The family didn't question and went in.

Their father sat in Yize's car and grumbled. "Twelve weeks pregnant and they didn't tell us. It's not like she is the only woman who got pregnant and worked hard in the office. What is there to faint?" he grumbled to herself.

Yize gritted her teeth. "Have you been pregnant before, dad?" she asked.

Mo Zichen startled and looked at his daughter. "What?"

"No, you seem to be really knowledgable about pregnancies. I know you don't like Qian Meng because she is young and not ideal for the son you nurtured to be your heir, but you have to accept that she is a strong businesswoman. And Qingchen hates you. He would never touch your company again even with a six feet pole."

Mo Zichen liked his daughter too much to say anything back.

"I know you are upset about your meeting not going according to plan, but please restrain yourself." She stopped and wondered if she should explain further. "Brother might kill you if you say anything out of place." Months of therapy told her that she was fucked up not only because of her mother but her father too. She just… hadn't realized it.

She knew for a fact that her two other brothers had been affected by it too. One refused to get married altogether and the other didn't even want emotions in their life until Qian Meng arrived.

Mo Zichen looked at his daughter without knowing what to say.

She didn't feel like explaining.

"You shouldn't speak to your father like that," Li Li Hua said sternly.

Mo Yize sighed and restrained her frustration. "At some point, you two will realize that you have traumatized your kids into being incapable of normal relationships. One beat his wife and abused her and the other skipped around speaking about female empowerment but did nothing as she was beaten. She even called it a manifestation of her husband's love." She looked at the two of them through the rearview mirror. "If you know what is good for your children, don't involve yourself in their private lives. We are grownups. We know what to do."

Li Li Hua had been prepared to say something, but this blatant revelation of the truth left her stunned.

"I know I am being harsh, but the situation deems I speak on everyone's behalf. Brother is not in the right state of mind. Please don't make his situation worse." Yize was pleading at this point. The rest of the journey was silent.

- - - - -

Qian Meng was alone. She could feel the biological defenses of her body crashing quickly.

Consciousness was the first to go, taking self-preservation and determination with it. Suddenly, she was scared that she was drifting away again. If this was fate, she would fight it with every last drop of her being.

She wouldn't allow the universe to pull her away to another place without her consent.

It seemed that hope was leaving.

She needed to compel the body to keep functioning. And when she was sure it was going to fail, she willed her heart to hold on.

It seemed to be the only one at her side. The others betrayed her.

A small part of her wondered what it would be like to give up. She was not always like this. Last time, she didn't fight this hard.

But this life was special. This body and this heart were special. This soul was special and it was bound to Mo Qingchen and the little lives inside her.

As she saw images of another universe, one where her circumstances were different and Mo Qingchen was different come to her mind. She felt it pull on her.

But she didn't allow it to pull on her. There wouldn't be an end to her. Even if her body was long gone and rotten, she would not allow herself to live a life without 'her' Qingchen.

She would fight to keep this body for just a little longer in the unyielding vastness of the universe. If destiny was determined to take her away, it would have to rip her life away from her desperate grasp.