"I'll certainly strive to improve and not cause you any embarrassment."
"Silly girl," Gerard sighed, gently meeting her eyes. "Take your time.
I'm here to shield you through every challenge. Don't be influenced by external voices. Being with me is the best."
"I know... I know it is," Lilah whispered, holding him tightly.
In the days that followed, the online debate intensified, yet with no updates from Gerard and the Rhodes family, attention gradually shifted to other matters.
Tracy anxiously awaited a response from Richard.
She believed that as long as he was in the right state of mind, he would comply. However, there was still no word from them.
One morning, Tracy had breakfast with Laura.
“Has Gerard not contacted you during this time?" Tracy asked.
Laura shook her head. Witnessing her mother's expression darken, she felt uneasy, suddenly overwhelmed by discomfort, and rushed to the trash can, vomiting.
“What's wrong with you?" Tracy frowned, concerned.
“It's okay; maybe the milk was a bit cold," Laura replied softly, trying to ease her mother's worry. “Mom, I'll do my utmost to make him fall in love with me."
Seeing Laura in this state, Tracy felt a mix of sympathy and anger for her.
Laura took a few more bites but felt increasingly uncomfortable, desiring to vomit.
"Let the doctor take a look," Tracy suggested, worried about her daughter.
The family doctor promptly arrived and examined Laura, a constant furrow marking his brow.
“What's wrong with me, doctor?" Laura's anxiety was evident.
“Miss Rhodes, you're perfectly healthy," reassured the family doctor, puzzlement in his expression.
“Then why does she want to vomit? Is her stomach not good?" Tracy asked.
The family doctor hesitated, and then revealed, "Miss Laura Rhodes may be pregnant."
For Tracy, those words hit like a thunderbolt. She couldn't fathom that her seemingly pure and virtuous daughter could be pregnant!
Anger surged within Tracy, her hand moved impulsively.
Slap!
The mark of her palm swiftly imprinted on Laura's face.