Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

Chapter 249 Silveridge Women's and Children's Hospital Briony was in the emergency room. No one knew exactly what was happening.

Ten minutes before landing, she'd started having severe abdominal pain, with slight bleeding. The flight crew had radioed ahead, arranging for an ambulance to be waiting on the tarmac.

As soon as the plane touched down, Briony was rushed straight to the hospital.

James stood frozen outside the tightly closed doors of the ER, his face etched with worry.

Carney and Gwendolyn White arrived just as the doors swung open.

The three of them hurried to meet the doctor.

Dr. Warren spotted Gwendolyn and gave her a reassuring nod. "Mrs. Winslow, try not to worry. There was a little bleeding, but the baby's alright for now. Briony's condition is a bit unusual, though. We'll need to keep her here for a few days, monitor her closely, and make sure everything stays stable." All three let out a collective sigh of relief.

James leaned against the wall, his legs suddenly weak now that the immediate crisis had passed.

He exhaled shakily. "For a second, I thought I was going to lose my goddaughter." When Briony woke up, she was already settled in a private suite.

Carney, Gwendolyn, and James were all there, watching over her.

As soon as she stirred, Gwendolyn rushed to her side. "Bryn, how are you feeling?" Briony checked in with herself and shook her head gently. "My stomach doesn't hurt anymore." She paused, then asked, "Is the baby okay?" "Don't worry, the baby's fine," Gwendolyn replied quickly. "But the doctor says you're pretty run down. You'll need to stay in the hospital for a few days, just to be safe." Briony's hand drifted to her belly. "Did the doctor say what caused it?" "We're still waiting for the bloodwork results," Gwendolyn told her.

Just as she finished speaking, the door swung open.

Dr. Warren entered, holding a folder. "Your bloodwork's back." Gwendolyn looked up immediately. "What does it say?" Dr. Warren handed her the report. "Your white blood cell count, along with a few other markers, is a bit elevated." James and Carney both frowned at that.

Gwendolyn pressed, "Is that something serious? What could it mean?" Dr. Warren turned to Briony. "Are you feeling any other discomfort right now?" "Not really," Briony replied. "My stomach's fine. I just feel... drained. No energy." "Have you taken any medication recently?" Dr. Warren asked.

Briony shook her head. "No." "That's odd," Dr. Warren murmured, frowning over the report. "There's also a slight chromosomal anomaly, but it's right at the border of normal. Did you get an MRI after you found out you were pregnant?" "No," Briony answered.

"That's strange," Dr. Warren mused. After a moment, she asked, "Have you worn any jewelry made with crystals or stones lately?" Briony thought of the crystal necklace Irwin had given her, but she hadn't worn it.

And suddenly, she realized-something about this whole episode felt off.

"Dr. Warren, do you think I could have been exposed to something harmful? Is that what's causing these problems?" Dr. Warren nodded. "Elevated white blood cells and mild chromosomal changes usually point to exposure to strong radiation. Your numbers aren't alarming yet, but if you were to keep getting exposed, it could cause real, lasting damage. Try to think carefully-do you have anything at hthat might emit radiation? Or have you been anywhere unusual lately?" Briony shook her head. "I've been really careful since I got pregnant. I'm a restoration specialist-I know how risky certain minerals can be. I've avoided crystals and gemstones." Dr. Warren looked puzzled. "That is unusual. Just to be safe, I'd recommend you double-check at home. Make sure nothing's slipped through the cracks." "Thank you, Dr. Warren."

"No need to thank me. If we hadn't caught this early, it could have put the baby at serious, ous risk. We'll need to pay close attention during your next prenatal screening. If it turns out you really were exposed to radiation, we'll have to be especially vigilant about the baby's development." She didn't spell it out, but everyone in the room understood: radiation could cause birth defects.

Briony felt anxiety tighten around her heart again.

Gwendolyn squeezed her hand, trying to comfort her. "Letwalk Dr.m m Warren, out, Don't worry to too much. She Said we caught this in time, and the baby's going to be alright." Briony managed a nod. "Okay." After Gwendolyn and Dr. Warren left the room, Briony sat in heavy silence.

James approached, concern in his eyes. "Any idea what it could be?"

Briony shook her head. "Since I got back, the only places I've been are my studio, Southcreek Manor, and the hospital. But at the hospital, I just went out to the garden." "The crystal necklace wasn't the problem," James mused. "Could it be something at Southcreek Manor?" Briony thought for a moment. "I doubt it. Irwin and Jeannie have been living there, and if there were something wrong, they'd be sick too. They both seem perfectly fine." Besides, she'd been the one to organize and furnish Southcreek Manor herself. When she was there recently, the living room and kitchen looked exactly the same.

She hadn't been anywhere else in the house.

So, Briony reasoned, it probably wasn't Southcreek Manor.