On the Ruins of His Regret I Soar novel Chapter 149

Egg retrieval. They were doing IVF.

Has Lance lost his mind?

They were about to get a divorce, and he was forcing her to undergo IVF? To implant an embryo in her uterus and make her carry his child again? Did he really think this would stop her from leaving him? It was absurd.

Jessica got to her feet, ignoring the discomfort in her lower abdomen, and pulled back the curtains. The window was covered by a thick set of iron bars. She was a bird in a cage; even if she grew wings, she couldn’t fly away.

She refused to just give up. She went to the door and started knocking, then pounding, then kicking.

There was no response from outside. It was as if she were completely cut off from the world, her rage and desperation unheard.

After what felt like an eternity, a small slot at the bottom of the iron door opened, and a hand pushed a tray of food inside.

It was a lifeline. She scrambled to the door. “Was it Lance Smith who told you to do this? Who’s in charge here? Is it Patricia Allen? I want to see her!”

The nurse who delivered the food scurried away without a word.

Jessica kicked the door again in frustration. The food on the tray looked bland and unappetizing, but she knew she had to eat. She sat on the floor, hugging her knees.

Time passed without measure until, finally, she heard a voice.

“Jessica.”

Patricia sighed. “I already gave Lance my word. Jessica, stop shouting. It’s no use.”

Jessica stared at the door in despair. Unable to bear the weight of her silent gaze, Patricia turned her head away. “Don’t blame me for this, Jessica,” she said, her voice filled with a hollow regret, before walking away.

Jessica sat alone in the corner for a long time before finally picking up the tray and forcing herself to eat every last bite. She couldn’t afford to starve herself. If she was weak and malnourished, she wouldn’t be able to escape even if an opportunity presented itself. She had to eat every meal and maintain her strength.

A profound sense of hopelessness washed over her. Who could she rely on? Would Emily notice she was missing from work? But Emily had her own family problems to deal with. George? He had already been hurt protecting her.

It struck her then that in a world so vast and full of people, if she were to simply vanish, very few would even notice she was gone.

She bowed her head, and a tear slipped from the corner of her eye.