Maggie’s face went pale. She stepped forward quickly and helped Ka up. For once, she showed real concern. “Don’t worry. We’re g


    oing to the hospital. We can save the baby!”


    “…” Ka tried to say she wasn’t pregnant, but the sudden pain made her faint.


    “Tuff!” Maggie cried out in terror.


    Tuff swept in behind Ka like a tornado, grabbing her protectively.


    “Hurry, get to the hospital!”


    The birthday party, which had started so well, ended up getting ruined after all.


    Everyone assumed Ka was pregnant and showed signs of a miscarriage, including Joyce.


    Joyce let out a heavy sigh of relief.


    She thought, ‘With all that blood and pain bad enough to make her pass out, there’s no way the baby could’ve made it. It’d be even better if Ka couldn’t have kids at all…‘


    With that thought, Joyce lowered her eyes and slipped into a corner to make a call.


    Maggie was pacing anxiously outside the ER when Joyce finished her call and came over, putting on a reassuring smile. “Don worry, Maggie. She’ll be fine.”


    “Yeah, that’s right! It’s nothing serious, just a bit of bleeding. As long as she gets plenty of bed rest, she’ll carry the baby to with no problem,” Maggie kept telling herself, trying to stay positive.


    Maggie was already imagining how she’d pamper Ka from now on.


    The ER doors swung open, and the doctor.


    rolled Ka out on a hospital bed, with Tuff right beside her, looking serious.


    Maggie anxiously rushed over and asked, “How is she? Did you save the baby?”


    “The patient is not pregnant. Her pain and fainting were caused by a heavy period,” the doctor said.


    “What?” Maggie blurted out, totally stunned.


    She was crushed at first, but then she quickly calmed down.


    Maggie thought, ‘Having her period is way better than a miscarriage, after all.


    ‘Not pregnant this month? No big deal. They will try again next month. From now on, Ka has to be super careful, just in case.


    ‘In short, Ka has to be careful every single day.’


    Ka was moved to a ward, and Tuff stayed by her side.


    Maggie could tell Tuff was shaken up, so she tried tofort him. “Don’t worry, Tuff. It’s normal. Women go through <b>this </b><b>every </b>month.”


    “Exactly! Sometimes the cramps get bad and the bleeding’s heavy, but it’s nothing unusual,” Joyce added, trying to reassure fem


    Tuff nodded. “Got it. You guys should head home and let Grandma know what happened. Once things calm down, Kaya and 1948 apologize for messing up her birthday party.”


    “Come on, your grandma wouldn’t care about that,” Maggieughed. “Since she’s fine, you stay here and take care of her


    “Okay.”


    Tuff didn’t even think about seeing his mom off. His whole heart was with Ka.


    Brian had warned Tuff there could be aftereffects, but Tuff never thought it would be this serious.


    Ka had lost so much blood today, and she’d nearly gone into shock.


    She was still in so much pain!


    It would be bad enough if it only happened once, but she had to suffer like that every single month.


    It was not fair.


    Every time Tuff thought about it, it tore him up inside.


    “Honey…” Tuff held Ka’s hand, his eyes red and voice trembling. “I’m sorry. I should’ve protected you…”


    Tuff thought, ‘If only I hadn’t left for that mission and had stayed by Ka’s side, none of this would’ve happened.


    It’s time to retire.


    ‘I can’t even keep my own family safe. What kind of man am I?


    ‘No wonder Landon wanted out. Me, too. I’m turning in my resignation tomorrow.”


    Joyce made a point of taking Maggie to see the doctor, hóping to find out how to help Ka recover and get pregnant as soon as possible.


    However, what the doctor said next hit them like a bombshell.


    “The patient’s health is in bad shape. Honestly, it’s going to be hard for her to get pregnant,” the doctor said.


    “What?” Maggie blurted out<b>, </bpletely stunned.


    “Doctor, could you please check again? <i>Ka </i>


    so young. How could she have trouble getting pregnant?” Joyce pressed.


    The doctor adjusted his sses and sighed/“Honestly, saying she has trouble conceiving is putting it mildly. In my experience, I’m afraid she may never be able to get pregnant again.”


    Maggie’s vision kept going ck. She was so dizzy she could barely stay on her feet.


    Joyce quickly steadied her. “Take it easy, Maggie. Let’s have Tuff exin. He looks like he knows what’s up.”


    “Go… go and get him,” Maggie said, her voice trembling.


    <b>Mon</b>, 25 AUD MUYO


    “Alright,” Landen replied.


    Joyce pushed open the door and was stunned by what she saw.


    Tuff, the guy who was always so strong, was sitting there, clutching Ka’s hand, tears streaming down his face for her.


    Joyce felt uneasy. “Tuff, Maggie wants to see you.”


    “I can’t right now…” Tuff said, his voice thick with emotion.


    “Maggie already knows she can’t have kids,” Joyce said softly.


    Tuff’s face went pale, his eyes snapping to her, sharp as knives. “Did you tell her?”


    “No way! I didn’t even know what was going on. She went to the doctor herself,” Joyce blurted out.


    Tuff fell silent.


    ‘No point hiding it anymore,‘ he thought, a wave of helplessness washing over him.


    He gently tucked the nket around Ka, making sure she wasfortable, then followed Joyce out.


    Maggie was slumped on the bench, looking like she was about to fall apart.


    “Tuff, tell me. What happened?” said Maggie.


    Tuff’s voice was heavy with guilt. “I let her down. She got hurt because I didn’t protect her.”


    “What kind of injury could ruin her ability to have kids?” Maggie was in total disbelief. “Tuff, don’t lie to me. Did she get hurt t when she was with her ex–husband? Did something go wrong back then?”


    “No,” Tuff shot back immediately.


    “Then, how is this possible? She’s given birth before!” Maggie pressed, her voice trembling.


    “Someone poisoned her back when we were on that business trip in Dreicean,” Tuff said, keeping his tone as gentle as he could.


    Maggie pressed anxiously, “What kind of poison was it?”


    “Not exactly sure. The poison’s out now, but it still did a number on her body,” Tuff replied.


    “<i>So </i>that means… I’ll never get to hold my grandkids?” Maggie choked out, her voice full of heartbreak.


    “Mom, Landen’s your grandson…” Tuff said softly, trying tofort her, though he knew it wouldn’t help.


    “Enough!” Maggie exploded, her anger boiling over. “Whose grandson is he, huh? He’s a member of the Kyle family! That kid’s got Kyle blood running through his veins, not ours!”


    Tuff said seriously, “Mom, I see Landen as my son. Please don’t say things like that again, or I will be upset.”


    “p!”


    Maggie pped him hard across the face. “You’re upset? Who are you upset with? If you’d listened to me and never <b>married </b><b>her</b>, <b>I’d </b>have my grandkids by now! Instead, you’re ying dad to another man’s son!”


    <b>08:00 </b><b>Mon</b>, Zu Aug M


    “Mom!” Tuff snapped, his voice rising with fury. “Stop it! I’ll go and join the Kingsley family as their son if you keep <b>this </b>up!


    After venting his anger, Tuff headed straight back to the ward to stay by Ka’s side.


    He couldn’t help worrying that Ka might wake up and overhear their argument.


    Upon seeing how fiercely Tuff stood up for Ka, Joyce was dying of envy.


    Suddenly, Joyce had an idea. She leaned closer to Maggie and whispered, “Don’t get upset, Maggie. They’re still in the honeymoon phase right now. They can’t bear to be apart. But give it a few years. Once things cool off, and Tuff starts wanting kids of his own<b>, </b>he’ll drift away from her.”


    “A few years? Do I have to wait years for this?” Maggie groaned, rubbing her forehead in frustration.


    “You need to be patient,” Joyce coaxed, her voice soft and sweet.


    “Every time I think about how she can’t have kids, my heart aches… Tuff is the only heir left in the Prescott family. If she can’t give him a child, that’s the end of our family line!” Maggie cried, her voice full of despair.


    “How about hiring a surrogate?” Joyce suggested, her voice sly and low.


    Maggie stared for a moment, not getting it. “What do you mean?”


    “Find a woman willing to have Tuff’s child. Once the baby’s born, you take the kid, get rid of the mother, and raise the kid as Ka’s. No need to acknowledge the mother,” Joyce exined, her eyes gleaming with cold calction.


    “That’s a pretty good idea,” Maggie said, her eyes lighting up with excitement. “But where are we supposed to find a woma willing and happy to do something like that?”


    “If you trust me, Maggie, I’ll handle everything,” Joyce replied, a sly smile on her lips.


    <i>“</i>Alright, it’s all up to you!” Maggie said.


    She squeezed Joyce’s hand, her gratitude overflowing.


    AD


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