After Rebirth, I Replaced My Ex-Husband's True Love-Chapter 143: What I Want Is the Child

Crystal and the others still don’t know about my situation. I told Ivan not to tell Silas, so they basically won’t find out.

She’s still pregnant, and I don’t want to upset her too much.

While I was chatting with Ivan, a nurse came in to give me an IV. As the door opened, I saw Henry standing at the entrance.

He comes every day, but my parents won’t let him in, and I don’t want to see him anymore.

After the nurse finished the IV and left, I asked, "How’s Azure doing?"

"Her condition is stable, but I heard she can’t go to Country D for now and needs to be observed for a while longer," Ivan replied.

I nodded and didn’t say anything more. Some plans I’ll wait to discuss after I return home.

The next day, I was discharged and returned home with my parents. Sherman will handle my resignation and moving out.

Before boarding the plane, Ivan sent me a message: I’ll return home in a while too, wait for me.

I replied: Okay.

When I got home, it was already afternoon. My mom started preparing some food, and my dad watched TV with me.

I watched those humorous variety shows, but I couldn’t laugh at all, just found myself zoning out.

After a while, I took out my phone and contacted Crystal: Crystal, do you know any media reporters? Recommend one to me.

Crystal didn’t know what I wanted to do, but she still forwarded me a reporter’s WeChat contact. His name is Ryan Rhodes, and he loves to chase all kinds of entertainment and social news. Much of Henry’s gossip was written by him.

I never expected that one day I’d be leaking news about Henry to a reporter.

Isn’t Azure supposed to have a heart problem? I want to give her a good shock.

After chatting for a while, I sent an audio clip to Ryan. It was recorded when Azure visited my hospital room.

Ever since seeing through Azure’s true nature, every time I met her alone, I would pre-emptively turn on the recorder on my phone.

Soon, Ryan replied with a message: Got it!

I could have given this audio directly to Henry to prove Azure’s manipulations, but if he continued to defend her, it would hinder my plans to leak the information.

Just finished chatting with Ryan, Crystal called. I thought she would ask why I contacted a reporter, but she already knew about my miscarriage.

"Zoe, what happened? Were you pregnant before? How come none of us knew? It’s that bitch Azure who caused your miscarriage, right? Damn it, Henry’s still defending her?!" Crystal blurted out, clearly upset.

"Crystal, you’re pregnant, don’t get too worked up. I’m back now, I’m at home, everything’s fine," I reassured her, worried about her health.

"Azure messaged Silas about your situation. I saw it on his phone. What’s her deal?!" Crystal was infuriated.

I clenched my fists. Azure’s shamelessness exceeded my imagination. She knew Crystal and I are like sisters and that Crystal is pregnant, yet she deliberately messaged Silas about my miscarriage. Was she not afraid of causing Crystal distress?

I truly couldn’t fathom someone being so disgusting—a girl who appears innocent and pure, yet is more dangerous than a venomous snake, always planning to harm others.

I spent quite some time comforting Crystal, not wanting my situation to affect her unborn child.

After hanging up, my hatred for Azure reached a new peak.

And my hatred for Henry burned intensely as well.

I asked Ryan to use the recording as a basis to write an article and send it to me for review. Three days later, he had it ready.

Meanwhile, Ivan sent me a message saying that Azure couldn’t go to Country D for surgery immediately, and would soon be transferred back here for ongoing regular checkups and treatment at her previous heart hospital. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

I was considering my next move when Leah called.

"Zoe, I’m speechless!" she exclaimed in exasperation. "Azure’s heart condition is now the talk of University A. The school is even organizing a fundraiser, especially the music department people—they can’t seem to tell right from wrong!"

"A fundraiser? Does she need donations with Henry in the picture?" I sneered.

"Someone spread a rumor that she has a clean relationship with Henry, and that he’s the one pursuing her. She’s supposedly refused his financial support, and many now think she’s really noble. Even those who criticized her before are starting to sympathize with her," Leah replied.

Azure, for all her cunning, is particularly concerned about her reputation. Otherwise, she couldn’t possibly have so many people around her willing to believe her. From certain angles, she’s a master of disguising herself—a performer at heart, always winning over a majority of people.

As long as Henry doesn’t step up to clarify, the stories being spread will continue to be accepted as truth, slowly washing away the bad reputation attached to Azure.

She might even use this heart condition as future leverage to justify being with Henry, claiming he moved her with his unwavering dedication.

I know that Henry wouldn’t come forward to clarify.

"Many people don’t know the truth and only see the surface, so they’re indecisive. But that’s okay—the higher you rise, the harder you fall," I said calmly.

"She’s said she plans to return to school in a few days, intending to donate the raised funds back to the school to support some outstanding students in need," Leah said, taking a deep breath. "I’ve truly come to understand what they mean by ’white lotus’."

"If she’s going to school, will there be a welcome party for her?" I spotted an opportunity.

Leah replied, "They definitely will. Her social popularity has spiked because of Henry, and she’s returned from studying abroad only due to illness. Being so generous with the donations, the school will surely want to spotlight and commend her."

I had the outline of a plan forming in my mind.

As expected, Azure returned the very next day. To my surprise, Henry wasn’t in the airport photos—instead, it was Fern and Joy alongside her.

The media is mainly interested in Azure because of Henry. Many female celebrities previously boosted their exposure by leveraging their connection with him.

Online comments were quite interesting as well.

"Before: Homewrecker! After knowing Azure was forced and has a severe heart condition: I feel so guilty!"

"She probably hasn’t accepted Henry; otherwise, why would she need donations?"

"Everyone, don’t worry. For the sins of those who once scolded her, I will strike a wooden fish to lessen them. Amitabha Buddha."

"Good person above, karma +1."

"Azure’s relatives and friends all speak highly of her—she can’t be that bad, right?"

I closed the page, expressionless, and then opened the recorder, searching through the files.

A sudden incoming call interrupted my edits—it was Henry’s number, both unfamiliar and familiar.

I used to hope so much for a call from him, just to chat or even just listen to me monologue.

Now, I hate him deeply, regretting my foolish infatuation a thousand times over.

After rejecting the call, a text message from him popped up: I’m at your doorstep; let’s talk.

Could he have returned before Azure?

I replied with one word: Leave.

After sending it, I was about to block him, but then another message came in: Don’t you want to know why I kept protecting her? Come out, and I’ll tell you.

Henry really understood me—he knew I didn’t care about anything now except that mystery.

If his feelings for Azure aren’t love, then what are they? Was it a life-saving act like in TV dramas?

My mom was making chicken soup for me; my dad wasn’t coming home for lunch. The house was empty, with no one else around. I changed my shoes and went out.

Henry’s car was parked at the gate, its sleek curves gleaming in the sunlight. He was waiting for me inside.

I got into the passenger seat and spoke coldly, "So, now you can tell me."

"Azure had a heart transplant before. If she needs another transplant soon, the complexity and risk of the surgery will be much higher," Henry’s voice retained its usual rich and magnetic quality, his tone light.

"Don’t you think that’s a ridiculous excuse?" I sneered, "Afraid I won’t understand how worried and sympathetic you are towards her?"

Henry frowned, "Must you speak like that?"

"What’s wrong with what I’m saying?" I looked at him coolly, "Henry, if killing weren’t illegal, I’d have killed both you and Azure by now. You’re both murderers of my child!"

As soon as I finished, Henry slammed the steering wheel violently, anger he couldn’t suppress coursing through him. "That was my child too, Zoe!"

"For three months you didn’t breathe a word to me. I was kept in the dark like a fool. Did you ever give me the chance to care for you? To handle things? You only told me after we lost the child, expecting me to accept that in complete ignorance. Am I really that sinful?!"

My heart wrenched, a dull pain throbbing, as I forced a smile, "Don’t you have Azure?"

"I wanted the child, not her!" Henry’s fury poured out, a long-bottled storm finally unleashed.