The Reluctant Bride Book II Chapter 25

‘Can I see the baby?’ Tan Pan Ting asked.

Qiao Tan Yuan nodded and Mrs Chu laid Xiao Bao on the bed.

‘She’s adorable,’ Tan Pan Ting said and smiled at Xiao Bao.

Tan Pan Ting wanted to hold Xiao Bao but Gu Jiao Wen gave her a warning look so she settled for sitting on the bed next to Xiao Bao.

‘Look at your huge stomach,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘You look like you’re about to pop.’

‘Is giving birth painful?’ Tan Pan Ting asked.

‘It’s painful,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. She looked at Xiao Bao and smiled. ‘But the pain is worth it after seeing your baby.’

Tan Pan Ting rubbed her stomach. ‘I have another two months to go. I’m scared I’ll have a painful childbirth.’

‘Two months?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked.

‘My stomach is this huge because I’m having twins,’ Tan Pan Ting said.

‘Twins?’ Mrs Qiao asked. ‘Jiao Wen, your mum must be really pleased.’

‘Yes aunty,’ Gu Jiao Wen said.

‘Perhaps Pan Ting will have a boy and a girl like Jiao Wen’s mum,’ Mrs Qiao said.

Qiao Tan Yuan was envious Tan Pan Ting had a doting husband and expecting twins.

‘Pan Ting, you have a good fate,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.

‘Thanks big sister,’ Tan Pan Ting said. ‘I am a blessed woman.’

Tan Pan Ting saw Xiao Bao opened big beautiful eyes.

‘She’s beautiful,’ Tan Pan Ting praised.

‘Thank you,’ Qiao Tan Yuan.

Qiao Tan Yuan knew Xiao Bao was a beautiful baby girl, but she was still happy to hear people praise Xiao Bao.

‘She looks exactly like Gu Jiao Wu,’ Tan Pan Ting said.

The room suddenly turned silent.

Gu Jiao Wen looked at Xiao Bao’s face and couldn’t deny Xiao Bao’s face looked exactly like Gu Jiao Wu’s face.

‘Everyone else say she looks exactly like me,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.

Qiao Tan Yuan didn’t want Mrs Qiao to doubt Shen Cheng was Xiao Bao’s father.

Gu Jiao Wen saw Mrs Qiao frowned and he held Tan Pan Ting’s hand.

‘Big sister is heading home soon,’ Gu Jiao Wen said. ‘We should leave to let big sister pack.’

Tan Pan Ting frowned. She only stated the obvious, but she stood and prepared to leave.

‘Big sister, I’ll leave first,’ Tan Pan Ting said. ‘Take good care of yourself.’

‘You too,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘After you give birth, I’ll visit you and the twins.’

‘You won’t have to visit me,’ Tan Pan Ting said. ‘I’ll be visiting big sister often to listen to big sister’s advice about how to take care of a baby.’

After Tan Pan Ting and Gu Jiao Wen left, Mrs Chu finished packing while Mrs Qiao played with Xiao Bao.

‘Tan Yuan…’ Mrs Qiao called.

Mrs Qiao wasn’t blind, Xiao Bao wasn’t Shen Cheng’s daughter.

‘Mum…’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. She knew what Mrs Qiao wanted to say. ‘Aunty has packed everything. Let’s go home.’

In that moment Shen Cheng entered the room and was relieved everyone didn’t leave to go to the Qiao Mansion yet. He greeted Mrs Qiao and put a bag on the bedside table.

‘Tan Yuan, didn’t I suggest you stay here and rest for several more days?’ Shen Cheng asked.

‘I’m feeling good,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘Besides I think Xiao Bao is like me and doesn’t like staying at the hospital.’

Shen Cheng pulled out a hat from the bag and pa.s.sed it to Qiao Tan Yuan. ‘It’s sunny outside. I bought the hat for you.’

‘I don’t need to wear a hat,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘We’ll be sitting in the car and going straight home.’

Shen Cheng didn’t listen to Qiao Tan Yuan and put the hat on her head.

‘Let’s go,’ Shen Cheng said.

Qiao Tan Yuan got out of bed, she glanced at Mrs Qiao and held Shen Cheng’s hand.

‘Thank you Shen Cheng,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.

Shen Cheng smiled at Qiao Tan Yuan. Then he instructed Mrs Chu to change Xiao Bao’s clothes and carry Xiao Bao to the car.

A while later at the hospital carpark, Qiao Tan Yuan turned around to look at Qiao Jie.

‘Qiao Jie, drive aunty, mum and Xiao Bao home,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘Shen Cheng will drive me home.’

In Shen Cheng’s car, Qiao Tan Yuan made up her mind.

‘Shen Chen…’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.

‘What is it?’ Shen Cheng asked while looking at the road and driving.

Shen Cheng knew Qiao Tan Yuan wouldn’t sit in his car while Xiao Bao was in a different car unless she had something important to discuss with him privately.

‘Let’s cancel our wedding plans,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.

What w.a.n.g Tu Ya said to Qiao Tan Yuan was right. She and Gu Jiao Wu had an unhappy marriage. A marriage where only one person loved their spouse wouldn’t work. She couldn’t be selfish and marry Shen Cheng, she didn’t want Shen Cheng to suffer because she couldn’t return his love.

Shen Cheng kept his eyes on the road and hid his shock.

‘Xiao Bao needs a father,’ Shen Cheng said.

‘I thought deeply about what Xiao Bao needs,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘I think Xiao Bao is a blessed baby girl. She has my unconditional love. Her grandparents and uncle love and adore her. Xiao Bao will still be loved and happy without a father.’

‘But I want to be Xiao Bao’s father,’ Shen Cheng said. ‘I want to be your husband too.’

‘But Shen Cheng, I can’t keep lying to myself and being unfair to you,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘You’re a good man. I’m blessed to have you in my life. But I don’t love you…’

‘I love you,’ Shen Cheng said. ‘You know how much I love you. My love is enough for both of us to be happy.’

‘Shen Cheng…’ Qiao Tan Yuan said in a choked voice.

Shen Cheng pa.s.sed Qiao Tan Yuan a tissue. ‘Don’t cry. Do you want to break my heart?’

Qiao Tan Yuan accepted the tissue and shook her head. She wasn’t Gu Jiao Wu, she didn’t want to make someone who loved her suffer. She couldn’t forget the cold hatred in Gu Jiao Wu’s eyes every time he looked at her during their marriage. She couldn’t lie to herself anymore. If she wasn’t scared of losing Xiao Bao to Gu Jiao Wu, she wouldn’t have accepted Shen Cheng’s proposal.

At the red lights, Shen Cheng turned to Qiao Tan Yuan. He wiped the tears flowing down her cheeks, her tears burned his hands.

‘Tan Yuan, don’t cry…’ Shen Cheng said.

Shen Cheng’s heart broke to see Qiao Tan Yuan cry. He wasn’t going to force her to change her mind if it would make her unhappy.

The lights turned green and the cars behind Shen Cheng’s car honked. Shen Cheng looked back at the road and drove.

‘Tan Yuan, is it that hard for you to forget Gu Jiao Wu?’ Shen Cheng asked.

End of Chapter Twenty-Five