Twisted Ties of Love
Chapter 80

Izabella was feeling embarrassed, and her ears were burning hot.

Walking beside her, Ryker naturally chimed in, "Yeah, I like her."

The dean laughed even harder upon hearing this, "Never thought Ryker would finally come to his senses and like a girl for the first time. If only he was a bit smarter." Ryker frowned and said seriously, "I AM smart."

The dean didn't take his words to heart, knowing he was a bit of a dimwit.

Besides, even if he really did like her, Izabella was a married lady. Was it even possible for her to like an idiot like him? Dream on.

By chance, Izabella looked up and met Ryker's eyes, her heart suddenly raced. "What are you looking at?"

"You already know my name, but I don't know yours."

Izabella let out a sigh of relief. She thought he was going to ask something more serious, "It's Izabella."

"Izabella, Izabella, Izabella."

Ryker's voice was very pleasant, deep, and magnetic. When he called Izabella's name, his tone was incredibly gentle, making hearts flutter.

Izabella secretly scolded herself for being carried away by a stranger's voice, especially since he was an idiot.

Ryker has a poor memory. It takes him a long time to remember something. Afraid of forgetting Izabella's name, he kept chanting it until it was engraved in his heart.

Ryker knew he was foolish, and the orphanage folks often called him a dumb giant. He didn't dare to get too close to Izabella in fear of being disliked, but he didn't want to stay away from her either. He followed her closely, gazing at her side profile.

In his eyes, Izabella was the most beautiful person he had ever met, and her name was also lovely.

He unconsciously called out, "Bella."

Izabella turned her head. That was her nickname, something only those close to her would call her. Hearing it from a stranger caught her off guard.

But after the surprise, she felt a strange familiarity. She had never met Ryker before, so how could he seem familiar, like someone she met a long time ago?

Izabella didn't mind him calling her affectionately. "Hi?"

Ryker felt a little embarrassed, looked up to the sky, smiling faintly, "Can I call you Bella?"

Izabella found it funny, "Didn't you just call me that?"

"Your name is really lovely." Ryker smiled even brighter and kept sticking around Izabella afterward. Though he didn't get too close, he stood near her, gazing at her like a puppy being abandoned. Izabella played with a group of kids, and soon forgot about lunchtime. The creamy smell around her made her feel a little nauseous, and her stomach began to hurt.

In a panic, Izabella rummaged through her purse, but other than her keys, phone, and makeup, there was nothing there. She had forgotten to take her stomach meds. Gastric pain could be unbearable, and Izabella found it hard to resist the stabbing feeling.

Her face turned pale, and she stumbled before sitting down, her body immediately breaking out in cold sweat.

Noticing her unusual condition, Ryker rushed over, "Are you sick?"

Izabella looked at his worried face and wanted to smile, telling him it was nothing. But she couldn't speak.

The dean immediately came over upon hearing Ryker's voice. Seeing Izabella's pale, sweaty face and pain-filled expression, she panicked, "Ms. Salotti, what's wrong?" "I'm just feeling unwell. I'll have to leave early."

The dean thought Izabella had a stomachache and said, "With this much pain, you should go to the hospital. Let me take you."

Izabella knew the dean had to manage the orphanage and insisted on going alone.

Ryker stubbornly grabbed her wrist. "Let me take you."

"Just now, I..."

Before she could refuse, the dean interrupted her. "Let Ryker take you. Although he might not be the smartest, he knows common sense. I trust him to look after you."

"I'll go with you. Otherwise, I'll follow you." Ryker stared at Izabella intently, like a watchful shepherd dog.

His gaze quickened Izabella's heartbeat, and she fell silent.

The dean added, "You're in too much pain to drive. Take a taxi to the Light of Hope Hospital. It's not far, and Ryker knows the way."

Upon hearing the hospital's name, Izabella felt relieved. Presley had medicine there and could also check why she had been feeling fatigued, nauseous, and wanting to throw up lately-symptoms not related to gastric pain.

"Alright," Izabella agreed because of the dean's insistence and having a stubborn Ryker by her side.

They hailed a cab outside, and the dean reminded Ryker to take good care of Izabella before they left.

In the car, Ryker asked, "Does it hurt a lot?"

Izabella, heavily weakened, leaned against the car door. The gastric pain felt like a knife stabbing her belly.

Ryker felt helpless seeing her in so much pain, his eyes turning teary. He directly carried her and ran towards the hospital.

He ran fast, the wind blowing Izabella's hair back, and caught a whiff of jasmine scent.

Pale, Izabella gripped Ryker's shoulder tightly, her voice trembling, "Put me down!"

Ignoring her, Ryker sprinted towards the hospital. The security guard standing at the entrance thought the worst upon seeing Ryker carrying a woman, running so desperately. "What happened?"

Ryker slowed down, "She has a stomachache. We need to see a doctor."

"The hospital is a no-running zone! What if you crash into someone?" the guard reminded him.

Izabella agreed, "Yes, put me down. I can walk."

Ryker held her tighter, looking reluctant to let go.

Izabella frowned, "If you don't let me go, I'll get pissed and won't want to see you ever again."

As soon as she finished speaking, she saw a look of nervous fear on Ryker's face.

Ryker carefully let go of her, standing in front of her with his head bowed, like a kid who's done something stupid and made a mistake.

Seeing his jet-black hair, Izabella resisted the urge to reach out and touch it. She sucked up her stomachache and called Presley to tell him about her situation.

Presley was treating a patient when he heard about Izabella's situation. He quickly arranged for someone to send her medication and also scheduled her an appointment with a gynecologist for a thorough checkup.

The test results came out quickly, and unexpectedly, Izabella was five weeks pregnant.

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