Chapter 257

257
Giana stared at her , eyes wide in shock and lips trembling . She could barely get the words out . “ Y – you … You …
Aria gave a bitter , self – mocking smile . “ I’ve only ever treated one person before , but she died . ”
Aria gave a wry , self – deprecating smile , her gaze drifting into the distance .
The light fell across her face , her long eyelashes casting deep shadows beneath her eyes .
Giana searched Aria’s eyes intently , but was met only with overwhelming sorrow , as if she were veiled in an impenetrable gloom .
Giana’s heart sank . Was there truly no way out ?
Giana , refusing to give up , fixed her gaze and gripped Aria’s hand again . Her voice was unwavering . “ Aria , just try ! If I die , that’s my choice to make . ”
Aria looked at her with confusion in her eyes . “ Why ? Are you really willing to risk your life for a fetus that’s not even fully formed ? ”
Giana’s lips twisted into a wry , yearning smile , her voice catching with emotion . “ I know you don’t understand . Maybe no one really can …
“ I once had a cat . I promised her that if I could ever get pregnant , I would keep and love the baby as I loved her.
“ My cat was beaten to death by burglars during a home invasion ! ”
Tears welled up in Giana’s eyes . “ If it hadn’t been for her , ” she choked out , “ I would never have escaped . I wouldn’t even be here today . ”
Giana said with conviction , “ I can feel it . It’s a girl . ”
Giana’s heavy workload made her periods irregular . Sometimes , she would skip a month or two – nothing out of the ordinary for her .
If she had known she was pregnant earlier , she would have done everything in her power to protect the little one growing inside her .
Now , she was drowning in regret .
Giana said firmly , “ As long as there’s even the slightest chance to save her , I’ll fight for it with everything I’ve got . I have to try . ”
She told herself , ‘ It’s not like I’ll die from this . At worst , I might lose the baby . ‘
Aria drew a deep breath , then pulled out the sterilized medical kit from the case .
Those were the old traditional medicine practitioner’s needles .
Her own needles were meant to take lives , not save them .
Aria said , “ Wait here . I need to sterilize the needles . ”
Aria leaned over , pressed several key points on Giana , then quickly strode out of the room .
Giana’s two friends rushed over . “ How is she ? ” they asked anxiously .
Aria didn’t answer . Instead , she asked , “ Where’s the autoclave ? ”
One of them responded promptly , “ Let me show you the way . ”
Aria nodded , then looked at the other woman . “ Stay here and look after her ,” she instructed .
Aria strode out of the room .
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Owen remained rooted to the spot , his gaze following Arfa as she walked away .
Owen thought , ‘ Something’s off about her . ‘
Half an hour later , Aria returned with the needles . Giana tilted her head slightly , her eyes brimming with hope as she looked at Aria .
Aria’s hand trembled slightly as she clutched the medical kit . She ordered firmly , “ You can leave now ! ”
One of Giana’s friends nodded and said , “ Okay , Giana’s in your hands now . ”
Aria stepped forward , opened the medical kit , and withdrew a long needle .
The needle cast a cold , clinical gleam across her face , lending her features an added solemnity .
The needle was unusually long .
Giana’s heart clenched . Instinctively , she squeezed her eyes shut , her thick lashes trembling violently .
“ I’ll start from your abdomen , ” Aria said gently .
Giana nodded firmly . “ Okay . ”
Aria lifted Giana’s top , twirling the needle between her fingers .
She tried to insert the needle , but an invisible force locked her hand in place .
Aria couldn’t steady herself . The needle trembled violently in her grip , leaving ghostly afterimages .
A deafening drumbeat of her own heartbeat filled her ears .
Her heart pounded violently in her chest , the deafening drumbeats echoing clearly in her ears .
Aria remembered when she first learned acupuncture .
Her hands were rock – steady , the silver needle held without the slightest tremor .
Her mentor praised her , saying she was born for this craft .
But he was wrong about her .
Her needles couldn’t save lives . Instead , they only took them .