Chapter 513

Olivia's heart was torn. The upcoming fashion show in Paris loomed before her, but her thoughts kept circling back to Isabelle. Who would care for her precious daughter while she was away? The idea of leaving Isabelle with Liam crossed her mind, but the mere thought made her stomach churn.

Isabelle's small hands suddenly clutched Olivia's fingers, her eyes shining like twin stars. "Mommy! When I grow up, I want to be famous like those singers on TV!"

Olivia blinked in surprise. Instead of reprimanding, she gathered Isabelle into a warm embrace, playfully bopping her nose. "Why a pop star, sweetheart? Why not follow in Mommy's footsteps and run the company someday?"

The little girl scrunched up her face. "Numbers are boring! I don't understand all those papers on your desk."

A chuckle escaped Olivia as she remembered Isabelle's preschool teacher's comments. Her daughter was brilliant - absorbing knowledge like a sponge in every subject except mathematics. The moment numbers appeared, Isabelle's eyelids would grow heavy, her attention wandering to more colorful pursuits. Arithmetic simply wasn't in her DNA.

Olivia carried secret dreams for her daughter. She wanted to give Isabelle the world, yet refused to cage her potential with predetermined expectations. Children were like unopened flower buds - why obsess over what color they'd bloom when the magic lay in watching them unfold?

She never stressed about Isabelle's future path. Whatever destiny held, this bright-eyed girl would always be her greatest treasure. Every late night at the office, every business deal closed, was for one purpose - to ensure Isabelle's future remained full of possibilities.

With this thought, Olivia pressed a tender kiss to Isabelle's rosy cheek. "Alright, my little star. You'll come with Mommy to the fashion show. You'll meet real celebrities there."

Isabelle clapped her hands in delight, her joyful giggles wrapping around Olivia's heart like golden ribbons.

Before the trip, Olivia carved out time for a crucial hospital visit. When the doctor announced the results, her fingers dug into her coat's hem, knuckles turning white. Then, like morning mist burning away, the anxiety that had shadowed her for weeks suddenly evaporated.

"How?" Olivia's voice trembled. "All my previous tests showed my endometrium was too thin. After the miscarriages, every specialist said conception was nearly impossible. This can't be real."

The doctor adjusted her glasses, offering a reassuring smile. "Nearly impossible isn't the same as completely impossible. Your recent health improvements have been remarkable - better nutrition, reduced stress, overall wellness. And the baby's father must be quite healthy too. Still, I recommend frequent checkups. We've confirmed the pregnancy, but carrying to term will depend on the coming months' developments."

"How far along am I?" Olivia asked, fingers unconsciously drifting to her still-flat stomach.

"Approximately four weeks," the doctor replied.

Four weeks? Olivia's mind reeled. She'd noticed nothing unusual these past weeks.

Leaving the examination room, Olivia wandered the hospital corridors in a daze. The medical report in her hands felt heavier than lead. Should she keep this child? Logic screamed no. Her relationship with Liam was shattered beyond repair. Isabelle already grew up without a complete family. Bringing another life into this complicated situation seemed cruel.

Yet...

Her fingers trembled as they traced the ultrasound image. A tiny heartbeat fluttered beneath the grainy black-and-white surface. How could something so small already feel so precious?

The war inside Olivia raged on as she stepped into the afternoon sunlight, her shadow stretching long behind her. One path led to practicality and reason. The other... the other led somewhere terrifying and beautiful all at once.