Chapter 919 Tests

Chapter 919: Chapter 919 Tests

"Whatever the results will be..." He paused, choosing his words carefully.

Bella looked up at him.

Leo’s expression remained calm, but his eyes were warm. "...we’ll deal with them together."

Bella’s lips curved into a tiny smile. "Together?"

"Always."

She nodded. "And you won’t be disappointed?"

Leo looked at her for a long moment. His gray eyes searched her face.

"I’ll be disappointed if you’re hurting," Leo said, his voice soft. His thumb gently brushed over her hand. "But the result itself won’t change anything between us."

Bella’s eyes softened. She leaned slightly against his shoulder. "Okay."

They sat together in the waiting area, their hands still intertwined. The room was busy. Other couples sat around them, some holding hands, some looking at their phones, some staring at the floor. Bella looked at them, wondering what they were waiting for. Wondering if any of them were waiting for the same news.

A nurse called her name.

Bella’s fingers tightened around Leo’s hand.

She stood up, and Leo immediately stood with her.

The nurse led them into a small examination room and explained that Bella would need to change into a hospital gown. Leo gave her hand one last reassuring squeeze before waiting outside.

A few minutes later, Bella came out and sat on the examination bed, her hands folded nervously in her lap. The room was quiet, She could hear her own breathing.

Soon, the door opened again.

A middle-aged woman with kind eyes and a calm, reassuring expression walked inside. She had short gray hair and wore a white coat over a simple blouse.

"Hello, Bella. I’m Dr. Poppy," the doctor said, her voice warm.

"Hello," Bella replied, her voice small.

Dr. Poppy smiled gently before sitting down on her stool. She pulled a small notebook from her pocket and flipped it open.

"Dr. Hayes sent over your file. I’ve already gone through his notes."

Bella nodded her head.

"Dr. Hayes mentioned your symptoms. The nausea, fatigue and sensitivity to certain smells."

Bella nodded again.

"When did these symptoms begin?" Dr. Poppy asked, pen ready.

"About two weeks ago," Bella answered.

"And you haven’t been able to eat normally for how long?"

Bella thought for a moment. Her brow furrowed. "I don’t know... maybe a week. A little more."

"Have you had any cramping? Spotting? Any unusual pain in your lower abdomen?"

Bella shook her head. "No. Just nausea and tiredness."

Dr. Poppy wrote something down. "Any dizziness?"

"Sometimes. When I stand up too fast."

"Any breast tenderness? Unusual fatigue beyond what you’ve mentioned? Changes in your appetite other than the nausea?"

Bella paused. She had not thought about those things. "Maybe a little tenderness. I didn’t think it was important."

Dr. Poppy nodded, making another note. "Everything is important. Even the small things."

She set her notebook aside and looked at Bella directly.

"Now, Bella, when was your last menstrual period?"

Bella’s expression changed. She thought about it carefully. Her eyes moved to the side, then back to the doctor.

"I... skipped one month."

Dr. Poppy looked at her.

Bella quickly added, "But that’s normal for me, isn’t it? I’ve had hormonal imbalances before. My periods have been irregular many times."

Dr. Poppy didn’t immediately answer. She simply made another note before looking back at Bella.

"It can happen for several reasons, yes."

Bella nodded, relieved by the familiar explanation.

"But," Dr. Poppy continued gently, "given your other symptoms, I don’t want to assume that’s the reason this time."

Bella’s fingers tightened together. "Oh."

Dr. Poppy offered her a reassuring smile. "Don’t worry. We’re not going to assume anything. We’ll simply check."

Bella nodded slowly. "What tests?"

"A urine test first, then blood work. Depending on the results, we may do an ultrasound."

Bella swallowed. Her throat felt dry. "Okay."

Dr. Poppy stood and prepared the necessary paperwork. She handed Bella a small plastic cup with a lid.

"I need a urine sample. The bathroom is just down the hall. There’s a small window in the door. Just leave the cup in the metal cabinet inside when you’re done."

Bella took the cup. Her hand was steady but her heart was not.

She walked to the bathroom, closed the door and stared at her own reflection in the mirror for a long moment. Her face looked pale. Her eyes looked tired. She took a breath, did what she needed to do and left the cup in the metal cabinet as instructed.

When she returned, she sat back on the examination bed.

A nurse came in a few minutes later. She was young, with a friendly smile and gentle hands. She carried a small tray with several empty vials, a tourniquet and a needle.

"Hi, Bella. I’m here to take some blood," the nurse said.

Bella nodded and held out her arm.

The nurse tied the tourniquet around her upper arm and tapped the inside of her elbow a few times, looking for a vein.

"You have good veins," the nurse said. "This will be quick."

She cleaned the area with an alcohol wipe. The cold liquid made Bella’s skin tingle.

"Small pinch," the nurse warned.

Bella felt the needle slide in. It was not painful, just uncomfortable. She watched the first vial fill with dark red blood, then the second, then the third.

"What are you testing for?" Bella asked, her voice quiet.

"The usual panel for this department," the nurse said, switching vials. "hCG, progesterone, estrogen, thyroid function and iron levels."

Bella’s heart skipped. "hCG?"

"Pregnancy hormone," the nurse explained. "It’s the first thing we check with symptoms like yours."

Bella nodded. She did not say anything else.

The nurse removed the needle and pressed a small cotton ball against the puncture site.

"Hold this for a minute," the nurse said. "You can take it off after."

Bella pressed the cotton ball against her arm. The nurse labeled the vials and placed them in a small rack.

"Someone will come get you when the results are ready," the nurse said. "It should take about an hour."

Bella nodded.

The nurse left.

Bella sat there for a moment, staring at the small bandage the nurse had placed over the puncture site. Then she stood up and went back to the waiting room.