146 Amira III (1/2)

”Mrs. Liang I have good news for you, not only is the fetus extremely healthy, the ultrasound shows that it is a boy.” Beside her the nurse claimed happily as she handed the results to Amira al-Hassan. ”The father I'm sure will be very overjoyed.”

Laying on the cold table Amira looked at the small black to white gradients that warped around the life inside her, outlining it.

'Our first child.. so little..'

After thanking the nurse Amira al-Hassan left the clinic and came out to the waiting area where Liang Ju-Long awaited her. His calm face looked up, a hint of a smile showing as he curled his thin lips and walked her out to their car as she held onto his arm for support.

Even though she was around six months along, due to her slender frame she looked like she was a lot further along in her pregnancy than she was.

For almost two years the man had refused to touch her, and their marriage had just been a cold facade, devoid of emotions or feelings. Liang Ju-Long had maintained a polite and cordial distance from her for the longest time, no matter how she had tried. Only in the last year had she finally been able to make the man seemingly made of stone start to open up a bit.

After he buckled her in and started driving did she turn to look at him. ”The doctors gave us good news when I went in there.” She waited after speaking to see if he was listening or mulling something through his head.

When she didn't speak for a moment he made a small noise in his throat and gave her a quick side look. Seeing that he was listening she continued on.

”The doctors said that the baby is an extremely healthy baby boy. He should be born in August around the same time as my birthday. Wouldn't that be a wonderful birthday surprise?” She looked at him to see his look as she told him.

”Indeed it would.” His lips curled only slightly more and his face relaxed a bit.

'Hehe he looks really happy, or as happy as he ever looks.' She babbled happily about all what the doctor had told her as they made their way back slowly and carefully to their home.

”We should give him a good strong name, like yours. A boy should be strong. We don't want him to end up weak like my brothers. I wonder if he'll look more like you or me, or maybe he'll be a perfect mix, I hope he looks handsome like his father, and witty like me.”

Liang Ju-Long chuckled a couple times as she babbled on, a rare occurance, once inside their home she latched onto his neck.

”Are you happy?”

”Mm.” He nodded briefly looking into her eyes, still wearing his relaxed expression.

”'Mm' is not an answer I want to hear you say it.”

Liang Ju-Long pulled her tighter into his arms causing her to release a small grunt in surprise. Pulling back her curtain of hair that only came to her shoulders now, he whispered into her ear.

”I am so very very happy. Happier than I have ever been. So much so I still keep asking myself if this is really happening.” Hearing his response she smiled and held his neck tighter

”Mm, it is. It really is happening. I'm glad I met you Ju-Long.”

----

A couple of months later, when she was much larger, one of Liang Ju-Long's partner's wives threw a baby shower for Amira al-Hassan as she had no female relatives to stage one for her.

This same group had given her and her husband snide comments and a cold shoulder for so long she was incredibly reluctant to fake being nice with them. Only after being prodded and coaxed by Liang Ju-Long did she agree to attend as it would give him ”face.” To show off their status, she donned some of her finest jewels she had brought from home in her dowry, as well as a pale maternity gown Liang Ju-Long had bought her. Once she made herself ready, she left with her husband, head held high and proud.

It was a rather grand affair as they had rented out the entirety of ballroom inside of a large hotel. While her husband stood talking with a group of men, not far away; Amira al-Hassan sat in a plush chair surrounded by several women who were gushing over her giant belly, or the string string of diamonds and pearls running through her pinned up hair and around her neck, or the gorgeous flowing soft yellow gown she wore.

Amira al-Hassan kept a fake smile courteously pasted on her face as the women wished her well and treated her sincerely through masks. She had been treated very poorly by these same women not too long ago, it was only now that her husband was on the rise did they show her any grace now.

Due to their nature and how she had been treated by them in the past she hadn't really deigned to remember their names, or really participate in their conversation. She let them fill the air with their own voices, it was what they really wanted to hear anyways.

Amira al-Hassan felt herself tiring quickly trying to keep up the façade and sent a few eye signals to Liang Ju-Long asking for help. One of the women blocked her line of sight and proffered a glass of wine that she held.

'What, why would this woman hand me alcohol?' Amira al-Hassan leveled a cold questioning stare at the glass in the woman's hand and back to her face refusing to take it.

”Ah, what are you thinking Mo Qinyue?” One of the women appeared shocked and took the glass of wine from the other woman's hand and replaced it with a cup of juice.

”Thank you Meitian Jie, here my apologies, let us toast to your good health, your husband's prosperity, and your first son.” The woman called Mo Qinyue took a glass of wine and raised it to Amira al-Hassan before downing it in one go. The other women quickly followed suit and then looked to Amira al-Hassan still holding her full glass.

'Oh, I think I'm supposed to drink with them.' Copying their actions she gave the women a polite smile and downed the cup of juice.

For some reason the cool liquid burned slightly as it went down. Startled Amira dropped her glass, making a loud -Pnk- as it cracked when it hit, as her hands went to her throat alarmed. Several eyes turned to the sound, including Liang Ju-Long's

”What did you just give me?” Amira al-Hassan stared at the women before her and started to rise in anger when a wave of nausea sent her crashing down hard into the chair. As soon as she was down the burning liquid made its way back up and out of her mouth.

Gagging with tears in her eyes she looked at the women who surrounded her with fake concern in their eyes with hatred, before she was racked with another wave of vomiting.

When she looked down she saw there was blood in there as well and felt a cold sweat break out everywhere, while she trembled. Looking up she saw Liang Ju-Long hurrying to her.