Chapter 4

• The doctor frowned. A faint feeling of discomfort and irritation crept up inside him. He was a leading obstetrician and gynecologist, a man who had devoted his entire life to his field; his words were almost regarded as truth in this domain. Normally, if anyone dared to question his expertise, he would flare up immediately. Such doubt did not merely offend his intellect, it struck at the professional pride he had so painstakingly built.
• But looking at this poor young woman, with eyes red and swollen, filled with despair and loneliness, her pale face drained of all color, he couldn’t bring himself to be angry. He simply said gently: "Alright, here’s what we’ll do. Go to the obstetrics department and get examined again, then bring the results back to me."
• Catherine nodded — a hollow, mechanical nod. Her legs felt like stone; she couldn’t lift them. Still dazed, the world around her seemed to tilt and spin, every sound echoing as if from another world. Then she stood up and left the room.