Not Your 18

Chapter 18 

Howard retracted his hand and tugged on his sleeves. “Nicole’s situation is quite grave.” 

Nicole twitched imperceptibly, surprised that he would be able to tell from just taking her pulse. She 

raised her head to look at Hayden. 

Hayden was frowning deeply as he asked urgently, “What’s wrong? Stop keeping me in suspense and just 

spill it!” 

The anxiety and panic on his face didn’t seem fake. It was completely different from the Hayden Nicole 

was used to, as that Hayden would never lose his composure. 

With a sheepish smile, Howard answered, “Calm down. What I meant was that Nicole’s health is very frail 

right now, so that’s quite a grave situation. She needs proper rest and nourishment to recuperate. I didn’t 

mean that she was suffering from anything serious.” 

Hearing that, Hayden finally breathed a sigh of relief before glaring at him. “Could you not look so solemn 

the next time you speak? From your earlier reaction, I thought Nicole must have gotten cancer or something like that.” 

Howard scribbled furiously on a piece of paper, which he then handed to Hayden. “These herbs are best 

for replenishing her blood and vitality. Simmer them together for three hours and have her take a bowl 

each day. This recipe truly works wonders.” 

Hayden nodded in thanks and escorted Howard out, leaving Nicole sitting there alone. 

She rubbed the tip of her nose. Her nosebleeds had been happening more and more frequently lately. In 

the past, she would get one or two times a week, but recently, it had gone up to four or five times a week. At the rate she was going, even a miracle cure wouldn’t be able to replenish all the blood she had lost. 

After escorting Howard downstairs, Hayden returned to the room and immediately set out to help Nicole 

pack her things. 

“I’m taking you back. It isn’t very convenient to make the herbal soup here.” 

Crouching in front of Nicole, he grabbed the hand she had placed in her lap. “Nicky, no matter what you want, be it a house, a car, or anything else, I’ll satisfy you. If you don’t want to see Matt, I’ll have him board 

at the school and not return home for now. Just please, come home and take the traditional medicine.“. 

Nicole raised her gaze to look at him. “I thought you were against letting him board at the school?” 

“That was because I was afraid that the teachers there wouldn’t be able to take good care of him. 

However, having him suffer a little right now isn’t that big a deal. What’s more important is your health. Let’s go home, okay?” 

There was a hint of pleading in his tone, and he almost sounded like he was willing to compromise. 

Nicole hadn’t expected Hayden to react so strongly, all because she was sick. 

Chapter 18 

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Twirling a lock of hair around her finger, she resolutely refused. “I could just pay the hotel staff extra. With enough money, I’m sure they would be willing to do anything I asked them to, including making a herbal soup. There’s no need for you to worry.” 

Hayden’s brows slowly inched closer together as she spoke until they eventually furrowed into a frown. His expression was stiff as he released Nicole’s hand and stood up, voicing his displeasure, “Why do you keep refusing to return home? Can you-” 

He abruptly stopped speaking as Nicole’s phone on the table suddenly lit up. Despite standing over three feet away, he could still see that the message sender was a person called Jeremiah Petersen. 

It was an unfamiliar name. 

Nicole’s social circles overlapped completely with his, as she had only ever interacted with his friends since marrying him. Even after so many years, she had never made any new friends. 

Hence, Hayden had no idea where this man–and it was clearly a man’s name–had come from. 

He reached out to take her phone, but Nicole slapped a hand down on it first. She shot him a suspicious look. “What are you doing?” 

“Who’s that man messaging you?” The jealousy in Hayden’s tone couldn’t be any more obvious. 

Nicole lifted her phone, and after unlocking it with her face, she saw that the message read, “Remember to come tomorrow for your check–up.” 

Worried that Hayden would sense something off, she brushed him off with a casual reply. “A doctor from 

the hospital. He said he has some medicine he wants me to take.” 

“Don’t doctors usually give you the medicine after check–ups? Why did he have to add you on WhatsApp and contact you personally?” Hayden pressed. 

Chapter 19