< Chapter 39
Merw
Chapter 39.
Ingrid woke up the next day and was transferred to the VIP Ward.
Armando had arranged for a nurse and a nutritionist to take care of Ingrid’s daily needs, both of whom were highly skilled in their fields.
They were middle-aged women, and they easily bonded with Ingrid, engaging in lively conversations.
Though Jovana still had her reservations about Armando, she couldn’t refuse when it came to Ingrid.
After lunch, Armando was chatting with Ingrid. The two were laughing together, and Ingrid seemed to have shed the worries she had the day before.
It was clear the birthday party fiasco had been cleared
Jovana couldn’t help but curl her lips in a bitter smile.
“Vana, I’m fine with the nurse here. You should go back with Armando. Don’t spend all your time here with me,” Ingrid said, gently placing Jovana’s hand in Armando’s, her tone sincere. “You two need to focus on your own lives from now on.”
Armando held Jovana close, his eyes full of affection. “Don’t worry. Vana is my everything. I can’t bear to
hurt her.”
His words echoed those he had said during their engagement, when he first introduced her to his family.
Back then, Jovana’s heart had been full of him.
Now, though, she couldn’t tell where the truth ended and the lies began.
She smiled, though it was forced.
For Ingrid’s sake, she had to keep up the appearance of harmony.
The two stayed at the hospital all day, finally leaving in the evening.
In the car, the silence was thick, suffocating.
Jovana kept her head down, replying to a message from her assistant, Vonda.
She had found information on the man.
He was Harland Frasier, the CEO of the Frasier Group based in San Diego.
No wonder she hadn’t known who he was before.
Vonda texted, “Mr. Frasier is currently in Los Angeles, inspecting the Valor Group subsidiary and handling some business matters.”
“Valor Group?” Jovana paused for a moment, contemplating.
Armando kept glancing at her. Seeing her so focused on her phone made his eyes darken with unease. It wasn’t just a simple feeling of jealousy. There was an unfamiliar knot in his chest.
They were physically close, and nothing had changed, but for some reason, he felt like he might lose her.
He was sure his attraction to Juliette was purely physical, nothing more. She was just a distraction.
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But Jovana was the one person he couldn’t afford to lose.
He couldn’t hear the thought of life without her
Vanahe spoke, his voice soft as he reached over to hold her hand, a silent plea for reassurance.
PACK
Jovana instinctively mined off her phone, sululy avoiding his touch. She turned her gaze to the window, her mind racing She had to figure out what to say when she met Harland tomorrow,
She closed her eyes briefly, then said softly, “I’m a bit tired. I’ll rest for a while. Wake me up when we
arrive’
Armando’s throat tightened with guilt as he clenched his fist, his gaze fixed on her phone screen. His emotions were storming inside, but he kept his composure.
They sat in silence for a few seconds.
He gently ran his fingers through her soft hair, whispering, “Rest for a while. I’ll wake you when we’re
there.”
The evening sky grew darker.
After Jovana had finished her shower, she walked to the calendar and, with a red pen, marked two days with an “X”
Only 21 days left.
Suddenly, she felt a warm presence behind her, mixed with the faint scent of alcohol.
She tensed, and she tried to pull away.
“Armando.”
“Vana, you’ve been so distant these days…” Armando’s lips brushed her neck, his kiss barely a whisper, his large hand trailing over her waist.
“Has your period passed?” he asked, trying to bridge the gap between them.
In times of marital conflict, couples often argue but make up quickly.
He thought physical intimacy would ease the tension between them.
But Jovana couldn’t bring herself to accept it. The moment his hand slid up her skirt and onto her thigh, she pushed him away with all her strength.
“Armando, my stomach hurts,’ she lied, trying to break free from him.
“You’re hurt on your leg. His movements stopped abruptly as his eyes focused on the crimson mark on her thigh His brows furrowed deeply, concerned
Jovana’s face went pale, and sweat beaded on her forehead and nose. She pulled the dress down, her body radiating rejection
