Nicole noticed the anxiety in Hayden’s eyes, finding it deeply ironic. He seemed so afraid she had heard something that would hurt her, yet he had only caused her pain and disappointment behind her back.
Fake marriage certificates, bringing Gloria back as his secretary, and protecting Gloria when Nicole was unwell… All these incidents came back to her, leaving bleeding wounds on her heart.
Shifting her gaze away, Nicole answered indifferently, “I was already feeling unwell before I went there, and that’s why I fainted at the bar entrance. I hadn’t heard anything.”
Before Hayden could relax, she suddenly asked, “Was there something you were worried about me
overhearing?”
Her clear eyes stared straight into his. For a moment, Hayden was lost in a daze.
He forced a smile, recalling his friends‘ brazen, absurd jokes and how he had angrily parted ways with them. “No,” he replied. “I was just worried that you’d seen how much I drank and would be angry with me
out of concern.”
Nicole stared at him and said seriously, “That won’t happen again.”
Hayden’s smile became more natural as he brushed over this incident. “You mean you won’t worry about
me? Or you won’t get mad at me?”
In the past, Hayden would joke with her just like this. Whenever it happened, she would either act coy as she explained herself, or she would pretend to be angry so Hayden would tease her more.
However, she wouldn’t do so again.
Hayden wasn’t her husband, so she wouldn’t act coy with him, let alone worry about him drinking too
much while out socializing. That was Gloria’s job.
At that moment, the sound of footsteps rang out from outside the door. A doctor walked into the room
with Nicole’s health report, a solemn expression on his face.
Hayden stood up, his earlier joking demeanor vanishing in an instant. “Doctor, how are her examination
results?”
Nicole’s breathing stuttered to a halt when she heard that. They had examined her? Was the doctor going
to reveal her condition?
Frowning, she sat up in bed.
The doctor flipped through the charts before shaking his head. “Mrs. Spencer’s test results are abnormal, and her body is particularly weak due to constant nosebleeds resulting in anemia. If this goes on, her anemia will only grow worse. The frequency of her fainting will also increase.”
Nicole loosened her tight grip on the bedsheets. She thought, “Right… They didn’t put me through a brain
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CT scan, and normal tests wouldn’t be able to detect the brain tumor.”
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However, Hayden didn’t relax at all. His chest was visibly heaving with concern as he asked with furrowed brows, “What is the cause of her repeated nosebleeds?”
“It’s hard to say. Dry weather, staying up late too often, or even being allergic to something–all these are
possible causes for nosebleeds. Would you like to do some blood tests to confirm?” The doctor turned to
Nicole, the question clearly meant for her.
Nicole shook her head. “No need. I did a test last time, and the doctor said it was because I had stayed up late too often.”
The doctor nodded, then removed her IV drip after giving her some instructions.
Once he left, Nicole leaned back against the headboard as she rested.
Meanwhile, Hayden was looking through her test results carefully. When he spotted any abnormal results,
he would use his phone to check the internet and see what changes to her lifestyle could be made.
Seeing his efforts, Nicole was sorely tempted to tell him that there was no need for that. He didn’t need to
work so hard at playing the role of a loving husband in front of her. She found it to be incredibly fake and
repulsive.
She decided to go about it in a roundabout manner by telling him, “I want to rest now.”
“Okay.”
Yet, Hayden seemed to have no intention of leaving, even putting on his jacket. He looked ready to stay
by her bedside to take care of her.
“I’ve arranged for a traditional medicine expert to look at you so we know what sort of herbs we can use to quickly replenish your energy and blood. Don’t worry; he has this special technique that allows him to tell whatever is wrong with your health the moment he takes your pulse,” he comforted gently.
Nicole pursed her lips and turned her head away, not wanting to waste her breath on him. She was practically a walking dead body, so what need did she have for replenishing her blood or energy?
Nonetheless, Hayden was oblivious to anything wrong with Nicole. He came closer to tuck the blanket in
around her. “Sleep. I’ll be here watching over you.”
Just as Nicole was about to refuse, a figure suddenly appeared at the doorway.
“May I come in? I hope I’m not disturbing you.”
Looking over, Nicole spotted Gloria standing there in a patient’s gown. The latter was smiling at Nicole,
her gaze innocent and gentle.
Hayden immediately stood up. “Weren’t you still feeling unwell and in need of bed rest? Why have you
come?”
He took two anxious steps forward, the movement causing a wave of bitterness to swell in Nicole.
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Gloria explained gently, “I was bored in the room, so I decided to take a walk outside. It wasn’t until I saw your car that I learned you had brought Nicole to the hospital.”
Then, she tilted her body slightly to look behind Hayden at Nicole. “Are you okay, Nicole?”
Nicole paused in surprise, wondering when she had gotten so familiar with Gloria that the latter would address her directly by name.
She gave Gloria a nod, a distant air about her as she replied, “I’m much better. You don’t have to waste your energy worrying about me, Ms. Ashford.”
Gloria came further into the room, a recycle bag slung over her shoulder. “What nonsense are you talking about? With my relationship to Hayden and you being his wife, of course I would treat you as one of my
own.”
With that said, she smiled and winked at Hayden.
Feeling uncomfortable, Hayden pressed his lips into a thin line. He subconsciously looked at Nicole for
her reaction, as though he were worried about her getting angry.
They were the ones lawfully wedded to each other, yet one was magnanimous enough to pretend such a thing didn’t exist, while the other was guilty and nervous about it. Nicole truly found it all hilarious.
“Ms. Ashford, please leave. I want to rest.”
Gloria didn’t seem to mind that she was essentially being chased out. Instead, she even approached the bed and took out some items from her recycling bag. “I came to deliver you some food. It’s already quite late, so you must be famished. Here, eat these to tide you over for now.”
She offered a banana and a transparent container filled to the brim with chicken salad over a bed of
greens.
Seeing that, Hayden smiled. “They’re all nutritious foods. Thank you.”
“What’s with the courteous words? Isn’t it only normal for me to do such things for you… and your wife?”
With that said, Gloria opened up the container and placed it before Nicole.
Nicole’s face was expressionless as she said, “I’m not eating that.”
Gloria was momentarily surprised at the somewhat stiff words, but then she pursed her lips in an
aggrieved manner. She asked carefully, “Are you angry at me?”
Nicole answered honestly, “I’m not that close or familiar with you, and I don’t want to eat some random stranger’s food. Besides, I have no appetite. Is that so hard to understand?”
“I’m sorry. It seems I was getting ahead of myself. With Hayden here, he must have brought you something to eat already. I didn’t think of that.” Gloria’s cheeks flushed red as she bowed her head and bit her lower lip.
At that, Hayden gently took Nicole’s hand in his. “Nicky, Gloria had good intentions. Your words were over
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the line.”
Frowning, Nicole retorted, “But I didn’t say anything wrong; it’s the truth. I’m not that close or familiar with
her.”
Before Hayden could speak, Gloria quickly closed the lid on the container. “Hey, hey, you two shouldn’t
fight just because of me. Otherwise, I would’ve committed a grave sin. Since Nicole won’t eat it, I’ll just take it away.”
She stuffed the container back into her bag, only for something to fall out as she withdrew her hand.
Nicole subconsciously glanced down, and the flash of crimson instantly seared her eyes like a burn.
It was a marriage certificate, dropped plainly in her sight.
