Gloria struggled to sit up, breathing heavily. “Why don’t you get me a wheelchair? Then, you could push me to the courthouse. I don’t want to delay you and Nicole getting your marriage certificate.”
Seeing her pale, frail face, Hayden couldn’t bring himself to press her.
He stopped Gloria from getting up and smiled. “Forget it. Since the doctor said you need to rest, you’d better not leave the hospital.”
“You won’t be mad at me, will you?” Gloria asked cautiously.
Hayden replied indifferently, “Nicole and I have a long life together ahead of us. There is plenty of time for me to slowly talk to her about it. We’ll deal with the divorce after you’re discharged.”
A faint smile graced Gloria’s lips, while a spark of triumph danced in her eyes. She sighed softly before saying, “My birthday is coming up. I wonder if I’ll be as lonely as in previous years with no one to celebrate
with.”
Hayden reassured her. “Your birthday’s going to be lively this year. Aunt Olivia and Matt keep fussing about how they want to celebrate your birthday with you.”
“And what about you?” Gloria looked at him eagerly.
Hayden paused. The day after Gloria’s birthday happened to be his wedding anniversary with Nicole.
After a moment of thought, he replied slowly, “I’ll prepare a surprise for you, but I won’t be accompanying you. I want to spend my wedding anniversary with Nicole.”
Gloria forced a smile. “Of course. Your wedding anniversary is what matters most.”
With clenched fists and a flash of hatred in her eyes, she seethed silently. Nicole was a significant obstacle to Gloria’s goal, and she had been difficult to deal with.
Despite Caleb’s relentless efforts, it wasn’t enough to push Nicole into a relapse that could kill her. If this went on, Hayden’s protectiveness toward her would only grow.
Gloria was determined to prevent them from enjoying their anniversary in peace. That simply could not
happen!
In the hospital suite upstairs, Nicole received the reassuring news from Eugene that everything had been resolved. Even though she knew Caleb was about to face a tough time, she felt no relief.
The thought that she would have been preparing to leave by ferry in a few hours made every passing second feel like torment.
Just then, a knock echoed from the door. The ward door opened, and Nicole saw Matthew enter with a
thermal container in hand.
Chapter 59
2/2
“Mommy.” Matthew’s eyes flickered as he obediently approached her.
“What are you doing here?” Nicole turned her head away in irritation, refusing to look at him.
“I heard you were sick, so I brought you some soup. I made it myself.” Matthew placed the thermal container on the table, struggling to open the lid with his small hands.
Nicole glanced back in surprise, hesitating. “You… made some soup?”
“Yes! The maid taught me. I saved a bowl just for you.” Matthew carefully served the soup in a bowl and
set it in front of Nicole.
The obedient, thoughtful look on his face was completely different from how he had been not long ago.
Nicole froze for a moment. She couldn’t understand why his temperament had suddenly changed.
“Aren’t you going to taste it? I even burned my hand while making the soup.” Matthew stretched out his
hand toward her.
Indeed, there was a blister on his thumb. It seemed painful.
Nicole remained quiet for a moment.
Ever since Matthew was a child, he had never done anything for her. And now, out of the blue, he
prepared her a bowl of soup.
That said, Nicole didn’t feel moved in the slightest. It didn’t look like Matthew had done it of his own free
will, but rather because he was forced.
Hayden likely wanted to ease the tension between them and had pressured Matthew to behave well in
front of her.
Nicole cast a glance at the anticipating look in Matthew’s eyes, then picked up the bowl of soup.
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