Matthew hummed merrily in response. Of course, he had said that on purpose to gain Nicole’s attention.
“Daddy must have gone to see Ms. Ashford. She’s been saying that she has been feeling sick every day, and Daddy has been really worried about her,” he said with clear intent.
Nicole was void of any expression. She wasn’t surprised after hearing that.
“Oh.”
Matthew was shocked by her lack of reaction and looked at her with a dumbfounded expression.
“Aren’t you mad?”
Nicole laughed coldly and retorted, “Did you tell me that on purpose because you think I’d get mad after hearing it?”
Matthew became awkward because she saw right through him.
“Of course not,” he quickly denied.
Her eyes narrowed, and she looked at the child she had given birth to with disgust. There wasn’t a trace
of warmth in her heart.
“However loving and warm your little family of three is, it has nothing to do with me. Don’t bring this up to
me again. I’m not mad. It just makes me sick.”
After saying that, she retracted her gaze. She ignored the look of shock on Matthew’s face and reached
for the book on her side table, beginning to read it carefully.
It had already become a fact that she now had to stay another week. She could only accept this outcome
since there was nothing she could do about it.
What she resisted most was that Gloria’s birthday was the day after tomorrow, and the following day was
her and Hayden’s so–called wedding anniversary.
Nicole didn’t know what would happen in the coming days. She only remembered Hayden telling Olivia
that he would come clean about everything on that day.
On top of that, Hayden had been in touch with a designer to have a wedding dress custom–made. All
signs pointed to the fact that he couldn’t wait to give Gloria a wedding.
Nicole’s presence was so unnecessary, such that it was only a matter of time before Hayden tossed her aside. Most likely, it would happen during Gloria’s birthday or on their anniversary.
Nicole was reading her book, looking focused, though her thoughts had already drifted far away.
If Hayden had really chosen such a disgraceful way to make her leave, then before leaving the country, she would make sure to be the one who dumped him first.
Chapter 71
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A loud thud beside her broke her train of thought. She closed her book and looked up..
That was when she saw that Matthew had fallen asleep with his head tilted on the bed in a strange
position.
He wore only a thin jacket, and the air conditioning was turned on. From the way he wrapped his arms. tightly around himself in his sleep, one could tell he was freezing.
Nicole looked at him for a moment. She didn’t want to offer her ungrateful son any more of her love and care. But after hesitating, she couldn’t resist and ultimately got out of bed.
Then, she reluctantly grabbed a thick blanket and placed it over Matthew. But when she turned around at the next second, he grabbed onto the corner of her hospital gown.
She looked down and saw Matthew’s small hand holding onto her. He’d gripped her so tightly that his fingertips turned pale.
All of a sudden, she remembered how he used to kick his blanket away in the middle of the night. When that happened, he would catch a cold and run a fever the next day.
He’d become so unwell at night that he clung to her, refusing to let go. He would also hold onto the corner of her clothes as if he didn’t feel safe in his sleep.
Nicole froze for a moment, feeling a heavy weight pressing on her heart. Once, she had poured her heart out to her child. She loved Matthew to death.
When he was sick, she was the one who grew anxious and distressed. She was the one who stayed up all night by his side without rest. And yet, he betrayed her so easily.
He ignored her care and sacrifices, choosing instead to grow close to Gloria, just like Hayden did.
If there was a list of people she could never forgive, Matthew would come before Hayden.
Compared to Hayden, she had given far more to this child–only to end up with nothing.
Nicole let out a quiet sigh. She gently pried his fingers off her gown and tucked his hand back under the
blanket.
When she moved to return to her own hospital bed, a voice suddenly came from behind her.
“Ms. Ashford…”
Nicole froze at that. She then stood up straight and turned around.
