This was the first time Maya did not have an appetite for food even after looking at the food on the table.
She drank several mouthfuls of milk before declaring that she was full.
Then, she ran to Nicole and waited for her mother to wake again.
Meanwhile, John took ages to console Nina.
She had been sure of one thingâher biased father did not like her; he only liked Maya.
John used every word in his dictionary, but he could not change the way Nina read Evan.
What a stubborn girl.
As expected of his biological daughter, she really took after Mr. Seet.
Oh, whatever. Who cares if she thinks heâs biased? Please just stop crying, Nina.
âNina, letâs go back.â
Nina nodded. Iâm going to ignore the biased Daddy and Maya when I go in.
Iâm going to draw the line with them.
When Nicole woke, the sight that greeted her was Evan sitting by the side of her bed.
He looked exhausted, and it was as though sorrow was looming over his entire being.
âYouâre awake?â
Evan held her hand tightly in his. A light of hope sparked in his eyes, and his heart soared in ecstasy.
From the moment he saw her lying in the puddle of blood until the moment she woke, he was like a cat walking on a hot tin roof.
It was a feeling he never wanted to experience again.
Nicoleâs face was still pale, but she slowly gave him a faint smile.
âIâm fine.â
âYou went to hell and back. How can you be fine?â The angry tone he faked sounded more like his heart was aching for her.
When the children heard them speaking, they flew toward the side of her bed.
âMommy, youâre awake.â
âMommy, does it hurt?â
âMommy-â Nina had a big frown on her face. If her mother were not weak at the moment, she would have complained to her.
âMommy.â Mayaâs head was hanging, and she looked remorseful. âMommy, Iâm sorry. I wonât be greedy anymore.â
Nicole was unhappy with the way Maya was blaming herself.
She hurriedly consoled, âMaya, this isnât your fault. Itâs that stupid driver whoâs blind. Did they catch the driver? Mommyâs going to beat him up.â
Too agitated by the thought, she pulled her wound and took a breath because of the pain.
âMommy, the driver ran off. They havenât caught him yet. Daddy said heâs not going to let him go easily.â
âHe ran off?â
When the image of the vehicle rushing toward her entered her mind, cold sweat soaked Nicoleâs back.
She sensed that someone was planning to murder her.
However, the children were around, and she did not want them to find out about her discovery; she did not want them to worry. Hence, she kept quiet about it.
Knock, knock.
Stephen knocked on the door before he entered with several of his bodyguards.
Each bodyguard was holding various kinds of expensive supplements.
It was already too kind for the duke to visit her, and his many gifts made Nicole feel undeserving of them.
âSir Musgrave, you-â
âDonât speak. Lie down and rest. Youâre weak, so you need these.â
Evanâs cold eyes were fixed on Stephenâs face. The latter was looking at Nicole, and the loving expression he had in his eyes seemed even more intense than earlier. It made Evanâs heart sank.
âSir Musgrave, my wife needs to rest without any disturbance.â
Evidently, Evan was chasing him out.
Nicole felt awkward. It was kind for the other man to visit her. What is Evan trying to do by chasing him away?
âDaddy, Sir Musgrave gave Mommy so much blood. Why canât you just let him visit Mommy?â
âThatâs right. If not for Sir Musgrave, Mommy might-â Die.
Evan turned to look at the two little traitors, Juan and Kyle.
He had a feeling that Stephen had other motives. Nicole is my wife. How can other men look at her like this?
I wonât allow it. I wonât.
The two children promptly fell silent.
When Nina thought about how biased Evan was earlier, she quickly voiced opposing thoughts.
âSir Musgrave, please sit. Iâll bring you milk.â
Looking at how enthusiastic Nina was to serve the older man, Juan and Kyle glanced at the grave-looking Evan.