Ch. 1951..1960
Chapter 1951
Despite Dustin being the one hugging her, Joan’s mind was full of Larry.
“Larry…” Joan murmured.
Dustin’s eyes darkened.
Why is she still thinking about him? Well, too bad. He already found someone else. He doesn’t deserve
Joan’s love!
Larry was flipping through some files in his office when his door suddenly swung open.
“Lars!” The intruder’s voice grated annoyingly against Larry’s ears.
He looked up and glared at the woman in front of him. There was nothing he hated more than someone
barging in and disrupting his work environment.
“What is it?” he asked coldly.
“Nothing. I just miss you and wanted to see you,” Gabriella said flirtatiously as she approached Larry.
If only things were actually that simple. Larry was immediately on high alert.
Gabriella walked toward the sofa after noticing that Larry was basically ignoring her.
Good luck getting rid of me, Larry. I will stick to you until you take full responsibility of me!
Gabriella’s eyes glinted coldly.
“Hey, what’s up with that Gabriella recently? She’s been coming over an awful lot.”
“I don’t know. She’s always had a thing for Mr. Norton, but it’s not like she doesn’t know that he’s
married.”
A couple of women were gossiping outside his office.
Gabriella knew they’d be curious and smiled cunningly.
Suddenly, she started to retch.
Larry stopped what he was doing and looked at the woman in front of him in shock.
“What’s wrong with you?” he asked, looking at her suspiciously.
“I don’t know. I’ve been feeling like throwing up all the time recently,” she replied.
Sh*t!
Larry suddenly felt a sense of dread.
She’s not pregnant, is she? He scratched the back of his head worriedly.
Did I really do something to her that night? How am I supposed to explain everything to Joan when she
comes back?
“Ouch! Ugh, my stomach hurts so bad!” Gabriella purposely clutched her stomach and bent over as if
she were really in pain.
In the hospital, she was finally laying down in a hospital bed.
“You young’uns really know no boundaries. You should have come sooner, not only now after she’s
been pregnant for so long,” the doctor said as he looked at Larry coldly.
Sh*t! Larry put his head in his hands, completely at a loss for what to do.
“Larry!” Caspian suddenly came running toward him.
“What’s wrong? Is she pregnant?” Caspian asked in a low, breathless voice.
Larry turned and looked out the window with a dark expression on his face.
What the hell did I do to deserve this?
“Lars?” Gabriella mumbled pitifully.
“Larry, are you sure the kid is yours?” Caspian looked at Larry suspiciously.
He still refused to believe that Larry would do anything to that woman. He knew Larry too well, after all.
If Larry didn’t like it, he wouldn’t lay even a finger on it.
“I don’t know,” Larry answered softly.
Caspian’s eyes darkened.
Knowing Gabriella, she would probably have found a way to cause a scene even if Larry hadn’t laid a
finger on her that night.
“Here’s some medicine. Make sure to keep her happy, alright? She is pregnant after all,” the doctor
said with a serious look at Larry.
Larry reached out and took the medicine with an expressionless face.
Ring! Ring!
Gabriella glanced at the caller’s name on her screen before looking at the two people outside. She
finally decided to pick up the call.
“Baby, are you pregnant?” The voice on the other end of the phone sounded slightly sensual.
“Keep your voice down,” she whispered back.
“I can’t believe I’m going to be a father.”
Gabriella scoffed coldly. Why are you so happy? It’s not like I’m going to marry you anyway.
After stringing him along for a couple more minutes, she hung up the phone.
“Lars?” Gabriella called out.
Larry walked in and looked at the woman on the hospital bed a little helplessly.
Chapter 1952
“I want dumplings.” Gabriella looked at Larry pitifully.
“I’ll go buy them.” Before Larry could even react, Caspian had already run out the door.
“When did you get pregnant?” Larry asked carefully.
Gabriella paused for a second before smiling.
“Huh? So I am actually pregnant? Did the doctor already tell you?” Gabriella caressed her belly in
feigned disbelief.
Of course, I know I’m pregnant. I just wanted to make sure you knew too.
Larry’s face soured immediately and he fell into deep thought.
How am I going to explain to Joan? He scratched the back of his head with an exasperated frown on
his face.
Gabriella felt both glee and pity at the sight of his stress.
“Here are your dumplings.” Caspian passed them to Gabriella.
Suddenly, she yelped.
“Oh no! Would you look at that? How did you manage to spill all that sauce? You got oil all over the
blanket,” Caspian mocked on purpose.
God damn you!
Gabriella clutched the sheets tightly, trying to keep herself from punching him in the face.
After a deep breath or two, she finally calmed down.
Disgusting whore. How dare you try and seduce Larry? Caspian’s gaze turned into one of disdain.
“Can you step out for a second, Caspian? I need to talk to Gabriella for a second,” Larry suddenly said.
Larry and Gabriella were finally left alone in the room.
It became so quiet, one could hear a pin drop.
“Gabriella, tell me the truth. Who is the father?” Larry glared at Gabriella sharply.
Her eyes teared up instantly.
“Did you forget everything you did to me, Lars?” she asked in a trembling voice.
It doesn’t matter who the father is anyway. I’ll still have you wrapped around my finger whether you like
it or not!
“You better tell me the truth. If I find out that it’s not mine, you know what will happen to you.” Larry’s
tone was sharp enough that Gabriella knew he wasn’t joking.
She knew Larry had a reputation for being harsh and definite in whatever he did, much less something
like this.
“What’s going on with you, Lars?” Gabriella asked pitifully.
She was clearly avoiding the topic since she had never admitted who it was.
“What do you want from me?” Larry asked. It was obvious that he was already feeling beaten down by
Gabriella’s antics.
He had never imagined that he would ever lay a finger on anyone but Joan.
“This is my first baby. I don’t want to lose it just like that,” Gabriella continued caressing her belly,
looking both pitiful and as if she was trying to hold it back.
Larry’s glare blazed with anger after watching Gabriella acting all innocent. He clenched his fists, trying
to hold back his anger.
No. That baby has to die.
“The baby shouldn’t come to life. Get rid of it.” Larry turned around and looked out the window.
Gabriella was taken aback.
He’s actually willing to kill his own kid? What a monster! Larry, Larry. Is Joan the only woman you’ll ever
love?
“No! Lars, I can’t get rid of my own kid. If you won’t take care of my baby, I will!” Gabriella yelled at
Larry.
The child might not actually have been Larry’s, but Gabriella still didn’t want to kill her own child.
“No.”
She scoffed coldly and walked toward Larry with a frigid expression on her face.
“What? You don’t want Joan to know? She already eloped with someone else. Why are you still
hanging on to her?” Gabriella hissed.
I want that woman’s reputation ruined! I want her to be left behind forever. In fact, I hope to God she
dies and never comes back!
Larry’s gaze was darker than coal at that point.
He hadn’t heard from Joan for what seemed like forever. He didn’t know if she was doing well, nor if
she was getting hurt. Now, this new situation was like salt on his wound.
Chapter 1953
Slam! The door closed heavily.
Gabriella watched Larry leave with a sinister glint in her eye.
I have to give birth to this kid!
She clenched her fists tightly, digging her nails into the flesh of her palms.
Knock! Knock!
Gabriella looked at the door again, her eyes excited at the thought of Larry turning back for her.
“What’s wrong, baby? Are you okay?” Another man hurriedly rushed toward Gabriella.
She immediately frowned in exasperation.
“What are you doing here?” she asked fiercely, her eyes blazing with annoyance.
“What do you mean? Of course, I’m here to see you.” He pulled her into his embrace.
“Didn’t I already tell you? I don’t want to meet you again. Besides, I’ve already given you the money,”
Gabriella said coldly.
“How could you say that, baby? I didn’t do that with you just for the money. I like you, can’t you tell?” he
said gently as he caressed Gabriella’s head.
She just scoffed coldly in response.
She no longer believed in love or romance. She had already gone through enough. All she wanted at
this point was to get Larry and get rid of Joan. Even if it was out of spite, she wanted to get what she
wanted for once.
“If you really love me, then never let me see you again,” Gabriella spat coldly.
His gaze darkened instantly.
What a b*tch. She’s really burning her bridges, huh?
“Don’t you miss me, Gabriella?” he smirked dangerously.
“Did you forget how much fun we had that day?” His sneaky hands started slipping up her shirt.
Gabriella started to panic.
“Get out. We can’t be seen together like this. Also, I don’t ever want to see you again,” Gabriella said
harshly in a slightly louder voice.
How can this woman be so cruel? His eyes flashed coldly and he clenched his fists.
“Joan, are you okay?” Dustin patted her shoulder and asked in a low voice.
“I’m fine,” she said with a wave of her hand.
For some reason, Joan had kept feeling nauseous ever since yesterday. The doctor said she had eaten
something that had gone bad.
“What did you even eat?” Dustin said as he looked at Joan tenderly.
They only emerged from the restroom after a long time.
“Miss, here’s your soup.” A waiter suddenly approached with a smile.
“I didn’t order this though,” Joan said with a confused glance at the waiter.
“This man ordered it for you.”
Joan looked at Dustin with an awkward smile.
“You should drink more soup. It’s good for you,” Dustin said.
Joan had been feeling uneasy for the past few days, but she hadn’t been able to put her finger on it
exactly and it made her feel even worse.
After the two of them finished eating, they arrived at the beach.
“The doctor said that the beach is good for your recovery,” Dustin said in a low voice.
“Come on, let’s start,” he continued.
Joan looked at Dustin both awkwardly and hesitatingly. She felt like it wasn’t a good idea. She was a
married woman after all.
“What? Are you embarrassed?” He approached her slowly.
“I’m not embarrassed! I just…” Joan trailed off, looking as if she found it hard to speak.
“It’s okay. Everyone here is a stranger. They don’t know who we are, so no one’s going to spread any
gossip about you,” Dustin said as he pushed Joan onto the sandy beach.
Joan looked around and failed to find a face she recognized, so she decided to lie down and relax so
she could recover quickly.
“Look at those two. They’re so sweet. He’s actually feeding her.”
“Yeah, he’s so handsome, too!”
“How sweet. I wish I had a boyfriend like that.”
The women next to them kept gossiping loudly. Joan couldn’t hear what they were saying exactly, but
their heated stares were already telling her everything she needed to know.
Chapter 1954
“Look how blessed you are! They’re envious that I’m giving you a massage,” Dustin murmured
deliberately.
Without a word, Joan gave him an awkward smile.
Did I ask him to massage me? No, I didn’t, but he forced me to accept it. Larry is going to get jealous if
he ever finds out about this.
A hint of worry appeared on the woman’s face.
“Joan?” Suddenly, a familiar voice sounded.
Opening her eyes quickly, she saw a woman in front of her.
“It’s you! Are you here for a vacation?” The short, young woman asked excitedly.
Joan got to know this woman when she went shopping together with Larry. It was a comical encounter.
At that time, the woman went shopping as well. Unfortunately, a snatch thief stole her wallet, and she
broke her glasses too. Later, she ran into Larry and Joan. Squinting her eyes at him, she insisted
adamantly that he was the snatch thief until the police caught the culprit. Their friendship started with a
misunderstanding.
“What? Oh, yeah.” Joan answered with embarrassment.
She couldn’t reveal the fact that she was sick.
“Where’s your husband? Or are you…” The woman pointed at Dustin doubtfully.
“I wish I were her husband.” The man smiled faintly.
Amused, the woman chuckled at his words.
“Larry has been busy recently,” Joan explained in a low voice.
“Oh, I see. But he should take a rest sometimes, no matter how busy he is.”
“Come here, Mom!” a kid shouted from some distance away.
“Excuse me, my son is calling me. See you again.” The woman patted Joan’s shoulder. While walking
away, she mumbled to herself, “How strange. Why would her husband let another man takes care of
her?”
Staring at her retreating back, Joan knew that the woman had a misunderstanding again.
Whatever. Her opinion doesn’t matter to me. This time, I probably won’t be able to return to my country.
“Come on, let’s continue.” Dustin rubbed her temples.
“Are you guys together?” An adorable lady appeared out of nowhere and stood in front of them.
“No.” Joan denied right away.
Instantly, her answer thrilled the woman.
“Can… Can I take a photo with you?” The lady gazed at Dustin bashfully.
Finally, someone is here to flirt with Dustin! The corner of Joan’s lips curled into a satisfied smile.
Actually, it’s about time for him to get a girlfriend.
Dustin glanced awkwardly at the lady. His gaze darkened.
Where did she come from? Why does she want to take a photo with me out of the blue?” He eyed the
lady beside him suspiciously.
“Is there anything wrong? What do you think about this photo?” the lady asked in a low voice.
“Yeah, it looks great,” Dustin replied half-heartedly.
A chilly, refreshing sea breeze blew her way. Joan stood up facing the ocean, glancing at the woman
who greeted her just now some distance away.
The woman showed her a ‘V’ sign with a smile.
In an instant, Joan came to the realization that the woman was the one who asked the lady to come
over and take a photo with Dustin.
What a meticulous and thoughtful woman.
In the office, Larry was staring at the computer screen solemnly, but his mind was occupied by Joan’s
face.
“Larry.” Caspian knocked on the door and ambled in.
“Gabriella insisted on keeping the baby, or else…” He hesitated and bit his tongue.
“Or else? What is she going to do?” Lifting his head, Larry looked at the man with a brow raised.
“Or else she would be gone together with the baby.”
Bang! He pounded the desk with his fist.
Who on earth does she think she is? How dare she bargain with me!
“Larry, it’ll be troublesome if anything happens to her. After all, Gabriella is the only daughter of the
Ward family.”
Larry’s gaze appeared gloomy. Of course, I know I can’t act impetuously.
“Is there any news about Joan?”
Chapter 1955
“I just spotted her in a surveillance footage of the airport. But…” Caspian paused for a second.
“But she was with Dustin.”
I knew it! It’s that scumbag!
Larry’s gaze grew frigid at once. When is he going to stop clinging onto Joan? But why is she willing to
go overseas with him?
After a small talk, Caspian left the office.
At night, a crescent moon and a few twinkling stars hung in the pitch-black sky. Staring out the window
at a lighthouse nearby, Larry was deep in contemplation.
Ring! Ring! Ring!
Glancing at his phone, the man answered the call immediately.
“Dad, when is Mom coming home? I miss her so much.” Lucius’ voice sounded weary.
“Your mom is busy these days. Don’t worry, Lucius. When she’s free, I’ll bring her to see you,” Larry
comforted him.
Everyone misses her a lot. Why didn’t she call us?
Hanging up the phone, the man scrolled through the contact list in his phone, found Joan’s number,
and called her.
“Hello?” She picked up the phone.
A gleam of hope flashed across Larry’s eyes.
“Joan, where are you?” the man murmured with much concern.
“I…” Joan’s voice trailed off.
Can I tell him that I’m abroad together with Dustin? Should I let him know that I came here to check on
my brain? No, I can’t tell him.
“Larry, don’t worry, I’m fine. Perhaps I’ll be back after some time,” she said gradually.
She would rather be with Dustin than tell me what is going on.
A look of disappointment crossed on Larry’s face.
She’s my wife. Why does she hide things from me? We’ve been together for so long, but she still
doesn’t trust me.
“Joan, Lucius and Ms. Young miss you,” he said slowly.
So what? The woman’s eyes glinted with a twinge of grief.
I can’t be with them anyway.
“Joan, have some fruits.” Suddenly, Dustin yelled beside her.
“What? I’m sorry. Something came up, so I have to hang up now.” With that, she hung up on him
straight away.
That voice was Dustin’s!
Larry felt as if a knife stabbed into his heart, cutting it into pieces.
“Who were you talking to? You look sad just now,” Dustin asked gently. Putting a piece of apple into his
mouth, he feigned ignorance.
In fact, from the moment Joan first spoke on the phone, he already guessed that it was Larry who
called her. Therefore, he took the chance to sow discord between them.
Oh Larry, if you had believed in her, you wouldn’t have doubted her. Above all, you shouldn’t have
abandoned her. I bet you’re busy handling your relationship with Gabriella now.
An impish smile broke across Dustin’s face.
“Why are you smiling?” The woman gave him a nudge.
“Huh? Nothing. Eat some fruits.” Handing a plate of sliced fruits to her, he stood up and walked away.
Looking at his departing back, Joan felt puzzled.
Is he’s happy because the lady took photos with him just now?
“Lucius, wake up!” Delilah shrieked desperately.
However, the boy on the bed didn’t move an inch.
“Hello, is this 911? I need an ambulance!”
In the hospital, Lucius was on a drip as he lay on the bed with his eyes closed. In the meantime, Delilah
was sitting beside him with a troubled face.
“What happened?” Larry stormed into the ward.
“I don’t know. I just couldn’t wake him up this morning…” She choked back her tears.
“Ms. Young, don’t worry. Let me ask the doctor.” He quickly headed to the doctor’s office.
“The child is too young. After his last surgery, he was recovering well. However, he’s been feeling down
lately, and that is detrimental to…”
Chapter 1956
At his words, Larry was bewildered.
Lucius’ daily life has been revolving around his school and home. Why does he feel depressed then?
“Ms. Young, have you noticed anything strange with Lucius lately?” He glanced at the woman with
concern.
Delilah hesitated for a moment. “Every day during mealtimes, he always asked when Joan would come
back. He said he was worried about his Mom, that she might be bullied outside…” she said softly.
Hearing that, Larry’s gaze turned grim.
I see. It’s because of Joan.
The man promptly fished out his phone and dialed her number, but the call didn’t get through. Out of
agitation, he took two photos of the boy on the bed and sent them to her.
Ding!
Joan swiped to unlock her phone, and she was stunned by what she saw.
Without hesitation, she called him back straight away.
“What’s going on? What happened to Lucius?”
Her anxious voice and hasty tone gave him an illusion that she was right next to him.
“He’s hospitalized. The doctor said he has been depressed recently,” Larry answered slowly.
Is it because of me?
A panic overtook Joan. Her eyes were filled with remorse.
“Ms. Young said that he often asked when you’re coming back every time he eats. He called me many
times too,” the man said in a husky voice.
The woman’s eyes turned red-rimmed as her body quivered.
“Joan, please come back, if you will. The boy really needs you now.”
She could no longer hold back her emotion. Hanging up the phone, she huddled up on the couch with
her arms around her knees, sobbing in anguish.
Lucius is admitted to the hospital because of me. It’s all my fault!
Tears trickled down her face and soaked the pillow under her head.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Someone knocked incessantly on the door, but she showed no response at all, as though she didn’t
hear it.
“Joan!” Dustin bawled outside the room, but no one answered the door.
The man grew restless and sprinted to the reception counter.
Boom! The door was kicked open forcefully.
What came into sight was the woman who fell asleep with swollen eyes after crying her heart out.
“Joan…” He shook her arm gently.
She was completely unresponsive.
Glancing around, the man didn’t see any pills or medicine.
Thank God she didn’t hurt herself.
He tiptoed into the bedroom, took a blanket, and gently covered her with it. Squatting down beside her,
he studied her face.
What happened to her? Why did she cry so sadly? Is it because of Larry? Or…
At these thoughts, Dustin’s gaze darkened.
After what seemed like decades, the woman on the couch gradually opened her eyes. Only then she
realized that Dustin was leaning against the side of the couch with his eyes shut.
“Dustin…” Joan nudged his arm.
She wanted to tell him that she was going to return to her country, so Lucius would get well soon.
Staring at the man who was in a deep slumber, she sat up quietly, draped the blanket around his
shoulders, and sauntered toward the bedroom.
“Joan!” Suddenly, the man behind her called out loudly.
“Did something come up?” Dustin put the blanket on the couch and marched toward her.
“I’m going back.”
Her unflinching gaze and her resolute expression caught him off guard.
“But you have yet to do the final checkup.” Dustin hurriedly tried to convince her.
However, this was not important to her anymore.
“Dustin, I can’t thank you enough for bringing me here for medical checkups, but I have something
urgent to attend to now.” Turning around, she started packing her luggage.
Unexpectedly, the man stepped forward and stopped her, gazing at her with a stern face.
“What is so important that you’re risking your life for it? Is it because of Larry? Is it him?” Dustin
clutched her arms.
“Let go of me. It hurts!” She struggled against him.
Chapter 1957
In the next second, he felt a pang of heartache and promptly loosened his grip on Joan.
“I’m sorry. I forgot myself.”
“It’s Lucius. He’s admitted to the hospital…” she explained in a soft voice.
So what? Why should she care about the child? He is only her adopted son, and they’re not related by
blood.
Scratching the back of his head, Dustin couldn’t wrap his head around what she was thinking.
Watching the woman bustle around the room, he knew that there was no way he could stop her from
going back.
Fine, I’ll let her be.
“I’m going back with you.” With that, Dustin turned around and headed back to his bedroom to pack his
luggage.
Joan froze at his words. A second later, she recollected herself. Is he not angry with me?
In the hospital, Lucius was lying on the bed, while looking out the window. His gaze was bleak and
melancholic. Exasperated, Delilah’s heart ached for him.
Ring, ring, ring…
Delilah took a look at her phone and promptly picked it up.
“Hello, Joan.”
Lucius swiftly tilted his head to look at the woman beside him.
“Really? Okay, I got it. I’ll pass the phone to Lucius now.” She swiftly handed the phone to him.
“Mom!” The weariness in his voice couldn’t conceal the excitement in it.
“Lucius, I’m coming back soon…” Joan spoke in a low voice, as she was afraid that she might not be
able to suppress her emotions and broke down in tears when she heard his voice.
“I miss you so much,” the boy protested.
“Dad and Grandma miss you too.”
Joan was at a loss for words.
I miss them too, but I don’t know how much time I have left to live. I’m afraid I might not be able to stay
by their side for long.
“Hey, Lucius is awake. You look happy today.” Larry came into the ward with some fruits.
The man’s voice tugged at her heartstrings and made her miss him even more.
“Dad, it’s Mom!” Lucius pointed at the phone enthusiastically.
Larry was stunned for a split second. His lips quirked up into a smile.
“Mom is calling you, huh?” he asked slowly. Surprise flickered in his eyes.
“Ah!” Running hastily, Joan tripped over herself and fell onto the floor. Her right hand rubbed her
bleeding knee. Despite the pain, she got up on her feet and staggered forward. Behind her, Dustin saw
it and felt for her.
Why must she make herself so miserable? Why can’t she just live for herself?
His fists balled up, and his gaze grew cold.
“Lucius!” The woman darted into the ward while calling out loud.
But there was no sign of anyone.
Have I come to the wrong ward?
“Mom!” Suddenly, Lucius wrapped his arms around her from behind.
“You scared me! I thought I came to the wrong ward. How are you? Are you feeling better now?”
Gazing at the boy with much concern, she caressed his head.
Holding onto her leg, Lucius refused to let her go, even after a long while. Snuggling up to his mother,
he suddenly felt aggrieved.
“Mom, where have you been recently? Dad said you’re too busy to see me.” He gazed pitifully at her.
Joan’s eyes misted over at his words.
I’ve done wrong. I shouldn’t have gone overseas so abruptly and made everyone worry about me.
“Lucius, are you getting better?” Dustin reached out to stroke his head.
With all of his might, the boy flung his hand away with an annoyed face.
It must be this man who took Mom away. He gave Dustin a death stare.
When did this rascal become so rude? He eyed the boy speculatively.
“Mr. Dustin, aren’t you busy? Why are you here again?” Lucius emphasized the word ‘again’
intentionally.
I bet he can hear the displeasure in my tone.
The boy turned around and hugged Joan tightly.
Chapter 1958
Dustin was overcome with embarrassment.
How dare this brat humiliate me this way! The man clenched his hands firmly as his gaze grew icy.
“I have to visit Lucius, no matter how busy I am,” he murmured.
Hmph! Who cares about him if it isn’t for Joan?
“Joan, you’re finally back.” Delilah strode into the ward with a worried look.
“Ms. Young.” Joan stood up and pulled Delilah into her embrace.
In the meantime, Dustin glanced around the ward and felt curious. This is odd. Where is Larry? Isn’t
that jerk supposed to stay at the hospital and take care of Lucius?
“Joan, we were so worried. Do you know how long has Larry looked for you? He suffers from insomnia
for a period of time…” Delilah babbled on.
Standing beside them, Dustin pursed his lips in disdain.
Why does he still mess around with other woman then? His gaze turned scornful.
Is he hiding because he can’t bring himself to face Joan?
The corner of his lips curved into a mischievous smile. I can’t wait to see how Larry is going to explain
to her about the things that happened between him with Gabriella.
In the office, Larry was flipping through a magazine with a solemn look.
Ring! Ring!
“Hello, Larry. Joan is back,” Caspian mumbled.
In an instant, the pen in Larry’s hand dropped on the desk.
“She’s still at the hospital. You…”
“No need. I’ll be there after work.” The man hung up right after speaking.
Caspian stared at the phone, confused yet curious. Doesn’t he yearn for Joan’s return?
Standing up, Larry strolled toward the window and glanced at the sea far away. Uneasiness and
trepidation welled up in his heart. I have yet to settle the things between me and Gabriella. What will
Joan think if she gets to know about it? Distress was written all over his face.
When she was not around, he couldn’t stop thinking about her. Now that she was back, he felt fearful.
A human’s psychology worked in an enigmatic way. Most of the time, people longed for things that they
couldn’t have. But once they had it, they would despise it for no reason.
Ring! Ring!
Glancing at the caller ID, Larry paused for a moment before picking up the phone.
“Hello, I’m back.” Her deep voice sounded strained.
“Thank you,” the man spoke slowly.
Both their tones were impassive, devoid of any emotion. Joan waited for the man to go on, but he fell
silent.
In the end, they hung up the phone in less than two minutes.
Perhaps it was out of guilt about leaving him, or she was upset to see Lucius’ condition. Joan hung her
head, and her eyes dimmed with sorrow.
“Ms. Ward, Joan came back.”
Hah! She still remembers to come home? Is she here to snatch Larry away from me? This time, she’s
bound to lose.
A trace of malice gleamed in her eyes.
“Since when did she come back?” Gabriella asked in an icy tone.
“She just came back today, together with Dustin. They went to the hospital right after that. I heard the
boy named Lucius has been admitted.”
“Okay, I got it. Keep a close eye on Larry.” With that said, she hung up.
She came back on the dot. It’s time to let her know the truth. Larry, just you wait! You’re definitely going
to marry me.
With a frigid gaze, Gabriella clenched her fists tightly.
“Ms. Young, why isn’t he back yet?” Joan was slightly uneasy. Her eyes flicked between Delilah and
Lucius, who was in a deep slumber on the hospital bed.
It’s been a while since I last met him. I wonder how he is doing now.
A sense of anxiety spiked in the woman’s heart.
“That’s weird. He isn’t working overtime these days. He usually comes here right after work.” Delilah
cast a puzzled glance at the door.
Is he still mad at me? A glint of dejection was in Joan’s eyes.
“Why isn’t Larry here yet? We’ve waited for so long. Is this how he takes care of the child?” Dustin
scoffed deliberately.
Chapter 1959
If it were not for his call, Joan would not have considered to come back.
“I am here!” At that instant, a familiar voice echoed from the door.
Joan walked over excitedly and wanted to hug Larry. However, Larry ignored her and walked right to
Lucius’s bed.
“Ms. Young, how is he today?” he asked gently.
At that moment, Joan could not feel more awkward.
It seemed like Larry was still mad at her.
Looking at this scene, Dustin’s lips curled into a sarcastic smile. Why? Are you feeling too guilty to hug
your wife?
“The doctor says he just needs a few more days of rest,” Delilah replied hurriedly.
Larry nodded at her and turned his gaze towards Lucius who was lying on the bed.
Just then, his phone rang. He took a glimpse at the screen and hung up abruptly.
Seconds later, the call came in again. Feeling annoyed, Larry picked it up and scolded, “What exactly
do you want?”
Joan was stunned by his reaction. Who is it that makes him so angry?
A few days had passed. Ever since Joan came back, Lucius was extremely joyful. He was no longer
depressed, whereas his appetite had considerably improved.
“Mom, I want to go home,” Lucius said suddenly.
Joan smiled at Lucius, who was still lying on his bed. Without hesitation, she stepped towards the
doctor’s office.
“I can discharge him, but you have to keep an eye on his emotion,” the doctor answered slowly.
Soon after that, all of them were back to the village with their stuff.
“Dad, I want to eat fruit.”
“Alright, there you go!”
“Mom, let’s have some dumplings tonight, okay?”
“Sure.” Joan caressed Lucius’s hair gently before she walked into the kitchen.
Gazing at the happy family of three, Delilah displayed a wide satisfied grin on her face.
The most important thing for a family is health and unity. Such happiness could not be bought with
wealth. It is my blessings to be able to meet with this family.
Right then, there was a knock on the door.
Who will still come over during this hour? Delilah stared at the door curiously and then walked over
slowly.
“Who are you looking for?” She was a little startled to see a gorgeous lady standing at the door.
“I am here for Larry.” The lady deliberately touched her pregnant belly as she said this.
At that instant, Delilah’s gaze darkened. She could sense something terrible was about to happen.
“Ms. Young, who is it?” Joan asked from the kitchen in a loud voice.
Hearing the familiar voice, Gabriella’s eyes flashed with coldness. Arrogantly, she walked into the tiny
living room before Delilah could stop her.
“It’s me!” Her haughty voice echoed through the entire house.
This voice… could it be…
Joan immediately raised her head, and her heart petrified the moment she saw Gabriella.
How does she find this place?
Lucius observed Joan’s reaction and instantly knew it was an unwelcomed guest. He turned his head
and continued to watch his show, ignoring Gabriella, who was standing right beside him.
“What the h*ll are you doing here?” Larry showed up suddenly before Gabriella and glared at her
ferociously.
“What? Why couldn’t I come? I come to visit all of you.” Gabriella cast back a cold smile.
Such a ludicrous joke! She has just set me up not long ago. How dare she come to our place now?
“You are not welcomed here.” An unexpected phrase came out of Lucius’ mouth.
Hearing this, a dark expression loomed over Gabriella’s face.
Who the h*ll is this rude kid? He didn’t greet me, and now he dared to talk to me like this!
“Whose kid is this? Doesn’t he have any manners?”
Listened to Gabriella’s accusation, Lucius stood up and walked steadily towards her.
Even though he was still young at age, he understood a lot about the adult world. He might not fully
know the intention of the woman standing in front of him, but at least, he could see that she had a poor
character.
Chapter 1960
“Hello, Madam. May I ask why do you come into our house?” Lucius gave a full bow towards Gabriella.
With that, Gabriella’s face was flushed red with anger.
Delilah, who was standing from afar, did not say anything while she observed Gabriella. She gave a
long sigh and shook her head repeatedly at this situation.
“Leave now!” Larry grabbed Gabriella’s hand forcefully.
“Why should I leave? I have done nothing wrong. What’s going on, Lars? Am I an embarrassment to
you here?” Out of a sudden, Gabriella grabbed back Larry’s arm and leaned tightly on him.
All these were being witnessed by Joan from the kitchen.
What is it between the two of them?
She could not believe what she is seeing at the moment.
“Let go of me now! Please leave!” Larry was trying to push Gabriella to her way out.
“Lars, don’t forget to come to find me ya…” Gabriella coaxed in a loud manner.
Right at that moment, there was an awkward silence among the other parties at the scene. Anyone
could see that Larry had a complicated relationship with that lady.
From what Joan knew, Larry never behaves like this. If Gabriella were to touch him like this before, he
would have pushed her away mercilessly.
“Come on, Joan. Lucius just came out from the hospital. Let’s make a few more dishes for him.” Delilah
attempted to distract Joan.
“Huh? I see. Okay.” Joan seemed a bit reluctant, but still, she submissively walked to the fridge to get
some more ingredients.
“Gabriella, get lost now!” Larry glared daggers at the ridiculous woman.
Never did he expected that Gabriella would have crossed this line and came here.
“Lars, are you really mad at me? You don’t like me to be here, do you? Then I won’t anymore. I am
worried about you as you didn’t pick up my call. That’s why I came. If anything happens to you, what
am I gonna do?” Gabriella acted pitiful while again touching her belly.
At that moment, Larry felt as though his head was going to explode.
“It is too soon to make any assumption. We can’t even confirm if the baby is mine. Please go back and
rest well.” Upon finished speaking, Larry turned to leave.
“Lars!” Gabriella suddenly hugged him from behind.
“This baby is yours. Regardless of whether you want to admit it or not, it is yours, and I will never abort
it.” Upon saying this, she let go of him and left.
At that moment, Larry’s face was devoid of expression.
After all, this is a life we are talking about here. Moreover, it is my child. How could I be so cruel? But
Joan…
Larry gave a punch on his own head. He was devastated as the whole situation had gotten out of his
hand.
“Dad, who is that woman?” Lucius asked indifferently while both his eyes were still locked on the
television screen.
“Nobody. She is just a friend of mine.” Larry tried to pull himself together.
“What kind of friend?” The kid continued to ask.
Larry was agitated by his son’s persistence, but he still trying to act calm.
“She is… just an ordinary friend.”
Lucius smiled and did not further question. As long as Dad does not have another woman, it would be
fine.
On the other hand, Joan, who was still in the kitchen, seemed utterly dispirited.
“Joan, the water is boiling.” Delilah reminded with a gentle tone.
Joan did not respond to Delilah’s voice, as she was still deeply troubled by the scene that just
happened.
“Joan?” Delilah patted on Joan’s shoulder.
“Yes? What is it?” Joan raised her brows in shock.
“Are you okay? The water is boiling already.” Delilah pointed at the pot on the stove.
Joan gave an awkward smile and hurried to proceed with the cooking.
Larry saw this from the living room, while his eyes filled with guilt and helplessness.
The dinner on that day was extraordinarily quiet. Four of them just looked down on their own plates and
ate, with no one willing to start a conversation.