Ch. 1281..1290

Chapter 1281 Carefully Serving A Woman

Johanna lowered her gaze to the ground, but first caught sight of her own protruding belly. She didn't want any mishaps to befall her baby, so she withdrew her hand with a cold expression.

Zephyr felt her leaning her back against his arm, the corner of her mouth curling upward.

This private hospital has a complete range of departments and medical equipment, but it is not very spacious. Zephyr took Johanna for a walk around the ground floor, and it only took them a little over ten minutes.

Johanna glanced at the sky, "The smell of disinfectant in the hospital makes me uncomfortable. I want to go for a walk in the park."

Zephyr could sense the annoyance in Johanna's tone. He glanced at her without saying anything and gestured towards the bodyguard in the shadows.

After they arrived at the hospital entrance, a car was already parked there.

Zephyr opened the car door and instinctively placed one hand on the roof to protect Johanna from bumping her head as she got in.

Upon seeing the man's actions, the subordinate was quite astonished.

He had been by Zephyr's side for at least five or six years, so now, wherever Zephyr went, he liked to bring him along.

For the first time, it was not others opening the car door for Zephyr, but rather, he was now cautiously attending to a woman. The intimidating sharpness he usually exuded was completely put away, as if he was afraid of upsetting her.

He had never seen Zephyr be so gentle and accommodating with any other female companion.

Upon seeing Zephyr bend down to get into the car and close the door, the subordinate quickly turned his head back.

Zephyr instructed, "Look for a nearby park."

The subordinate acknowledged and was just about to check the car's navigation system when Johanna, who was sitting in the back seat, spoke up. "Let's go to Spring Park. There are deer in that park."

"Let's go to Spring Park," Zephyr told his subordinate.

Spring Park is not far from Sanctity Oracle Psychic, both of which are famous tourist attractions in Tayhaven. It is just a short ten-minute drive from the private hospital where Johanna used to live.

The park is home to thousands of cherry blossom trees, each with their own unique variety.

As you walk along, you can see delicate pink and white cherry blossoms at every turn. With a gentle breeze, the cherry blossom petals flutter and fall, showering pedestrians and the ground below in a beautiful, dreamy scene.

Under the backdrop of cherry blossoms, the deer running in the park seemed to be imbued with a touch of magic.

Zephyr accompanied Johanna as they walked along the path, just as a gentle breeze blew by, rustling the cherry blossom trees. Some cherry blossom petals fell onto Johanna's hair.

Zephyr lifted his hand and picked up the few cherry blossom petals.

Johanna felt his breath surrounding her, so she subtly moved two steps to the side to create some distance between them. When she looked up, she saw some tourists not far away feeding the deer.

Zephyr tucked the cherry blossom petals into his pocket and followed Johanna's gaze, discovering four or five small deer surrounding a tourist.

He walked over to a nearby stall and took out some money to buy a bundle of deer crackers.

Johanna had just taken the deer cracker when a nearby fawn, seemingly catching a whiff of the scent, playfully bounded towards her. The little deer affectionately nuzzled its head against her thigh.

Seeing the adorable little deer, Johanna couldn't help but smile. She took out a deer cracker and fed it to the deer.

Spring Park is famous for its Autumn Cherry trees and deer. Usually, the park staff do not feed the deer, so they rely on tourists to buy deer crackers to feed them. As a result, many of the deer are often starving.

The little deer all around rushed towards Johanna, surrounding her in a circle. Some of the hungry deer went straight to Johanna for food.

Zephyr was engrossed in his phone and didn't notice what was happening on Johanna's side.

Upon hearing Johanna's scream, Zephyr looked up and saw her surrounded by a group of fawns. Johanna kept backing away, seemingly a bit panicked.

Zephyr quickly walked up and waved his hand to drive away those little deer, his eyes filled with a serious intensity.

The little deer sensed an intimidating aura from Zephyr, and they became wary. Hopping away, they scattered in all directions, not daring to nuzzle Johanna any further.

Zephyr placed his hand on Johanna's waist to prevent her from falling. "Are you alright?"

"It's fine." Johanna came back to her senses and realized that she was once again being held in his arms. She pushed him away forcefully, "This isn't a hospital, I can walk on my own."

Chapter 1282 Is Her Child Being Targeted?

Zephyr insisted on hugging her, "I'm afraid those little deer might attack you."

Johanna suddenly realized that a bundle of deer crackers in her hand had been snatched away by one of the little deer. Zephyr hugged her and went to buy another bundle.

He whistled, and the deer around him came bounding over.

With Zephyr around, the deer that gathered once again didn't dare to push Johanna. They carefully nibbled on the deer crackers she handed out.

Johanna touched the deer's fur, finding it very soft and pleasant to the touch.

Johanna knew that there were many tourists in Spring Park, so after entering the park, she was constantly looking for a second chance to escape. However, Zephyr was guarding her closely, not leaving her side for even a moment.

She said she wanted to use the restroom, and Zephyr, taking advantage of her pregnancy, asked the staff to escort her to the restroom designated for expectant mothers.

His steadfast defense left Johanna both angry and frustrated.

As the sun set in the west, the visitors in the park began to leave in small groups. Zephyr draped his coat over Johanna's shoulders and asked, "Should we head back to the hospital, or grab a bite to eat first if you're hungry?"

Seeing that Johanna was in a bad mood and didn't want to talk, Zephyr just smiled. After getting in the car, he instructed his subordinate to drive to the Chanaean cuisine restaurant.

This Chanaean cuisine restaurant is where the bodyguard bought food in the morning, and the ambiance is quite elegant.

Zephyr chose a seat by the window and pulled out the chair for Johanna to sit down first, then sat down beside her.

His arm extended and rested on the back of Johanna's chair, as if encircling her in an embrace.

Johanna felt uncomfortable with his breath, and holding back her temper, she said softly, "Please sit across from me, I feel hot when you're close to me."

“This restaurant has strong air conditioning, I'm worried you might get cold."

He approached Johanna, leaned down to whisper in her ear, "How can I make you fall for me if I don't take care of you closely?"

Johanna pretended not to hear the latter part of his sentence, dodged to the side, and picked up the menu from the table.

Perhaps due to her pregnancy, Johanna has been craving sour and spicy foods lately. The lunch dishes she had were only enough to fill her stomach, but they didn't satisfy her taste buds.

She ordered all the spicy dishes on the menu, and without hesitation, she also added a bowl of pickled cucumbers to her order.

This time was not the peak dining hour, and since Chanaean cuisine was relatively expensive, there were few customers in the restaurant. About half an hour later, the dishes Johanna ordered and the pickled cucumbers were all served.

As Johanna picked up her chopsticks to eat the pickled cucumbers, Zephyr caught a strong whiff of spiciness and aged vinegar.

Although he is a Lostarian, he is not picky about food and can enjoy both kinds of cuisine. However, he rarely eats food that is heavy in oil and spices.

Glancing at the bright red pickled cucumbers, Zephyr's eyebrows twitched.

He found it hard to imagine how Johanna could eat this kind of food, and even worried a little about the baby in her belly.

As Johanna took her third bite of pickled cucumbers, Zephyr gently held her wrist and coaxed, "Try something else, eat less of these."

"I just want to eat this," Johanna insisted, "I won't feel good if I don't eat it."

Zephyr took away her fork, picked up some vegetables, and placed them in the small bowl in front of her. "Eating too much spicy food isn't good for you. Have some vegetables."

Johanna turned her head to look at him and said, “If you're going to stop me from eating whatever I want, not only will it not make me fall for you, but it will also make me dislike you. So, do you want me to dislike you?"

"Spicy food can hurt your stomach, and it's not good for the child." Zephyr lowered his eyes to meet hers, "Can you bear to see the child suffer?"

Johanna furrowed her brow.

Ever since she woke up in Jetroina, Zephyr had mentioned her child several times, as if she was deeply concerned about her kid. This made Johanna feel quite uneasy.

She could vaguely sense that Zephyr had even become somewhat accommodating towards her for the sake of their child.

A troubling thought suddenly crossed Johanna's mind: Could it be that Zephyr had set his sights on her child, planning to take the baby away as soon as it was born?

Chapter 1283 Then You Eat It For Me

Zephyr lifted his hand and gently tucked Johanna's hair behind her ear. He noticed a small cut below her delicate left ear and said, "You're injured, so it's best not to eat anything too spicy."

He had been holding a gun for many years, and as a result, there was a thin layer of callus on his finger.

When his finger touched her earlobe, Johanna's body stiffened, and without hesitation, she slapped his hand away.

Johanna finished the few pieces of greens in her small bowl and suddenly looked at Zephyr with her hand on her cheek. "I really want to eat pickled cucumbers, they're sour and spicy, and very appetizing... Since you won't let me eat them, why don't you eat them for me?"

Zephyr leaned back in his seat and said, "I don't really like this kind of food."

Johanna, of course, knew that he didn't like greasy and spicy food. Precisely because she knew this, she said, "But I like it, and watching you eat it is like me eating it."

"Otherwise, I would constantly be thinking about this bowl of pickled cucumbers and would try every possible way to get some."

She said, moving the bowl of pickled cucumbers in front of her, "If you don't want to eat them, let me finish them to satisfy my craving."

Johanna had just reached for the pickled cucumbers with her fork when Zephyr grabbed her wrist. He then took the fork from her hand and moved the pickled cucumbers in front of himself.

"Would you stop thinking about it if I finish it for you?" His beautiful purple eyes looked at Johanna.

Johanna rested her cheek on her hand, smiling and said, "Of course."

She also said, "Mr. Juksford, pickled cucumbers are one of the most popular snacks in our country. It would be a real pity if you don't give them a try."

Zephyr looked at the side dish in front of him, covered in a layer of red oil, and couldn't help but feel disgusted deep down. However, he didn't show it in front of Johanna. Picking up some sliced cucumbers with his fork, he lowered his head and ate them.

As soon as he swallowed the sliced cucumbers, he was immediately choked by the spiciness, causing him to cough uncontrollably. The fiery sensation in his throat was intense.

Zephyr reached for the lemonade on the table, but Johanna grabbed it first. She brought it to her lips and leisurely took two sips, then rested her cheek on her hand and smiled at him.

"How about it, isn't it delicious?"

Zephyr saw the undisguised mockery and teasing in her eyes, which almost made him laugh. He called the waiter over, his voice hoarse, and asked him to bring a bottle of milk.

Johanna urged the man, "Keep eating, pickled cucumbers taste best when they're still warm."

Zephyr scooped a bowl of pasta and ladled two spoonfuls of scrambled eggs on top. He handed it to Johanna and said, "I finished the pickled cucumbers, so you can have this bowl of food."

Seeing that Johanna didn't take it, Zephyr laughed and said, "If you don't eat enough, how will you have the energy to walk? Or do you want me to carry you?"

Sure enough, these words provoked Johanna. She snatched the small bowl, mixed the pasta with scrambled eggs, scooped up a spoonful, and stuffed it into her mouth.

She was just eating pasta, but she chewed with such force, as if she was devouring him alive.

Zephyr almost wanted to burst out laughing.

Compared to Johanna's previous fake and pretentious demeanor, he found her current slightly temperamental personality to be genuinely adorable.

Zephyr took off his coat from the back of the chair and leaned over to drape it over Johanna's legs, covering the exposed part of her lower legs that peeked out from her skirt.

While adjusting his coat, he subtly brushed his palm against Johanna's protruding belly.

It is said that a daughter's personality is inherited from her mother. Zephyr can imagine that when the child is two or three years old, she will definitely be as lively and lovely as Johanna.

He had seen the nanny taking little Asel out to play, and the child was very much like Johanna - very lovable.

In order to make Johanna happy, Zephyr forced himself to finish the bowl of pickled cucumbers. In the end, his eyes turned red from the spiciness, and it was only after drinking two bottles of milk that his stomach felt a bit more comfortable.

Seeing him like this, Johanna couldn't help but feel delighted, and she purposely asked, "Is it really delicious?"

"Um." Zephyr wiped the sweat off his forehead with a tissue.

Fortunately, Johanna only took a few bites before he snatched the fork away from her. Otherwise, she would have finished the whole bowl of pickled cucumbers, which would have been too much for the baby to handle.

Chapter 1284 You Are So Kind To Her

After the two of them finished eating and left the restaurant, it was dark outside.

Johanna slid into the car through the door Zephyr had opened for her. Once he got in as well, she said, "The hospital has a strong disinfectant smell, I don't want to go there anymore, it's uncomfortable."

"Let's go to the hot spring resort then," Zephyr said, and gave an address to his subordinate.

This hot spring resort is privately operated and is quite far from the city center, taking about an hour to drive there.

After having a satisfying meal and with the comfortable temperature inside the car, Johanna soon became drowsy.

Zephyr wanted her to lean on his shoulder so she could sleep more comfortably. As his hand wrapped around Johanna's waist, she immediately opened her eyes, pushed his hand away, and moved closer to the car door.

Zephyr didn't mind, picking up the coat that had fallen under the seat and placing it back on her lap.

The car made its way through the forest and up to the mountain peak, gradually coming to a stop in front of a building designed in pure Jetroinian-style architecture. Zephyr got out of the car first and walked around to open the door on the other side.

After the two people passed through the long entrance corridor, four staff members dressed in traditional costumes bowed and greeted them.

This hot spring resort often hosts officials and members of prominent families. Many foreign visitors frequent the resort, so the staff are well-versed in various languages.

One of the staff members greeted Zephyr and Johanna, asking them what kind of room they would like to stay in.

Upon learning that Zephyr preferred not to be disturbed, the staff led them to a luxurious room on the east side of the resort. The room was designed in a pure Jetroinian-style layout, complete with a living room and a conference room. Outside the balcony, there was a Jetroinian-style courtyard and a private hot spring bath.

It was around nine o'clock in the evening, and the courtyard was illuminated by lights. The gentle sound of flowing spring water could be faintly heard.

Johanna eyed the private hot spring bath in the courtyard, thinking that taking a dip would definitely be relaxing. However, after catching a glimpse of the man in the room, she dismissed the idea.

Zephyr took out his phone and glanced at it, then said to Johanna, "I need to step out and make a call. Do you want me to call a waiter to keep you company?"

"No need." Johanna couldn't wait for him to stay far away from her.

Upon learning that he was going out, her eyes lit up. "If I need anything, I'll ring the service bell myself."

Johanna waved her hand, "You go ahead and get busy."

As soon as they entered the room, Zephyr noticed that Johanna couldn't take her eyes off the private hot spring bath in the courtyard. It seemed like she wanted to take a dip, but she hesitated to say anything.

He made up an excuse to leave, just so she could enjoy a relaxing bath in peace.

As soon as Zephyr stepped out of the room, his subordinate called him on the phone.

When Zephyr and his friends arrived at the hot spring resort, another car brought a few doctors over as well. This was done to ensure that if Johanna felt unwell, the doctors could attend to her immediately.

After arranging accommodations for the doctor, Subordinate took the clothes and went to the resort's public lounge area to find Zephyr.

The subordinate saw Zephyr sitting by the window and walked over, placing a few bags on the table. "Mr. Juksford, these are the clothes prepared for Mrs. Juksford, along with some olive oil and a bottle of folic acid."

Zephyr took off the bag and rummaged through it, suddenly frowning, "Are there no shoes?"

"There isn't any..." the subordinate hesitated for a moment.

Since the items sent to the cruise ship were mostly clothes and only a few pairs of shoes, he casually picked two bags of clothes and brought them along with the medicine.

Zephyr said, "Have someone buy a few pairs of flat shoes suitable for pregnant women and send them over as soon as possible."

The subordinate didn't dare to delay and immediately made a phone call to have someone go to the mall to pick out shoes. After he finished the call, Zephyr pointed to the couch across from him, inviting him to sit down.

After sitting down, the subordinate asked with confusion, "Mr. Juksford, aren't you going back to accompany Mrs. Juksford?"

"She wants to take a bath."

Zephyr placed the bag on the nearby couch, crossed his legs gracefully as he leaned back, and said, "I'll be back in an hour."

It seems that the subordinate understood something and sighed with emotion, "Mr. Juksford, you are really good to Mrs. Juksford."

Chapter 1285 Affection and Tenderness Devoted To Her

For many years, the subordinate had been following Zephyr, and he knew about the numerous women in Zephyr's life. Zephyr merely used those women to pass the time, even his relationship with the heiress of the Sheraton family was just an act.

However, Zephyr's feelings for Johanna were crystal clear.

Johanna was in a bad mood, not wanting to do anything or go anywhere. Zephyr never forced her, putting all his affection and gentleness towards Johanna.

Not the least bit afraid of Zephyr's vulnerabilities, everyone in The Dark Crow knew just how terrifying Zephyr could be.

Not only him, but the entire Carlo family also hopes that Zephyr will get married and have children. As long as Zephyr has a child, the family can continue to thrive and prosper for generations to come.

Upon hearing this, Zephyr raised his eyebrows and chuckled lightly, "As it should be."

The subordinate saw Zephyr's usually frightening purple eyes, but now they were filled with a gentle warmth. "Mrs. Juksford is very beautiful, and the little miss she gave birth to must be beautiful too, just like you, Mr. Juksford, with a pair of lovely purple eyes."

Zephyr picked up the iced whiskey and took a sip, rubbing the glass with his fingertips. "I'd prefer if the little one had eyes like their mother."

Johanna's eyes were very beautiful, and when she looked at people, it was like a little hook, making their hearts itch with delight.

Zephyr thought that in just a few months, a beautiful little one would be born, and his heart softened at the thought. He wondered if it was time to start buying baby supplies.

He wanted to give his child the best of everything the world has to offer.

Zephyr tilted his head back and took a sip of whiskey, then suddenly looked at his subordinate sitting across from him. "Tell me, why do you think the President doesn't get involved in the lucrative business of arms dealing and instead focuses on finance and entertainment?"

The subordinates all follow Zephyr's orders, excelling in tasks like murder and arson, but they are clueless when it comes to management.

He scratched his head, looking confused, and said, "Maybe the President knows that the government is keeping a close eye on us, and dealing with arms is too risky, so he wants to try something else?"

Who would have thought that Alston's confidant was actually an undercover agent from the Lostaria Police Station?

If it weren't for Zephyr's intelligence and foresight, secretly moving the family's assets and a group of people out early, their fate might have been the same as the other two major mafia families.

Zephyr shook his head and then looked out the window, "No, it's not."

He used to think that Silas had grown old and timid, which was why he wanted to separate the family from The Dark Crow and no longer dared to engage in those profitable businesses.

Now that he was about to have his own child, he suddenly understood why Silas had done what he did.

After seeing everything clearly, Zephyr felt sad. He tightly gripped the wine glass with his fingers turning white, and muttered, "He must have never loved my mother."

Silas is one of the adopted sons of Carlos Caius.

Because of his courage and outstanding abilities, he was well-liked by Caius, and Caius's Cordelia also took a great liking to him.

In order to ensure that Silas could inherit the Carlo family fortune, Caius sent his own son abroad and arranged for his only daughter to marry Silas.

Silas did not disappoint Caius. Under his management, The Dark Crow thrived and prospered. Within just a few years, the Carlo family's reputation had surpassed that of other mafia families.

In those years, Silas's iron-fisted approach made everyone wary.

Perhaps it was Caius's dignity that set him apart; unlike others, Silas didn't have numerous women hidden away like clothing. He only had Cordelia by his side.

He protected Cordelia and pampered her, but he wouldn't fulfill her every request, for there was no love in his eyes.

Not only was there no love for Cordelia, but also for him.

Silas would care about how he was doing at school, and on weekends, he would take him to the stable to play and accompany him to watch soccer matches.

That was only because he was Silas's son, and nothing more.

Every time Cordelia hit Zephyr, he would feel that he hadn't done well enough and failed to make Silas proud.

Even though he became the new president through his own efforts, Silas still looked at him with indifference.

Chapter 1286 Can You Give Me A Kiss?

If it weren't for the fact that he had the same eye color as Silas, he might have doubted that he was Silas's biological child, and that's why Silas didn't love him.

Later, he realized that Silas was not incapable of love.

Silas had a woman in his heart, and he devoted all his emotions to her. This woman also made Cordelia quite jealous.

Seeing Zephyr's downcast appearance, the subordinate held their breath, not daring to make a sound.

About ten minutes later, when Zephyr looked up again, his face had returned to its normal color. He finished the last sip of whiskey and said, "You can go back and rest now."

However, the subordinate didn't leave in a hurry. "Mr. Juksford, there's something strange I'd like to report to you."

"Um."

"I received news these past few days that someone in Kille is looking for the President's whereabouts."

It seems that, out of respect for his own father, Zephyr buried Silas in the same cemetery where Mia Quinn and her husband were laid to rest. As for the Carlo family, he simply told them that Silas had settled down in another country.

Thus, only a few people knew about Silas's death.

Zephyr asked, "Who is looking for him?"

"I've sent someone to investigate, but there's no news yet," the subordinate replied.

The subordinate pondered, "I heard that when the President was in charge of the Carlo family, their business infiltrated Kille. At that time, two local gangs were fighting for territory. The weapons provided by the President allowed one gang to eliminate their rival and take over all their business. Could it be that they are seeking revenge against the President?"

The news that several major mafia families, who had been entrenched in Lostaria for decades, were wiped out by the government in a single day, shocked the entire world.

Those people thought the Carlo family had declined, and they all took the opportunity to seek revenge for their grievances and resentments.

Upon hearing this, Zephyr revealed a disdainful smile. "If they're really seeking revenge on the President, I'd like to see just how capable they are."

The subordinate also felt that those people were somewhat overestimating their abilities.

Zephyr glanced at his phone and saw that more than an hour had passed. He guessed that Johanna must have finished taking her bath by now.

He didn't chat with his subordinate any further and went back to his room carrying his clothes.

Johanna had just finished taking a bath and returned wearing a set of beige, palace-style pajamas. She was sitting cross-legged on a woven mat, blow-drying her hair.

After soaking in the natural hot spring for a while, my skin turned a faint shade of light pink.

As she raised her arm, the hem of her nightgown followed, revealing a slender waist and a bulging belly. Her fair skin was incredibly eye-catching.

Zephyr felt a dryness in his throat and swallowed, walking over to her side and putting down the bag.

"I'll help you."

Johanna pulled her hand back forcefully, not allowing him to take away the hairdryer. "No need, I have hands and can dry my hair by myself."

Zephyr smiled and didn't insist further.

He walked towards the wall and pressed the service bell next to the switch, asking the waiter to bring a cup of warm milk to the room.

After returning, he took out the contents of the bag, tore open the packaging box of folic acid, poured a pill of folic acid from the bottle, and handed it to Johanna along with some warm water.

Johanna picked up the outer packaging box and glanced at it.

When she first found out she was pregnant, Timothy would give her a folic acid tablet every day, which seemed to be from this brand.

Johanna no longer had any doubts and took the folic acid with some warm water. Meanwhile, Zephyr picked up the hairdryer from the floor, sat behind Johanna, and gently helped her dry her hair.

"I'll do it myself." Johanna reached out to grab the hairdryer.

Zephyr raised his hand high, preventing her from reaching it. He lowered his head at the same time, and just as Johanna lifted her head, her forehead gently brushed against his thin lips.

Zephyr squinted his eyes and stared at her with a smile, "Jojo, are you kissing me?"

"I didn't!"

As I got closer to her, the faint scent of milk on her body became more apparent. Just one whiff was enough to ignite a burning desire within me.

Zephyr's breathing became unsteady, his gaze fell on her moist lips, then slid down to the collarbone exposed from her nightgown's neckline. His eyes slowly turned red.

He didn't act as recklessly as before, leaning down close to Johanna and whispered softly:

"Jojo, can you give me a kiss, please?"

Chapter 1287 Feed You One Bite At A Time?

Johanna's face darkened, and she thought about getting up and leaving.

Zephyr quickly held her down and turned the hairdryer back on, gently coaxing, "Alright, no kisses then. Let me help you dry your hair; you can't sleep with wet hair."

Johanna found herself mostly enveloped by the man, unable to walk away. She had no choice but to let him help her dry her hair.

Johanna's hair was quite soft and not very thick, so it dried quickly.

The zephyr gently passed through the woman's jet-black hair, carrying a faint scent of citrus. He lowered his head to take a sniff, and couldn't help but plant a soft kiss on the nape of her neck.

Afterward, Zephyr unplugged the hairdryer.

Hearing the doorbell ring, he walked over and opened the door. It was the waiter who had brought the warmed milk.

The living room in a Jetroinian-style house doesn't have a bed; instead, people sleep on a woven mat. After entering the living room, Zephyr placed the cup of milk next to the sleeping mat.

"After drinking the milk, you'll sleep better," he advised before leaving.

Johanna didn't even glance at the cup of hot milk. She waited until the living room door had been closed for a while before picking up the olive oil from the bed, squeezing a little and gently applying it to her stomach.

She has a slender physique, and now she's almost six months pregnant. However, if you don't lift her clothes, you can hardly see her protruding belly.

As Johanna's fingers gently brushed over her belly, it seemed as if the little one inside gave her a kick. Her eyes softened, but suddenly, she remembered the argument she had with Timothy that day.

Timothy said her pregnancy timeline didn't add up, but even if the timing was off, she still got pregnant after returning to her home country.

And there's Zephyr.

The thought of him targeting the child in her belly, possibly threatening Timothy or herself with the child in the future, made Johanna desperately want to escape.

On the surface, Zephyr was always by her side, not leaving her for even a moment. Secretly, he had also arranged for people to watch her, making it impossible for her to find an opportunity to escape.

Johanna was lost in thought for a long time, until the door to the living room was pulled open.

Zephyr was wearing a white bathrobe provided by the resort, with the belt tied loosely, revealing an eye-catching expanse of his chest muscles.

His hair, usually meticulously styled with hair gel, hung loosely across his forehead. His purple eyes seemed to carry a hint of warmth, and his entire demeanor exuded a languid elegance that made one's hear race uncontrollably.

The noise of him entering startled Johanna, and she quickly pulled her clothes down to cover her stomach.

Zephyr noticed that Johanna hadn't drunk the glass of milk. He took off the towel from his head, walked over to her, and squatted down in front of her. "Didn't I tell you to drink the milk? Why aren't you drinking it?"

"I don't want to drink it." Johanna tightened the cap on the olive oil bottle, her tone cold and distant.

Zephyr took her hand and wiped the olive oil off with a towel, chuckling lightly, "Jojo, do you want me to feed you with my mouth, one bite at a time?"

"Although it's a bit troublesome, I'm more than willing to do it."

Zephyr's fingers gently brushed over the woman's delicate lips, giving them a little squeeze, "It just so happens that I really want to kiss you."

As he touched her, Johanna felt goosebumps all over her body. She slapped Zephyr's hand away and, with a cold expression, picked up the now lukewarm cup of milk. She slowly drank it all in front of Zephyr.

Zephyr chuckled and took the empty cup from Johanna's hand, "Good girl, time for bed."

Johanna glared at Zephyr's retreating figure, wishing her gaze could be tangible enough to shoot holes through the man.

Enduring and tolerating, she lifted the blanket and lay down.

Not long after, Zephyr returned as well. He turned off the living room lights and lay down beside Johanna.

Johanna wrapped herself tightly in the blanket, distancing herself from Zephyr. Although her eyes appeared closed, she was actually pretending to sleep.

After a long while, she heard Zephyr's gentle and continuous breathing, as if he had fallen asleep.

Johanna held her restless heart and waited for a while longer. She then "accidentally" stretched out her leg and kicked the man lightly to make sure he was asleep. After confirming that he was indeed asleep, she quietly slipped out of the bed, opened the door of the living room, and sneaked out.

Chapter 1288 Were You Pretending To Sleep?

Upon entering the resort, she noticed that this establishment placed great emphasis on customer privacy. Apart from the main entrance, there were no surveillance cameras in the other areas.

At this early hour, Zephyr's bodyguards should be resting as well.

Johanna carefully opened the door to her room and saw that the hallway outside was indeed empty, with no one guarding it. Relying on the resort map she had seen in the reception area, she hurriedly walked towards the other side of the hallway.

Upon seeing the door, she strode over and pulled on it twice, only to realize it was locked.

Why is there still a lock on this sliding door?

To Johanna's surprise, the last obstacle turned out to be a door. Frustrated, she pounded on the shutter, ready to find some tools to pry the lock open.

At that moment, a hand reached out and handed over a brass key.

"Thank you." Johanna took the key and quickly opened the door. As soon as the door was pulled open, a cold wind blew in from outside.

Soon, she felt that something was off. Turning her head, she first saw a foot in a bathrobe, and then, raising her gaze, she saw a man with one hand lazily tucked into his bathrobe pocket, looking down at her intently.

Even when squatting down, the man was still taller than Johanna. He had to lower his head to look at her, "Jojo, where do you want to go?"

Johanna looked up and met his gaze, "Were you just pretending to sleep?"

"The scent on you is like a top-notch sleep aid for me, so how could I pretend to sleep?" Zephyr's thin lips curled up, revealing a hint of a smile. "However, I'm a light sleeper, and the slightest movement can wake me up."

Zephyr glanced outside and gently asked, "Do you want to run away?"

"Yeah," Johanna no longer bothered to pretend, "Ever since I got off the cruise ship, I've been thinking about escaping every minute and every second. As long as I make it to the embassy, I'll be safe."

She sneered, "That one-year agreement is nothing but a sham, who cares about your affection!"

"Then you should go," Zephyr said.

Johanna was taken aback, thinking she must have misheard something. Meanwhile, Zephyr sighed and said, "Your legs are your own; if you really want to leave, I can't stop you."

Since he intended to let her go, Johanna headed straight for the reception lobby.

She wanted the resort to arrange a vehicle to take her down the mountain, but the resort said that the drivers were all resting at this time and couldn't help her with the arrangement.

And behind her, Zephyr followed at a leisurely pace.

He watched as Johanna walked to the door and put on her flat shoes, struggling to contain himself. Yet, his tone was casual, "It takes more than an hour to drive up the mountain, and it might take even longer for you to walk down. Besides, you're pregnant. Do you think it's safe to walk in the dark?"

Johanna paused in the act of putting on her shoes, and her subordinate instinctively touched their stomach through their clothes.

If she were alone, she wouldn't be afraid of the dark. Even if it took her five or six hours to walk down the mountain, she would still persevere.

But now that she's pregnant, she has become quite delicate.

Zephyr walked over and stood behind Johanna, whispering softly, "When I said I'd let you go, I meant it. Go back to sleep, and we'll leave in the morning."

Johanna glanced outside and saw the pitch-black darkness. Gritting her teeth, she finally decided to take off her shoes.

When Johanna returned to the room, she saw that a pregnancy pillow had been added to the bed.

Her belly had grown larger, making it uncomfortable for her to sleep on her side. She could only lie flat on her back, but even then, she struggled to fall asleep.

Perhaps this is what Zephyr had prepared for everyone.

Johanna lay silently on her pregnancy pillow, feeling the heaviness in her abdomen and the soreness in her waist gradually decreasing. Drowsiness soon overtook her, and she quickly fell asleep.

Zephyr gently moved closer, covering her with a blanket, and then leaned down to give her a soft kiss on the cheek.

It was just a gentle kiss, yet it ignited an even stronger desire within him.

Zephyr's lips moved down, gently kissing Johanna's lips and sucking on them. Tenderly and carefully, he pried open her lips and tongue. There was a faint taste of milk between her lips and teeth, delicate and

sweet.

Zephyr felt a tightness in his lower abdomen, and his breathing became erratic.

Chapter 1289 You Will Definitely Face Retribution

If it were in the past, he could disregard everything, but now he doesn't want Johanna to dislike him. He wants Johanna to share a bit of love with him.

After a kiss, Zephyr restrained himself and stepped back, leaving the living room and quickly heading towards the bathroom.

Perhaps it was due to the pregnancy pillow, but Johanna didn't wake up at all during the night and had a very comfortable sleep. The next day, after getting up and freshening up, she headed straight to the resort's front desk.

Zephyr grabbed Johanna as she was about to leave the room and pushed her into a chair.

The Jetroinian-style resort does not provide indoor slippers, and the entire resort is made of wooden structures. The central air conditioning temperature is also a bit low. Zephyr is worried that Johanna might catch a cold if she walks barefoot on the floor.

After putting on socks for Johanna, Zephyr said, "What's the rush? Let's have breakfast first."

Johanna was afraid that if the man became unhappy, he might go back on his previous words. So, she kept quiet and let him lead her to the restaurant.

After finishing a bowl of mushroom soup, Johanna wiped the corner of her mouth with a napkin.

This time, Zephyr had no reason to stop her. After leaving the restaurant, Johanna went straight to the resort's front desk and said she needed a car to take her down the mountain.

However, the receptionist apologized and said that the driver had gone down the mountain to pick up guests, and the return time was uncertain.

Johanna couldn't believe that in such a large resort, only two drivers could drive, and the rest of the staff couldn't. However, since they refused to lend her a car, there was nothing she could do about it.

She didn't believe that Zephyr wasn't involved in all of this.

Johanna rubbed her belly, and finally gritted her teeth. She packed some water and food into her bag, borrowed an umbrella from the front desk, and resolutely walked out of the resort.

The road down the mountain is long, but that's fine; she can take her time.

In June, the weather was still somewhat hot. Johanna opened her umbrella to block the sunlight and leisurely walked down the mountain along the road where the car had driven.

Because she was pregnant, Johanna felt tired after walking a short distance and needed to stop and rest.

Not long after she started walking, more than half of her skirt was soaked with sweat, and the baby in her belly also felt uncomfortable, stirring restlessly.

Johanna let out a soft grunt, and the umbrella she was holding in her left hand fell to the ground.

She clutched her stomach and bent over, faintly hearing the steady footsteps approaching from behind.

Zephyr picked up the umbrella and once again shielded Johanna's head from the scorching sun.

Johanna was feeling miserable, and when she saw him, she broke down in tears. She angrily yelled at him, "People like you will definitely get what's coming to them! You'll lose your descendants and won't die a peaceful death!"

He must have known that she was pregnant and couldn't move around easily, let alone walk down the mountain. That's why he showed great compassion and allowed her to leave.

She had never even seen Zephyr before, yet he kidnapped her time and time again.

His life was ruined by him.

Johanna's chest heaved violently as she cursed, and soon she felt like she couldn't breathe. Her body swayed and she collapsed into Zephyr's arms.

Zephyr's heart raced as he waited for the car to arrive. Once it pulled up, he quickly scooped Johanna into his arms and got in. Her hair and clothes were soaked with sweat, sticking to her cheeks, and her face was as pale as Lottie's.

Zephyr wiped the sweat off her face and patted her hand, "Jojo?"

He had been following her all along, watching Johanna take a break after each walk, thinking that there was nothing wrong. However, he had overlooked the scorching sun.

As Zephyr carried Johanna back to the room, the doctor hurried over to check on her.

Zephyr saw that Johanna's lips had turned pale, and his heart clenched tightly. He couldn't hide the anxiety on his face.

"How is she?"

"It's alright, it's alright," the doctor, who was also afraid of Zephyr, quickly reported. "Ms. Joule just fainted due to excessive exercise and dehydration. She'll be fine after some rest."

"Don't worry, the child is fine," the doctor said, fearing that Zephyr might not believe him. He lifted Johanna's clothes and placed the Doppler fetal monitor on her belly, also informing Zephyr about the normal range of the fetal heart rate.

Upon realizing that Johanna had merely fainted due to dehydration, Zephyr finally let out a sigh of relief, his tense heart easing.

Chapter 1290 No One Dares To Scold Zephyr Like This

Johanna didn't wake up until after three in the afternoon.

After what happened yesterday and today, Johanna has come to realize how cunning Zephyr is. As long as he's around, she'll never have a chance to escape.

For the sake of the child in her belly, Johanna later stopped causing trouble.

The two of them stayed in Jetroina for almost a month. Zephyr accompanied Johanna as they visited all the fun places in the city. During the summer, Jetroina had a traditional Fireworks Festival, which Zephyr also took her to attend.

After attending the Fireworks Festival, when Johanna woke up from her sleep, she found herself in a small town in Epea, transported by Zephyr's private plane.

Johanna was absolutely furious.

In Jetroina, all she needed to do was find an opportunity to go to the embassy, and she would be saved. However, she was taken to the other side of the Earth, making it incredibly difficult to return home.

This d*mn scoundrel, she really wished she could just shoot him dead with one bullet!

Feeling irritated and unable to control her temper, Johanna didn't want to deal with Zephyr's fake and pretentious behavior. When her anger flared up, she would scold him.

Zephyr was not annoyed at all; instead, he kept coaxing her gently.

To cheer up Johanna, Zephyr took her on a trip to various countries in Epea. Whatever she wanted, the subordinates would bring it back the next day.

Zephyr's subordinates felt indignant on his behalf. Every time they saw him bring gifts to Johanna, she would casually throw them away and scold Zephyr harshly, leaving him drenched in humiliation.

They had never seen anyone, not even Silas, dare to curse Zephyr so viciously.

As time went by, the fetus grew month by month, but due to Johanna's slender physique, her belly didn't become overly exaggerated.

Zephyr asked the doctor and found out that Johanna's due date is around mid-October.

I heard that the climate in Xifport is mild even in winter. To make it convenient for Johanna to give birth, Zephyr had someone purchase a private mansion in Xifport. All the medical equipment needed for the delivery was bought new and placed in the mansion.

In addition to the medical personnel brought from Chanaea, Zephyr arranged for another medical team to be on standby, to prevent any accidents during Johanna's childbirth.

When Johanna woke up, she discovered that she had traveled from Danontand to Xifport.

After being brought into the luxurious Epean mansion by Zephyr, Johanna knew that she would be spending the foreseeable future here.

Zephyr finished slicing the apple and handed the pieces to Johanna. "How about we go for a stroll and grab dinner outside?"

At first, Johanna didn't want to go, but then she had a thought. She took the piece of apple he handed her and put it in her mouth, saying, "Alright, I've heard that Xifport Casino is quite famous. I'd like to go and have some fun there."

Zephyr said, "The casino is crowded and has a strong smell, it's not a good place for a pregnant woman like you to go."

"It's not like it's nitrogen, where one breath would kill you." Johanna lifted her head, her moist eyes gazing at him. “Besides, didn't you ask me if I wanted to go out and explore? I chose a place, and now you won't let me go?"

"Are you afraid that if I go to the casino and play a few rounds, I'll lose everything you own?"

Zephyr grinned and said, "Even if you were to visit all the major casinos around the world, you still wouldn't be able to spend all the money I have in my hands."

Johanna hummed lightly, "Well, if you're not afraid of me losing money, then that's fine."

Before Zephyr could answer, Johanna suddenly lifted her feet onto the couch and leaned against the throw pillow, saying, "Never mind, I'm just a bird you've kept in captivity anyway. Where I can fly to is up to you."

Zephyr glanced at her curled, delicate pink toes and then looked away, "You can only play for two hours."

Xifport was not his territory, and the casino was a chaotic mix of people. Johanna, a pregnant woman about to give birth, needed Zephyr to keep a close eye on her, fearing any mishaps.

"Two hours it is, then." Johanna was just about to get up from the couch.

Zephyr had already walked over, bent down, and scooped up Johanna from below her knees, cradling her in his arms.