Ch. 1291..1300

Chapter 1291 The Only One Unhappy

Johanna was extremely annoyed by the close contact with him. Her little face visibly sank, "The doctor said I need to walk more. Let go of me, I can walk by myself."

"I'll carry you to the car," Johanna said, holding Zephyr tightly. It had been a while since Zephyr had carried her.

Johanna hasn't gained much weight, but she is now a bit heavier than before. Zephyr feels the weight on his arm and a faint smile appears in his eyes.

The subordinate was holding Johanna's shoes and coat, following behind the two of them.

Casinos usually become lively at night, but even around five or six in the evening, there are quite a few guests coming and going.

The casino's interior is dominated by gold, featuring a massive crystal chandelier. As soon as one steps inside, it becomes impossible to distinguish between day and night, completely immersing oneself in this intoxicating money-squandering establishment.

There were no shortage of beautiful women in the casino, with blonde hair and blue eyes, and stunning figures. However, there were only a few who had the innocent and charming appearance like Johanna.

Her face was delicate, and her dark, moist eyes were like black holes, capable of captivating anyone with just a single glance.

At the casino, a playboy caught sight of Johanna and his eyes lit up. Just as he was about to approach her, he noticed the man beside her. Beneath his elegant appearance, there was an intense aura of bloodshed and violence that made people hesitate to approach.

The prodigal son felt a tingling sensation on his scalp and hurriedly slipped into the crowd.

A few minutes later, the bodyguard returned with a plate of exchanged casino tokens. Zephyr took some of the tokens and handed them to Johanna.

"Let's see what we want to play."

Johanna had been to casinos before, but they were small ones where you couldn't lose much money just by playing casually. However, this was her first time visiting a large casino.

Isn't Zephyr wealthy? She always chooses the most exciting ways to have fun.

After sitting down at the gambling table to play cards, Johanna waited for the dealer to explain the rules. Once she understood, she let loose and enjoyed the game. When others placed big bets, she confidently went all in on smaller ones.

She was a novice gambler, but after playing seven or eight rounds, not only did she not lose money, she even earned two or three million.

Johanna was furious and turned her attention to roulette gambling. There were many people in the casino who loved playing roulette. However, relying purely on luck made it more thrilling, and only a handful could actually win money.

Johanna exchanged her money for casino tokens with a high return rate, which meant that she would receive a large number of casino tokens in return.

People around noticed that Johanna was playing on such a large scale, but her technique was not proficient, so they assumed she must be a beginner.

Unexpectedly, the number on the roulette ball that spun out was the exact number that Johanna had bet on.

Everyone gasped in disbelief, finding it hard to believe.

Johanna saw the large square casino tokens that the dealer pushed forward, her face looking unhappy. Zephyr chuckled lightly beside her, "It seems that beginners entering the casino for the first time always have good luck."

Johanna thought that by coming in, she could make Zephyr uncomfortable by losing tens of millions. However, in the end, it was she who felt unhappy.

She didn't feel like playing anymore, so she pushed the chair away and stood up.

There weren't many Chanaean cuisine restaurants around, so Zephyr took Johanna to a nearby decent Irushea restaurant for dinner.

This restaurant is located near the beach, and the view from the windows is stunning.

Johanna was flipping through the menu, deciding on what to order, when a waiter led a new pair of customers into the restaurant. They were a blonde-haired, blue-eyed man and woman, with the woman dressed quite elegantly and holding a dog on a leash.

That was a Dobermann, its coat shiny black all over, a pair of pointed ears standing erect, looking quite imposing.

When Johanna was young, she had a dog, and she thought the Dobermann she saw was quite cool, so she took a longer look at it.

But when she looked away, she noticed that Zephyr, who was sitting across from her, was supporting his forehead with his hand, seemingly uncomfortable. However, the veins on the back of his hand were bulging, clearly enduring something.

Johanna looked straight at him, "Are you feeling unwell?"

"It's fine." Zephyr slowed his breathing to stay calm, but his voice still carried a hint of trembling.

Chapter 1292 He Is Afraid of Dogs

Johanna handed the menu to Zephyr, but he didn't take it. Instead, he leaned his hand on his forehead, not even wanting to lift his head. "I'm not picky, just order whatever you like."

The couple took their seats diagonally behind Johanna and her group.

Dobermann also squatted down beside his female owner, behaving very well.

It was just across the aisle from Zephyr, about two or three meters away. Zephyr could see it just by turning his head.

After Johanna ordered her dishes, she handed the menu back to the waiter and suddenly said, "The guests at that table brought a Dobermann with them, it's pretty cool."

Zephyr remained silent.

Johanna noticed the man's tense jaw and seemed to guess something. She rested her chin on her hand and smiled at him, "I like dogs too. How about you buy one and bring it back tomorrow?"

"Being pregnant and keeping a pet isn't a good idea..." Zephyr's breathing was rapid, and he could barely hold himself together.

Whenever there are dogs around, his sense of smell becomes incredibly sensitive, able to detect their scent, and he experiences uncontrollable fear.

If it weren't for Johanna being here, not wanting her to see anything, Zephyr would have already pulled out the gun from his waist and killed that dog.

Johanna seemed not to notice his unease and muttered, "What's wrong with having a pet when I'm about to give birth? Besides, Dobermanns look fierce and can guard the house. The garden of the mansion we moved into today seems quite large, so there's plenty of room for seven or eight dogs..."

Zephyr remained silent, his fingers resting on his forehead turning white. The dark memories engulfed him like a tidal wave, suffocating him and leaving him unable to breathe.

Johanna noticed the man's face gradually turning pale, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of delight in her heart.

He was terrified of dogs, so much so that he couldn't even bear to look at them.

Johanna really wanted to command the Dobermann to nuzzle Zephyr's leg with its head, just to see if he would be scared to death.

However, Johanna was just thinking about it.

She was now a great distance away from Chanaea, and even if Zephyr were dead, she couldn't go back. Zephyr's loyal subordinates would still kill her to avenge him.

She wanted to bring the children back safely, not to perish together with Zephyr.

Johanna rested her chin in her hand, enjoying the sight of the man's displeased expression for a while. Then, unhurriedly, she stood up, picked up a stack of money, and walked towards the blonde-haired, blue-eyed woman.

Johanna spoke to the woman using Ustranasion, "I'm sorry, I'm pregnant and a bit sensitive to the smell of dogs. Would you mind changing to a different restaurant?"

Upon hearing this, the woman was displeased and said, "Can't you just change to a different restaurant?"

"I'm tired of walking, I don't want to run anymore," Johanna said, placing a stack of Anglanduran currency on their table.

Upon seeing the denomination of Anglanduran currency, the woman's eyes widened in surprise. Without any hesitation, she took her boyfriend and dog and left.

Johanna called the waiter over again and asked for a bottle of green tea-flavored refreshing spray. She then sprayed it all over the dining table and its surroundings.

It wasn't until Johanna returned to the table and sat down that Zephyr finally lifted his head. His face was pale and somewhat disheveled, but it was hard to conceal his innate air of nobility.

He was clearly afraid of dogs, and Johanna probably noticed it. That's why she had deliberately mentioned getting a dog just to scare him earlier. Surprisingly, it was also Johanna who ended up chasing the dog away.

If she had been a few seconds later, perhaps he really would have pulled out a gun and killed that dog.

Johanna twirled some tomato pasta onto her fork and stuffed it into her mouth, then looked up at Zephyr. "Which do you think is more fierce, a Dobermann or a Rottweiler?"

"I don't know."

Zephyr's expression remained calm, but with a slight tremble of his hand, the freshly rolled pasta fell back onto the plate.

"I think Dobermanns are more intimidating," Johanna said. "When Rottweilers have their ears down, they look kind of goofy..."

"Johanna," Zephyr said with a face full of restraint, "Can we not talk about this?"

Johanna asked with a puzzled expression, "What's wrong? You don't look too well. Could it be... you're afraid of dogs?"

Zephyr didn't make a sound.

During this dinner, Johanna was exceptionally happy because when she gave the woman money, her skirt accidentally brushed against Dobermann, picking up some of his scent.

Zephyr was particularly sensitive to the smell of dogs. From the moment they left the restaurant to getting in the car, he didn't hold her hand or embrace her.

Chapter 1293 The Baby Kicked Him

After returning to the mansion, Zephyr arranged for the housekeeper to attend to Johanna's bath in the bedroom, as he had some work to do and went to the study.

He might have just come from Danontand and felt a bit tired. Rubbing his eyebrows, he lay down on the table for a short nap.

In a vague glimpse, he saw a blonde-haired, blue-eyed woman standing in the living room, scolding the little boy with a stern voice. After berating him, the woman grabbed the boy's arm and dragged him out of the room.

"No, Mom, I promise I'll do better next time. Please forgive me this time, I'm begging you..."

"Mom, I don't want to go there, I'm scared." The young boy knew how terrifying that place was and felt fear deep in his heart.

But no matter how much he cried and pleaded, the woman remained unmoved.

The woman angrily scolded him for being too weak, "Osborn, you are the future heir of the Carlo family. Look at Lostaria, who isn't afraid of your father? How can you cry? You're simply useless!"

"If your father sees your tears, he will only despise you more, and he will despise me as well!"

The woman dragged the little boy all the way to a storeroom behind the manor.

She ordered someone to open the storeroom door and ruthlessly threw the little boy inside. Coldly and heartlessly, she said, "I don't need a useless son. If you can't change your cowardice, stay in there for the rest of your life!"

"Mom, please don't..."

The little boy struggled desperately, clinging to the woman's thigh, "I was wrong, I will definitely listen to you, I don't want to go in there, please spare me..."

The woman fiercely slapped the little boy and threw him into the storeroom. Then, she ordered someone to close the door.

As the storeroom door closed, the little boy was engulfed in darkness.

The overpowering smell of dogs in the storeroom nearly suffocated him. Desperately, he pounded on the storeroom door, breaking down in tears.

No matter how much the little boy begged for mercy or cried, there was no response from outside.

This storeroom was specially built by Cordelia as a punishment for disobedience. The hounds inside don't eat people, but they are quite aggressive.

They were trained by Cordelia so well that as soon as they heard the whistle, they knew exactly what to do.

The little boy, frightened, leaned against the door with his back, curling up tightly. He was cold and scared in the dark storeroom, constantly pleading for Cordelia outside to leave.

Suddenly, a crisp whistle sound came through.

The little boy was instantly filled with extreme fear, breathing rapidly. Even though everything was pitch black before him, he felt as if he could see the hound hiding in the storeroom, lunging towards him.

"No, no!"

The little boy screamed in pain as he felt the sharp teeth of the hound sink into his arm.

Zephyr was suddenly jolted awake by a nightmare, gasping for air. His left arm even twitched a few times, as if he had really been bitten by a hound. His back was soaked in sweat.

He took a cigarette from the pack and lit it. After taking a couple of puffs, he gradually calmed down, but the discomfort still lingered in his heart.

Ever since the first time Cordelia locked him in that storeroom, he had been afraid of dogs, regardless of whether they were big or small. Even the mere smell of them made him uncomfortable.

Even though he later personally killed the hound in the storeroom.

But it seemed like he had developed post-traumatic stress disorder. He would reflexively feel fear at the mere smell of a dog, not even daring to look at them.

Even though he now knew Cordelia's difficulties, he still hated her.

She doesn't truly love herself; she only cares because she is her own child, the future heir of the Carlo family. She merely sees herself as a bragging asset.

She hoped to be outstanding, to impress Silas and make him admire her, the person who raised him, with great praise.

Fortunately, now his life was under his own control, and no one could influence him anymore.

After finishing a cigarette, Zephyr tossed the butt into the ashtray and got up to leave the study.

Upon entering the bedroom, Zephyr saw a small lamp lit on the bedside table, and Johanna was already fast asleep.

Zephyr, afraid of disturbing her sleep, went to another side room to take a shower. After drying his hair, he tiptoed back carefully.

The bedroom was comfortably warm, perhaps because she was pregnant and afraid of the heat. She didn't even cover herself with a blanket while sleeping. Lying flat on her pregnancy pillow, one hand rested on her protruding belly, and the hem of her nightgown was rolled up by Lottie.

Zephyr pulled the thin blanket from the foot of the bed, and as he was about to cover Johanna, he suddenly remembered that he hadn't seen the baby for a long time.

He lifted the hem of the woman's nightgown, revealing her swollen, snow-white belly. Then, he leaned down and pressed his ear against Johanna's stomach, listening to the steady heartbeat of the unborn child.

Suddenly, his ear twitched as if the baby had kicked him through his mother's belly.

Chapter 1294 This Girl Will Forever Live In His Heart

Zephyr smiled silently and gently kissed Johanna's belly, softly coaxing, "Sleep well, little one, or else Mommy won't be able to sleep either."

It seemed that the baby understood what the father said, and stopped making a fuss.

Zephyr, seeing how well-behaved it was, felt a wave of tenderness in his heart and gently said, "In just one more month, Daddy will be able to see you."

He never thought that one day, he would look forward to the arrival of a child so eagerly.

Even though his childhood was filled with darkness, he loved this child and its mother deeply.

He will do everything in his power to give them the very best of everything.

After chatting with the little one, Zephyr pulled up the blanket and covered Johanna with it. He looked down at her face, which was softly illuminated by the table lamp, and gently caressed it with his fingertips.

He reminisced about the day he met her, and a sense of regret arose in his heart.

If he had personally gotten out of the car and brought the umbrella to the phone booth that day, would they have talked? Would he have gotten her phone number?

Who would have thought that a fleeting glance that day would make this girl forever reside in his heart.

Zephyr brought Johanna to Xifport to give birth, but he had some matters to attend to. He frequently traveled abroad on his private jet, leaving a group of bodyguards to take care of Johanna.

When Johanna was still half a month away from her due date, Zephyr couldn't help but worry and decided not to leave Xifport.

Johanna is pregnant and she can feel that the time to give birth is approaching, which makes her anxious.

She had already familiarized herself with the mansion inside and out, and even planned an escape route, but Zephyr just wouldn't leave the house.

Just that morning, after checking Johanna's blood sugar, the doctor asked Zephyr, "Mr. Juksford, have you prepared everything the baby will need?"

Zephyr said, "I had the room next to the bedroom converted into a nursery."

Everything in the nursery was personally chosen by Zephyr.

After listening, Johanna felt a bit gloomy. She then told Zephyr that she wanted to go to the nursery to take a look. Supporting her waist with one hand, she went upstairs with him.

Since Johanna was expecting a girl, the nursery was predominantly decorated in pink, even the walls were painted in that color.

Johanna walked into the room and saw a pink crib in front of the floor-to-ceiling window. She frowned and said, "A newborn shouldn't sleep in a crib that can rock like this. Get a different one."

Zephyr went to the baby store and asked the salesperson to help pick out the best baby products, as he was unsure about what was useful and what wasn't.

"So, which one do you think is better?" Zephyr asked.

That baby store has its own app, and Zephyr downloaded it too. After opening the app, he handed the phone to Johanna.

Johanna swiped her finger across the screen twice and said, "This one, but I haven't seen it in person, so I'm not sure how it is. How about I go with you to the store to take a look?"

"I've arranged for someone to bring it over." Zephyr just wants her to stay in the mansion and give birth safely.

Johanna pouted, as if deliberately making things difficult for him, "You go to the baby store and get it yourself, then go to the dessert shop we ate at last time and buy two pieces of mille crepe to bring back."

After saying that, she left.

Seeing Johanna pouting, Zephyr couldn't help but laugh. Then, they went downstairs together. "I'll go get the crib, and you stay here and behave yourself," he said.

He instructed the housekeeper to take good care of Johanna, then put on his coat and went out.

Johanna pretended to watch a TV show in the living room, waiting for Zephyr to leave the house. Half an hour later, she told the housekeeper that she was feeling a bit tired. The housekeeper then escorted he to the bedroom.

After closing the door, Johanna went to the walk-in closet and took out a rope made from twisted clothes.

Stepping out onto the balcony, Johanna tightly tied one end of the rope to the stone pillar under the railing. After carefully calculating the patrol times of the bodyguards outside the mansion, she cautiously climbed over the balcony railing.

Fortunately, Johanna was quite thin, and even as she approached her due date, her belly wasn't very big. Otherwise, the rope might not have been able to support her weight, and she might not have been able to hold on securely.

After stepping onto the grass, Johanna immediately sprinted towards the garden.

The fence on the garden side was relatively low and had no electric wires. She didn't dare to stop when she reached the garden. With both hands, she struggled to grab the wire mesh and slowly climbed upwards.

She had just climbed over the wire fence when suddenly, a massive boom echoed through the air. Startled, Johanna's grip loosened, and she fell straight to the ground.

Johanna felt a terrible pain in her stomach, as if a hot stream was flowing out from between her legs.

Chapter 1295 About To Give Birth

At that moment, Zephyr had just arrived at the baby store in the city. The sales associate showed him the model of the baby stroller from the picture. Zephyr decided to buy one and handed over his card to make the payment.

At that moment, the subordinate who had been waiting outside hurried in and reported to Zephyr, "Mr. Juksford, Mrs. Juksford is about to give birth."

Zephyr's face changed, not even bothering to take the card, and left with his subordinate.

On the way back, Zephyr learned from his subordinate that Johanna had told the housekeeper she was going to sleep. Later, when the housekeeper brought a smoothie to her room, she discovered that Johanna was not in her bedroom. Instead, there was a rope made of clothes tied to a stone pillar on the balcony. The housekeeper quickly informed the bodyguard.

The bodyguard found Johanna under the fence on the side of the garden. When he found her, her face was already pale, and she kept crying out in pain.

It is possible that Johanna fell while escaping, which led to the premature birth of her child.

"Useless! Over a dozen of you can't even keep an eye on a pregnant woman!" Zephyr cursed, urging his subordinate to drive faster while calling the doctor at the mansion.

The doctor answered the phone quickly, "Mr. Juksford, don't worry. Mrs. Juksford and the child are both fine."

Since Johanna had a cesarean for her first child and the time between her pregnancies was relatively short, and the baby was in the correct position, the doctor hoped she would have a natural birth, as it would pose a lower risk.

Even though the doctor said so, Zephyr couldn't help but feel uneasy not staying by Johanna's side.

Upon arriving at the mansion, Zephyr hurriedly opened the car door before it even came to a complete stop. He rushed into the house, heading straight for the first floor where there was a dedicated operating room for Johanna to give birth.

Zephyr walked up to the operating room just as the door opened, and a blonde-haired, blue-eyed nurse came out from inside.

Upon seeing Zephyr, the nurse smiled and handed the child to him. "Your wife is beautiful, and the baby is born fair and clean, with eyes just like yours!"

Zephyr lowered his head and saw a tiny baby wrapped in a blanket, with delicate and fair skin.

She seemed to have no fear of strangers, staring into Zephyr's eyes with her own wide open. Her pupils were a rare shade of purple, purely beautiful.

Upon seeing the little one, Zephyr felt a bit flustered and panicked.

Not long ago, he had accompanied Johanna to the prenatal education center for expectant mothers, where they practiced how to hold a baby. However, when he finally saw his own child, Zephyr couldn't bring himself to hold them.

She was so tiny, seemingly not even as big as her own palm. Zephyr was afraid he might break her with a touch.

The nurse couldn't help but chuckle at Zephyr's dumbfounded expression. She personally handed the baby to the man. Zephyr carefully supported the child with both hands, not daring to make any sudden movements.

After the father and daughter looked at each other for a moment, the baby smiled first, her smile as beautiful as the first day.

Zephyr was afraid that there might be bacteria on his skin, so he gently leaned down and kissed the blanket wrapped around her. His eyes were filled with tenderness as he said, "Daddy has been waiting for your birth, and now I finally get to meet you."

The baby's eyes resemble his, and the facial features are like Johanna's. As they grow up, they will undoubtedly become a beautiful person.

After holding the child for a while, Zephyr handed the baby back to the nurse.

Johanna had been moved to an upstairs bedroom earlier, as giving birth had exhausted her. As soon as the baby was born, she felt weak in her limbs and fainted.

Zephyr stood by the bedside, bending down to touch the woman's pale face, feeling extremely heartbroken.

It seemed that due to his touch, Johanna, who had been asleep for a while, opened her eyes. She avoided Zephyr's hand and asked hoarsely, "Where's the child?"

"The nurse is taking care of (the patient)."

Zephyr went to the bathroom, wrung out a hot towel, and helped her wipe her face.

Johanna struggled to sit up in bed, but she had no strength in her body. All she could do was plead, "Please bring the child to me so I can see them."

Zephyr gently held her hand, carefully wiping it with a towel, and softly said, "You just gave birth and need to rest. Once you've recovered, you can go to the nursery to see for yourself."

"I don't want to wait, I want to see it now." The more he insisted, the more anxious Johanna became. "Did you take the child away?"

Zephyr was worried that Johanna's emotional state might cause her physical discomfort. He made a video call to his subordinate downstairs, asking him to move the camera to focus on the baby.

Johanna saw in the video that a nurse was holding a child in her arms, and the baby seemed to be asleep with its eyes closed.

Seeing the child safe and sound, Johanna's tense heart finally relaxed. Meanwhile, Zephyr rang the bell for the housekeeper to bring up the prepared mushroom soup and continued to wipe her hands with a towel.

Johanna leaned against the pillow, looking down at Zephyr, "What exactly do you want to do?"

She really couldn't figure out Zephyr. He said he was interested in her, but she wasn't a young girl in her twenties, and there were plenty of women more beautiful than her.

Why would he ignore so many good girls and instead choose to take care of someone else's wife and children?

"I love you." Zephyr gently lifted Johanna's hand to his lips and tenderly kissed it, his eyes filled with unspoken affection and warmth.

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

Chapter 1296: If I Love You, Then I Must Be Sick

Johanna couldn't help but laugh, as she struggled to pull her hand away. "You kidnap me, assault me, ruin my life, and you still expect me to love you?"

"Sorry." He knew what he had done wrong in the past and deeply regretted it.

No one had ever taught him how to love others, and he had always been used to doing things his own way. Whenever he set his sights on something, he would stop at nothing to obtain it.

How could he have known that one day, he would fall in love with the woman he once considered his prey?

He wanted to take good care of her and their children.

Zephyr's voice was soft and humble, "Jojo, I know you love Timothy, and I won't stand in your way. I just hope you can spare a little love for me too."

She looked at Zephyr indifferently, "If I loved you, then I must be crazy."

She turned her head away, no longer looking at Zephyr.

At that moment, the housekeeper knocked on the door and entered the bedroom with a bowl of mushroom soup. Sensing the tense atmosphere between the two, the housekeeper didn't dare to make a sound and carefully handed the mushroom soup to Zephyr.

Zephyr knew that his presence would only make Johanna uncomfortable, so he asked the housekeeper to take good care of her.

While Zephyr and Johanna were talking in the bedroom, the nurse had already taken the sleeping little one to the nursery.

Zephyr, not in the mood to deal with anything else, entered the nursery.

Walking up to the crib, he reached out and gently touched the little one's tiny fingers. As the baby was dreaming, their hand opened and suddenly grasped his finger tightly.

The little one's sleeping appearance was simply adorable, melting Zephyr's heart into a puddle.

Recalling the unpleasant conversation with Johanna just now, Zephyr's eyes darkened slightly.

Johanna had always thought that the child was hers and Timothy's. The little one had a pair of purple eyes. Would she like the little one when she saw them?

She is the child's mother; even if she doesn't like it for a moment, she probably won't hate it either.

After Johanna recovered, she wanted to see her child, but Zephyr prevented her from doing so, claiming that the baby was premature and needed the doctor's care.

However, occasionally the housekeeper would bring the baby over, allowing her to take a glance from a distance.

During this period, Johanna had been held captive by him, and now, after giving birth, she couldn't even see her child. She was on the verge of going insane.

While Zephyr was away studying for work, Johanna secretly chatted with the nurse, saying that she had trouble sleeping and needed a sleeping drug. That night, she crushed the sleeping drug into a powder and slipped it into Zephyr's water glass.

Under the influence of the sleeping drug, even Zephyr's light sleep couldn't be awakened.

Johanna hurried into the nursery next door, and upon seeing the little one in the crib, she quickly picked her up, almost in tears.

Since giving birth, she, as a mother, finally got to meet her child.

Johanna pulled back the blanket and gently kissed the little one's tender cheek.

"Sweetie, it's Mommy. You haven't seen Mommy for so many days, do you miss Mommy a lot?" She didn't disturb the little one's sleep, speaking gently and softly.

"Baby, please wait a little longer. Once Mommy finds an opportunity, I'll definitely take you back home..."

Johanna was speaking softly when suddenly, the little one opened their eyes.

The little one had just woken up, still looking a bit dazed. Upon recognizing the person in front of her, she giggled happily, clearly delighted.

As Johanna looked into her eyes, her face instantly turned pale.

"Why are your eyes purple, why..." she mumbled, her hands trembling, and she was on the verge of breaking down.

She had clearly taken the contraceptive pill back then, so why did she still get pregnant?

Suddenly, Johanna thought that since Zephyr was so cautious and cunning, he must have had his subordinates carefully examine the book Frank had given her through someone else.

Did he discover the contraceptive pill in the bookshelf layer and then replace it?

Timothy said the child's birth month was incorrect, and she even argued with Timothy, feeling that he didn't trust her. But what about now?

She thought Zephyr was targeting the child, intending to use the child as a threat against her or Timothy in the future. It turned out that he knew the child was his, which was why he kidnapped her. That's why, no matter how much she scolded him, he would always accommodate her unconditionally.

Johanna's trembling hand let go.

Luckily, she was standing right next to the crib. The child fell from her hands onto the soft bed, while she collapsed onto the floor, breaking down in tears.

She endured countless hardships for the sake of her child, and had compromised with Zephyr several times out of fear for her child's safety. But she never expected...

Chapter 1297 Do Not Save Me

Ever since she was little, Johanna had never done anything wrong. She diligently studied and always listened to her parents.

Even when her parents divorced at a young age and she was thrown abroad to live alone by Vanessa, she never hated Vanessa. Even when she was later deceived by the gambling-addicted Yorick and sold, and even when Vanessa no longer wanted her, she never broke down.

Later on, she met Timothy, and after going through so many experiences together, they finally cleared up their misunderstandings and thought they could live happily ever after.

She cherished the time she spent with Timothy, relying on him more than ever. Even when she lost her sight, she didn't cry or make a fuss. As long as she was by Timothy's side, she was content.

But why, of all people, did such misfortune have to befall her?

Perhaps influenced by Johanna's crying, the little one also burst into tears. Johanna seemed not to hear it, as she opened the nursery door and walked out in a daze.

The nurse assigned to take care of the children lived just across the hallway.

Upon hearing the child's cry, the nurse hurriedly left the room, just in time to see Johanna's figure descending the stairs.

The nurse picked up the crying little one and gently comforted him. She felt that something was off with Johanna just now, and when she went to knock on the bedroom door, she realized it was slightly ajar.

The nurse walked into the bedroom to call Zephyr.

Luckily, the amount of sleeping drug was not much, and Zephyr woke up after being patted twice by the nurse.

"Mr. Juksford, I just saw Mrs. Juksford going downstairs."

Zephyr saw the child in the nurse's arms and seemed to understand something. He hurriedly ran downstairs, but before he could reach the bottom, he heard the housekeeper's scream.

The housekeeper stood in front of the lit kitchen door, clearly frightened out of her wits.

Zephyr walked in and saw a slender figure lying on the ground. She was wearing a white nightgown, and a pool of blood beneath her almost enveloped her entire body. The air was filled with the stench of blood.

In that moment, Zephyr's blood seemed to freeze, and he rushed in like a madman.

He pressed his palm against Johanna's bleeding wound. Johanna, who hadn't completely lost consciousness, tried to push his hand away and pleaded, "Don't save me..."

Zephyr yelled at the housekeeper, telling her to call the doctor over.

...

In less than a minute, the doctors who were called rushed out of the room. Upon seeing the scene in the kitchen, their faces turned pale with fright. They hurriedly took Johanna to the operating room.

Thankfully, Zephyr had prepared everything thoroughly, and the operating room was equipped with all kinds of medical instruments.

Zephyr was pushed out of the operating room, watching as the door closed before him. It took him a long time to snap out of it, his blood-stained hands trembling the whole time.

For the first time in his thirty-something years of life, he experienced what it felt like to have his heart torn apart.

Upon seeing a nurse about to enter the operating room to help, Zephyr grabbed her hand and pleaded softly, "Please tell the doctor to save her at all costs. Once she's okay, I'll give you whatever amount of money you want."

As time ticked by, Zephyr detected the scent of disinfectant and blood seeping through the door.

He stood in front of the operating room door, motionless.

A full four hours later, as daylight broke, the door to the operating room was finally opened.

The doctor emerged and removed his mask, his expression grave as he spoke to Zephyr, "Mrs. Juksford's stab wound was dangerously close to a vital area. Although we've managed to stop the bleeding, her will to live is weak, and she needs to be transferred to a hospital."

Upon hearing this, Zephyr immediately instructed his subordinate to prepare the car.

After arriving at the hospital, Johanna was immediately transferred to the ICU. It wasn't until four o'clock that her intermittent breathing finally became steady.

Zephyr entrusted the child to the housekeeper's care and stayed by Johanna's side at the hospital. Even though he couldn't enter the ICU, he remained steadfast, keeping watch just outside the window.

After five full days, Johanna finally woke up from her coma.

After the doctor examined Johanna, she was transferred to a private room. Zephyr didn't dare to go in, so he asked a nurse to take care of her.

In less than an hour, the nurse came out, hesitated, and then spoke to Zephyr, trying to find the right words.

"I feel that something is off with your wife..."

Chapter 1298 Her Hands Were Cold As If Devoid Of Warmth

Zephyr followed the nurse into the ward, where he saw Johanna lying in the hospital bed.

She was too thin, and the hospital gown looked empty on her. The ventilator had already been removed, and her small, palm-sized face was incredibly pale.

What startled Zephyr were her eyes.

Even if she hated seeing him, there were no emotions in her eyes now, just emptiness. Despite her young age, she seemed lifeless and dull.

Zephyr's throat felt a bit dry as he walked over and held Johanna's hand in his palm. Her hand was cold, as if it had no warmth.

Her appearance made Zephyr so uncomfortable that he could hardly breathe.

He tightly held the woman's hand and said in a hoarse voice, "It was me who had the contraceptive pill replaced. That's our child. It's okay if you don't like her. I'll take care of her in the future and won't let you see her again."

"Can we agree that you don't have to love me anymore, and I won't bother you anymore? I'll let you go back to Timothy, alright?"

"Jojo, help me sort things out."

No matter what Zephyr said, it seemed as if Johanna didn't hear him at all. Her empty eyes were always staring at a certain spot.

One day, two days, three days...

It wasn't until Johanna's wounds had healed, and she was able to get out of bed and walk, bathe herself, and eat on her own, that she still felt a lingering emptiness inside.

She could spend the entire day staring out the window without moving a muscle after having her meal.

Zephyr asked the doctor to come and examine Johanna.

After the examination, the doctor had a private conversation with Zephyr. "Due to certain stimuli, she has closed herself off in her own world, unwilling to come out. She is indifferent to people and things around her. This is autism..."

Autism requires the cooperation of doctors and patients, and it takes a long time to treat. However, Johanna has closed herself off completely.

After the doctor left, Zephyr covered his face with his hands, feeling very upset inside.

He had considered that Johanna might not accept the child, but he never expected her to break down like this, let alone commit suicide.

How did it turn out like this?

During this period, Zephyr had been staying at the hospital with Johanna, and it had been a long time since he had seen his children. He decided to leave two bodyguards at the hospital to take care of Johanna and returned to the mansion.

In a short amount of time, the little one has grown quite a bit, with chubby arms and legs.

It's been a long time since Zephyr last saw her father, but she still remembers him. Upon seeing her dad's face, she starts giggling happily.

Zephyr lowered his head and gently kissed her cheek.

Zephyr carried the little one to the living room and fed him the milk powder prepared by the nanny. As he did so, a subordinate entered the room and walked over to Zephyr's side.

In the report, it says, "Timothy and Armand are both looking for Mrs. Juksford. It seems like Armand knows where we are."

Zephyr didn't speak, but lowered his gaze to look at the child in his arms.

About ten minutes later, Zephyr finally spoke up, "Have someone prepare the plane; we're going to Jadeborough the day after tomorrow."

After flying for more than ten hours, the private jet arrived in Jadeborough at around ten o'clock at night.

After leaving the airport, Zephyr held Johanna's hand and led her into a sedan parked by the roadside.

Before closing the car door, he bent down and gently kissed Johanna's cheek, looking at her, wanting to etch her image in his mind forever.

Zephyr whispered softly, "Jojo, goodbye."

Johanna's empty gaze seemed to fall on his face, but there was no response.

Zephyr closed the car door and watched as the vehicle drove out of sight. Only then did he get into another car, where a baby carrier was placed on the seat beside him. The little one inside was sound asleep.

Zephyr placed the silver cross pendant around the little one's neck and gave her a kiss, "Daddy will always remember your adorable appearance."

How he longed to be a good father, accompanying his daughter as she grew up.

Zephyr reluctantly looked away and then took out his phone to dial a number.

After the other party connected, he said softly, "Armand, let's make a deal."

Chapter 1299 Where Did He Come From?

When Genevieve woke up in the morning, there was no one beside her on the pillow, but the bed was still warm, indicating that the man had only gotten up a short while ago.

She finished washing up and went downstairs, only to see a figure busily working in the kitchen.

Genevieve jogged in and hugged the man from behind, playfully asking, "Where did this Mr. Incredible come from, bustling about so early in the morning?"

Armand paused his work, turned around, and lowered his head to give her a kiss. "Why did you wake up so early?"

"Maybe it's because you're not here, and the bed feels cold, so I can't sleep," Genevieve rubbed her chin against his chest.

Since Armand was still preparing breakfast, she playfully clung to him for a while before letting go.

Genevieve picked up a bagel from the plate, took a bite, and asked, "Can you tell me now where you went last night?"

"Go pick up Johanna."

Upon hearing this, Genevieve immediately approached him and asked, "Did you find Jojo?"

Armand hummed in agreement as he scooped the cooked macaroni into a small bowl with a slotted spoon. "I took her to Timothy's place last night and took care of some other things while I was at it."

"Why didn't you bring this here?" Genevieve asked, pulling a face.

Timothy, a grown man, had an argument with his pregnant wife and didn't contact her for several months. Genevieve lost respect for him because of this.

Armand simply said, "Go call those two sweeties to come and eat."

Genevieve swallowed half a bagel and grumbled, "Yesterday you kept calling me Sweetie, and today you've added two more? How can you be so fickle, you old man?"

Armand couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time. He playfully patted her on the hip and said, "Are you really jealous of a child? Off you go now."

Genevieve took out two wet wipes to clean her hands and walked upstairs. Lucian was quite well-behaved; she just needed to knock on the door and call out his name, and he would come out by himself.

Amanda loves to stay in bed, especially during winter, when she would rather not leave the warmth of her blanket.

After a good-natured battle of wits and strength between mother and daughter, Genevieve finally took the mischievous child to the bathroom. While Amanda washed her face, her mother helped her tie her hair into a simple ponytail.

Amanda pouted and said, "Mom, you used to braid my hair, but you don't do it anymore."

Genevieve said, "Sweetie, you're the cutest, even with a ponytail, you look great."

"But I want a pentagram."

Genevieve took out her phone and googled what a pentagram was. She found that the hairstyle looked nice, but it was too complicated.

She led Amanda downstairs and handed her over to Armand, "Your little Sweetie wants a pentagram on her head, but my hands are incapable of doing it."

Armand pulled out a chair for Amanda to sit on and gently asked, "What kind of hairstyle is that?"

Amanda immediately opened her phone and searched for a hairstyle tutorial to show Armand. She also playfully complimented, "My dad is super talented! He'll definitely make me look beautiful for school today, right?"

"Since you like it, Daddy will definitely learn it," Armand said with a smile.

This braiding tutorial was a bit complicated. Armand had to watch the instructional video twice. While Amanda was eating breakfast, he stood behind her chair, helping her with her hairstyle.

After styling the hair, Armand wrapped two pearl hair chains around it.

Amanda looked at the photo Armand took, and it seemed as if there was a shining star growing on her head.

It was both dazzling and beautiful; she absolutely loved it.

After the two little ones finished their breakfast and got on the car with their backpacks, Genevieve, standing at the door, said jealously, "Amanda just kissed you twice, so you have to kiss me twice to make it fair."

Armand couldn't help but laugh as he wrapped his arm around the woman's waist, pulling her into his embrace. He lowered his head and gave her a couple of kisses.

Genevieve was worried about Johanna and wanted to go check on her. She hurried back to her bedroom upstairs to change out of her loungewear and was eager to leave the house. However, as she went downstairs, she discovered that Armand was still there.

"Aren't you going to the government office?"

"It's still early." As Genevieve approached, Armand spread out her coat and helped her put it on. "I'll accompany you to Timothy's place."

Genevieve rolled her eyes, "Are you afraid I'll hit Timothy?"

Armand tied the scarf around her neck and sighed, "Johanna is not in the best condition, I hope you're prepared for that."

Chapter 1300 Do You Not Have A Brain Or A Mouth?

Armand didn't explicitly say, so Genevieve assumed that Johanna had been taken away by Zephyr for a few months and had a mental breakdown. Perhaps, like her past self, she had a tendency for self-harm.

Upon arriving at the mansion, she saw Johanna standing there, looking dazed and confused. It was then that she realized how unwell Johanna truly was.

Right now, Johanna seemed as if her soul had been drained, leaving only an empty shell behind. She could walk, smile, and eat on her own, but she lacked any vitality. When people tried to talk to her, she simply ignored them.

Sitting in one place for a long time, not even blinking an eye.

After calming down, she asked Timothy, "Aren't you a doctor? Jojo has become like this, and you have no solution?"

Ever since Johanna was brought back, Timothy has been by her side without closing his eyes for a moment.

He was also extremely distressed because of Johanna's mental state.

"I'm not omnipotent, I'm just a neurosurgeon. Jojo, she..." Timothy couldn't continue, hanging his head and grabbing his hair, filled with immense regret.

If he hadn't been so full of himself, thinking that Loraine would take good care of Johanna, he should have called her earlier.

Johanna had been gone for several months, and he just watched helplessly, not doing anything.

He's such a scoundrel!

Armand poured a glass of water and handed it to Timothy, encouraging him to drink it to help calm his emotions.

Armand and Genevieve said, "Johanna has closed herself off due to external stimuli, and she's completely indifferent to everything around her."

Genevieve paused for a moment, "Autism?"

"Ah, it's still quite severe autism," Armand Lottie sighed. "When I took in Johanna, I had a doctor examine her, but the doctor was at a loss."

Genevieve had once worked with individuals with autism, and Jan's daughter was one of them.

That little girl also developed autism due to some kind of stimulation, but she loved the violin. Genevieve visited Jan's house a few times and managed to coax the child into speaking.

Johanna seemed different from the little girl. Her gaze was dull, showing no interest in anything.

Even when Asel came over to hug her and called out "Mommy, hug!", Johanna remained unmoved.

Genevieve suddenly thought of something and urgently said to Armand, "Didn't I have a mental breakdown because of Jack? You were afraid I would hurt myself, so you asked a doctor to give me hypnosis..."

"Johanna, that's not the same," Armand understood her meaning. "Back then, you only had a mental issue, but you still knew who the people around you were."

Johanna has closed herself off in her own little world, unable to hear anyone speaking to her. Hunger, eating, bathing, and sleeping - all these actions are driven purely by her body's instincts.

The hypnotist was unable to guide Johanna to follow their own thoughts, and as a result, they couldn't hypnotize her.

Seeing that even hypnosis didn't work on Johanna, Genevieve's eyes welled up with tears.

Catching a glimpse of Timothy nearby, she couldn't help but wish she could smash the coffee pot on the table over his head.

Genevieve angrily scolded, "Timothy, you're really not a man! When you argue with Johanna, even if you don't go find her yourself, can't you at least call Mando or my brother to talk about it?"

"Don't you have a brain, and can't you speak?"

"Well, even if the housekeeper has been with Jojo for a long time, she's still just an employee, getting paid to do her job. Do you really think she would risk her life for an employer?"

"If you really loved Johanna as much as you claim, you wouldn't have lost her this time!"

Timothy knew he had made a mistake, so he let Genevieve scold him.

Of course he loved Johanna; otherwise, he wouldn't have given so much for her and been so concerned about the child's affairs.

But he really had been negligent, causing Johanna to suffer a lot.