Ch. 1581..1590
Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1581
“But…” Joan wanted to say something but Larry interrupted her. “But you don’t have to worry. Since we’re not the best fit to adopt the child, I’ve found a suitable person to adopt him. The butler of Norton Residence has been childless and wanting to adopt a child, but he hasn’t had the opportunity. I’ve called him just now, and he said that he’s happy to adopt this child, so you don’t need to worry anymore,” Larry assured her while holding her hand.
“Really? In this case, we won’t have to adopt this poor child.”
The news brought smile to Joan’s face.
“Actually, I also know that we’re not the most suitable person to adopt him, but I feel really sorry for him. Knowing that he’ll be in good hands now, I feel the weight being lifted off me.”
Joan’s sweet smile made Larry want to kiss her, but he could not due to his injury.
Suppressing the urge, he thought of something else and said seriously, “Joan, do you still remember my close friends whom I told you about before? It’ll be the death anniversaries of Hector, Tom, and Marc in a few days. We’ll visit their gravesites and their parents. It’s also been a long time since I last met my other friends, so we’ll meet them too this time. What do you think about it?”
Hearing his suggestion, Joan agreed without the slightest hesitation. “Of course, I’m up for it. I’ve long wanted to meet all these respectable friends of yours. I’m more than happy to go and see them and their parents.”
Larry was relieved to see that Joan was being so sensible.
“Great. My injury will likely heal in a few days. Then, we can go that time.”
“Okay. You need to lie down and recuperate first. We’ll talk about it after you’ve recovered.”
Joan hurriedly motioned for him to lie down.
“You have to take care of me these few days then. It’s really inconvenient for me to do anything now,” Larry said with a grin. Obviously, he recalled the time when he feigned injury and asked Joan to take care of him previously.
Joan had apparently thought about it too as she gave him an annoyed glare. “You still have the nerve to smile. You kept me in the dark and made me take care of you for several days that time. You’re so bad!”
“If I hadn’t feigned injury, we wouldn’t have reconciled so quickly and gotten to where we are today, would we? So it was all part of my plan back then. Ain’t I smart?” Larry asserted smugly.
Having never seen such a brazen person before, Joan snorted coldly while rolling her eyes at him and ignored him.
In the next few days, she witnessed how fast Larry recovered as his wound had scabbed over the day after the wound was sutured.
Later on, he was heard complaining of itching on his wound. After a few days, he appeared before Joan looking very much alive while the dressing on his shoulder was also nowhere to be seen.
“Are you all right now?”
Joan gaped at him in surprise.
“Yeah. Like I said, this is just a minor injury. If it were in the past, I wouldn’t even dress it.”
Larry was so puffed up with pride that it got under Joan’s skin.
“You can brag all you want, but you can’t change the fact that you looked so pale and can’t even stand the pain when your wound was being dressed that day.”
In order to prevent him from being too complacent, Joan kept mocking him.
Touching his nose awkwardly, Larry quickly changed the subject. “Let’s pack up and leave the hospital. It’ll be their death anniversaries tomorrow. We need to hurry up and get there as soon as possible.”
With that, Joan immediately put away her feelings and responded in agreement before starting to pack up his things.
She knew how much this meant to Larry and also believed that any joke on this matter was a disrespect for these respectable ex-members of special forces.
Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1582
After packing up their things, Larry and Joan called to inform Finnick and Vivian and left directly without going back to Norton Residence.
Back then, five out of eight of Larry’s group who survived decided to bury their three deceased friends in Pillere as it was relatively close to the city where they lived.
Initially, they used to talk about their plan to live in Pillere after retirement, so Larry and the rest decided to bury them there to fulfill their wish.
Guys, since it’s your wish to settle down here, we’ve fulfilled it for you by laying you to rest here. Rest in peace.
While on the way, Larry concentrated on driving and said nothing as he was engrossed in thought.
Knowing that he was in a bad mood, Joan did not talk to him either.
After a few hours, they arrived in Pillere.
As agreed beforehand, they drove straight to the hotel Larry’s friends stayed.
As soon as they got out of the car, four of Larry’s friends, including Caspian, went up to greet them.
Since Larry was hospitalized a few days ago, he asked Caspian to come over first to make the arrangement, which was why he did not come with Larry and Joan today.
“Boss, you’re here.”
They greeted Larry one after another, and the latter gave each of them a hug.
Despite Larry’s calm facade, he was feeling excited deep down.
“You must be Joan. I’ve long heard from Caspian that you’re not only kind and virtuous but also beautiful. Blessed is he who has you,” said Larry’s friends half-jokingly after exchanging greetings with Joan.
Their compliment made Joan blush. After greeting them politely, she stood behind Larry, feeling a little shy.
“Boss, it’s been a long time since we last met. Let’s go inside and catch up,” Leon suggested.
Larry nodded. “Let’s go.”
He had always been the backbone of the group since the beginning, so the rest had no objection to his words and entered the hotel room where Patrick and David were waiting.
As they were both wheelchair-bound, Larry told them not to go to receive him.
At first, the two of them refused but relented after Larry dissuaded and even ordered them.
“You’re here, Boss,” Patrick and David said in unison. Then, they greeted Joan with a smile, “Nice to meet you, Joan.”
“Nice to meet you too,” Joan replied, feeling shy that they even knew her name already.
Afterward, they took their seats and began chatting.
“I haven’t seen all of you for a year, but you haven’t changed a bit. How are you guys doing recently?” asked Larry.
“We’re doing well, but apparently, we’re not doing as good as you are, Boss. Not only are you rich and influential, but also have such a kind and pretty wife like Joan. You’re doing so much better than we are,” Patrick teased.
Even though Patrick and David were crippled, they were optimistic and had a good mindset, so they lived a happy and care life.
“That’s right, Boss. Why don’t you introduce this pretty lady to us formally? We don’t know much about her,” David urged.
With the two of them around, there had never been a single moment of boredom.
“You guys have already learned everything from Caspian, and yet you still want me to do an introduction. Alright then, I’ll make an exception and introduce her again. Guys, this is my fiancée, Joan Watts.”
Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1583
“We got engaged a while ago, but I didn’t invite you because you were all busy. In a few months, we’ll get married. This time, no matter how busy you are, I demand that all of you come for my wedding, or you’d better watch out,” Larry threatened with mock severity, making everyone burst out laughing.
“Haha. Don’t worry, Boss. No matter what happens, we’ll definitely attend your wedding.”
“Yeah…”
Looking at the group of men, Joan was inexplicably moved.
They were a group of real men who had gone through countless life-and-death situations and received numerous honors. Yet, they were laughing like kids at this moment. There were not any wheeling-and-dealing and back-stabbing, but only a sincere friendship.
Perhaps this was the bond among men which surpassed brotherhood.
Tears suddenly welled up in Joan’s eyes as she looked at the group of adorable yet respectable men in front of her.
“Let’s go, Boss. Let’s see who’s the best drinker now!” Leon proposed with a hearty laugh with a sincere look in his eyes. The rest then echoed.
“Let’s go and drink!”
“We’d like to see how much liquor Boss can hold!”
“Imma see you guys get dead drunk!”
Larry was happy to be with his close friends and took a deep breath as he tried to hide the tears in his eyes. Then, he shouted, “Let’ go then! Let’s get wasted!”
That night, Larry and his friends put aside the troubles in their lives and drank to their hearts’ content in a cheerful and care atmosphere.
Other than Joan, all of them were drunk.
As Joan looked at them getting so drunk that some even passed out under the table, she did not feel displeased. On the contrary, she was somehow moved and glad that time did not take away their genuineness, which had been buried deep in the depths of their hearts due to circumstances in life.
The sight of Larry sleeping soundly in her arms brought a faint smile to her face. After planting a kiss on his face, she fell asleep too.
The next day, a ringtone jolted her awake.
When she got up to check the time, it was already almost ten in the morning. As Larry had told her to wake him up before ten on the night before, she hurriedly gave him a nudge.
“Larry, it’s ten already. Wake up!”
After being woken up by her, Larry massaged his head that was ringing slightly, looking groggy.
However, the thought of the important thing that he was going to do later immediately brought him to his senses.
“Wake up. Hurry up and wake up.” He got up and woke the others up. “It’s almost time. Don’t sleep in. We’ve got things to do.”
Hearing his words, the rest of the men sobered up as it was a really important thing that they needed to do.
Some of them got up from the chairs and some from the floor, and began to tidy up their clothes.
“Caspian. Where’s Caspian?” Larry asked after he looked around and did not see Caspian.
“Yes, Boss, I’m here,” Caspian was heard replying in a sleepy tone.
Looking in the direction where the voice came from, Larry finally saw Caspian lying under the table.
“Hey, wake up! We’ve got important things to do!” Larry shouted, finding it funny.
“Yeah. Important things. Five more minutes,” murmured Caspian as he rolled over and continued to sleep.
Left with no choice, Larry went up to him to wake him up.
“Ouch. Ouch! Boss, Boss, easy. Easy, Boss. I’m awake. I’m coming out.”
Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1584
As Caspian wailed in pain, Larry pulled him by the ear to get him out from under the table.
“Oh, my ear’s falling off. Let go, Boss,” Caspian pleaded.
Looking at the scene, everyone burst into laughter.
After packing up, they went to the public cemetery in Pillere.
While on the way, they did not chat and joke like they did the day before as they kept their heads down in silence with a gloomy look on their faces, seemingly absorbed in thought.
When they reached the middle of the cemetery, Joan finally saw the tombstones of the three deceased friends of Larry and got heavy-hearted as well.
On the headstones were photos of three young and lively faces that spoke of the perseverance and sternness unique to a soldier.
The three smiling men were staring back at the men who stood before their tombs and used to be the people closest to them.
Looking at the three tombstones, Joan was in awe, whereas Larry and his friends already had tears welled up in their eyes.
Their tombs were empty as Larry and the rest narrowly escaped death that time, so they could not even bring their bodies back.
The thought of their unrecovered bodies pierced the hearts of Larry and his friends.
Standing before the tombstones, Larry and his friends bowed as they recalled the times the eight of them spent together with mixed feelings.
In just a few years, they were separated forever. Even after a few years, they still found it hard to accept this hard truth.
Rest in peace, guys! We’ll live well for you!
Looking at the men standing before the tombstones like a kid who refused to accept the truth, Joan could not help but shed tears.
After a long silence, Leon suggested, “Boss, it’s cold now, and Joan’s pregnant too. I think Hector and the others appreciate our visit today. Why don’t we go back now?”
Standing at the same spot with his head down, Larry came to his senses and replied, “Alright. Let’s go back then.”
After speaking, he took one final glance at the tombstones, and the smiles on the three faces stung his heart. Unable to bear to look at them anymore, he turned around and walked out of the cemetery.
The rest of his friends also gazed at the tombstones for a while before they went up to Larry.
It was not until sometime that they finally got over the grief and began chatting again in a relaxed atmosphere.
“Let’s have a meal together. After that, we’ll go and visit the parents of Hector, Tom, and Marc, okay?” proposed Larry.
“Sure. Let’s visit them together.”
Everyone agreed with Larry’s suggestion. It had become their annual habit to visit the parents of their deceased friends, buy them some food and give them some money.
After eating, they went to Hector’s house with bags of goods as they did in previous years.
“Dad, Mom, we’re here to visit you!” shouted Larry as soon as they entered the house.
The rest of his friends also greeted Hector’s parents joyfully.
The five of them had vowed to treat the parents of their deceased friends as their own parents, so they changed the form of address to “Dad” and “Mom” since the beginning.
At this time, two middle-aged people walked out of the house and beamed at the sight of Larry and his friends. “Oh, it’s our sons! Hurry up. Come on in!”
The middle-aged man began to greet them enthusiastically, while the middle-aged woman went to get them some drinks.
“Dad, it’s been a long time. How are you and Mom doing?” Larry asked respectfully while sitting in front of the middle-aged man.
“Don’t worry. We’re living a good life!”
The middle-aged man laughed. Obviously, their presence breathed life into the initially gloomy place and made him happy.
Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1585
“Dad, Mom, you must tell us if there’s anything happen. You have our phone numbers, don’t you? We’re your sons, so don’t treat us as outsiders!” Leon said thoughtfully while holding the hand of the middle-aged woman.
“Oh,” she hurriedly replied, “that’s so kind of you. We’re doing well. We’ll definitely tell you if anything major happens. You’re all such a good person. It’s a pity that Hector…”
The thought of her deceased son made her heart ache as she wiped the tears off her eyes.
“Alright, drop it! Now that they’re here, you should go and cook for them, while I have a drink with them,” The middle-aged man hurriedly interrupted his wife, fearing what she might say next.
“Okay, fine.” She wiped the corners of her eyes again and added with a smile, “I’m going to cook for you. You guys have a chat first. Do have some water I prepared for you when you’re thirsty.”
After speaking, she went into the kitchen.
Larry and his friends initially planned to leave after visiting them, but the fervent look in their eyes stopped them from turning them down, so they stayed to keep the couple company.
The middle-aged couple had only one son, who sacrificed in a foreign country during a mission, so no one could look after them as they aged.
Fortunately, Larry and the others were very close with their son, Hector, and treated them as their parents, so they had someone to depend on.
Now that their sons were there, the couple would not let them leave without having a meal at their place.
As their home finally became lively again, they were overjoyed even though they had to get busy.
Larry and his friends also lent them a hand in the kitchen. It was hilarious yet heartwarming to see a bunch of men doing some household chores.
With the concerted efforts of everyone, a delicious meal was ready.
Everyone took their seats at the dining table and began to enjoy the meal in a heartwarming atmosphere.
The middle-aged man was in a good mood, so he had quite a few drinks with Larry and the rest, whereas the middle-aged woman chatted away with Joan.
As it was not suitable for Joan to remain seated for too long due to her pregnancy, she was brought to the woman’s bedroom and was then asked to lie down on the bed. The two of them began to talk about pregnancy and parenting.
Being a first time mother, Joan was curious about everything related to children, so she asked the woman many questions regarding parenting, and the two of them had a pleasant chat.
As it was getting late, the couple wanted them to spend the night at their place. After a quick discussion, Larry and his friends decided to stay and would only leave the next day.
The next morning, they bade the couple farewell and visited the parents of the other deceased friends.
The parents of the other two friends were also particularly welcoming, so Larry and the rest stayed overnight at respective homes.
On the third day, it was finally time to part ways.
Early in the morning, Larry and Joan packed their things up and was ready to bid farewell to the others.
Unexpectedly, Larry’s friends were already waiting in the lobby. Seeing Larry and Joan, Leon said, “Boss, it’s time for us to part ways again. Let’s save the goodbyes for next time when we meet again, which will be in near future.”
Larry and Joan smiled.
“Of course. My wedding with Joan will be held in a few months. Each of you must be present then,” Larry replied happily.
“That’s a must. Even if you don’t invite us, we’ll also show up,” Patrick joked.
David echoed, “Yeah. And we’ll surely give the two of you a great gift!”
All of them laughed.
When it was time to leave, Larry wiped the smile off his face and announced sadly, “Guys, this is it. See you soon.”
Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1586
The rest nodded and went their separate ways without saying anything else.
They knew that they had to part ways to meet again as they became a better versions of themselves.
Finally we can head home, Joan thought, feeling glad.
Although she was not too fatigued these days, she still felt that home was always where the heart was. She could only feel relaxed when she was home.
Caspian also got in Larry’s car to return to Marsingfill with them.
When he came, he had taken a taxi, so he was glad that he could return with Larry in his car.
Larry, on the other hand, was happier as he had Caspian to drive for him.
Poor me. I actually work for such an uncaring and exploitative boss.
“By the way, Caspian, how’s your relationship with your girlfriend now?”
Larry suddenly became concerned about Caspian’s love life.
“Still the same.”
Caspian became a little awkward when asked about his love life.
“What do you mean by that? Why are you so shy like a girl?” Larry teased.
Looking at how embarrassed Caspian was, he could not help but make fun of him.
“Before we came to Pillere, I’ve brought her to meet my parents,” Caspian said with a grin.
“She’s met your parents so soon? I’m impressed.”
Larry smiled. He was happier than anyone else to see Caspian like this.
“What did your parents say about her?” Joan asked, feeling curious.
“They said that Nancy’s very fair-skinned, pretty and polite, but she’s too skinny, which isn’t very good for childbearing.”
As Caspian spoke, he was even more embarrassed.
“Whoa, your parents think really long-term, don’t they? They even thought about childbearing! Haha!” Larry guffawed.
At this, Joan also chuckled.
“What’s so funny? How can you laugh at me? I don’t wanna drive anymore!” Caspian protested annoyedly as he was embarrassed being laughed at by Larry.
“Alright, alright. We’ll stop laughing.” After Larry was done making fun of him, he asked seriously, “When are planning to get engaged, Caspian?”
“We don’t have a specific date yet, but it should be within these three months.”
Caspian put on a happy smile, seemingly thinking of Nancy.
“You’re so lucky, Caspian. Even though you’re so stupid, you can still get such a good-looking girlfriend like Nancy!” Larry could not help but tease again upon seeing Caspian’s expression.
Caspian was rendered speechless. Ever since Boss has Joan, he’s become chatty. He barely spoke before this, but now, he’s so annoying.
However, he had no choice but to keep his mouth shut and focused on driving.
“Caspian, when are you going to bring Nancy to our place? We’ve never met her!”
Joan was curious about this girlfriend of Caspian as he was an adorably kind man.
“Soon. I’ll take her to meet you soon, Joan,” replied Caspian, brimming with happiness.
As they chatted and joked during the journey, they soon reached Norton Residence.
Lying in the bed in her bedroom, Joan somehow felt contented. No matter how fun and lively the life outside her home was, she still thought that her home was the coziest.
Lying in Larry’s arms, she slowly drifted into sleep.
Looking at her sleeping soundly, Larry also found his heart filled with indescribable happiness.
Time flew, and three months went by.
During the period, Caspian had brought Nancy to Norton Residence several times.
Larry and Joan had had a very good impression of her the first time Caspian brought her over even though she was a little shy.
“Nice to meet you, Boss, Joan,” Nancy greeted them sheepishly when she first met them.
“Nice to meet you too. You’re Nancy, right? You’re so pretty. Caspian is so lucky to have you as his girlfriend.
Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1587
As Joan spoke, she hurriedly stood up and got Nancy to sit.
Hearing what Joan said, Caspian was not displeased at all. Instead, he nodded approvingly as though she was right.
Meanwhile, Larry also smiled in relief and wished Caspian the best inwardly.
Joan and Nancy hit it off right away and soon became good friends.
From then on, Nancy often visited Norton Residence with Caspian. As Joan had a companion, she no longer felt bored at home.
“Joan,” Nancy called her sweetly upon reaching Norton Residence that day.
Hearing Nancy’s voice, Joan flashed her a smile. “You’re here, Nancy. Come on in and have a seat.”
By then, Joan was already eight months into her pregnancy. Despite having a large bump, she still looked stunningly beautiful and exuded motherly vibes.
“Joan, it’ll be the engagement day of me and Caspian tomorrow.”
Nancy looked a little excited and thrilled.
“I know. You’ve said it more than ten times,” Joan replied with a helpless smile as Nancy had repeated it multiple times.
“It’s cause I’m nervous,” Nancy explained with an embarrassed smile.
Joan could relate to her as she was also no less nervous than Nancy back then when she got engaged.
She advised, “I understand how you feel, but you have to relax; otherwise, you’ll be even more keyed up during the engagement ceremony.”
“Okay!”
Nancy gave her a firm nod.
“Joan, you’re already eight months pregnant, right? Does your baby move?”
Looking at Joan’s bump, Nancy was full of curiosity.
“Of course, he does. He often kicks me as well. He is a naughty kid.”
As soon as Nancy mentioned the baby, Joan got all motherly and happily shared about her pregnancy.
“Really? Let me listen to him.”
Nancy placed her ear close to Joan’s belly.
“Whoa, it’s really moving,” Nancy exclaimed with a surprised look on her face.
While Joan and Nancy were chatting in the bedroom, Larry and Caspian were in the study having tea.
Larry was not very busy with work recently and often stayed home to keep Joan company, so Caspian was as well.
“Boss, nothing much happens in Marsingfill recently. Norton Corporation is thriving, whereas Ward Group’s development is also very stable. However, I think Carl may target Norton Corporation again as he’s been acting sneakily these days.”
As usual, Caspian reported some of the latest developments in Marsingfill to Larry.
“This kind of small fry can’t do anything.”
The look in Larry’s eyes were full of contempt as he had never seen Carl as a threat from the beginning.
“Just keep an eye on him. Once he does anything that harms Norton Corporation or Joan, get rid of him for good.”
“Yes, Boss,” replied Caspian.
After they were done talking about the important matters, Larry lightened up and urged Caspian, who was standing by the side, “Enough standing. Are you still not going to sit down after we’re done with the matters at hand?”
Larry had been telling Caspian not to be so formal when they worked as the latter was his close friend, but Caspian liked to draw a clear line in their superior-subordinate relationship when he worked.
Larry was satisfied yet angry at him for this.
After being urged by Larry to sit down, Caspian obeyed. He had always been a man who knew when to be serious and relaxed.
“So are you nervous? You’re getting engaged tomorrow,” Larry asked with a smile.
Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1588
“What’s there to be nervous about?” Caspian looked calm. “Engagement is just a ceremony, so I’m not nervous at all. If it’s a wedding, maybe I’ll be a little nervous.”
“Are you really not nervous at all?”
Larry found it hard to believe. This guy often spends a long time thinking about something, but why would he not be nervous when he’s about to get engaged?
“Not at all.”
Caspian still had a nonchalant expression on his face.
“Oh, Nancy, why are you here?” Larry greeted with a smile as he looked past Caspian.
“Nancy’s here!”
Hearing Larry’s words, Caspian nearly spilled his tea. Yet, when he saw the evil smile on Larry’s face, he immediately knew that the latter was pulling a trick on him and quickly recomposed himself.
“So what if Nancy’s here? I’m not afraid of her. Besides, like I said, I’m not nervous about the engagement at all!” Caspian repeated himself as if to cover up his earlier panic.
“Wow, such bravado.”
A woman’s voice was heard, leaving Caspian stunned. “I don’t mind that you’re not afraid of me as I’m not scary after all. As for your claim that you’re not nervous, I beg to differ. You were actually so nervous that you couldn’t even sleep last night, weren’t you?”
Nancy slowly walked into the study.
Seeing her, Caspian felt his legs turn jelly.
“Nancy, why are you here? I was just joking with Boss. Hehe. Hehe.”
Caspian went up to her while simpering. “Come on, Nancy, have a seat. Are you tired? Take a seat. I’ll give you a massage.”
Caspian’s behavior made Larry see him in a different light as Larry had never thought that the former had such a side to him.
After a while, he came to his senses and teased, “So, Caspian, it turns out that you were just bragging. I thought you were so tough!”
“Boss, what else did Caspian say?” Nancy asked Larry curiously after giving Caspian a glare.
“Oh, Boss, please don’t talk anymore! I’m begging you! You’ve got me good!”
Caspian kept winking at Larry, but the latter did not bother him and smirked smugly.
Embarrassing Caspian gave him great pleasure.
Ignoring Caspian, Nancy said, “Boss, we still need to make some preparations for tomorrow, so we can’t stay any longer. I’ve told Joan as well. We shall get going.”
“Alright, then. Joan and I will rush over tomorrow morning.”
Larry nodded in agreement.
After Caspian and Nancy left, he returned to his bedroom and saw Joan stroking her bump like a mother would while muttering something with a smiling face.
The sight brought a smile to Larry’s face as he walked up to her quietly and asked, “Are you talking to our baby again?”
Ever since her belly got bigger, Joan often talked to the baby as though he could hear her.
“Yes, I am,” she replied sweetly.
Her adorable face filled Larry’s heart with love.
Larry then gently put his head on her belly and felt the warmth from Joan and his baby. Gradually, his restlessness vanished.
“Look, the baby’s moving. He’s saying hello to you!” Joan hurriedly told Larry after feeling a movement in her belly.
“That’s right. I saw it too. He’s quite a frisky kid, isn’t he? He can’t even stay still in his mommy’s belly.”
Larry chuckled. His heart was brimming over with happiness as he imagined the life ahead with his wife and son.
“Larry, have you decided on the baby’s name?” asked Joan softly while lying in his arms.
“I’ve been thinking about it for a long time. Let’s name him Leslie Norton. What do you think about it?” Larry told her the name he had in mind after thinking for a while.
Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1589
“Leslie, Leslie Norton,” murmured Joan softly before she grinned and said, “Okay, let’s call the baby Leslie.”
“You have a name now, baby. You’re Leslie Norton. Do you like the name?” asked Joan sweetly, while caressing her stomach.
“Let’s share the name with our parents right away. They’ve been asking about it for a while now,” reminded Joan. She shifted her gaze to Larry.
She hadn’t used her phone or any devices that emitted radiation in a while since she was pregnant. Her daily pastime had since changed to watching tv and gardening.
Hence, Larry had to be the one to call their parents and share the news.
“Don’t worry and rest well. I’ll go tell them now,” promised Larry lovingly, before planting a soft kiss on her forehead.
Larry woke up early the next morning and softly called out to Joan to get her up as well.
She had been sleeping a lot ever since she got pregnant and spent most of her time in dreamland.
At first, Larry didn’t want to let her attend Caspian and Nancy’s engagement party. Unfortunately, Joan was persistent in going, so Larry had no choice.
After freshening up, the two of them got into the car and hurried over to Caspian’s place.
Caspian lived near the Norton Residence, so it only took a little over ten minutes to go over.
Larry was quick to help Caspian set everything up, while Joan stood at the side and stared happily.
The engagement party started soon after. Only a few people were present as only family members and several close friends were invited.
Naturally, parents from both sides were present as well.
The Barrymores were a pretty prominent family in Marsingfill, and Nancy was their only heir. Hence, she was very much loved and well cared for since she was a child.
Unlike Gabriella though, the Barrymores valued honor and discipline, so Nancy was a remarkable woman with good manners.
At first, Nancy’s parents were upset to hear that their daughter was dating a bodyguard. The Barrymores were a powerful family, so they didn’t like the idea of having a bodyguard as a son-in-law.
Still, they never protested that relationship verbally because their daughter loved the man.
They weren’t happy with their daughter’s choice and didn’t agree to that wedding until they learned that Nancy’s boyfriend was Caspian.
Caspian was one of Larry’s best friends. He might be a bodyguard on paper, but everyone knew that Caspian was practically the second in command of Norton Corporation.
How could they not be satisfied under those circumstances?
The engagement party was regal but simple. There weren’t any complicated rituals. The emcee simply delivered a speech and kick off the ceremony before Caspian went down on one knee and asked for Nancy’s hand in marriage.
It was like any regular engagement party, and everyone left after going through the ceremony.
The only thing interesting about the whole thing was Caspian.
He was especially handsome in his outfit, and everything looked picture perfect when he stood beside Nancy.
The only problem was that Caspian was blushing red the entire time. It was as if someone shoved a few bottles of wine down his throat just before the party started. In fact, he was stuttering and made no sense even when he was proposing to Nancy. That got everyone to giggle.
Larry and Joan sat quietly at their designated spots. They were both happy for the new couple.
Seeing the two engaged lovebirds got Joan to recall how things were at her own engagement party. Sweetness ambushed her, and she was happy.
“Dear, when are we going to get married?” asked Joan.
Anticipation filled her voice as she spoke.
All their lives, women had always looked forward to having a romantic wedding ceremony that they could call their own.
The mere thought of the wedding got Joan to feel warm and fuzzy.
“We’ll have a grand wedding as soon as the baby is born. I will get you the most beautiful wedding gown, and you will be the most stunning bride,” replied Larry firmly as he looked into Joan’s eyes.
Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1590
Joan smiled as brightly as a blooming flower. Hearing a response like that from the man she loved made her feel like she was the luckiest woman on Earth.
She was about to reply to him when she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her lower abdomen. The pain was so intense and so sudden that Joan felt ambushed. She lost control and shouted in response.
“Ah!” shouted Joan before she gripped Larry’s hand, “Larry, my stomach hurts. It hurts so much.” It only took a few seconds for a layer of sweat to form on her forehead. All that showed just how much pain she was in.
“Joan, Joan! What’s wrong?”
Larry panicked when he saw her suffering like that.
“I’ll take you to the hospital right away. Hang on, Joan!”
Joan’s screams stabbed Larry’s heart. He was so heartbroken that he couldn’t calm down. All he did was hold Joan close while panicking.
Fortunately, the spectators heard the commotion and gave him some suggestions. Larry called the hospital right away.
“Hello? Is this the hospital? My girlfriend’s stomach suddenly hurts. I think something is up with the baby. Please send someone over right away! We’re at…”
After hanging up, Larry held Joan’s hand nervously and said in a comforting tone, “Don’t worry, Joan. The doctor will be here soon. You have to hang on, Joan.”
“Larry, the baby. Will the baby be okay? Larry, I’m scared.”
Joan’s voice was quivering, and her grip on Larry’s hand was tight.
“It’ll be fine. The baby will be fine, and so will you. Don’t worry, the doctor will be here soon.”
Larry’s voice was soothing and sweet. He had forced himself to calm down by then. Joan is worried enough, and I cannot afford to panic. She needs me now!
Joan stopped shouting nervously after hearing those words. She clamped her mouth shut, but groans still escaped from her lips. It was obvious that she was enduring intense pain.
It felt as if a century had passed before they finally heard the ambulance’s siren. Larry seemed calmer when he shared, “The doctor is here, Joan. We’ll be fine!”
The ambulance stopped near Larry and Joan before two doctors in white coats hopped out of it.
“Doctor, please tend to my girlfriend. You have to help her,” requested Larry in an anxious tone.
“Calm down, sir. We’ll do our best to help her. Please step aside for now.”
The doctor spoke politely. They received many similar calls on a daily basis, so they were calm when dealing with the matter.
Larry understood that he would just get in the way, so he quickly moved aside. He was brimming with worry when he stared at Joan.
The two doctors performed a quick examination on Joan before they frowned and informed Larry grimly, “Her water broke, and she is bleeding. We must take her to the hospital right way to give her proper treatment or her life will be at risk.”
“Her life is at risk?” blurted Larry.
The doctor’s words were the last straw that broke the camel’s back. Larry couldn’t stay calm anymore, and he clutched the doctor’s collar before shouting, “Well, then what are you waiting for? Take her to the hospital now! Please save her. Don’t let anything happen to her.”
Larry was agitated and unreasonable, but the doctor didn’t dare to complain or even show any signs of dissatisfaction. Before they rushed over, they were informed that Larry Norton, the president of Norton Corporation, was the one who called. That was why they knew that they couldn’t afford to offend him.
The doctor quickly replied, “Don’t worry. We will do everything we can. Hurry up and get the patient into the ambulance carefully.”
Two medical staff quickly set the gurney up and carefully placed Joan on it before pushing her to the ambulance.
Larry gave some quick instructions to the men he brought with him before he got into the ambulance as well.
Inside the ambulance, Larry was drowning in worries as he stared at Joan. He couldn’t help but think of what the doctor said earlier, and that gripped his heart.
Joan, please be alright!
Joan was half-unconscious as she laid on the gurney. Despite that, she was still frowning, and it was clear that she was still in pain.