Ch. 381..390
Chapter 381
On the journey away from the island, Mila quietly stayed by Nathan’s side.
Nathan had been shot. They couldn’t sail directly back to Norvania from the sea, so they chose the nearest point to come ashore.
Once ashore, Mila found someone nearby and asked them to call for assistance. Then, they rushed Nathan to the hospital.
Mila held the unconscious Nathan. She didn’t have the courage to check his breathing. Through the ordeal of life and death, her heart grew stronger.
There was nothing more painful than her experience of losing Nathan.
If it weren’t for Oliver, Nathan would have died on the island.
She harbored no gratitude toward Oliver. He killed her parents. Thus, there was a deadly feud between them. ↑
She would avenge her parents‘ death one day. She would definitely kill Oliver with her own hands.
At the hospital, Mila sat on the chair outside of the emergency treatment room. Her eyelids. grew heavier, and she felt exhausted.
She was worried about Nathan, who was in the operating room. She didn’t dare to close her eyes, even if just for a second.
The surgery lasted from 4:00 am until 9:00 am.
When the doctor came out, Mila was emotionally and mentally strained. She didn’t dare to relax, not even for a moment.
She said anxiously, “D–Doctor… I…” Mila paused, wondering what the relationship between. her and Nathan really was. She thought it should be friends.
The doctor reassured Mila before she could finish her sentence, “Don’t worry. The surgery was successful. Your husband isn’t in critical condition.
“The bullet lodged in his shoulder blade, avoiding the vital organs. But the difficulty in removing the bullet led to excessive bleeding and weakened his body. He needs rest, so make sure to take good care of him.”
Mila was overcome with excitement as tears welled up in her eyes. She sincerely offered her gratitude, “Thank you so much, doctor. I really appreciate it. I will take good care of him.”
The doctor smiled and said, “The patient’s information hasn’t been recorded yet. Find some time to complete his identification information.”
Mila nodded as she said, “Okay, thank you.”
The doctor left.
Shortly after, a nurse wheeled Nathan out. Mila pushed the stretcher alongside the nurse.
Nathan lay on the bed, shirtless, with bandages wrapped around his shoulder. He was pale and
unconscious.
Back in the ward, Mila didn’t dare to sleep. She sat on the edge of Nathan’s bed, holding his warm hand, and gazed at his handsome face as he slept.
She kept a close eye on the fluctuations of his heart rate on the ECG machine.
Soon after, there was a knock on the door.
Mila turned to look as the door was pushed open. She saw Cole rushing in anxiously. Her heart settled slightly after seeing him.
But her joyful mood lasted only three seconds as she noticed the woman behind Cole. Instantly, she felt dejected.
Fenna also came along.
“General Morrison!” Cole shouted as he entered the room. “How is he?”
Mila pursed her lips as she shook her head and said, “I don’t know. He just underwent surgery and hasn’t woken up yet.”
After Nathan went into the operating room, she contacted Cole.
Cole immediately got in touch with Dorzania’s foreign affairs officer. He then flew over in a helicopter.
Unexpectedly, he arrived right after the five–hour surgery ended.
“Nate,” Fenna said as she walked toward Nathan. She held his other hand and leaned close to his face. Softly, she called out, “Nate, wake up. It’s Fenna.”
Mila gently put Nathan’s hand down and covered him with the blanket. She pulled the blanket up to cover his exposed shoulder.
“Let me look at his wound,” Fenna said as she lifted the blanket.
Mila nervously tried to stop her. She said, “Don’t-”
Before she could stop her, Fenna was already checking his wound.
Due to Nathan’s wound being wrapped in gauze, they couldn’t see anything. Even if they could, they weren’t doctors, so there was nothing they could do.
Mila just didn’t understand why she wanted to look.
After checking, Fenna touched Nathan’s cheek. Her eyes reddened, and her voice caught in her throat as she asked, “What happened? Why is he so badly injured?”
Chapter 382
Chapter 382
Mila remained silent as she watched Fenna.
Cole looked around and said, “Ms. Hoffis, where’s Lucas and the others?”
Mila pulled Cole outside the door. She lowered her voice and said, “I don’t know the details. We’ll have to wait for Nate to wake up before I can tell you, but Lucas betrayed us.”
Cole was shocked. He shouted in anguish and frustration, “That can’t be!”
Mila knew they were comrades, as close as brothers. She found it hard to accept such a fact.
“Nate is injured because of him,” Mila said.
Cole clenched his fist, seething with anger as his veins bulged. He suppressed the feeling until his eyes reddened. Turning away from Mila, he tilted his head back to take deep breaths, gradually easing the anger and heartache. 1
Mila didn’t know how to comfort him. His anger and pain were so intense.
Still, Nathan must be suffering a hundred times more than Cole.
At the thought of Nathan, Mila left Cole alone and returned to the ward.
As she entered, she froze in place.
Fenna sat beside the bed. She rested her elbows on the bed and tightly held Nathan’s hand against her face. She was emotional as she looked at Nathan with an intense gaze.
Then, Fenna gently kissed the back of Nathan’s hand.
Witnessing such an affectionate scene, Mila didn’t know whether to enter or leave. She also didn’t know whether to tell Fenna to let go of Nathan’s hand or to reassure her not to worry too much.
Unfortunately, she had no authority to make Fenna let go of Nathan’s hand. She could only secretly wallow in her pain.
Mila walked in and stood in front of her. “Ms. Hudson-
Before she could offer any words of comfort, Fenna cut her off, “You can go back. Just leave this to me.” She didn’t even glance at her.
Mila was speechless.
Fenna looked at Mila, who remained silent and motionless. She lifted her head in displeasure and gazed at Mila.
She slowly released Nathan’s hand and asked, “What’s the matter? Is there anything else?”
Mila took a deep breath. She explained, “I want to wait for Nate to wake up.”
“No need. I’ll have Cole notify you when he wakes up,” Fenna replied.
Mila remained silent.
Fenna continued, “You can have Phoebe come pick you up, or you can take a plane back
yourself. When Nate wakes up, Cole recovery.”
Mila stayed silent again.
nd I will get him on the helicopter to Norvania for
Fenna acted as if she was in charge. After a moment’s thought, she said, “By the way, thank you for fearlessly venturing alone to Nightshade headquarters to rescue Nate. We will always remember your kindness.”
We? When did she and Nathan become one? Was it this month when Mila decided to return to Sunterland and deliberately avoided Nathan?
At that moment, Mila witnessed Fenna’s intimate gestures toward Nathan.
It wasn’t something that regular friends would do. It clearly looked like what partners or family members would do.
Mila’s heart was in turmoil, feeling too uncomfortable to speak. She thought about the timest in the prison on the island when she had physical contact with Nathan. He always deliberately avoided her.
All signs indicated that he seemed to have changed.
Mila couldn’t help but ask, “Ms. Hudson, are you and Nate…”
Fenna looked up at Mila, her gaze becoming intense.
After a long pause, Mila gathered the courage to finish her question, “Are you two together?”
Fenna paused for a few seconds before saying seriously, “Yes, we’re together. We’ve been officially together for a month.”
A gut–wrenching feeling surged through Mila’s heart. The pain sent shivers down her spine, leaving her numb.
She wanted to cry, her tears already welling up in her eyes, yet she managed to muster a faint smile.
Her mind went blank. She was unsure of how to react without being rude.
Together for a month?
That was the month after she clearly rejected Nathan and was preparing to return to Sunterland.
Indeed, Nathan didn’t even come to see her during that month.
Chapter 383
Chapter 383
So that was the truth.
Fenna noticed Mila looking pale and in a daze. Her tone filled with concern as she asked, What’s wrong?”
“N–Nothing,” Mila replied as she forced a smile, trying to conceal her sadness.
Fenna stood up and frowned at her. She asked, “Did you just find out about us being together? Did Nate not tell you?”
Mila shook her head with a smile. Tears already welled up in her eyes, and she couldn’t hold back any longer.
She pretended to remain calm and replied, “It’s not his fault. I made it clear that we couldn’t stay as friends and to not keep in touch. It’s normal for him not to tell me.”
“Oh, I see,” Fenna replied.
Mila forced an awkward smile,
“When are you going back to Sunterland?” Fenna asked.
Mila hesitated for a moment. She touched the box in her pocket. Knowing that the hydronium was still there, she replied, “This week.”
“What do you do in Sunterland? I noticed you always want to leave. Are you really willing to leave behind your grandfather and his huge conglomerate?”
Mila lowered her head with a bitter smile. She sneaked another glance at Nathan. Her heart ached, tears pooling in her eyes as she said, “I’m not.”
Her unwillingness referred to Nathan, not the meaningless property.
Fenna’s expression slightly darkened. She sounded slightly nervous as she said, “You… aren’t leaving?”
Mila secretly wiped away her tears. She smiled as she looked up. “I am leaving. There are urgent matters that I need to handle.”
“Best of luck with your work.”
Mila was sorrowful as she secretly glanced at Nathan again. Now, even if she wanted to look at him, she could do it in secret.
After all, he was someone else’s boyfriend. And in the future, he would be someone else’s husband.
Come to think of it, it wasn’t bad at all. The two were quite a good match.
Mila endured her pain silently. Her voice was slightly hoarse as she said, “I wish you both happiness,”
Fenna smiled and said, “We will, thank you.
Mila immediately turned, unable to hold back her tears any longer, and they streamed down
her face. She felt a twinge of heartache, a discomfort that was hard to bear.
Mila knew that no one in this world would wait forever. Why should a man as excellent as Nathan wait for her?
He had previously said he would wait for her for five years. But she rejected him. It was understandable that he wouldn’t wait.
Mila left the ward with tears in her eyes.
At the door, she met Cole, who was still upset. She quickly wiped away her tears and tried to be
calm.
Cole was confused when he saw her coming out. “Is there anything wrong, Ms. Hoffis?” he asked.
Mila replied, “It’s nothing. I’ll get going first.”
Cole was puzzled. “You’re leaving? Where are you going?”
Mila looked at the sky and said, “Back to Sunterland.”
Cole was anxious. “Aren’t you waiting for General Morrison to wake
up?
Mila exhaled slowly, feeling her heart panicking. She said softly, “I’m not going to wait anymore. He has Fenna by his side.”
Cole clenched his fists. He felt resentful and upset for Nathan. He also began to harbor a dislike toward Mila.
He thought Nathan’s sincere feelings had been wasted on her. Why did he have to fall for such a heartless and cruel woman?
He thought she went to the island alone to rescue Nathan because she loved him. But the truth was beyond his expectations.
After a moment of contemplation, Mila sáid softly, “Cole, if Nate wakes up without any issues, can you send me a message to let me know he’s safe?”
Cole coldly snorted in his heart. He grumbled, “I don’t think it’s necessary. Doesn’t General Morrison have Ms. Hudson by his side?”
His words pierced Mila’s heart. It hurt so much that she couldn’t even speak a word. Her tear. ducts were so sensitive, so she was unable to bear such harsh words.
Without saying a word, she strode away briskly. She wiped away her tears, biting her lip to endure the pain.
She didn’t blame anyone but herself for not cherishing Nathan. When she wanted to cherish Nathan, he no longer wanted her.
Chapter 384
Chapter 384
After Mila left the hospital, she looked for an ATM. She entered her bank card and password and withdrew some money. With the money, she bought a plane ticket to Norvania.
On the plane, she couldn’t hold back her tears and cried all the way. When she reached Norvania, her eyes were swollen and red.
Phoebe was shocked to see her in such a state. Her first question was, “Mila, is Mr. Morrison dead?”
Hearing Phoebe’s question made Mila’s already grieving heart feel even more distressed. She disregarded all the decorum and hugged Phoebe, crying her eyes out.
“Mila, the dead cannot be brought back to life. Please accept my condolences,” Phoebe comforted her with tears in her eyes.
On the way back, Mila cried herself to exhaustion and fell asleep in the car. After reaching Hoffis Manor, she showered and went straight to bed.
She slept for a solid 15 hours.
Zach and Loretta asked Phoebe what had happened. Phoebe said, “Mr. Morrison passed away.”
The couple was shocked and saddened. They decided to ask Cole to clarify the situation.
Loretta called Cole and put the phone on speaker.
Zach and Phoebe leaned in, listening attentively.
Loretta’s tone was somber as she asked, “Cole, did Nate pass away?”
Cole was stunned. He replied, “Madam Hoffis, who told you General Morrison passed away?” The three of them exchanged glances.
Loretta paused for a moment before asking, “He didn’t?”
“Of course not,” Cole was a bit annoyed as he replied, “General Morrison just came back and is resting at Sudvilla. He’s injured, but it’s not fatal.”
“Then why is my granddaughter so heartbroken?” Loretta asked worriedly. “Her eyes are swollen from crying, and she’s been sleeping in her room for over ten hours. She also refused to eat or drink, and didn’t want to wake up.
“I have no idea. Maybe General Morrison delayed her plans to return to Sunterland.‘ Phoebe nodded. “That’s possible,” she whispered.
Π
Loretta said, “Well, I won’t bother you anymore. Please give Nate my regards and wish him a speedy recovery.”
“Okay. Thank you, Madam,” Cole replied before hanging up.
The three of them exchanged glances again.
At Sudvilla, Cole pocketed his phone and turned to see Fenna. He politely greeted her, “Hello, Ms. Hudson.”
Fenna nodded and asked, “Where’s Nate?”
Cole pointed upstairs and sa
Cole pointed upstairs and said, “General Morrison is awake, but he’s very weak. He’s resting. upstairs now.
Curious, Fenna asked, “Is his injury serious?”
Cole shook his head. “It’s not a serious wound. I heard he was seriously injured on the island. and was kept in a water dungeon for two days.
“He nearly died from excessive bleeding. After that, he was rescued. He was still recovering from his previous injury, but then he was shot again. That’s why he’s so weak.”
Fenna turned and went upstairs. “I’ll go check on him.”
She knocked on the door.
“Come in,” Nathan’s voice sounded somewhat excited.
Fenna pushed open the door and walked in.
Nathan was leaning against the headboard. He looked a bit weak and tired. His face was pale, and he seemed to be low in spirit.
When Fenna entered the room, his gaze shifted from anticipation to disappointment. He dropped his head in despair as he stared blankly at the phone screen.
Fenna walked over with a smile. She said, “Do you think Wanda will come to see you?”
Nathan remained composed and stayed silent. He just lightly touched the phone screen with his fingers.
Fenna approached to have a look. It was a private chat with Mila, but there were no new messages at all.
The last voice message was from a month ago. It was sent by Nathan, but she didn’t reply.
Fenna pursed her lips. She shook her head and said, “You’ve sent her so many voice messages and texts before, but she always ignored them. Why don’t you try sending a message and see if she’ll respond?”
Nathan slowly turned off the screen and placed the phone on the bedside table. He wearily closed his eyes, then tilted his head back against the headboard.
Chapter 385
Chapter 385
Fenna smiled as she pulled up a chair and sat by Nathan’s bedside.
She comforted Nathan with a gentle tone, “Nate, I get it. The person you fell in love with when you were young is like an unforgettable first love. It’s definitely the most memorable.
Then, by some twist of fate, she became your wife. She’s sweet and lovely, delicate and charming. She’s also heartrendingly gentle and kind. Which man wouldn’t be attracted to her? “But have you ever thought that, no matter how much you love her, the worst thing is that she doesn’t love you.”
Nathan frowned, feeling his heart twisting in pain. He endured it, although it felt like there was a knife lodged in his chest. Even breathing was painful.
His voice was hoarse, and his tone was low as he murmured, “Why did she risk going to such a dangerous place to save me?”
Fenna gently patted his shoulder. “Maybe she was also captured? Have you asked her?”
After a moment of contemplation, she took his phone and said, “I can’t stand it anymore. If you love her, just confess to her.
“After all, this isn’t the first time she rejected you. Maybe you’ll give up on her after being rejected a few more times.”
Nathan snatched back his phone. He coldly gazed at her and said, “Don’t meddle in my affairs with her.”
Fenna retorted indignantly, “I don’t think it’s worth it. If I’m not mistaken, you took that bullet to save her, didn’t you?”
Nathan didn’t say anything. He just hid his phone under the blanket.
Fenna was displeased. “You’re willing to sacrifice yourself for her, but what about her?
“She just dropped you off at the hospital and left. When Cole and I had just arrived, she was already in such a hurry to leave. We couldn’t even persuade her to stay since she insisted on going back to Sunterland.”
Fenna was infuriated as she continued, “Go back to Sunterland? As if. She’s probably still asleep at Hoffis Manor.
“Nate, sometimes I really feel sorry for you. There are plenty of fish in the sea, so why do you insist on being with her?
“Let’s say it’s okay for you to act like this if it’s worth it, but she’s not worth it. She doesn’t care about you at all.
“You’re so severely injured that you even need assistance to get out of bed, and what about her? It’s just a half–hour journey, but she couldn’t be bothered to visit. She didn’t call or message you, even once. She’s too heartless.”
The more Fenna talked, the angrier she got.
Nathan felt more and more uncomfortable as he listened. He coldly uttered, “Are you done?”
Fenna sneered. “Not even close. I felt so sorry for you. When Wanda left the hospital after leaving you behind, I was so angry that I caught up with her and told her that we were together. ”
Nathan’s expression darkened. He gazed sharply at Fenna.
Fenna nervously gulped as she said, “Don’t look at me like that. I just wanted to help you. But she doesn’t care at all. She even happily wished us happiness.”
Nathan held back his emotion as he spoke clearly, “She wanted to leave before you said that, or did she leave because of what you said.”
Fenna dodged the question and said, “Does it make a difference? Anyway, she doesn’t care about you.”
“It makes a big difference.”
Fenna swallowed nervously. She averted her gaze as she dared not look at Nathan and said, ” It’s because she wanted to leave you, so I just blurted it out.”
Nathan slowly clenched his fists. He closed his eyes and leaned against the headboard.
Fenna cautiously asked, “Are you angry?”
Nathan remained silent.
She continued, “We’ve been friends for so many years. Nate, you know me. I just feel sorry for you.”
Nathan continued to stay silent.
“I know you love her very much, but you also need to love yourself. If she doesn’t care about you,
there are plenty of people who do.”
Nathan said calmly, “Please don’t say things that might lead others to misunderstand our relationship in the future.”
Fenna smiled bitterly and said, “I doubt it’ll happen again. Wanda should be packing her bags and preparing to return to Sunterland. You won’t have the chance to see her again for your whole life.”
Nathan was lying under the blanket. He pulled it over his head and said, “I want to rest. You may leave now.”
Fenna patted his blanket. She replied, “Rest well. I’ll come to see you again tomorrow.
GET IT NOW
The next day,
back to Morrison Residence.
At the entrance, Cole ran into Mila.
Mila bumped into Cole after coming out from inside the residence. She hurried over and called, “Cole.”
Cole stopped in his tracks, frowning at her.
She asked worriedly, “How’s Nate doing?”
Cole replied curtly, “Thanks to Ms. Hoffis, General Morrison is doing fine now.”
Mila breathed a sigh of relief, but her heart still felt heavy. She was worried and unsure of how to express it.
He added, “General Morrison’s family all went to Sudvilla early this morning to see him. Now they just got back. So, why were you coming out from inside?”
Mila pointed toward the summerhouse and said, “I went to see Dan.”
Cole sucked in a deep breath. He placed his hands on his hips as his face turned pale.
He thought that if he ever ended up falling
you. He gives you space and freedom. He finally gave up on you and chose a new life. But you suddenly went to the island and risked your life to save him. How do you expect him to feel?”
Mila was frozen in place. Her mood became increasingly heavy.
So Nathan really moved on within a month and had already started a new life. Perhaps it was because Fenna was his long–time confidante, so he was able to accept a new relationship so quickly.
Mila felt increasingly depressed as Cole continued to “denounce” her offenses.
“He took the bullet and risked his life for you. But you couldn’t even stay a little longer at the hospital to wait for him to wake up. Instead, you insisted on leaving. You said you were going
Chapter 386
Chapter 386
The next day, the Morrisons went to Sudvilla to visit Nathan. Around noon, Cole drove them back to Morrison Residence.
At the entrance, Cole ran into Mila.
Mila bumped into Cole after coming out from inside the residence. She hurried over and called, “Cole.”
Cole stopped in his tracks, frowning at her.
She asked worriedly, “How’s Nate doing?”
Cole replied curtly, “Thanks to Ms. Hoffis, General Morrison is doing fine now.”
Mila breathed a sigh of relief, but her heart still felt heavy. She was worried and unsure of how to express it.
He added, “General Morrison’s family all went to Sudvilla early this morning to see him. Now they just got back. So, why were you coming out from inside?”
Mila pointed toward the summerhouse and said, “I went to see Dan.”
Cole sucked in a deep breath. He placed his hands on his hips as his face turned pale.
He thought that if he ever ended up falling for a heartless and cruel woman like Mila, he’d rather strangle himself to death.
Cole held back his anger as he asked, “Ms. Hoffis, just how much does General Morrison bother you that you think it’s necessary to avoid him like the plague?”
Mila’s expression turned gloomy, wondering why Cole was so upset. “What do you
mean?
Cole crossed his arms and looked at Mila’s innocent face. He exclaimed, “Everyone who knows General Morrison knows that his first love, whom he deeply loves, is Sally Hoffis, or rather, Wanda Hoffis.”
Mila was taken aback.
He continued, “Actually, you know too. You know how much General Morrison loves what about you? You treat someone else’s affection as a burden and avoid it at all costs.
you. But
“General Morrison respects you. He gives you space and freedom. He finally gave up on you and chose a new life. But you suddenly went to the island and risked your life to save him. How do you expect him to feel?”
Mila was frozen in place. Her mood became increasingly heavy.
So Nathan really moved on within a month and had already started a new life. Perhaps it was because Fenna was his long–time confidante, so he was able to accept a new relationship so quickly.
Mila felt increasingly depressed as Cole continued to “denounce” her offenses.
“He took the bullet and risked his life for you. But you couldn’t even stay a little longer at the hospital to wait for him to wake up. Instead, you insisted on leaving. You said you were going
back to Sunterland, but aren’t you still in Norvania?
“You have the time to visit Daniel, but you don’t have the time to see General Morrison? Why? Is your time so precious that you can’t even spare a minute for him?”
Mila forced a bitter smile, feeling her heart had gone cold. “Cole, do you hate me that much? Do you have a problem with me?” she asked.
“No,” Cole replied, unhappy.
Mila continued to smile bitterly and said, “I can tell.”
Cole then asked, “Did you notice that I want you to visit General Morrison?”
Mila lowered her head. She was at war with herself as she tugged the hem of her clothes.
Cole noticed her small movements. He knew that she was hesitating.
He was truly exhausted. “Even if it’s a stranger. If someone saved you, isn’t it normal to visit them?” he said earnestly.
Mila suddenly had a realization. Indeed, it was normal for her to visit her lifesaver.
She didn’t need to care about what Fenna thought. She was visiting a sick person, not stealing someone else’s boyfriend. Why should she hesitate or worry about suspicions?
Mila looked sincerely at Cole and asked, “Can you drive me to Sudvilla?”
Cole grinned, his smile appearing incredibly quick. He swiftly opened the car door and said politely, “Ms. Hoffis, please get in.” 1
It was a complete 180 from his earlier attitude. Mila wondered if his anger just now wasn’t genuine but an act.
She smiled helplessly before getting into the car. She even asked Cole to take her to a florist and a gift store when they were on their way to Sudvilla.
When they arrived at Sudvilla, it was already evening.
Mila nervously took a deep breath while holding the bouquet before gently knocking on the door.
“Come in,” came a low and weak voice. The man sounded drained and listless.
Mila opened the door and walked in.
Chapter 387
Chapter 387
In the warm and cozy room, Nathan lay half–reclined on the bed with his eyes closed. Soft rays of sunlight streamed in through the balcony and shone on his handsome face, making his complexion more charming.
Now, he appeared a bit more weary and weathered, which made people feel sorry for him.
Mila had prepared herself mentally on the way there. She reminded herself that he was no Monger single. She shouldn’t fantasize or hold onto any delusion.
However, upon seeing him, she couldn’t help but feel a flutter of excitement. She was unable to control herself.
She approached him slowly, her voice soft as she greeted him. “Nate.”
Nathan tensed up. He abruptly opened his eyes and gazed intensely at Mila. She was wearing a soft pink floral dress, and her long hair cascaded over her shoulders.
In her left hand, she held a large bunch of her favorite white zinnias. While in her right hand, she carried two boxes of supplements.
She stood there, awkward and timid.
Mila’s smile reached her eyes. She looked stunning and beautiful.
Looking at her smile, Nathan couldn’t help but return it. Smiling gently at her, he asked, You’re here?”
“Yeah,” Mila lifted the gifts slightly and said, “I brought you two boxes of supplements.” “Put it there,” Nathan said as he pointed at the coffee table in the room.
Mila walked over and placed the gifts down. She then looked at the flowers in her hand. Turning to look at him, she asked, “Nate, where should I put the flowers?”
Nathan patted the bedside table, and Mila placed the flowers on it.
The distance between them shortened.
As Nathan looked up at her lovely face, Mila met his intense gaze.
She immediately looked away. As she looked around, she spotted a chair beside the bed. She pulled it over and sat by his bedside.
“Are you feeling better?” Mila asked politely.
Nathan smiled bitterly. It seemed the environment had affected her.
The person who used to be so close to him in the island prison, who would hold his hand and touch his body intentionally and unintentionally, now seemed to have disappeared.
1
Nathan replied gently, “Yes, nothing serious.”
“Is the wound still hurting?” Mila asked as she looked at his shoulder.
“Sometimes.”
“Can
you get out of bed?”
Nathan didn’t answer. He just stared at her. He didn’t want to tell her that he was feeling very weak, possibly due to excessive blood loss or injuries, which made him drained and dizzy.
He changed the subject, asking, “Why did you decide to come to visit me?”
Mila lowered her head. Her hands unconsciously fiddled with her clothes. She wanted to see him. She thought about him at every moment of every day.
But she was mindful about Fenna’s presence, so she kept enduring.
Nathan appeared grim. He felt sad when he stared at Mila’s fidgeting fingers. It seemed that this was a difficult question to answer. Perhaps Cole had brought her here against her will.
He knew how Cole was. Nathan was resigned and smiled bitterly. “Cole brought you here, didn’t he?”
“Yeah, I went to see Dan. He drove your family back, and I ran into him at Morrison Residence, so I came here with him.” Mila explained.
Hearing her words, Nathan felt like his heart was being torn apart. His heart felt like it was bleeding, and the pain was driving him crazy.
If that was the case, she might as well not come at all.
“How’s Daniel? Is he alright?” Nathan asked, trying to maintain a casual tone despite the pain.
“Same as usual. He’s not doing well.”
“When are you going back to Sunterland?”
“I’m not sure. I might not go back anymore.”
Nathan paused, and he subconsciously gripped his blanket. Though his appearance seemed calm, his heart was a tempest of emotions.
“Why…” Nathan’s voice trembled slightly. The pause was just because of excessive excitement. He slowed down and asked, “Did you suddenly change your mind?”
Mila pursed her lips. Smiling faintly, she asked Nathan back, “Don’t you want me to come back. to serve my country?”
Nathan smiled at her and said, “Of course I do.”
Both publicly and privately, he earnestly hoped so. If she was willing to stay, at least he still had hope.
“My grandparents are getting older,” Mila casually found an excuse, “I want to stay in Norvania just to spend more time with them. So, I’m still giving it some thought.”
Chapter 388
Chapter 388
“Chubs,” Nathan said. He smiled softly as he gazed at her with affection.
Mila looked up with her eyes shimmering. She asked, “Hmm?”
He expressed himself with full affection, “The country needs you.”
Mila put on a sweet smile. She asked softly, “What about you?”
Nathan was stunned and bewildered as he looked at her.
Mila suddenly realized the question she asked was too much, especially considering he was now in a relationship. She felt embarrassed for saying such inappropriate words.
Just as Nathan was about to respond, Mila awkwardly chuckled and said, “Sorry, I was just joking. You don’t have to answer that.”
Nathan’s words were caught in his throat.
Mila felt increasingly awkward. She then stood up and said, “Nate, you rest well. I’ll get going
first.”
“Chubs,” Nathan hurriedly called out. He felt extremely reluctant.
Mila had just arrived. Was she really leaving so soon?
Nathan called out for her, but she didn’t stop. He lifted the blanket and got out of bed. He quickly caught up to her. “Chubs…”
The more he called, the faster she walked away.
“Wanda Hoffis…” his voice grew heavier as he called out.
As Mila heard Nathan’s voice, her hand was already on the door handle. Hearing him call out her full name, she couldn’t bring herself to leave. Then, she turned to look at him.
As she turned, Nathan’s weak body suddenly lurched forward. He fell and lay on top of her.
Mila was pushed backward, her back hitting the doorframe, halting her movement. She quickly wrapped her arms around Nathan’s waist and held onto him tightly.
Nathan used all his strength to prop himself against the door. With Mila’s support, he finally regained his balance and managed to stand still. But much of his weight remained pressed against Mila.
Mila panicked all of a sudden. She was nervous as she held his waist tightly.
“Nate, what’s wrong?” she asked.
When he was sitting on the bed, he didn’t notice how weak he was. He was also unable to stand steadily.
Disregarding his frail body, Nathan breathed heavily. He still stood up even if he felt dizzy, yet unable to stop his desire to see her.
“Wanda,” Nathan said weakly. He was so weak that he didn’t have the strength to talk
“My… brother… Daniel, though betrayed… by his first love, he… still can’t give up… on that woman. So, he’s now… not doing well.”
Mila was very worried about his weak body as she held him. She had no time to worry about anything else. She said, “Nate, let me help you to bed.”
“Wanda,” Nathan murmured, “Do you understand what I mean?”
Liking Daniel would only result in getting hurt.
Mila was on the verge of tears. She was deeply worried and felt sorry for him.
She held onto him tightly, unwilling to let go of her hands, and said, “Nate, let me call Cole for help. I’m afraid I can’t support you on my own.”
Nathan braced against the door. His weight pressed against her soft body as he buried his head in her shoulder. He breathed in her sweet scent.
Her scent felt like spiritual nourishment, gradually awakening the strength within him. He murmured, “Chubs, let me lean on you for a moment. I’ll be able to walk back on my own later.
Mila remained silent but couldn’t help but gently touch his back. Her touch seemed to offer comfort and encouragement. They also felt more like affectionate caresses.
As she held him close, tears welled up in her eyes. It was then that she realized she was hopelessly in love with this man.
When Nathan was dragged out of the water dungeon, he was barely conscious. Mila thought he was dead. At that moment, she truly didn’t want to live anymore.
Then she realized that even without herself, there are still countless remarkable researchers in this world. They would keep improving without stopping.
But if Nathan died, she would be losing him forever.
When she was on the island, she had already decided to return to Norvania to serve her country. She also wanted to continue her relationship with him.
“But why? Why did you choose someone else now?” Mila lamented silently.
“Nate,” Mila’s voice was caught in her throat as she said, “Why did you follow me?”
Chapter 389
Chapter 389
“There’s something I need to explain to you,” Nathan said. His breath grew heavy as he spoke softly against her shoulder.
“What is it?” Mila asked.
“Fenna and I aren’t dating.”
Mila was stunned. She was at a loss for words. She had mixed feelings about it, and her houghts raced in all directions.
She was unsure whether to feel relieved, happy, angry, or annoyed. But she could feel Fenna’s hostility, and her tactics were a bit dirty.
As Mila’s emotions settled down, her hands around his waist tightened. “Nate, Fenna told me you two were together.”
That was why Nathan felt it necessary to explain. Regardless of whether she loved him or not, he wouldn’t let himself be in a helpless position.
As long as Mila remained unmarried and he was still single, he still had a chance.
“Yeah, Fenna mentioned it to me,” Nathan replied.
Fear lodged itself in Mila’s heart. If Nathan had never explained, she would’ve always misunderstood.
If the misunderstanding was cleared up, Fenna would simply be seen as helping a friend vent. Fenna had explained first so that Nathan wouldn’t blame her. So, women who could use such manipulative tactics with such righteousness still existed.
Mila felt she was no match for Fenna.
“Nate, did you chase after me just to explain this?” Mila asked softly, her breath brushing against his ear.
“Yeah,” Nathan replied.
Mila put on a faint smile and said, “Fenna probably didn’t expect that.”
“What didn’t she expect?” Nathan asked.
“Didn’t expect that you love…” Mila paused for a moment and continued slowly, “She didn’t expect you to explain this to me.”
Nathan braced his body and stood up straight, distancing himself from her. He gazed at Mila’s slightly flushed cheeks, eyes filled with emotion, and said, “I know you don’t care.”
“I do. I care a lot.” Mila wanted to explain, but she hesitated.
No, it wasn’t the time to express her feelings to Nathan. She wanted to resign from the Sunterland Research Institute and terminate the contract between them.
After she became a Norvanian citizen again, she would have the confidence to confess.
If Sunterland didn’t want to let her go and she couldn’t come back to work in Norvania, it
would be like giving him false hopes. It would only disappoint him again.
The blow would be too painful. She couldn’t bear to hurt Nathan like that.
Seeing Mila lost in thought, Nathan slowly turned and walked toward the bed, dragging his tired and weak féet.
Mila snapped out of her reverie and hurried over to support his arm.
Nathan glanced at her hand. Then, he looked at her face.
Mila put on a sweet smile as she said, “Let me help you.”
Nathan remained silent and allowed her to help him onto the bed.
Mila helped Nathan to lie on the bed. She covered him with the blanket and then pulled a chair to sit beside the bed.
She leaned over, her elbows resting on the bed and her hands supporting her chin. She smiled gently while fixing her gaze on him.
Nathan frowned slightly in confusion. He asked, “Aren’t you leaving?”
Mila blinked innocently as she thought of ways to deal with Fenna. She ignored his question and gently asked, “Nate, who’s taking care of you?”
Nathan closed his eyes as he was ready to rest. He replied, “Keith cooks, and the maid is in charge of cleaning the room and making tea. ”
“Wounds dressing, bathing, going to the bathroom, changing clothes, helping you with walking. Who helps you with that?” Mila asked.
“I’m a bit weak, but I’m not disabled.”
Mila gathered her courage and shyly said in a low voice, “Anyway, I’m not busy lately. I’ll stay and take care of you.
Nathan opened his eyes again. There was now a barely noticeable blush on his face.
Chapter 390
Chapter 390
The woman who couldn't wait to leave just a moment ago suddenly wanted to stay and take care of him, and with such intimacy.
Nathan smiled slightly. Curious, he asked, "What made you change your mind all of a sudden?"
Mila gently pursed her lips and wore a delightful smile. She thought it over for a moment and said, "Because you got injured saving me, so it's natural for me to take care of you."
Nathan chuckled as he gazed at her deeply.
Mila said in a playful tone, "In medieval times, when women wanted to repay their saviors, they would often offer themselves if they had nothing else to offer."
Nathan felt his body heat up, so he pulled his blanket down slightly. He said with a deep voice, "Are you also offering yourself?"
Mila nodded. Her demeanor was extremely serious as she said, "I'm offering myself."
Nathan's expression turned serious. He said, "Don't joke about this with me. I'll take it seriously."
"I'm not joking," Mila said solemnly.
Nathan closed his eyes again to rest.
Mila didn't say anything further. She pulled the blanket up a bit more to cover his neck.
Nathan pulled it down slowly, tucking it around his waist.
Upon seeing this, Mila frowned. She then pulled up the blanket again to cover him.
Nathan pulled it down again with his eyes tightly closed.
When Mila was about to pull the blanket again, Nathan suddenly grabbed her wrist. He quietly said with his eyes closed, "I'm hot."
Mila replied softly, "You're weak. Don't catch a cold."
Nathan sighed and let go of her hand, and Mila covered him with the blanket.
This time, he didn't move.
Mila sat in the room for a while. After seeing him sound asleep, she quietly left the room.
As the door closed, Nathan slowly opened his eyes. He felt disappointed as he stared at the door.
After the call ended, Cole walked in. He was slightly more polite this time. "Ms. Hoffis, are you leaving? Do you need me to drive you?" he asked.
Cole was taken aback.
Cole realized she was serious about it. He chuckled, "Of course. You can take care of General Morrison. With you caring for him, I'm sure he'll recover quickly."
"Then I'll get going," Cole said tactfully as he left. He would disappear even if he weren't busy at this time.
Mila immediately stood up. She blocked Keith's path and asked, "Is this Nate's dinner?"
"Give it to me," Mila said, reaching out to take the food.
Keith hesitated but ultimately placed the tray in Mila's hands.
She held the tray and turned. As she walked toward the stairs, she saw Fenna walking in with a thermos.
Their eyes met for a moment. They were both frozen in place.
Although their gaze appeared gentle, in reality, there were complex emotional fluctuations and unpredictable tension between them.
Fenna grinned as she walked over. She politely asked, "Ms. Hoffis, what brings you here?"
Mila replied in a gentle tone, "Nate got injured because of me. It's only right for me to be here, isn't it?"
Fenna pursed her lips and nodded. She then continued, "You're so thoughtful. Why don't you give that to me? I'll take care of his dinner."
Mila took a step back, about to refuse. However, Fenna had already snatched the tray from her hands.
"I made a pot of beef stew. Would you like to have some?" Fenna asked.