Ch. 481..490

Chapter 481

Eventually, Nathan released Mila's hand.

Mila felt a pang in her heart when she realized what it was like to be deeply loved by him. Regardless of his reluctance, he was willing to compromise for her sake.

She clung to Phoebe's arm as they walked away side by side.

When they were a short distance away, Phoebe couldn't help but look back. She saw Nathan standing in a warm yellow light under the falling snow. He stood motionless with his eyes fixed on Mila.

Unable to ignore him, Phoebe whispered, "Mila, General Morrison is still there.”

Mila replied with a hum but didn't turn around.

"I feel sorry for him sometimes,” Phoebe sighed.

"For what? Hasn't he got Fenna with him? You should feel sorry for me," Mila said with a bitter smile.

Phoebe wrapped her arm tightly around Mila's and rested her head on Milas shoulder. "You've still got me."

"Yes, I've got you—Phoebe, the beauty,” Mila replied with a smile. "Mila, I've been researching a little online. It's normal for the baby bump not to be very noticeable midway through pregnancy. It will grow considerably in the later stages and become more noticeable. So, keeping it hidden from General Morrison won't help.

"Why not find the right time to tell him the truth? We can go back to Phoenicia while you're expecting if you're worried about Fenna hurting the baby,” Phoebe suggested.

Mila sank into deep thought.

The next morning, Mila resumed her work in the research department. Jacob threw a pile of documents in her direction. His usual unpleasant demeanor remained, but his words were noticeably different. "Here are all our Team B projects. You can choose which one you want to join." Mila was surprised to hear him speak so differently.

“You've already reported to General Morrison. Why pretend otherwise?" Jacob sneered.

Mila gently pushed the documents aside and replied, “It's not necessary. I have my own research projects and focus. I don't have the energy for anything else now."

Jacob snorted and snatched up the documents. He looked at her from head to toe in disdain before muttering under his breath, "You really are a parasite who relies on connections to get in here."

Mila's expression went dark. She gritted her teeth and shot him a furious stare.

Jacob walked away with contempt.

Trying to calm herself, Mila took a deep breath and gently touched her stomach. She worked to contain her anger and to bear the humiliation she felt.

She had been busy all morning. Her colleagues remained in the dark about the nature of her research. All they knew was that she had made several trips to the restroom throughout the morning. She didn't look like someone focused on her work.

Hunger weakened Mila even before the afternoon. Phoebe arrived with some snacks to satisfy her hunger. The rest of the research department continued their work during the lunch break while Mila went to the cafeteria with Phoebe at her side.

As they entered the cafeteria, a figure rushed toward them and accidentally bumped into Mila. Mila was startled and stepped back in surprise.

Phoebe acted quickly. She wrapped her arm around Mila's waist and pulled her close.

However, the person carrying a lunchbox had already collided with Mila's arm. The lunch box fell to the ground and spilled its contents. Mila looked at the person who had bumped into her. She was still shaken.

The person turned out to be Fenna.

Phoebe was enraged and immediately yelled, "Are you blind? Can't you see where you're going?"

Fenna was unapologetic as she retorted, "I was in a hurry to get lunch for Nate. It was just an accident that I bumped into you. You're not hurt, so what's the big deal? You've ruined my lunch instead.”

"You bumped into someone, but you didn't even bother to apologize. And now you're acting like you didn't do anything wrong?" Phoebe demanded.

Fenna looked at Mila, who was shielding her stomach with both hands. Fenna couldn't help but frown. She had clearly bumped into Mila's arm, but Mila's first instinct was to protect her stomach.

Mila quickly dropped her hands when she saw the surprised look on Fenna's face.

"You're pregnant?" Fenna was shocked.

Chapter 482

Chapter 482

Mila was nervous and had no idea what to do, so she leaned against Phoebe.

Her strange behavior made Fenna even more suspicious. Without hesitation, Fenna reached out to touch Mila's stomach. Mila panicked and ducked.

Phoebe was enraged. She stepped in to protect Mila and stopped Fenna from going any further.

"What do you think you're doing? Are you insane?" Phoebe questioned. She pushed Fenna away, but Fenna kept trying to approach Mila. Fenna grew increasingly agitated as she demanded, “Is she pregnant or what? Just answer me!"

Fenna ignored the looks of the others. All she wanted to know was the truth. She hadn't been able to get rid of her worries since Cameron had helped Mila to get Nathan drunk.

Phoebe pushed Fenna away with all her might. Fenna staggered backward. Her expression turned sour as she stared at Mila's stomach while gritting her teeth.

Mila was wearing a loose coat that hid her stomach well, but Fenna could tell that Mila's movements weren't as nimble as usual. They were more like those of a pregnant woman.

There were a lot of other employees in the cafeteria, and the commotion attracted a crowd of people.

Female co-workers who had gone through childbirth began to watch Mila closely. Most people wouldn't have paid much attention to her if no one had mentioned the pregnancy.

Phoebe found Fenna's behavior extremely irritating. She was livid. She pointed at Fenna and shouted, "You are completely insane! Why do you care whether someone is pregnant or not? It's none of your concern!"

Mila gently tugged at Phoebe's sleeve, quietly urging her not to say anything that might aggravate the situation.

Understanding Milas signal, Phoebe took Mila's hand and led her outside. "Mila, go back to your dorm and get some rest. I'll bring you the food later.”

Mila nodded sullenly. The two of them drew curious glances from the onlookers as they left.

Fenna clenched her fists. Her gaze was more intense than anyone else's. Her suspicions grew even though Mila hadn't admitted anything. She even heard snippets of conversation between female colleagues. “I have a feeling she might be pregnant. She must be pretty far along in her pregnancy, judging by her waist and the way she moves."

"But we haven't seen a baby bump yet, have we?"

“You're missing the point. Some women don't show much when they're pregnant, especially if they're already slender. And if she wore a coat, it would only hide it more."

"She was still single, wasn't she? Whose baby might it be?"

"Who knows?"

Employees began to trickle out as the meeting ended on the top floor of the office building. Nathan leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. He looked exhausted from a sleepless night.

After Cole finished putting the documents away, he stood a short distance away. He didn't want to disturb Nathan's moment of rest. “Nate.” Fenna's urgent voice came from outside. She rushed in, looking flustered. "You're still here in the conference room."

Rubbing his temples, Nathan slowly opened his eyes and asked, "What's going on?"

"Wanda's four months pregnant at most. The baby isn't yours, is it?" Fenna asked.

Nathan stared at her in shock as her words hit him like a ton of bricks. Fenna's face turned grave. She anxiously took out her phone and pulled up a picture of a six-month-pregnant woman to show him.

“This is what a six-month pregnant belly should look like. You've seemed so worried and depressed lately. Is it because Wanda's baby isn't yours?" she asked.

Cole was taken aback, his mouth hanging open. "Ms. Hoffis is pregnant?"

Fenna didn't answer him. She had her eyes on Nathan in anticipation of his answer.

Nathan's face went pale, and he remained silent.

Chapter 483

Chapter 483

“Nate, please say something," Fenna demanded impatiently.

Nathan snapped back into reality. He dropped his head and took a deep breath, trying to release the tension in his chest.

Fenna's tone softened, and she sounded genuinely concerned when she added, "I promised to stop interfering in your romantic affairs, but we're not just working together.

"We've been friends for more than ten years. I can't stand by while you're in trouble without helping you."

Confused, Cole interjected, "Ms. Hudson, what does Wanda's pregnancy have to do with General Morrison?"

"Given the timing of her pregnancy, the baby is not Nate's. And yet, she's still trying to get him involved in this. She must have an ulterior motive," Fenna explained.

"Are you saying Ms. Hoffis plans to claim General Morrison as the father?" Cole asked in a shocked tone.

Fenna leaned closer to Nathan with her hands on the table. "Come on, Nate. Say something!"

With a stoic expression, Nathan rose from his seat and made his way to the door.

Fenna and Cole hurried to follow him. They assumed he was going to find Mila. To their surprise, he returned to his office and locked the door. His actions made them wonder about his intentions and thoughts.

The military base was like a close-knit community, and news of Mila's pregnancy spread like wildfire.

The people in the camp were speculating and gossiping about it. Opinions varied widely, and there were multiple interpretations of the story.

Some believed the baby was Nathan's. Others spread rumors that Mila had been gone for six months, and her pregnancy didn't seem to fit that timeline, suggesting that the baby might be someone else's.

The story became more and more embellished as it circulated. Eventually, outsiders were discussing it as if it were an undeniable truth, even though those involved remained silent. The situation continued to simmer for the next two weeks.

Through it all, Nathan never contacted Mila. He continued to work as usual, though he seemed more preoccupied.

As Fenna watched Nathan's reaction, she became more and more convinced that Wanda was pregnant and Nathan wasn't the baby's father.

In time, Fenna's worries began to subside. She even felt a twinge of excitement.

She instructed Mila's superiors to take good care of her and to make sure that she didn't put too much strain on herself.

As dusk fell, the air turned unexpectedly chilly, but the heat inside the room kept it comfortably warm.

Dressed in a thin black short-sleeved shirt, Nathan completed 300 push-ups. His body glistened with sweat as he continued with the squats.

His workout was interrupted by a knock on the door. He wiped the sweat from his face with a towel before making his way to the door. As the door swung open, a rush of cold air swept in.

Nathan froze for a moment as he stared intently at Mila. Whether it was from his recent workout or from the fact that Mila was approaching him willingly, his heart was racing, and his breath was catching.

Mila was wrapped in layers of thick clothing. A scarf covered the lower part of her face, and a bulky hat hid most of her features, leaving only her large eyes to be seen.

They held each other's gaze for a moment in silence.

“It's pretty cold out here." Mila broke the silence. She couldn't stand the cold any longer.

Nathan held the door open and stepped back to let her in. Mila immediately felt the warmth enveloping her as the door closed behind her.

Guilt tore at Mila's conscience. She had told Nathan previously that they shouldn't meet in private or talk about their feelings. He had respected her wishes, yet here she was, getting in touch again.

"Have a seat." Nathan's soft voice came from behind her.

Mila snapped out of her thoughts and made her way to the couch. Meanwhile, Nathan went over to the cupboard and took out a carton of milk. He cut a small opening and poured the milk into a glass, which he then placed in a pot of hot water to warm it up.

He stood by the milk with his back to Mila.

Chapter 484

Chapter 484

Nathan seemed to be warming the milk, but he was actually trying to calm himself. Mila's presence had been unsettling to him.

After sitting down, Mila removed her scarf and gloves before surveying the room. She found that nothing had changed.

The room remained spacious, simple, and organized. It perfectly reflected Nathan's straightforward and tidy personality.

Nathan went over to Mila with the glass of milk and offered it to her. Mila looked up at him and slowly accepted it. "Thank you."

Nathan felt a sudden sting of pain when he touched her cold fingertips. She wasn't warm enough even though she was bundled up.

He sat across from her and watched her calmly. Mila felt a little uncomfortable under his gaze. She took a sip of the warm milk to ease her discomfort.

The room fell silent, and there was tension in the air.

Mila held the glass nervously and looked into Nathan's quiet eyes. "Everyone's been talking about it lately, even Cole knows. Why didn't you ask me about it?"

Bitterness crept up inside Nathan. He sighed before asking, "What exactly do you want me to ask?"

Overcome by guilt, Mila dropped her head.

"Shouldn't the baby's mother be the one to inform me that I have a baby?" Nathan asked.

“I'm sorry,” Mila murmured.

Nathan's eyes welled up slightly at her apology, but he brushed it off. "Since you didn't want me to know, that suggests you don't want me to take responsibility for it. So, why should I go against your will?" "Everyone says the child is not yours." Mila's heart sank.

"I never doubted that."

A wave of warmth washed over Mila's heart and her sense of guilt was on the rise. She was deeply sorry for Nathan, but she couldn't suppress her anger about why he couldn't stay away from Fenna.

During the time of her memory loss, she had already been through the complex entanglement between her husband and her husband's admirer. It was unbearable to live in a constant state of doubt, fear, and suspicion.

Mila still remembered how bitter that had made her feel. Even now, the mere thought of it was enough to make her heart ache.

She took another sip of the milk, then pursed her lips before saying, "The baby is more than six months along now. It's because of the baby that I was able to return from Sunterland, not because I betrayed Sunterland and escaped.”

Nathan clenched his fists, his voice trembling as he asked, "Are you not going to let me be the baby's father?"

"You already are.”

"The baby is in your womb. I'm nothing without your permission,” Nathan said in a self-deprecating tone.

Mila thought for a moment before she said, "Fenna must have had the wrong idea. She assumed the baby wasn't yours because she thought I was only four months pregnant.”

"Why bring her up? What does she have to do with the baby?"

"She loves you very much, so I didn't want her to know that the baby was yours. I kept it from you all this time because I was afraid for the baby's safety.”

"Fenna’s not that kind of person.” Nathan frowned in response.

His words jolted Mila into clarity and instantly dispelled her guilt. She took a deep breath and said nonchalantly, "Fine, I was letting myself get clouded by what I suspected. I thought too badly of her."

"You've come to tell me that even though the baby is mine, it has nothing to do with me, right?" Nathan asked sorrowfully.

Mila shook her head and looked at him heavy-heartedly. Despite their calm conversation, she could see tears in his eyes. He was obviously deeply hurt, but he held himself together.

“I was going to wait until after the baby was born to tell you that it was yours and to get married to you," Mila explained.

After setting the glass down on the coffee table, she gathered her courage and continued, "Since I can't keep it hidden any longer, let's get married, Nate."

Chapter 485

Chapter 485

Nathan was in a daze. He slumped forward with his elbows on his knees and his hands covering his face. He took deep breaths in an attempt to calm the storm of emotions inside him.

After a few moments, he lifted his head to look at Mila with reddened eyes.

He asked bitterly, "Wanda Hoffis, what do you think of me? You treat me like a convenience. You reach out to me when you need me and shut me out when you don't.

"And now, you're telling me that you want to marry me. Do you really think I, Nathan Morrison, am only meant to marry you?"

His words of lament weighed heavily on Mila's heart. She felt a deep sadness that seemed to affect even the baby in her womb. It began to kick violently.

“I'm sorry,” Mila apologized sincerely.

She stood up, put on her scarf and gloves, and added, "I didn't give it enough thought. I'm sorry to have bothered you."

She stepped out the door, leaving Nathan alone on the couch. His eyes were dull and hollow, and his face was marked with sorrow. His desire was never to marry and have children but to win her heart.

After the door closed, Nathan slumped weakly against the couch. He tipped his head back, closed his eyes, and covered them with his hands.

A few seconds later, he jumped to his feet. After running to the closet, he grabbed a coat and put it on. Then, he grabbed another coat before hurrying out the door.

The street was bitterly cold and eerily quiet. It seemed like a deserted town. The street lamps cast a warm yellow glow down onto the ground. The night air was frigid even though there was no snow.

Mila felt a heavy sense of gloom as she walked under the streetlights. She deeply regretted what she had done.

Things might have turned out differently if she hadn't been so wrapped up in her worries and had gone straight to Nathan after her return to Norvania.

She knew that a man as remarkable as Nathan surely had many options and wasn't destined to marry her. She placed her hands on her stomach and looked up at the sky with a heavy sigh.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she silently apologized to her baby for losing its father.

Suddenly, Mila heard the sound of footsteps steadily approaching. When she turned, someone draped a cloak over her shoulders from behind. She was startled momentarily but was relieved to see that it was Nathan.

“I'm almost at the dorm. You don't have to walk me," Mila said. She lowered her head to hide her tears.

"Come on. Let me walk you," Nathan replied gently.

Mila remained silent. Nathan's thick, oversized coat felt like a warm and comforting embrace to her, making her seem even smaller underneath it.

They walked together in silence toward the farthest dormitory building. Ten minutes later, they arrived at the front door of Mila's dorm. Mila took the coat off and handed it back to Nathan. "Thank you."

Nathan took the coat and regarded her with a pensive, solemn expression.

Mila entered the dorm and glanced back at him with a soft smile. "Good night."

Just as she was about to shut the door, Nathan stopped her. Mila reopened the door. She was perplexed by his action and his intense gaze.

"There's a flight to Phoenicia tomorrow at 6:00 am. Come with me to register the marriage.” Nathan's tone was firm.

Mila was taken aback and responded weakly, “Isn't that too sudden?" "Are you going to marry me or not?" Nathan asked solemnly.

Mila nodded. "Yes."

Chapter 486

Chapter 486

Mila woke up at 6:00 am before the sun rose. Even though she was still sleepy, she freshened up and got ready to leave.

When she opened the door, she found Nathan waiting outside. He was dressed for the occasion, wearing a sharp black suit that made him look more elegant than usual.

"Good morning,” Nathan greeted her warmly.

Mila looked down at her coat and felt that she wasn't as well dressed as he was. "Shall I change my outfit, General Morrison?"

"It's okay," Nathan reassured her.

He held her hand as they left. He didn't let go of her hand the whole way, as if he was afraid that she was going to change her mind. He held her hand on the plane and even after their landing.

They arrived at City Hall, where they were given priority registration because it was a military wedding. They quickly completed the paperwork. Mila was still half asleep when they finally got the marriage certificate.

The soft light of dawn enveloped them as they walked out of City Hall. Nathan held out his hand to Mila and said, "I'll hold this for you."

"Why should you hold mine when we both have our marriage certificates? I don't want that,” Mila replied. She didn't want the hassle of asking for it every time she wanted to see it.

Nathan didn't answer. He put the certificate away, took her hand, and led her to their car.

"General Morrison, where are we headed?" Mila asked curiously. Nathan stopped in his tracks and turned to her. “Is this marriage certificate a fake?"

"Of course, not," Mila replied.

Although slightly annoyed, Nathan asked gently, “Then why are you calling your husband “General Morrison'?"

Mila thought for a moment, then slowly walked over and stood before Nathan. She reached for his other hand before looking up at him. "Can we keep our marriage secret for some time?" she asked. "I don't want anyone, especially Fenna, to know we're married.”

Nathan's expression went dark. "Fenna may have feelings for me, but she's not the kind of person you think she is. She would never do anything to hurt you or the baby.”

“I know Fenna isn't a bad person, but she loves you deeply and is almost obsessed with you. She's willing to sacrifice everything for you, even her career. There's no guarantee she wouldn't do something drastic.”

"Wanda—" Nathan started, but Mila cut him off.

"Can't you trust a woman's intuition?"

“I don't want to keep our marriage a secret. I'll arrange a big wedding," Nathan said firmly.

Mila held the marriage certificate before him. "We've both got certificates. Are you afraid that I'll run away?"

“You've run away before," Nathan shot back.

Mila was infuriated by his words and felt a tightening in her stomach. Her eyebrows furrowed in unease as she clutched her stomach and took a sharp breath.

In a panic, Nathan quickly supported Mila's waist while gently stroking her stomach. "What's wrong? Does your stomach hurt?"

Mila nodded in response.

Without hesitation, Nathan scooped her up and hurried to the car. Mila was caught off guard. She clung to his neck with both hands and asked, "What are you doing?"

"We're going to the hospital,” Nathan said. His face was filled with concern.

"No, no, no, put me down. I'm fine," Mila reassured him, finding his reaction amusing.

She patted his shoulder and insisted, “Just let me down! This is normal. The baby's movements can be painful, as can Braxton Hicks contractions, but itll pass.”

Nathan paused by the car door and breathed hard. Concern was written all over his face as he looked at her.

Mila sighed and smiled at him. When her eyes fell on his forehead, she noticed beads of sweat on it. The sight was a tug at her heartstrings. She wiped the sweat away and realized how anxious he must have been to be sweating in such cold weather like this.

"Nathan, I'm perfectly all right.”

Nathan gently lowered her to the ground and looked at her with tenderness in his eyes. “I promise to keep our marriage a secret, but please don't call me General Morrison anymore."

 

Chapter 487

Chapter 487

Mila nestled into Nathan's chest, looked up at him, and whispered, “I'll call you General Morrison when we're on the military base, but when we're alone, I'll call you Nate, okay?"

Nathan held her waist and looked down at her. He was mesmerized by her tender gaze and sweet voice. "Alright," he agreed.

Mila smiled at him and asked, "So, where are we going now? Back to the base?"

"We're going back to Sudvilla,” Nathan replied.

"We're going back to the base tomorrow?" Mila asked.

"Aren“t we supposed to get a honeymoon period after we get married?" "Aren“t you swamped by work?"

“I don't have to do it all myself. I have assistants," Nathan said.

"But I'm very busy,” Mila teased.

"You're not," Nathan replied with a grin.

"Are you spying on my work?"

Nathan gently caressed the back of her head, his expression serious as he said, "Wanda, I have only one request of you."

"What is it?" Mila asked.

Nathan's eyes bored into hers as he said solemnly, "Promise me that you'll never betray me."

Mila nodded. She met his eyes with sincerity as she vowed, "I'll never betray you. If I do, I—"

Nathan interrupted her with a kiss. He only needed to hear her promise. Mila's eyes widened in surprise and she pressed her hands to his chest. His tongue slid slowly between her lips.

Mila quickly pushed him away and pulled away. Pressing her lips together, she asked shyly, "What are you doing? We're in the middie of the street. It's indecent to kiss in public.”

Nathan smiled as he took Mila's hand and opened the car door for her to get into the passenger seat. Once Mila was seated, Nathan leaned over to fasten her seatbelt, but she protested, “I can do it myself." With her seatbelt fastened, Nathan rested one hand on the passenger seat while gazing at Mila's flushed cheeks and rosy lips. Unable to resist the temptation, he leaned forward and gave her another peck on the lips.

Mila sighed and asked in a displeased tone, "Nate, what are you doing?"

"Aren't we allowed to kiss each other?" Nathan teased with a grin. "There are people everywhere. You should watch what you're doing, especially since our marriage is still a secret,” Mila muttered.

“I'm just helping you keep it a secret from the people you want to keep it from, not my family,” Nathan countered.

"Then, how is it a secret at all?" Mila shot back.

With a satisfied grin, Nathan stroked her hair lovingly before closing the car door.

Mila watched him smile. She had known him for a long time, and today was the day when he smiled the most and the brightest of all.

Nathan got into the car, started the engine, and drove away. Mila thought they were going back to Sudvilla. Instead, they ended up at the Morrison residence.

Gary and Florence were the only ones at home. They were sitting on the couch and looking at the marriage certificate. They were full of excitement and couldn't seem to stop smiling.

Florence looked at Mila with a twinkle in her eye and said, "Wanda, it's great to see you two getting married again! You have no idea how I feared Nathan would be single forever since you left Norvania six months ago."

"Exactly. Florence has been so worried about him that she hasn't been able to eat or sleep properly,” Gary chimed in.

Mila wasn't sure how to respond, so she simply offered a smile. She glanced discreetly at Nathan and noticed how calm he was. There was even a glow of happiness on his face.

"Now, I can finally sleep well and have sweet dreams,” Florence said with a warm smile. "You two should cherish, respect, and love each other forever. It would be wonderful if you could have a child together.”

Chapter 488

Chapter 488

"Mom, Wanda's expecting,” Nathan said joyfully.

Gary and Florence looked at Mila's stomach in surprise. Their surprise was quickly replaced by delight. "Expecting? Already?"

Mila nodded shyly. "I've been pregnant for over six months."

Florence was over the moon. She eagerly walked over to Mila, took her by the arm, and leaned down to look at her stomach.

"Oh dear, you've been pregnant for half a year. I've been worried sick about you and Nate for the last six months, and it turns out that the two of you had it all planned out. Why haven't you told me?"

“I'm sorry, Florence, I—" Mila started.

Florence cut her off. "No, no. There's no need to be sorry. You'll stay here from now on and I'll take care of you. I'm worried about you staying with Nate. Whatever your appetite is, tell me and I'll make it for you."

"Mom, I can take care of her. You don't have to worry,” Nathan chimed in.

Florence frowned at him. "You're a man, and you've never had a child. How are you going to take care of her? Wanda will be staying here. You can just go on with your work as usual. I promise to keep your wife well-fed and healthy."

"Yes, Nate, listen to your mom," Gary added determinedly.

Nathan sighed softly. "No."

“I may be able to agree with you on other matters, but not on this one," Florence said earnestly. “I can't imagine her living alone in Sudvilla, and I certainly won't allow you to take her to the frontier.”

"Mom..." Nathan looked somber as he immediately regretted telling Gary and Florence the news that Mila was pregnant.

Mila didn't want to stay at the Morrison residence, especially not with Layla around.

Layla once loved Nathan, and a marriage of convenience was planned between the two. However, Nathan stubbornly refused to marry her, so Duke stepped in and married Layla instead.

Layla had never liked Mila, and now that she was pregnant, it was even more inconvenient for her to stay at the Morrison residence. Besides, she wanted to be with Nathan.

"Florence, I want to be with Nate. I'll follow him anywhere," Mila said softly.

Nathan was surprised. A flicker of excitement flashed through his eyes as he stared at Mila. Meanwhile, Florence and Gary changed their minds quickly. They both smiled and agreed.

"All right, we'll support your decision. If you want to be with Nate, then be with him. Let me know if he can't take care of you. I'll take care of you myself," Florence said.

Mila nodded with a smile.

Gary looked at Nathan with a solemn expression as he said, "You better take care of Wanda and the baby. I won't let you off the hook if anything goes wrong."

Nathan nodded, feeling somewhat helpless.

After lunch at the Morrison residence, Nathan held Mila’s hand and led her to the maple forest.

"Are we going to visit Daniel?" Mila asked.

Nathan replied with a hum.

"How's he doing now?" Mila asked.

“You'll be seeing him soon. Have a look yourself.”

Mila looked at him and saw that his face had gone dark as if he were angry. She tried to remember if she had said something wrong at lunch while following him to Maple Abode. Whenever Mila came here, the beautiful surroundings enchanted her and lifted her spirits.

After ringing the doorbell, Sienna opened the door. At the sight of Mila, she was so overcome with emotion that she had tears in her eyes.

She rushed out and hugged Mila. "Wanda, it's been so long since we've seen one another. You're finally back.”

"Sienna, it's been a while." Mila gently patted Sienna's back.

Chapter 489

Chapter 489

After letting go of Mila, Sienna took her hand and led her into the house. "Come in and have a seat.”

Mila entered the living room and looked around. "Where's Daniel?" "Daniel? He's in the gym." Sienna pointed at another room.

Mila hurried over with Nathan close behind. After knocking on the door, Daniel's deep voice came through. "Come in."

Mila pushed the door open and saw Daniel, looking muscular and handsome.

She felt a surge of excitement. The Daniel she remembered as weak and hopeless, who had lost his desire to live, was nowhere to be seen. He had found his strength again. He appeared even more robust and vibrant than when Mila had last seen him in the drug den. His attractive face now radiated with life.

"Daniel, it's me, Wanda." Mila's voice trembled with emotion as she slowly approached him.

Even though Daniel couldn't see, his legs had regained strength through acupuncture, physiotherapy, and regular exercise.

"Wanda?" Daniel's face lit up with a smile. He put down the dumbbell he was holding and felt his way to Mila.

Mila hurried over to help him.

Daniels reached out his hand and patted Mila's head. "It's been a long time. You haven't grown any taller," he teased.

“I'm almost 26. How could I have gotten any taller?" Mila laughed with tears in her eyes.

Feeling jealous, Nathan stepped forward and pulled Daniel's hands away from Mila. He called out, "Daniel."

"Hey, Nate, you're here, too?" Daniel exclaimed cheerfully.

"Yes, Wanda and I got married,” Nathan said. He looked at Mila, wondering how she would react. Her gaze remained soft, and the tears in her eyes shimmering as she looked at Daniel.

Daniel patted Nathan's shoulder and grinned. "Congratulations, Nate, your dreams came true."

Sienna entered the room, surprised by Nathan's words. "Wanda, you're married?"

Mila nodded shyly.

Sienna gently took Mila's arm and suggested, "Let's step outside and chat."

Nathan tried to help Daniel, but Daniel quickly brushed him off. “I'm fine. I can manage on my own."

Sienna turned and remarked, "General Morrison, he doesn't need your help. He's capable of anything, even flying. He's tougher than you realize.”

Mila couldn't help but giggle. She whispered, “Are you and Daniel still not getting along?"

Sienna nodded.

As everyone settled on the couch, Daniel asked, "Sienna, do you ever feel like money comes too easily and you've lost interest in work?" Sienna retorted defiantly, “Absolutely not. I'm simply tasked with keeping an eye on you all day, and your parents pay me for it. Quite convenient, don't you think?"

Mila wondered why Sienna was jabbing Daniel with her words. Everything became clear as soon as she heard what Daniel said next. "My guide dog will be here in a few days, and then you can leave me

alone.”

"Are you sure you can manage on your own?" Sienna taunted.

“I've adapted to living without sight. I can take care of myself. I don't need your help.”

“You'd better think twice. You're completely helpless without me,” Sienna intentionally provoked.

Daniel's expression turned dark. He stood up and lunged at Sienna. Nathan pulled Mila into his arms and adeptly turned around to shield her. He was worried that Daniel might accidentally harm her.

Mila was startled by the sudden twist of events. She held her breath, her gaze fixed on Nathan as he protected her. Her heart beat fast, and a feeling of security came over her as it always did with Nathan by her side.

Chapter 490

Chapter 490

Sienna leaped off the couch as soon as she noticed Daniel sprinting toward her.

"What else can you do besides chasing me, loser?" she asked. "You can't catch me, but you won't admit you're a loser. Why are you being so annoying?"

"Sienna, I'm kicking you out if I catch you,” Daniel warned as he moved around confidently. Even though he didn't run into any obstacles, he still couldn't catch Sienna.

"Talk to me when you actually catch me. Then we'll see if you can kick me out.”

“You're toast. I'll hang you on the maple tree until you're dried up." "Sure," Sienna called out with a laugh. “Come on, loser.”

Nathan and Mila exchanged glances. He took her hand and suggested, "Let's go."

Mila watched them chase each other down the hallway. It was like a blind eagle trying to catch a playful and nimble chick.

"We don't have to worry about them,” Nathan reassured.

Hand in hand, Mila followed Nathan out of the house as they strolled along the path in the maple forest.

“Daniel's recovering remarkably fast, all thanks to Sienna. But why is he still treating her badly?" Mila sighed.

"Is he?" Nathan asked.

"He says that he wants to kick Sienna out and leave her hanging until she dries out. It's scary just to think about it."

Nathan couldn't help but laugh. He gently ran his fingers through her hair and said, "What's on your mind? Daniel could have caught Sienna in less than a minute if he truly wanted to. She wouldn't even have a chance to run around.”

"But he can't see, so how is he going to catch her?" Mila asked.

"He may not have his sight, but he can hear. With a direct lunge, he can catch her within six and a half feet. You should remember who Daniel used to be.

"Even when he couldn't see and had to rely only on his hearing, he could easily catch the toughest criminals. And Sienna is just a woman, after all," Nathan patiently explained.

“Then why is he still fooling around with Sienna?" Mila asked curiously. She pressed her lips together and thought for a moment before adding, "They fight like cats and dogs every day. It's not fun at all.”

"Are you jealous?" Nathan asked, sounding envious as he looked at her.

Mila stopped in her tracks, causing Nathan to stop as well. He asked, "What's wrong?"

"What makes you think that I'm jealous of Sienna? Is there some sort of misunderstanding about me?" Mila found it amusing.

Nathan's heart grew heavy. After a brief pause, he asked, "Do you love Daniel?"

“I do,” Mila answered decisively. "I have loved him ever since we were children, just as much as I have loved you."

Nathan smiled ruefully and sighed heavily. He took her hand and said, “I don't want to hear about it. Let's go back."

Mila refused to budge. She stood her ground and stared at the somber look on his face. She knew that Nathan had taken this to heart and misinterpreted it badly.

"My feelings for him were like those for a brother, not romantic love between a couple. Why are you always jealous of Daniel?"

Nathan struggled to control his anger while walking ahead. Yet, after a few steps, he returned and reached for Mila's hand. "I don't want to talk about this. Let's go."

"Why?" Mila shoved his hand away once more. Her cheeks puffed out as she looked at him unhappily.

Nathan took a deep breath. He placed one hand on his waist, the other on his throbbing forehead. Jealousy seemed to consume him.

“I know what you're going to say—that you care for me like a brother. We could get married, be together, even have kids, but there's no love between us."

Mila felt a twinge of sadness. “Nate, why do you feel this way?" Nathan looked down at the scattered maple leaves on the ground, taking a long moment before meeting her gaze. A sense of loneliness and melancholy filled his eyes.

"Wasn't that how you were when you lost your memory? You agreed to marry me according to Grandma's wishes because you found me trustworthy and thought you could trust me with your life."