Chapter 16

Julian touched Diana’s hands, realizing that they were hot. He instructed all the maids to leave and then personally got a pot of freshly boiled water. He soaked some towels in it. The water was scalding hot. When he placed his hands in it, he wanted to jump a few times from the sheer heat. He swirled the towels around the water, let them soak again, and then fished them out with great difficulty. After that, he squeezed the water out of them. His hands quickly turned red. Yet, he still insisted on sponging Diana over and over again. “Why aren’t you acting cold to me today? Why didn’t you cook soup for Noel and the rest?” “Hmph! You’re not going to make soup for me anymore, are you? You even spent so much money on an entire boutique yesterday. Did you think I wouldn’t know about it?” “You heartless little thing!” So noisy… To Diana, it seemed there was a fly buzzing incessantly beside her ears. She wanted to raise her hand to swat it away, but she didn’t have any strength. She could only keep wriggling on her bed as a way to express her dissatisfaction. “Stay still!” Julian was frightened by her movements. He was afraid she would feel the freezing wind if her blanket fell off, as that would only worsen her cold. Alas, she could not hear what he was saying. Diana continued writhing as she mumbled something. Her jet-black hair spread out on the royal blue sheets, reflecting her skin that was as fair and white as snow. Her small red face was like a full red peach at this moment. How much did he love her to still have such a physical reaction to her? Julian glanced at his hands, which were scalded, and then threw the towels away before placing his hands inside Diana’s blanket. He found her butt and smacked it hard. “This is punishment for your disobedience!” The trick really worked. Diana stopped moving and mumbling. She continued to lie there quietly, like a child who had just been reprimanded. When Julian saw that Diana was no longer seducing him with her actions, he was satisfied and slowly wiped her body for a few more times. He could feel her body temperature gradually dropping. He was no longer worried and sat by the side of the bed as he waited for Vans to arrive. “She must’ve caught a cold when she went through all the trouble to accompany Nina to the hospital last night,” Vans said to Julian after checking Diana’s body. “But you took good care of her, and her fever’s slowly breaking, so there’s no need for her to take any medication.” He took a box of cotton swabs and threw them at Julian. “Remember to use this to dab her lips more often to prevent them from getting chapped.” “Don’t you need to draw her blood for a test?” “No need.” At that moment, Vans wanted nothing more than to bring a mirror to show Julian how much the latter’s appearance did not conform to his status as the resolute and decisive chairman of Fulcher Inc. His haggard look and posture clearly belonged to a man who was deeply worried about his girlfriend. “Why did you have to bypass the family doctor and call me if you don’t trust me?” Attacked by Vans’ sharp retort, Julian responded casually, “Your medical skills are better.” Vans was speechless. He muttered, “She just has a common cold and fever, bro.” “Isn’t it Nina’s fault?” Julian shot back. Vans did not say anything this time. Julian finally won the argument and started to settle the old scores after taking the cotton swabs from Vans. “So, why did you lie to me last night?” Vans remained unperturbed. He took the medical kit he had brought with him and replied to Julian with a question of his own. “Tell me this: were you nervous when you received my call last night?” Of course he was! “Well, Diana’s just human.” Vans was speechless. He stared at Julian and mumbled, “You’re hopeless.” “What do you mean?” Julian refused to let Vans leave. “Aren’t I right? A stomach ache can kill, and so can fevers! Many major illnesses start from minor symptoms, don’t they?” “You can pretend I didn’t say anything if you want to continue deceiving yourself.” Vans raised his hands in surrender. “But I can guarantee that you’ll definitely regret it if you divorce Diana.” Vans refused to see his good friend become miserable. “Kayla… really isn’t the one for you.” “Vans Stanley!” Julian’s expression changed instantly, replaced with a cold and stern look. He could allow Vans to joke around, but it didn’t mean Vans could speak indiscriminately. “You know full well what Kayla means to me! Without her, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.” His sharp jawline was even more pronounced as he growled, “Kayla is the one I chose from the beginning. I don’t want to hear such words coming from you again.” “Okay.” Vans curled his lip. “I won’t mention Kayla anymore, but what about Diana? Have you ever thought about how she’d feel if she found out that your marriage to her only started because you were angry with Kayla, and that it’s ending because you feel bad for Kayla? Diana was just cannon fodder to be a substitute for Kayla. Have you ever thought about her feelings?! Besides, because of the Winnington family, things between Kayla and Diana were complicated from the start…” “Why are you suddenly so interested in Diana?” Julian had a dark look in his eyes; his glare carried a strong sense of oppression. Vans stared blankly, not knowing what to say. He didn’t want to concern himself with Julian anymore. “Anyway, just don’t regret it.” Vans picked up his own medical kit and left Fulcher Mansion. “Unbelievable.” Julian thought for a moment and then reached out to pat Diana’s butt. “Who told you to flirt with everyone you meet? Even Vans is terribly worried about you.” Diana continued sleeping, though she did feel as if a whip was hitting her. She clenched her teeth angrily and tried to grab the whip tightly, but she still couldn’t lift her hand. She felt so heavy… Her whole body felt so heavy, as if water was pressing down on her. She could hardly breathe. She tried hard to open her eyes. After much struggle, she could finally open her eyes a little. She spotted Julian sitting on the edge of the bed. “Uncomfor…” Before she could even finish saying the word ‘uncomfortable’, Julian’s phone suddenly rang. It was his personal phone. Only Diana could call him on that phone in the past, but it seemed there was another who could do so now. Diana didn’t need to think about it to know who the other party was. Sure enough, Julian’s glaring eyes and sullen expression suddenly became gentle. Diana felt so tired after looking at him even for just a few seconds, but her nose seemed to be blocked and every breath that she took was torture. She also felt a burning pain on her butt. Her whole body was in great discomfort. She knew she must be sick, but as she was pregnant now, she didn’t dare to act carelessly. She could only open her eyes again with much difficulty, wanting to speak to Julian and ask him to call for a doctor for her. “You’ve just recovered, so how can you eat so much cold food?!” Julian was furious as he spoke over the phone. He grabbed his coat to head outside. “Wait a little longer! I’ll be right there.” That woman must be sick too… Even so, Diana really needed him now. She tried her best to raise her leaden arms. “Julian…” She cried out and pleaded with all her strength. “Please… Please don’t go…” Their baby needed him. Alas, Julian only spared her a gentle glance before walking out determinedly. Tears slid down Diana’s cheeks. She watched as Julian disappeared little by little, and an unknown fear and anger attacked her. Time passed, and she fell into a trance when she heard the sound of the door opening. Julian seemed to have returned to her side… She finally fell asleep in peace. When she woke up again, her surroundings were all white. This was a hospital. Julian’s hand was on top of her lower belly, where her baby was. Diana was slightly startled when she felt the strength of Julian’s fingertips. Her body suddenly tensed up as she subconsciously tried to shrink backward to hide her pregnant belly. Unfortunately, Julian quickly pulled her back. He looked so condescending! He stared at her with cold indifference as if he had been staring at her for a long time; so much so that he wanted to carve a hole out of her body. Gradually, his fingertips landed exactly on top of her lower belly, and he pressed heavily with increasing force. Diana felt severe pain in her pregnant belly, and the world around her spun. Diana looked at him in horror. However, Julian cut her off before she could say anything. He looked at her with certainty, his gaze stern as he said, “Diana, you’re pregnant.” It seemed everything was already arranged. With a wave of his hand, a large number of doctors came in and immediately surrounded her. The dangerous atmosphere descended and panic flooded in like a tidal wave. Diana even forgot to refute, left only with the instinct to survive. She yelled at him in horror as she explained anxiously, “Julian! Julian, this is our child! This is our precious child…” “Shut up!” A look of disgust appeared on Julian’s face, and his brows were knitted tightly together. He frowned and gave an ultimatum to the doctor and Diana at the same time with utmost coldness, as if he were the grim reaper. At the same time, he placed his fingers on her lower abdomen and pressed down hard, announcing, “This child must die!”