Chapter 422: What’s Wrong, You Want To Get Married?
"Mummy, why are you in the hospital?" Leah had initially stopped crying, but seeing Wendy’s pale face, she couldn’t hold in her tears and she choked out, "Did you stay up late when you were on your business trip? Mummy, you got to learn to take care of your body, especially when you’re working. Didn’t you tell us that our health is the most important thing? Why aren’t you treating yourself right?"
When Leah is preaching, her sentences were legit.
In the past, Wendy was a workaholic and there were even several times when she had fainted due to work.
"With such heavy eye bags, Mummy isn’t pretty anymore." Leah reached out to touch Wendy’s face. She used her tiny fingers to poke gently on Wendy’s eye bags.
The atmosphere was initially sombre but after what Leah said, Wendy felt like laughing.
Straightening herself up, Wendy reached out wanting to hug Leah but realised her arm was still connected to the drip.
"Mummy, don’t move. Just lie down properly." Leah nervously said, "Mummy, just tell me what you want to do, I’ll help you do everything."
"Mummy doesn’t want to do anything. Mummy just wants to hug you tightly but seems like now isn’t possible." Wendy said in a disappointed tone and sighed.
"No worries. When mummy has recovered, you can hug me again." Leah replied, "When you’re discharged from the hospital, even if you don’t want to hug me anymore, I’ll stick by your side. I want to sleep with mummy too."
"Okay." Wendy smiled at her with affection.
She then looked over to the obedient Jake who was standing by the corner, not disrupting her previous conversation with Leah.
Jake was always so sensible and mature.
Even though his face was also fraught with worry for Wendy, he still didn’t interrupt their conversation.
That is because he knew that Leah was also very worried and only if she talked to Wendy first would she feel more assured.
"Why did you guys come?" Wendy asked while staring at Jake, reaching out her hand for him.
Jake walked up and held onto Wendy’s hands. His face turned serious as he replied, "It was god-grandmother who called Auntie Zess and we overheard the conversation. So we asked Auntie Zess to bring us over as well."
Zess had already laid out the dishes she brought over and prepared a bowl of warm soup and vegetables for Wendy. She smiled and said, "Ms. Perrie informed me that you had to eat a bland diet of soup and hence I brought it over."
"Thank you so much." Wendy reached out for the bowl but her hands were restricted by the hospital tubes and drips attached to her arm.
Todd noticed this and swiftly reached out to take the bowl of soup. However, Zess had retracted her hands and said, "Silly me, let me feed you."
"Pass it to me, I can do it." Todd said and reached out his hands towards Zess.
"Uncle Todd, I want to feed mummy." Leah also reached out her small hands as she stared at the bowl in Todd’s hands.
"Let Leah do it then." Wendy was reluctant for Todd to feed her.
She should keep a polite distance away from Todd, especially when it’s just the two of them.
Todd heard Wendy and pouted slightly. He nodded his head and said, "I’ll hold onto the bowl, Leah’s hands are too small."
Leah picked up the spoon and scooped up a spoonful of soup to feed Wendy. She copied how Wendy fed her in the past and smiled while saying, "Mummy, say ahh..."
Hearing this, Wendy instantly felt like giggling. It was heartwarming.
"Ah..." Wendy followed Leah’s instructions and opened her mouth.
...
Leah was too young and her hands were not steady enough. After feeding several mouths, some soup had splattered over Wendy’s clothes.
"Ah!" Leah shouted and looked over at Wendy apologetically. "Sorry mummy, I didn’t mean to do that."
After saying that, Leah frantically looked for a napkin to wipe.
At this moment, Jake had already prepared a napkin to help Wendy to wipe herself clean.
"No worries." Wendy gave Leah a gentle smile.
Leah was scared to continue feeding Wendy. She turned around and said to Todd, "Maybe we let Uncle Todd feed?"
Before Todd could agree, Wendy had swiftly said, "It’s alright, I can do it myself."
With that, Wendy took the bowl from Todd’s hands.
Todd subconsciously tightened his grip on the bowl.
Wendy used a bit more strength and Todd shook out of his daze and released his grip on the bowl.
Wendy quickly finished the bowl of soup.
"Do you want another bowl?" Zess asked.
"Nope, I’m good." Seeing Zess reaching out, Wendy passed the empty bowl to her and said, "I’m so full already."
Wendy then silently looked over to Todd and seeing his sullen expression, she raised her head and said, "Todd, you rushed over to the hospital just now, you must still have a lot of outstanding work back in the office. Now that Zess, Leah and Jack are here, you can go back to settle work first."
Todd wanted to protest that he didn’t have much to do.
In his heart, Wendy was way more important than work.
However, looking at Wendy’s serious expression, he understood what she meant.
In order to maintain a good impression in front of Wendy, he had no choice but to agree and nod his head.
After Todd left, Zess hurriedly helped Wendy and the two children wash and cut some fruits.
Wendy took the chance to talk to her two children.
That night, Wendy had initially wanted them to go back to rest, leaving herself alone in the hospital.
However, they were all very worried about doing so and hence Zess insisted to stay behind to take care of Wendy.
The two children were reluctant to leave.
Without Zess at home, there would be no one to take care of them as well.
Hence, in the end, everyone stayed behind.
Wendy was in the VIP hospital ward and her room was very big. There was even a bed for her visitors to rest in.
As the next day was a weekend, she didn’t have to worry about Leah and Jake attending school as well.
That night, Wendy slept in a confused daze and felt someone whispering by her ear.
Under the dim hospital bedside lamp, Wendy struggled to open her eyes and she heard that the voice belonged to Jake.
His small hands had gently cupped Wendy’s face. His touch was so gentle, seemingly afraid of waking her up.
His voice was also very soft. In a determined tone, he had said, "Mummy, I will grow up quickly. When I’m older, you don’t have to suffer like this. I will work hard to grow up quickly so that you and Leah can lead a carefree and happy life. By then, you don’t have to work anymore and can just focus on your hobbies."
Wendy heard these words and felt like tearing up.
Even though Jake was a sweet boy, he was rarely so emotional.
She didn’t dare to open her eyes as she was scared Jake would realise she was awake and feel awkward.
However, she was very excited inside and she couldn’t calm herself down.
This was her son. Her son.
Wendy had never felt so proud before.
Hearing Jake turn around and leave, Wendy opened her eyes slightly to take a peek.
Under the dim lights, Jake’s back looked small but so firm and determined.
....
Lake City.
Michael’s office.
Yonina sat on the sofa and had a bag of chips in her hand.
She found the bag of chips in Michael’s office.
There was a drawer next to Michael’s desk which had many bags of chips.
At this moment, Michael was not in the office and Yonina waited for him while munching on the chips.
After his meeting, Michael returned to his office and was not surprised to see Yonina there.
She often went to his office.
However, seeing the bag of chips on her hand, he frowned and his expression turned sullen. He asked, "Where did you get that bag of chips?"
With that, his gaze shifted to the drawer next to his desk and it was obvious that that drawer had been tampered with when he was gone.
"Where did you get it from?" Michael sullenly asked her.
Yonina initially thought it was no big deal to just take a small bag of chips from him.
However, seeing Michael’s expression, it seems like she can’t just take the snacks from that drawer.
Frowning, Yonina swallowed the remaining chips in her mouth and replied, "I noticed that drawer was not shut properly and found the snacks inside. As I was slightly hungry, I just took a bag of chips. This... Can’t I eat it?"
Yonina tentatively asked.
That was because Michael’s expression was really sullen and solemn.
Michael walked over and took a quick glance at the snacks.
"I didn’t touch the rest of your items. Don’t worry, without your permission, I wouldn’t look at your files or documents." Yonina was afraid Michael would misunderstand and solemnly raised her hands and vowed, "I swear."
Yonina was also not an inexperienced and innocent young lady. Hence, when she was in Michael’s office, even if she was alone, she wouldn’t even dream of touching his item.
She knew that some work documents were confidential and outsiders were absolutely not allowed to have a look.
Yonina had been in the workforce for some time and understood these.
Moreover, this was Michael’s territory. Yonina wouldn’t dare touch his items too.
If she was found out, the consequences would be dire.
However, Yonina never would have thought that Michael would react so adversely to her having some of his snacks.
Seems like in the future, she won’t be able to touch anything at all.
"Well, if I can’t have it, I can help you put it back?" Yonina stared at Michael and tried to reseal the bag of chips in her hands to put it back into the drawer.
"Is it yummy?" Michael asked.
"Huh?" Yonina was confused by Michael’s question.
Michael was asking her if it’s yummy?
He wasn’t angry?
"Um yes?" Yonina nodded her head and said, "It’s pretty good."
"Then just finish it." Michael pulled open the drawer and gave her the bag of chips.
He then plainly said, "It’s going to expire soon anyways."
Yonina was delighted when she saw Michael passing her the chips.
However, hearing what Michael said, her face turned sullen.
So it’s because it’s expiring, that’s why he gave it to her.
However, Yonina was indeed pretty hungry.
And the chips were really good.
Yonina continued munching on the chips and asked, "I never knew that Mr. Lucas likes to eat snacks. Your office has so many bags of them. However, it’s not a big deal to like snacks, there is no need to hide them."
"These are the snacks that Wendy and the two children like to eat." Michael lowered his eyes and when he mentioned them, his gaze turned warm and gentle.
Even though he mentioned the three of them, it was mostly Leah’s favourite.
Jake rarely snacked as he didn’t really like them.
Wendy also barely snacked herself.
Previously, Michael had started to prepare the bags of chips in his office so that when they came by, they could enjoy the snacks they liked.
...
However, ever since Wendy had left Lake City, they had never come by his office.
Michael was initially pissed off when he saw Yonina having the chips. That is because she never sought his permission before eating the snacks meant for Wendy and the children.
However, he decided to let her have it as the chips were indeed expiring.
If Yonina didn’t have them, he would also have to replace them in the next few days.
"No wonder... I was surprised thinking it was you who liked to snack." Yonina laughed.
Now, Yonina had already given up on Michael.
She had seen the relationship and feelings Michael and Wendy have for each other.
Yonina was a clever girl, she was clear that even if she continued liking Michael, her feelings would not be reciprocated.
If she continued to like Michael and dream of being together with him, she would only end up hurt.
Hence, logically, she decided to stop liking Michael romantically.
However, emotionally, Yonina was also slightly envious.
A successful man like Michael was willing to put in so much effort and thought for his wife.
His feelings for Wendy must be crazily deep.
In the past, Yonina never believed in love.
However, after meeting Michael, she really admired and looked up to Michael as he was indeed very capable and amazing.
So, she had a mix of both admiration and love for him.
However, it was not to the extent of deep and true love and affection for him, as she could easily withdraw herself logically.
To Yonina, initially why she had liked Michael was because she felt that he was suitable for her.
Hence, till today, Yonina had never really experienced true love before.
Seeing Michael lowering his head and gentle smile, it was obvious that he missed his wife and children.
This type of love and happiness could not be concealed.
At this specific moment, Yonina suddenly had the urge to fall in love as well.
Yonina sighed and said, "When Christian’s issue has died down, Mr. Lucas should help me keep an eye out and introduce me to a suitable guy."
"Why? You want to get married?" Michael raised his head slightly and teased.
"Well, not to the point of marriage yet but I just want to see if I will be able to meet a guy who will treat me the same way as to how you treat Wendy." Yonina placed a chip in her mouth and chewed thoughtfully before swallowing it. She turned sullen for a moment and continued, "If I’m so lucky to meet someone like this, it would be so amazing too right?"
"Your father won’t interfere with your relationship?" Michael asked.
"In the past, he would definitely interfere." When Yonina heard Michael mention her father, she turned serious. "He would wish for me to marry into a family that would be beneficial to the Collins group. To say it in a nasty manner, it’s more of an alliance than a marriage. Moreover, he looks down on me because I’m female. He always believes that in business, only males can survive and lead. However, now things are different. The Collins group almost went bankrupt because of him. If I can revive the Collins group and do damage control, he would have no right to interfere in my relationships."
"Then what kinds of requirements do you wish for your partner to have?" Michael had actually a potential candidate in his heart. "For example, his career?"
"Hmm?" Yonina had never really pondered this before and only started to think about this when Michael asked. "Not many requirements I guess. I can handle the Collins group myself. As long as I like him, it doesn’t matter what his career is."
Michael plainly laughed and said, "I actually do have someone in mind. He is a doctor and two years older than you. Even though he’s older than you, he is actually the youngest director of surgery in his hospital. If you don’t require your partner to be in business as well, you can try it out with him."
