Chapter 43: It Hurts So Much
Julian had always hated staying in the hospital. Being in a hospital gave him a sense of helplessness, as if he was under someone else’s control. All he wanted now was to go home, even if it meant being alone in the villa.
Just as he left the hospital and sat down in his car, his phone rang. The hospital was quick to report his departure to his mother, Madison.
Madison was in a panic, not understanding what her son was thinking. He was in such bad shape, yet instead of staying in the hospital to recover, he suddenly decided to leave. The more she thought about it, the more anxious she became, calling Julian repeatedly. He refused to answer each call. Finally, overwhelmed by the endless ringing, Julian picked up the phone. As soon as he answered, Madison’s frantic voice came through, “Thank goodness you answered! The hospital just called me–they said you insisted on leaving, and you hadn’t even finished your IV. What on earth are you thinking? Do you have any idea how bad your condition is? Where do you think you’re going in such a rush? You really don’t care about your health, do you?”
Normally, Madison was a gentle woman. While she could be harsh with Chloe, she was always incredibly attentive to her son, Julian gritted his teeth but refrained from saying anything to counter his mother. Instead, he ended the call and turned off his phone.
Finally, there was silence. Meanwhile, Madison, staring at her phone after being hung up on, was livid. She couldn’t understand what her son was doing.
When Julian got home, he breathed a sigh of relief. The pressure of being monitored constantly had lifted. He had intended to head straight to his room, but somehow, he ended up in the kitchen. The kitchen was spotless, everything neatly in place, yet no one was there. But in his mind, he could see Chloe bustling around, preparing food.
He recalled how much time and effort Chloe put into cooking, often exhausting herself. Julian had never thought it was necessary for her to go to such lengths and tried to dissuade her. But every time, Chloe would agree, only to wake up the next morning and prepare everything anyway.
He didn’t know when it had happened, but over time, he started to enjoy the care Chloe showered on him, accepting all her efforts without ever questioning if it was right.
At that moment, the door to the villa opened, and Megan stepped in. After Julian had turned off his phone, Madison had become even more worried and sent Megan to check on him, fearing he might collapse at home with no one to notice.
“Sir, would you like to rest or have something to eat? I can prepare it for you,” Megan asked.
Julian, still caught in his thoughts, turned to her and said, “Make me some congee.”
Megan couldn’t help but sigh internally. What was it with him and congee lately? She thought to herself,” When is Chloe coming back? This is getting unbearable.”
Although she was growing weary of the situation, the salary was good, and the pay was indeed generous. Without saying another word, Megan headed to the kitchen to prepare the meal.
By the time she had everything ready and went upstairs, she found Julian already asleep. Even in his sleep, his face was contorted with discomfort, his brow furrowed as if he was in pain. Megan sighed, feeling pity for both of them, though she pitied herself even more.
Julian woke up in the middle of the night, roused by the sharp pain in his stomach. Only after he had been given more fluids did the pain in his stomach finally start to subside, allowing him some relief.
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What he didn’t know was that Madison had arrived and was now standing nearby. Earlier, Megan had called Madison to report Julian’s condition. Worried sick, she had rushed over, bringing a doctor with her. And it turned out to be the right decision–Julian had been burning up with a fever, almost delirious. Even in his feverish state, he kept murmuring Chloe’s name, which only made Madison angrier,
When her son finally woke up, Madison had initially planned to scold him, but seeing how unwell he was, she held back. She simply told him to rest and left to speak with the doctor.
Julian, now awake but still feeling terrible, realized his fever was climbing again. His phone lay beside him, left behind by the doctor. After a moment of hesitation, he picked it up and dialed a number he knew
all too well.
The phone rang several times before being answered. As soon as the call connected, Julian felt his heartbeat quicken, his blood rushing through his veins. But the words he wanted to say got stuck in his throat, and he couldn’t utter a single sound.
Chloe, still half–asleep, heard the phone ring and groggily picked it up. When no one spoke on the other end, she assumed it was a wrong number. Just as she was about to hang up, she heard a faint voice, like someone murmuring in their sleep.
“Chloe, it hurts so much.”
Perhaps it was the late hour or simply the way our defenses lower in the night, but Chloe could hear the tremble in his voice, a hint of vulnerability and pain. For a brief moment, her heart softened. She was about to ask what was wrong, but suddenly she snapped out of it, fully awake.
Julian was a complicated person. He could be gentle and chivalrous at times, but he also had a stubborn streak. When he set his mind on something, he would pursue it relentlessly, no matter the cost. It was no surprise that he had ended up with a stomach ulcer, often forgetting to eat because of work. In the early years of his career, he had pushed his body to the limit Chloe had tried everything to help him take better care of himself.
It had taken years for him to regain his health, but instead of receiving thanks, Chloe had been met with Julian’s frustration and irritation. He rarely spoke his mind, but his expressions often conveyed the exasperation he felt, leaving Chloe feeling hurt.
All those memories came flooding back, and Chloe’s heart hardened once again.
“If you’re in pain, go to the doctor. I can’t help you,” she said coldly.
Julian’s face paled at her words, as if a knife had cut through his chest. His voice trembled slightly as he responded, “I miss the food you used to make for me.
