Chapter 4
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Ashley grabbed her. “What did you do?”
“Ow! You’re hurting me, sis!” Nicole instantly pouted.
Aaron rushed in, prying Ashley’s fingers off with restrained anger:
“Ashley! Will you ever stop?!”
Red marks from nails streaked Nicole’s forearm. He frowned, guiding her away:
“Hurt? Let’s disinfect it.”
“Aaron! Get Aaron checked first! He looks pale!” Ashley cried in panic.
But Aaron didn’t even glance back.
Seeing Raymond’s deathly pale face, Ashley was frantic, forcing herself to calm down with deep breaths.
While frantically pressing the call button, she gently asked the child.
“Raymond, did they do anything to you?”
The child swayed a few times before collapsing to the floor.
“Just had a little snack… Mom, I’m fine.”
He tried to rise but couldn’t lift himself.
Ashley scrambled off the bed, her fractured arm too weak to hold him.
In that moment, she hated Aaron with every fiber of her being.
Doctors rushed in and took the child for gastric lavage. Finding blood pressure medication in his stomach, they imme- diately admitted him under critical care protocol.
Ashley watched tube after tube of blood drawn from her son’s tiny body, then bag after bag of fluids pumped back in.
Wished it were me suffering instead.
Aaron rushed over, stunned at his son’s condition, a rare flicker of heartache in his eyes.
“What happened?”
Ashley gritted her teeth in anger. “Every time he’s with Nicole, something goes wrong. Will you keep coddling her?”
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Chapter 4
288 iVouchers
Aaron frowned.
“You’re being paranoid. Ruirui is my son. Why would Nicole hurt him? She adores him.”
Seeing Ashley’s broken expression, he softened his tone and pulled her into a gentle embrace.
“Alright. I won’t let Ruirui near her anymore.”
He then warned his son: “Don’t eat strange things again. Understood?”
Ashley pushed him away, having given up on him completely.
That evening, while Aaron was away, she called her lawyer friend and connected with a trustworthy private investiga-
tor.
“I need you to investigate two things. First, how my son got access to blood pressure medication. Second, dig up ev- ery detail about Nicole’s life overseas these past years-leave no stone unturned!”
Nicole’s arrogance stemmed solely from Aaron’s backing.
She’d make sure Nicole lost that advantage for good.
In the following days, perhaps out of guilt,
Aaron skipped work and stayed at the hospital caring for Ashley and their child.
He spoon-fed oatmeal, kept vigil through the night reading stories…
When the baby cried, he could cradle it for hours without tiring.
Aaron kept postponing his work schedule, watching Ashley remain despondent.
He bought her jewelry like it was free-all the pieces she used to adore.
Yet Ashley didn’t crack a single smile.
Only when the board director personally called to push his agenda did he finally leave the hospital. Before going, he gave the nanny detailed instructions for a solid ten minutes.
The housekeeper remarked enviously, “I’ve never seen such a devoted husband.”
Ashley responded with a faint smile.
His meticulous care transported her back to when they felt like an inseparable family.
But deep down, she knew the truth.
The moment Nicole appeared, Aaron would lose all reason and shatter this happy illusion himself.
Once, then again, endlessly.
Just like now, when Nicole arrived claiming her good intentions led to bad outcomes, overwhelmed with guilt and wanting to care for her sister-in-law and Raymond. Instantly, he forgot his earlier promises.
“Ashley, let Nicole stay with you both. Otherwise, her guilt won’t let her sleep well.”
With those words, he left for his business trip.
