Chapter 19 Did You Even Care About Me?
“Stop looking. She’s already gone.”
Courtney walked over to Jacques and gently cupped his face in her hands, turning his eyes away from the front door and back to her.
She shrugged off her coat, revealing a sheer lace nightgown underneath–seductive and barely there.
Courtney leaned in to kiss him, fingers trailing down his chest, but Jacques wasn’t interested in her. His thoughts were occupied with something else entirely.
He couldn’t stop thinking about the Oracle–that masked, enigmatic woman with a strange, magnetic allure. She fascinated him–she consumed him.
“I’m exhausted lately” Jacques said, pushing Courtney off his lap, clearly uninterested. Im just not in the mood.”
Tired! The way he practically bent over backward to please the Oracle didn’t look worn out at all.
He just doesn’t want mr. And tired is a flimsy excuse.
Courtney saw right through it. As a woman, how could she not?
No, I can’t let this happen. I need to have a child with Jacques. And soon.
“Honey, 1 called in a favor. I have arranged for us to meet with a men’s health specialist tomorrow. Let’s go together, okay?” Courtney said, putting on her sweetest tone.
She and Jacques had been trying for a baby boy for a while now. They’d tried everything–every tip and trick. Nothing had
worked
For a moment, her mind wandered back to something Natalie had said.
Could Jacques being the one with the issue?
That thought stabbed straight at Jacques’s pride. He argued, “If there’s something wrong with me, then how do you explain Gwen? As far as I can tell, you’re the one with the problem.”
He turned and stormed up the stairs. As he left, Jacques missed the strange glint that flickered in Courtney’s eyes.
Gwendolyn stepped out from her room. She’d heard every word of the argument.
“If you really want to know if Dad’s the problem, the five–year–old said, crossing her arms, just try having a baby with sumeone else. Easy”
A five–year–old, shaped by everything she’d seen and heard, spoke words that hardly seem to belong to a child at all.
Courtney’s eyes widened. “You can’t say things like that.”
“Why not?” Gwen snapped. “If that masked bitch steals Daddy away, you won’t even have the chance to regret it.” Gwendolyn clenched her teeth at the mere mention of the Oracle of Stocks. That bitch had used her like a walking blood bag! Ugh. Just wait until she finds Yvonne. Then she’d show her exactly what revenge looked like.
Her daughter’s words weighed heavily on Courtney’s mind.
She couldn’t lose Jacques. He was her golden ticket. If he and the Oracle managed to become billionaires, it would be her opportunity to finally live the life she had always dreamed of
Considering this, Courtney’s eyes darkened with resolve.
Fine. Since Jacques hasn’t figured out Gwen’s identity. I will gamble one more time.
Chapter 19 Did You Even Care About Me?
Hyperion Residence–Master Bedroom, Second Floor
Jonathan lay motionless on the bed, as if asleep.
Christopher and Yvonne stood silently by the bedside.
Natalie reached out and placed a hand on his forehead.
He was burning up.
“Where’s his personal doctor?” she asked, frowning.
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up with a
The family had a whole team of medical professionals. How could no one be around when Jonathan was burning up
fever?
Yvonne’s eyes were red. “He returned to his hometown while on leave.”
Natalie dug through the medicine box and found some fever treatment. Just as she was about to give them to Jonathan, Yvonne grabbed her wrist.
Mom
“Mommy. Daddy’s allergic to those, Yvonne said.
“I’ll get a different one.”
“No. Mommy. He’s allergic to all fever meds.”
Christopher cast a puzzled look at his sister. “Since when? How come I didn’t-
Before he could finish. Yvonne covered his mouth.
“Mommy, Chris, and I have been taking care of Daddy so much that our backs ache and our arms are sore. From now on, he’s your patient.
The girl clamped her hand tighter over Christopher’s mouth and dragged him out of the room. She even considerately closed the door behind her,
With medication ruled out, Natalie had no choice but to cool him down the old–fashioned way.
She filled a bowl with cold water, wet a towel, and wrung it out. As she turned back to him, she couldn’t help but swallow.
He really was beautiful, Sharp cheekbones, a sculpted jawline–his features were bold and defined, like a statue brought to life. A masterpiece that God seemed to favor.
No wonder Stephanie had been so obsessed with him to the point where she was willing to give up having kids for his sake. Jonathan was devilishly handsome
Seeing him so weak and vulnerable, an evil thought surged through Natalie’s mind.
She immediately shook her head and slapped her cheeks.
“Get it together, Natalie! You can’t take advantage of him. You already gave birth to two children. You can’t be a creep!”
She composed herself and reached forward to wipe his skin, but before she could touch him, a hot hand clamped tightly around her wrist.
“Don’t touch me, he muttered.
Natalie looked up–and locked eyes with him.
He was weak: when he spoke, his breath was scorching against her skin. Her ears flushed red.
“Go away,” Jonathan murmured again.
Natalie’s frustration flared at his reaction. “Even if you want to stay loyal to your first love, you can’t just let yourself wear
Chapter 19 Did You Even Care About Me?
yourself out like this.”
She was angry, but more than that–hurt.
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Just how deep did his love for that woman run? Even now, half–conscious and delirious, he was still guarding himself from his
wife
Lost in thought, she didn’t notice his grip tighten.
Then suddenly–he pulled her down into his arms. She fell against his chest as he hugged her tight, his voice rasping near her
He mumbled, “Would you even care if I lived or died?”
It wasn’t his usual cold tone. His tone was soft and wounded, like a puppy pleading for love..
This wasn’t the Jonathan she knew.
The delirious? Did he mistake me for his first love?
She had loved this man from afar for so long, and now, in his fevered state, he was whispering words meant for someone else. Her heart ached,
“She might not care,” she whispered back, “but I do”
I
His grip slowly loosened. And just like that, he passed out again.
The warm reading light above the bed glowed softly. Natalie glanced at the wall–and froze. There, hanging neatly, was their family portrait.
She was busy and hadn’t even had time to pick it up from the photo studio, yet it was hung up on the wall.
When was it brought home
She shook the thought off, dipped the towel again, and moved to wipe him down.
But as she reached for him, her hand froze mid–air. Her eyes locked onto his bare chest, and her breath caught in her throat. “No way!”
His slurt had fallen open, revealing numerous scars crisscrossing his skin. Deep, angry marks. Old wounds. Dozens of them, cutting throughs skin and muscle.
Her trembling fingertips brushed over his scars, and a flash of heartbreak flikkered in her eyes.
Jonathan is powerful, respected, and practically untouchable. Who could hurt him?
No one. Unless he allowed it.
The only person he’d ever do that for must be the one he’s secretly loved for 18 years.
She stayed by his side until midnight, wiping him down, waiting. Finally, the fever broke.
As she slipped out of the room, she noticed the living room light was still on.
“Eve? Why aren’t you in bed?”
“I was waiting for you, Mommy.”
Yvonne rubbed her sleepy eyes, her voice sweet and soft.
Natalie smiled, thinking she was worried about Jonathan. “You don’t have to worry. Daddy’s fever broke.”
Yvonne nodded. Then suddenly, she looked up and asked softly, “Mommy, you saw Daddy’s scars, didn’t you?”
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Chapter 19 Did You Even Care About Me?
Natalie hadn’t expected the girl would bring that up. She gave a soft grunt.
Yvonne hugged her plushie tighter, her little lips pressed together.
“Aren’t you curious how Dadily got all those scars?”
Natalie stayed silent.
She was curious, but she already guessed it.
“It’s late, Eve. It’s time to go to bed. Staying up too late will keep you from growing tall.”
She dodged the question on purpose…
Yvonne scrunched up her face. Her thoughts swirled in turmoil.
Daddy had told her, “Don’t tell Mommy“. If she did, there would be no more strawberry cupcakes for her. Ever.
Sob, sob! And strawberry cupcakes were her favorite.
Still, Dardy’s happiness was more important.
As Natalie turned to leave, the little girl bit her lip, then blurted it out.
“Daddy got all
those scars because he was saving you.
