Chapter 259
The soft hospital room light cast a gentle glow over Henry as he lay motionless on the bed. resembling a perfectly crafted sculpture.
The anesthesia hadn’t fully worn off yet, leaving his face unusually pale. His eyes remained closed his breathing steady and even, chest rising and falling slightly.
Even through the hospital gown, I could see the outline of his toned physique.
His uninjured hand rested on the crisp white sheet, fingers slightly curled, the back of his hand facing my direction–clean and beautiful despite everything that had happened.
His injured right arm lay outside the blanket, wrapped in thick bandages that concealed the wound itself, though the blood seeping through gave away how serious it was.
Pain etched lines across his forehead, his handsome face unusually stern.
Looking closer, I noticed tiny beads of sweat forming at his temples. Without thinking, I reached for a small towel and gently dabbed his forehead.
Henry had been injured protecting me. Whatever our relationship status, I couldn’t bring myself to
be cold toward him now.
I would have done the same for a complete stranger who’d saved my life. This was simply basic
human decency.
“So now you finally remember he’s your husband?” Catherine’s mocking voice cut through the quiet room. “Weren’t you crying and screaming for a divorce just days ago? What happened?”
Her eyes narrowed with contempt. “Changed your mind so quickly?”
She clearly couldn’t stand my presence.”
In her mind, I was worse than any other woman–secretly obsessed with Henry while playing hard- to–get with divorce threats. How disgusting!
William and Richard were still consulting with Henry’s surgeon about his rehabilitation plan, leaving Catherine free to attack me without restraint.
In the past, I would have simply ignored her, pretending I hadn’t heard a word. But right now, her voice was like nails on a chalkboard to my frayed nerves.
I turned to face her, my patience exhausted.
“Mrs. Harding, if I were you, I would choose to keep quiet while my son needs rest more than
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anything I met her gaze directly. “It’s quite clear you don’t truly love him.
I remembered reading something once: Why do mothers–in–law make life difficult for their daughters in–law? One answer had resonated deeply with me: Because your mother doesn’t truly love you, if she did, how could she bear to put her son in such an uncomfortable position? The way your mother treats your wife reveals how she truly feels about you.
Catherine’s eyes flickered away from mine, clearly uncomfortable. She let out a cold snort but didn’t continue her attack.
However, I knew she was fuming inside–perhaps thinking that “little bitch” Sophia was getting more and more sharp–tongued by the day.
While she was still contemplating her next verbal assault, Henry’s eyes fluttered open. His uninjured left hand reached out, shakily trying to grasp mine.
After several failed attempts, he began to move his injured right hand instead. Terrified he might tear his freshly stitched wound, I quickly placed my hand in his uninjured one.
“Don’t move,” I urged. “Your wound was just stitched up.”
Henry, his face still pale, gave me a gentle smile. “I’m not scared. Not with you here.”
The smile quickly faded as he turned toward Catherine, who stood a short distance away. “Mom, I’d like some fish soup.”
Catherine immediately stepped closer to the bed on her three–inch heels, her face transformed with maternal affection as she looked down at her son.
“Of course, sweetheart. I’ll go home and make it right away,” she cooed. “You rest now. If there’s anyone you don’t want to see, just tell her to leave.”
This comment was clearly aimed at me another attempt to make me feel unwelcome.
-Henry ignored it completely, his eyes fixed on me instead. He squeezed my hand reassuringly.
In the past, when Catherine made life difficult for me, Henry would pretend not to notice, acting
deaf and blind to her behavior.
Now, he seemed to understand exactly what he wanted, no longer willing to overlook unfair treatment I received. When Catherine saw that her son had turned away, refusing to engage with her, she sighed softly.
“Fine then. Rest well. I’ll go prepare the soup.”
With that, Catherine left the room, leaving Henry and me alone. I didn’t know how to face Henry’s
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Chapter 259
intense gaze, so I looked down at my feet instead.
When I tried to withdraw my hand, the man in the bed suddenly inhaled sharply through his teeth.
I froze immediately, startled. “Did that pull on your wound? Are you in pain?”
Henry smiled faintly. “Just stay like this. Don’t move.” His uninjured left hand tightened its grip, holding mine more securely. “Let me sleep a little longer.”
The anesthesia hadn’t fully worn off, so his drifting in and out of sleep was normal. After these words, he slipped back into slumber. I looked at the sleeping man, feeling conflicted.
Part of me wanted to pull my hand away, to sever any further connection with him.
However… Henry had just sustained a serious injury protecting me. To turn cold and walk away now wasn’t who I was. Since childhood, I’d been taught to show gratitude when it was due.
So I decided to stay at the hospital tonight, keeping watch over him. Looking at his sleeping face, I gently tried to free my hand. Though he wasn’t gripping tightly, I still couldn’t extract myself from
his hold.
After several futile attempts, I gave up and let him be. Still, finding myself in such an intimate
position with Henry felt extremely awkward.
William and Richard returned, and Richard approached me with a serious expression, lowering his
voice.
“We’ve spoken with Henry’s surgeon,” he said quietly. “The nerves in his hand have suffered permanent damage. Fine motor skills like threading a needle or writing with a pen will be affected from now on. They’ll know more after the stitches come out.”
Hearing my father–in–law’s words, I was immediately flooded with sadness.
Henry was such a proud man–for him, this outcome was practically equivalent to having a disabled hand. How would he ever accept it?
William tried to comfort me. “Sophia, this isn’t as serious as it might seem. Don’t take it to heart too much.” He paused. “If you had been the one injured today, Henry would be completely devastated.” As he spoke, he gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze.
In truth, William deeply admired his grandson’s actions today. That stubborn boy who claimed not to
ain there was care about Sophia had taken a knife for her! Seeing the concern in my eyes, he was
still hope for us.
Richard, noticing my emotional state, quickly added, “Sophia, he did what he needed to do. Don’t carry any psychological burden about this.” He glanced at his watch. “It’s getting late. I’ll take Father
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Chapter 259
back to his room and look after Billy tonight. You take good care of Henry.”
Without waiting for my response, he escorted William out of the room.
I stared at the now–empty space, just Henry and me remaining, and felt a terrible headache coming
- on.
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