Chapter 3

While his eyes were entirely on Briar, I quickly walked out the main doors.

Just as I stepped out of the mansion, I heard

Beep-beep! A double honk.

Seeing the silver car beyond the iron gates, I couldn't help but quicken my pace.

However, before the gates could open, two bodyguards suddenly appeared, forcibly taking me back into the mansion.

Inside his study, Julian tied me up.

He ordered someone to insert a thick needle, the size of a child's arm, into my arm.

Through the half-open door, I heard Dr. Miller tell Julian:

"Mr. Thorne, both Mrs. Thorne and Ms. Rosewood have RH-negative blood, but Mrs. Thorne has a history of heart issues since childhood. Forcing a blood draw could easily trigger acute shock. I think it would be better to go to the hospital first for a transfusion for Ms. Rosewood, who is anemic…"

"No need to persuade me further."

Julian said coldly, "Your only task is to restore Briar's health. As for the rest, I know what I'm doing."

Hearing Julian's approaching footsteps, I slowly closed my eyes.

"Does it hurt much?"

His voice held a rare hint of comfort. "Just bear with it a little longer; it'll be over soon."

I turned my head away, unwilling to waste words on him.

After they drew eight hundred milliliters of blood, my lips had turned purple.

At that moment, Briar, lying in the master bedroom, suddenly coughed.

Hearing it, Julian immediately stopped the doctor from pulling out the needle, demanding he draw twice the amount of blood.

The doctor, dripping with cold sweat, informed Julian that if they continued, I would likely die.

Hesitating for two seconds, Julian only said:

"Briar is pregnant. The pregnant woman comes first, always."

"But…"

I interrupted the doctor's protest, "Just draw it. Let me leave once you're done."

Seeing my bloodless face, Julian’s eyes filled with cold fury, and he opened his mouth.

He was about to press me, asking if I was done throwing a tantrum.

Was I seriously going to leave home over such a minor thing?

"Julian, darling~" Briar's sweet voice instantly drew him away.

Two days later.

I woke up in the hospital, recovering from shock, to see Julian reviewing documents.

Our eyes met for a long time.

Expressionless, he brought over a bowl of porridge, making to feed me.

But I shook my head.

"I can do it myself."

After quietly watching me finish half a bowl of porridge, Julian asked,

"Are you uncomfortable anywhere?"

I replied, dodging the question,

"Please give me my phone."

Perhaps my tone was too distant, for Julian stared blankly for several seconds before contacting Mr. Henderson, who brought my phone over.

Spotting many missed calls on my phone, Julian asked abruptly,

"Who was calling?"

He hadn't asked so many questions before.

A flicker of annoyance crossed my eyes, and I simply said,

"You don't know them."

Julian unbuttoned the top button of his shirt, his gaze cold as he looked down at me.

"Celeste Davies, how long are you going to keep throwing a diva tantrum?"

"Don't push your luck!"

In the past, when Julian got angry, I would always reflect on my own actions and try my best to calm him down.

But now, I just pointed at his vibrating phone, telling him flatly,

"Briar's calling you."

Hearing that, a smile touched Julian's eyes, and he instinctively moved away from me, walking into the hospital corridor.

As soon as he left, my phone rang.

I answered. Before I could speak, the person on the other end anxiously said,

"Didn't you say you were coming to find me? Celeste, did you change your mind?"

"No, I haven't. Just ran into a bit of an accident…"

"An accident? What happened to you? No, I have to fly back to the country myself…"