She couldn't go to the hospital.
If she did, her secret would be exposed. It was almost laughable—she didn't want anyone to know about the baby because she wanted to hold on to the last shreds of her dignity. Despite knowing that her so-called dignity had been non-existent since the day she agreed to a sham marriage with Oliver.
Now, in front of him, in front of the woman he cherished, what dignity did she have left?
But still...
Lillian lowered her gaze, unable to lay bare all the humiliating truths.
Upon hearing her refusal, Oliver's brow furrowed deeply, and he abruptly pulled the car over to the side of the road. Lillian thought he intended for her to get out and reached for the door handle.
Click—
The car doors locked at once.
Oliver's eyes met hers in the rearview mirror, unreadable. "Why won't you go to the hospital?"
Ever since she came back from the rain last night, she'd been acting strangely.
Lillian maintained her composure, "If I'm not feeling well, I can see a doctor on my own."
Oliver's eyes narrowed dangerously.
Serena quickly interjected, "Oliver, is it because of me? I could get out here, and then you can take Lillian to the hospital. She shouldn't delay treatment for her condition."
As Serena leaned in toward the door lock, Lillian saw Oliver's hand stopping her, their wrists brushing against each other.
"Don't speculate," Oliver's brows tightened, his eyes flicking briefly to Lillian before adding, "It's not about you."
Serena's cheeks flushed with a shy blush at the touch.
Lillian watched silently until Serena's eyes turned her way, and she awkwardly diverted her gaze.
"Lillian, I misunderstood you. I thought you were upset with Oliver because of me. I'm truly sorry."
Lillian gave her a fleeting glance. Had it not been for Serena's kindness to her, she might have suspected Serena of being a little too perfect.
Lillian managed a strained smile. "It's okay."
Serena then suggested, "You don't want to go to the hospital, are you afraid? My friend has a small clinic, why not go there?"
After a pause, she looked to Oliver, "What do you think?"
Oliver didn't immediately agree but frowned, "A clinic? Is it reliable?"
Serena seemed embarrassed, "Of course, I wouldn't recommend it otherwise. Don't you trust me?"
After a moment, Oliver consented, "Then we'll go to the clinic."
Lillian's eyebrows knitted together.
"I…"
Before she could finish, Oliver was already driving off, not allowing her a chance to refuse.
Serena continued to smooth things over, "Don't worry, Lillian. My friend is very nice and patient with the patients. I'll explain everything to him, okay?"
Compared to the warm and considerate Serena, Lillian came off as uncooperative, stubbornly refusing medical attention.
What else could she say?
Lillian remained silent as the car set off again.
Once at the clinic, Serena gently helped Lillian out of the car, whispering, "Do you still feel dizzy? Lean on my shoulder if you're uncomfortable."
Serena's voice was soft, her perfume a subtle gardenia scent, her touch gentle.
Lillian looked down, thinking.
Not only was Serena beautiful and accomplished, but she also saved Oliver's life.
If Lillian were Oliver, she would probably favor her too.
When Serena's friend arrived, Serena chatted with him at length. The man, clad in a white coat, eventually turned his attention to Lillian and then approached her.
"Hello, you're Serena's friend, right? My name is Derek Gu."
Lillian nodded politely, "Hello."
"Do you have a fever?"
Derek's voice was gentle as he reached to touch her forehead. Lillian instinctively dodged, prompting a chuckle from him, "Just checking your temperature."
He handed her a thermometer, "Let's take your temperature first."
Lillian took it, and Oliver's voice came from behind, "You know how to use a thermometer, right?"
Lillian didn't respond. How could she not know how to use a thermometer? But her movements were sluggish, dizzied by the illness.
After she placed the thermometer under her tongue, Derek suggested they wait a bit.
Serena took the opportunity to introduce Oliver to Derek.
"This is Derek, who I mentioned over the phone. He's brilliant in medicine but likes his freedom, hence the clinic. Derek, this is Oliver," she paused, adding with a shy note, "My friend."
"Friend?" Derek raised an eyebrow, his gaze briefly flickering over Lillian before settling back on Oliver, "Nice to meet you. I'm Derek Gu."
After a while, Oliver extended a hand, exchanging a light handshake, "Oliver."
"I know." Derek's smile held a hint of mystery, "Serena speaks highly of you."
Serena blushed at the remark, "Derek, stop teasing."
Oliver glanced at Lillian, who sat quietly, her eyelids drooping, stray locks of hair covering part of her forehead and concealing her beautiful eyes—along with all her emotions.
She sat still and detached, like an outsider.
Oliver's face darkened instantly.
Five minutes later
Derek returned with the thermometer and suggested, "Your temperature's high; best to have an injection."
Lillian looked up firmly, "No injections."
Derek glanced at her, smiling, "Afraid of needles? Don't worry, I'm very gentle."
Serena nodded in agreement, "Your health is important, Lillian."
But Lillian shook her head, insistent, "I don't want an injection or medication."
Her obstinacy deepened Oliver's frown.
"Then we'll have to cool you down physically. I'll get some medicine and supplies; you should use a wet towel on your forehead, so you don't overheat."
As Derek left to get supplies and Serena followed to assist, Lillian and Oliver were left alone.
Lillian felt lightheaded.
She wanted to fetch a damp towel to cool down, but right now, she didn't have the strength.
It was then that Oliver, who had been mostly silent, suddenly uttered two words.
"Pretentious."
Pretentious?Lillian paused, a scoff rising silently in her heart. "Surely, I can't compare to your understanding Serena."The words slipped out before she could stop them.Oliver froze.Lillian froze too.What was she saying?While Lillian was regretting her misplaced words, Oliver had already tilted her chin up, forcing her gaze into his deep, ink-like eyes.His eyes narrowed like a hawk zeroing in on its prey. "Are you jealous of her?"Lillian's brow twitched with a mix of alarm and annoyance as she tried to push his hand away."What nonsense are you talking about?"But her attempt was feeble, her strength failing her.Oliver quirked an eyebrow at her weak resistance, a smirk playing on his lips as he caught her wrist. "This weak?""Weak your head," Lillian retorted, yanking her hand back so fiercely she toppled backwards into the couch, unable to get up again.No strength left.Oliver stood over her, his eyes a complex mosaic of emotions, before he dropped a stoic "Wait here," and
Her words were blunt—not at all like Serena's tactful manner.Serena appeared slightly embarrassed. "I didn't mean that."Lillian wasn't interested in interpreting her meaning.Before she left, Derek had prescribed some medicine, instructing Serena, "Even though your friend is reluctant, if she can drink the medicine, she should. It's a herbal concoction; it won't harm her body. A few doses should do.""Okay," Serena took the herbal medicine.The trio left the clinic and returned to the Qin residence.Qin ResidenceThe car door opened, and Lillian, fighting discomfort, stepped out, eager to go upstairs and sleep.But as she alighted from the car, she stumbled, nearly falling forward, caught just in time by Oliver who had stepped out behind her.His brows furrowed as he looked at her, "Still refusing medicine and injections when you're like this... you really are something."Serena, following them out of the car, hastened to Lillian's side and took her from Oliver."Oliver, let me help
In that instant, Lillian's heart skipped a beat, and a flicker of panic crossed her eyes, the sensation of being caught red-handed washing over her. Yet, she quickly regained her composure, pressing her pale lips together and stating plainly without any attempt to conceal, "You saw everything, didn't you?"Her candid demeanor slightly softened the inquisitive look in Oliver's eyes. He approached, his gaze fixating on the now-empty medicine bowl in her hands."The medicine I had the kitchen painstakingly prepare—you discarded it all without a single sip?"Lillian spared him a glance. "I've made it clear I wouldn't drink it."With that, she walked out with the empty bowl.Oliver followed, his voice crisp. "Last night, did you intentionally get caught in the rain?"Hearing this, Lillian hesitated, then shook her head in denial. "Why would I do such a thing?"Yet Oliver remained skeptical, eyeing her closely. "Is that so? Then why refuse to go to the hospital and also refuse the medicine?
The question drained the color from the servant's face. "Sir, the report has already been disposed of."Oliver's brows furrowed deeply."What did you say?"The oppressive aura emanating from him nearly brought the servant to tears as she hurriedly explained, "I'm sorry, sir, I didn’t intentionally get rid of it. It’s just that the report was so damaged, I didn’t think much of it at the time and..."Curiosity about the discarded items of the household wasn't something she indulged in, especially when Oliver's company routinely shredded confidential documents. Having stumbled upon the report while clearing out the bins, she thought little of it until the recent brewing of the medicine made her wonder—why was it for a fever?Her words only caused Oliver's frown to deepen. There was something off about her.With the rain that heavy, even if she had given her umbrella away, she could have sought shelter and called a driver or waited for the rain to stop before returning home.Why trudge th
For a long time, Lillian sighed inwardly. It was probably for the best that he didn’t know, sparing them both from awkwardness. Let it be a transaction, each taking what they needed. With that thought, Lillian pushed Oliver, who was almost within touching distance, away and said indifferently, "It certainly won't be you."Oliver’s brows drew together at her response. "What do you mean it won’t be me? Is there someone who knows you better? Who is it?"Unbeknownst to him, his mood had flared up with her words. Lillian remained silent.Seeing she wasn't engaging, Oliver grasped her shoulders somewhat aggressively and demanded, "Is it a man or a woman?"His grip was firm, causing her some pain.Lillian frowned and pushed him away, "Ouch, don't touch."Oliver eased his grip, but his pursuit of answers did not relent. "Fine, I won't touch, but clarify who knows you better? And what’s with that report?"Lillian, cornered and exasperated, could only say, "Nobody knows me, only I understand my
After Oliver left, Lillian spent a moment in a daze before resuming her work. Some choices were hers alone to bear, willingly undertaken.Her phone rang, and Lillian glanced at the screen—it was a call from Nolan. She steadied her emotions before answering."What's up?""Lillian, did the vice secretary from Lin Group call you?"Lillian, having just located the email she needed, clicked into it while nodding, "Yes, they did. What about it?""Let me handle that work for you; I'll take care of it."At his words, Lillian paused, confusion clear in her tone, "Huh?""I heard from Yolanda that you're sick. Why didn't you tell me?" Nolan's voice was incredibly soft, almost sighing with concern, "You should rest when you're not well. Why not set your phone to 'Do Not Disturb'? Do you think your body's made of steel?"Before the Shen family's downfall, Nolan had worked at Shen Corporation, Oliver's most prized assistant. He was destined for greatness, but the abrupt bankruptcy changed everythin
Sophie had initially felt Lillian's reaction was too calm to be natural. But the mention of Serena's name had struck her silent, left speechless as if frozen.It took a while for her to process the information. "I... I thought she wasn't coming back."There was silence between them. Sophie, as Lillian's confidant, knew the high society well enough and was familiar with the public’s admiration for Serena's heroic save of Oliver—a handsome man and a beautiful woman made for a good narrative. But as Lillian’s best friend, she couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow for her.It was a sad truth that unrequited loves often faded into oblivion.Sophie bit her lip, indignant on her friend’s behalf. "Actually, what does it matter if she's back now? If I were you, I wouldn’t let go so easily. After all, she and Oliver aren't a couple, and you are married to him, with a child on the way. I refuse to believe that Oliver will make you have an abortion!"Lillian, who had been quiet, finally looked
The moment the message sent, a tranquility settled over Lillian. She had done her part. Now, she only needed to wait for a reply.Oliver didn’t respond immediately. Glancing at the clock, Lillian reasoned that he might be at work, possibly in a meeting, entertaining clients, or his phone was on silent. He would see the message once his work was over.Time crawled agonizingly slow, so she decided to sleep it off.Lillian efficiently changed into her pajamas, drew the curtains shut, and the room fell into stillness. She climbed into bed and closed her eyes.Ding—Meanwhile, within a high-rise building of Qin Corporation, in a certain office, Serena, previously calm, was now gripped with agitation, her eyelashes fluttering uncontrollably. She was fixated on the text message on her phone. It was a simple message but with profound implications: "I'm pregnant."Initially, Serena had mistaken the incoming text as a work-related message for Oliver or some spam. It hadn't occurred to her that