Chapter 220

Chapter 220

Early the next morning, Joshua took Ella to the hospital.

He had already arranged everything, first taking Ella for a prenatal checkup. At the final step, he had her lie down on the bed, and before she knew it, she had fallen asleep.

Samuel came to examine her, but didn't find anything unusual—the equipment showed nothing.

Samuel removed his gloves and looked at Joshua, whose expression was grave. "Where did you hear about this 'love curse'?"

"From Dorian," Joshua answered honestly.

Samuel's eyebrows shot up in surprise. He hadn't expected that a child of just a few years old would have such extensive knowledge.

He told Joshua, "There's nothing unusual in Ella's body. I've heard of this love curse thing, but it's just a rumor, something very mystical."

"So Ella isn't under any spell—she's just genuinely attracted to Michael?"

Samuel had recently heard about Joshua's situation. Watching his friend being repeatedly tormented and humiliated by Ella pained him deeply. Was a woman who claimed to love someone else while treating Joshua like a servant really worth all this devotion?

In his view, if he were Joshua, he would choose to let go. There were so many good women in the world—why be so fixated on this one?

"Just because you can't detect it doesn't mean it doesn't exist," Joshua's voice was low and stubborn. "I'll find another way."

He glanced at Ella, still sleeping, wondering when she would wake up. He bent down and carefully lifted her from the bed, his movements as gentle as if he were handling a priceless treasure.

Samuel followed behind him, unable to help but advise, "Joshua, why are you willing to give up even your dignity for her? Think carefully about how much hardship and pain you've been through together. Maybe your fate together really has come to an end." He took a deep breath. "Once the baby is born, let her go, and let yourself go too."

Joshua didn't turn around or respond.

He could never let Ella go. He firmly believed there had to be a solution. Since Dorian knew about the "love curse," he had to be able to find more clues in that ancient text. He had to go home and ask Dorian.

Seeing that Joshua wouldn't listen and was determined to have Ella no matter what, Samuel felt helpless. He decided he'd go back and research more about this legendary love curse to understand what it really was.

When Joshua drove Ella home, she still showed no signs of waking.

Aurora and Dorian immediately rushed up from the living room, their faces full of worry. "Daddy, how's Mommy?"

Joshua first gently carried Ella back to the bedroom to settle her in, then turned to face the two children gathered around him, his expression serious. "The hospital equipment didn't detect any problems."

His gaze turned to Dorian, his tone certain, "But I believe what you said. That thing probably can't be detected by instruments. Where did you hear about this before? Can you check again—if someone really is under this spell, how can it be removed?"

Dorian had actually already found the answer. If the curse could be seen by instruments, they could simply arrange surgery to remove it directly. But since instruments couldn't see it, only the person who cast the curse could remove it.

He didn't hide anything, looking up at Joshua and admitting frankly, "I heard that only the person who cast it can remove it, but Lena has already disappeared."

At the mention of Lena, Joshua's eyes filled with regret and self-blame. He had clearly noticed something was wrong with that child, yet he had still brought her home out of momentary soft-heartedness. If not for that decision, how would Ella have ended up like this?

He crouched down, comforting the two children, "Daddy will send more people to find her. We'll definitely find her. You two go play now."

Aurora asked softly, "But Mommy's okay, right? Why won't she wake up?"

"She's just tired, she'll wake up soon," Joshua explained gently.

Hearing this explanation, Aurora seemed somewhat reassured and took Dorian's hand to leave.

But Dorian fell into thought. He figured he could post a task on the dark web's bounty system—offering a reward to find Lena's whereabouts. He remembered the home security system should have captured clear photos of her.

With this thought, Dorian made up an excuse and ran back to his room alone, closing the door and opening his computer.

Meanwhile, Aurora had her own thoughts. She found a quiet corner and secretly called Michael.

As soon as the call connected, she couldn't control her tears, pleading softly, "Uncle Michael, can you please stop contacting my mommy? Please let her go. When I grow up, I'll definitely repay you."

Michael chuckled on the other end, using an almost cruelly gentle tone, "Aurora, you need to remember, I gave you your life. You'll die without me, understand?"

He continued, "If you don't come with your mother to get the medicine before you turn ten, you'll disappear from this world forever. So don't try to persuade me for your father's sake."

Aurora was already seven years old—she could fully understand what these words meant. Only at this moment did she finally realize why Ella had to go find Michael.

It was all because of her. Because there was something wrong with her body, because she would die. And the medicine that could save her was only in Michael's hands. So to save her, Ella had to go there to get the medicine.

So that was it.

Aurora sobbed, asking through her tears, "Uncle Michael, can I come find you by myself? Don't break up my mommy and daddy. You saved my life, so I'll come be your servant to repay you. I'll do anything."

Every day she watched her daddy so sad and upset, it broke her heart. She remembered how much Mommy used to love Daddy, but now for her sake, Mommy had to push Daddy away and prepare to go to Michael. She couldn't bear to see her parents separated because of her. This was her own problem, and she wanted to handle it herself.

Michael laughed, "Do you think your parents would let you come alone?"

"I can come secretly," Aurora said urgently. "You send someone to pick me up, okay?"

Michael immediately realized this was a perfect opportunity. Aurora was Ella's lifeline. Even without the love curse, as long as this child was with him, Ella would definitely come to him without hesitation. Just like last time—hadn't Joshua been seriously injured protecting Aurora?

As long as Aurora was by his side, forget Ella—even Joshua would have to obey him.

"Alright," Michael agreed immediately. "I'll send someone to pick you up. But you must remember, you absolutely cannot let your parents know about this, or no one can save you."

Aurora nodded in agreement, "Then after I come, you won't force my mommy anymore, right?"

"Of course." Michael promised warmly.

Children were so easy to fool. He sneered inwardly. Ella—he had to have her. People under the "love curse," if they weren't together, would both eventually die. How could he risk his and Ella's lives for a child?

Aurora was still too naive, easily believing Michael's lies. After hanging up, she began planning how to avoid everyone in the house and secretly leave with whoever Michael sent.

Once she was gone, Mommy shouldn't bully Daddy anymore, and wouldn't have to go find Michael because of her, right?

Ella woke up in the afternoon.

When she opened her eyes, she immediately saw Joshua keeping watch by the bed, and her brow furrowed.

"Why did I sleep so long?" She sat up, her tone full of displeasure. "Weren't you taking me to the hospital for a checkup? Why are we at home now?"

"You fell asleep during the examination, so I carried you back." Joshua explained. To prevent Ella from not cooperating with the examination, he had indeed asked Samuel to use some sleep-inducing herbal aromatherapy that was harmless to the fetus.

Ella was somewhat angry.

"Don't you know I had a very important meeting at the company today? And so many documents waiting for me to handle! Why didn't you wake me up when I fell asleep?" She got up from the bed, preparing to go back to the company.

Joshua quickly stopped her, "It's already afternoon, the meeting ended long ago. Your father and Mason will handle the company matters."

"Ella, don't be angry. We haven't spent time with Aurora and Dorian together in a long time. How about we take them out this afternoon?"

At the mention of the children, Ella's emotions calmed down somewhat. She glared at Joshua and said coldly, "Always interfering with my important business."

She got up and changed clothes, then they went downstairs together. Joshua had the nanny call the children over, smiling as he pulled them close, "Aurora, Dorian, Daddy and Mommy are taking you out shopping, okay?"

After learning the truth, Aurora was no longer as lively and cheerful as before. Her little face was scrunched up, her eyes somewhat red, looking at her parents with heartache, and nodded gently, "Okay."

Joshua immediately noticed something was wrong, looking at her with concern, "Aurora, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?"

Hearing this, Dorian immediately grabbed Aurora's wrist, checking her like a little adult. After a moment, he looked up and told Joshua, "She's physically fine, but she seems very sad." He turned to Aurora and asked, "What's wrong? Do you have something on your mind?"

Aurora didn't want to say. She forced a smile, "Daddy, Mommy, Dorian, let's go quickly, let's go shopping! I've saved up lots of allowance, I'll buy you gifts later."

Joshua still felt Aurora was acting strangely, but before he could ask more, she had already turned and run toward the door.

Dorian also looked at his parents, patting his chest, "I have money too. I'll pay for today's expenses. Whatever you and Mommy want, just take it."

He had just received a reply from the dark web—Lena had left the country. Thinking of Aurora's medicine still with Michael, he decided to secretly go to Michael's to steal the medicine. He was just a child; his actions shouldn't attract too much attention.

Worried that this trip abroad might have unexpected consequences, Dorian wanted to spend quality time with his parents before leaving, as a way of showing filial piety. He was afraid that once he left, he might never come back.

The two adults didn't know about the children's complex inner thoughts, only feeling that they had grown up and become thoughtful, knowing to spend money on their parents. Joshua felt very gratified, holding Ella's hand as they went out together.

The family first went to the mall, then to a restaurant, and in the evening returned to the mall to continue shopping. They bought many things, almost all paid for by Aurora and Dorian competing to pay.

Joshua and Ella stood aside, watching the two children swipe their cards, both feeling something was odd.

"Ella, have you noticed they're acting very strange today?" Joshua said quietly.

Even with Michael on her mind, Ella still cared deeply about her children. She had also noticed Aurora and Dorian's unusual behavior today.

In the car on the way home, she finally couldn't help asking, "Aurora, Dorian, why did you two think to spend so much money buying gifts for Mommy and Daddy today?"

Even the dinner bill had been fought over by the two children. They knew the kids had money—grandparents on both sides had given them plenty—but this kind of purposeful spending was a first.

Dorian said, "It's nothing, money is meant to be spent. As long as Mommy is happy, I'm willing to spend any amount."

Aurora hadn't said much the whole way. Her eyes were full of sadness as she looked at her parents sitting in the front row, then at Dorian.

She thought that after going to find Michael, she might never come back. Since she couldn't come back, what use was keeping that money? Better to spend it all on Mommy and Daddy.

But she really couldn't bear to leave them, really wanted to be with them forever. However, if she didn't go, Mommy would have to separate from Daddy; if Mommy left, she might never come back either. She didn't want Mommy to lose Daddy because of her.

So, she decided that she should be the one to go.