Chapter 89: Full Three Months
A burning sensation on her fingertip.
The cigarette between her fingers had burned down without her noticing.
James snapped back to reality, stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray beside him, waved away the smoke, and turned toward the bedroom.
Mia had just finished showering and come out of the bathroom. James's pupils contracted.
He strode over to her in a few quick steps, scooped her up, holding her with one hand while the other gave her bottom a light smack. "Walking barefoot again?"
Mia let out a soft cry, tightened her arms around his neck, squeezed her legs together, and instinctively curled up. She "glared" at James in protest. "How could you spank me!"
She was a grown woman!
Meeting James's gaze, Mia instantly lost her confidence, deflating like a punctured balloon. Her body slowly slid down as she mumbled weakly in defense, "But there's floor heating—"
Before she could finish, she saw James narrow his eyes dangerously.
She had a cold constitution. Ever since her first period when she'd been in excruciating pain, James had found a doctor for her. Since then, he'd been extremely strict about this.
Knowing she was in the wrong, Mia buried her face against his neck, playing dead.
As she got closer, she caught a faint smell of smoke on his bathrobe. She wrinkled her nose, sniffed like a puppy to confirm it was cigarette smoke, then lifted her head from his embrace. "Are you still feeling bad?"
Her body naturally slid down, returning to its original position, which happened to brush against him.
James usually had strong self-control, but he had absolutely no resistance when it came to her body.
During that one week each month when she was on her period, he would smoke to suppress his urges.
Over the past month or so, he'd gotten up many nights to take cold showers.
Mia consciously tried to get down from him.
James tightened his grip and pulled her back. "It's about work."
As he spoke, he strode to the bed.
At the mention of work—Mia's blind spot—she didn't ask further and obediently snuggled under the covers.
After James got into bed, Mia didn't move closer to him like she used to.
Instead, she curled up obediently on the other side of the bed, not wanting to accidentally provoke him and make him uncomfortable again.
But then her waist tightened as he pulled her into his arms, and she met his deep gaze.
Lying in his embrace, the moment Mia sensed it, she immediately pulled her waist back a little, only to be pressed back by James.
Before she could speak, his large hand pressed her back into his arms, his tone domineering. "Sleep."
But his behavior made her heart melt with sweetness. Mia softly responded.
She closed her eyes and quickly fell into a deep sleep.
That night, Mia slept soundly, but James lay awake for a long time.
……
The next day, Mia woke up drowsy, her consciousness still foggy, her body naturally seeking James's embrace.
She found nothing.
Without opening her eyes, she reached out to feel around. The space beside her had no warmth left—he must have gotten up very early.
As she withdrew her hand, she noticed something unusual on her wrist.
Mia suddenly opened her eyes and looked at her wrist.
There was a bracelet on it. Once Mia recognized which one it was, she was instantly wide awake.
She sat up in bed, unable to put it down, gently touching it. This was "the love of one's life."
He gave her "the love of one's life"—was this his way of confessing to her?
It felt like a little deer in her heart had gotten drunk and was running wild inside her.
……
Mia sat alone on the bed, grinning foolishly at "the love of one's life" for a long while before reaching for her phone on the side. She noticed a note James had left on the nightstand.
"Message me when you wake up."
Mia smiled sweetly and opened James's WhatsApp.
Instead of directly saying "I'm awake," she leaned against the headboard, took a photo of her slender wrist, and sent it to him.
With a hint of playful intention, she asked knowingly: [James, why did you suddenly give me this bracelet?]
After sending it, the little deer that had just calmed down lost control again.
She raised her hand and pressed it hard against her chest.
She was afraid the deer would get too wild and burst out of her chest.
When she first saw this design, she had hoped for it in her heart.
Now that she'd actually received it, her mood was so joyful.
James was always slow to reply to messages. After sending hers, Mia threw off the covers and got out of bed. There was a set of clean new clothes on the nightstand, which she changed into.
Her phone vibrated.
Mia bent down to pick it up, looking at James's reply with delight: [Don't you like it?]
Mia stood by the bed and pouted.
He was asking when he already knew!
He gave her "the love of one's life"—how could she possibly not like it?
She tossed her phone aside, not wanting to deal with James.
She turned and went into the bathroom to wash up.
But the corners of her lips kept curving upward.
Just after washing her face, she heard her phone ring outside. Mia couldn't be bothered to dry her face and rushed out with water still on it to grab her phone.
Wiping away the water droplets on her eyelashes, Mia read his new message: [I thought you liked it.]
Attached was a picture—a photo she'd sent him a few days ago of herself sitting by the window. He'd zoomed in and circled this bracelet.
The sweet smile froze at the corners of her mouth and slowly faded.
The wild little deer in Mia's heart instantly quieted down.
So—he didn't know the meaning of this bracelet.
She couldn't quite describe the feeling in her heart.
What exactly had she been hoping for?
She clearly knew that his "love of one's life" wasn't her!
It was Amelia!
Mia sat on the bed, staring blankly at the bracelet on her wrist. Suddenly it seemed glaring, so much so that her eyes reddened.
A knock suddenly came at the door.
Mia wiped away the moisture at the corners of her eyes and got up to walk out.
Outside the door was hotel room service. The person looked at her and greeted her politely: "Mrs. Mia Smith, this is the lunch Mr. James Smith ordered for you."
"Thank you."
Mia stepped aside to let the server in.
After the person left, she looked at the table—everything was food she loved.
He cared for her, pampered her, looked after her, thoughtful and attentive. Nothing had changed.
Mia convinced herself and pushed down the discomfort.
She believed that time could heal everything, and there was a chance for love to grow over time.
After eating, she didn't listen to James. She changed clothes herself and went out alone as originally planned.
She called a private car and went to the hospital.
After finishing her examination, Mia held the report. Before leaving, she asked the doctor in a low voice, her face red, "Doctor, in my current condition, can I—"
She hadn't waited to return to Imperial City to have James accompany her to the hospital. Coming alone ahead of time to do the examination was specifically to ask about this matter.
Hearing this, the doctor looked up, eyes somewhat surprised.
Usually after three months, it was men who asked about this matter. It was extremely rare for a pregnant woman to ask herself.
Mia's entire face turned red under the doctor's gaze. Clutching the report, she wished she could find somewhere to hide.
"Don't be shy. It's normal for us women to have needs too..."
"Doctor, it's not..."
The doctor's words made Mia's face even redder. She opened her mouth to explain but didn't know how to explain.
In the end, she could only bite her lip and resist the urge to bolt out the door.
Having already lost face, she couldn't leave empty-handed. Throwing caution to the wind, she asked again, "Can I?"
"You can, as long as you're careful and don't get too rough. Also, regarding positions..."