Chapter 607 Serafina, Come Live with Me in Evergreen City 4
Jacob looked down at himself, noting that his trench coat was indeed soaked through.
He answered Serafina naturally, "The rain hasn't stopped outside. Going back and forth, I was bound to get caught in some of it. A hot shower will sort me out."
Concerned about Abigail catching cold, he shrugged off his black trench coat.
Underneath, he wore a crisp white dress shirt and tailored trousers. The well-cut, quality fabric accentuated his lean, athletic frame—a sight that was undeniably pleasing to the eye.
Jacob paid no attention to the nurse's lingering gaze. He opened the cardboard box, retrieved a fresh diaper, washed his hands, then lifted his precious Abigail with practiced ease, beginning to change her diaper.
Abigail had been sleeping soundly and wasn't pleased about being woken. She squirmed in Jacob's palm, let out a couple of token cries, then kicked her chubby little legs with surprising strength—clearly well-nourished and thriving.
Under the soft lighting, Jacob's features were suffused with tenderness.
He gazed at Abigail as if he couldn't bear to look away.
The young nurse watched Jacob with obvious admiration. "Mr. Windsor, you're absolutely remarkable. To find so many diapers at this hour—they're practically impossible to come by these days. Only someone like you could manage it."
Jacob merely smiled.
It had been too long since he'd held Abigail. Now he couldn't resist lifting her into his arms, cradling her close as he drank in every detail of her delicate features. The more he looked, the more enchanted he became. Abigail settled contentedly in his embrace, her bright eyes fixed on his face—clearly as taken with him as he was with her.
The nurse cooed at Abigail. "Mr. Windsor, she's absolutely adorable."
There was an unmistakable flirtatiousness in the young nurse's manner. She knew Serafina was Jacob's ex-wife, and that his wedding had been called off—meaning he was currently single.
Jacob, sharp businessman that he was, could hardly miss such obvious intentions.
His gaze drifted toward Serafina.
Serafina had clearly caught the nurse's subtext as well. Given her position, she felt unable to comment, so she picked up a parenting manual from the bedside table, using it as a shield against the awkwardness.
Jacob's lips curved in a soft smile.
He quietly instructed the nurse to leave. Though disappointed, she knew better than to defy someone of Jacob's influence and gathered her things before departing.
The room settled into peaceful quiet, the sounds of wind and rain fading away.
Jacob approached the bed with Abigail in his arms, looking down at Serafina with gentle eyes and an even gentler voice. "She's just a nurse. No need to let her bother you."
Serafina refused to admit anything. "You're reading too much into it."
Whether he was or wasn't, Jacob knew the truth.
He handed Abigail to Serafina and headed for the bathroom to shower. As he walked, he began unbuttoning his shirt with fluid, natural movements—gestures so familiar from their married days that even now, despite Serafina's resolve to remain detached, she found herself staring at his retreating figure.
Only Abigail's crying brought her back to the present, and she opened her gown to nurse her daughter.
Jacob emerged from the bathroom after a quick shower, wearing only a white terry cloth robe. Unlike women, men like Jacob—in their early thirties—required no special maintenance. His physique remained as impressive as it had been before their marriage, and even the simple robe couldn't diminish his commanding presence.
The moment he stepped out, his gaze froze. Serafina was nursing.
After a moment, he walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, gently stroking Abigail's cheek as he murmured, "How many times will she need to feed tonight?"
Serafina's cheeks burned, but she forced herself to remain composed. "You really shouldn't stay overnight anymore. It's... inappropriate."
Jacob's gaze was intense. "Afraid of me watching?"
Serafina couldn't answer.
Jacob didn't press her. He simply sat quietly, keeping the mother and daughter company. When Serafina finished nursing, he thoughtfully helped her button her gown, changed Abigail's diaper once more, then placed her in the crib and began soothing her to sleep.
As he watched Abigail's tiny face, his words were directed at Serafina, "I don't trust anyone else to take care of you both."
Such simple words, yet laden with meaning, carrying an intimacy that was impossible to ignore.
Serafina couldn't make him leave. She told herself that once they were discharged, he surely wouldn't impose himself at her home. She just needed to endure this period.
The night grew deeper.
The lights gradually dimmed until only a warm amber nightlight remained. In the quiet darkness, their breathing was clearly audible. Just as Serafina was drifting off to sleep, she heard Jacob's soft sigh.
"You have no idea how happy I was that you waited for me to come back."
Serafina didn't respond.
She pretended to be asleep, pressing her ear against the white pillow, breathing in the faint medicinal scent as she slowly surrendered to sleep.
Early morning, as dawn was breaking, Jacob brought Abigail over for another feeding.
Serafina was still drowsy, too tired to object to Jacob sitting nearby. She kept her eyes closed, telling herself it wasn't anything she hadn't seen before. But then she felt someone take her hand.
She instinctively tried to pull away, but warm masculine breath brushed her ear. "Feeling shy now?"
Serafina shot him a fierce glare.
Jacob smiled—a devastatingly handsome expression that carried all the sophisticated charm of a mature man. It reminded Serafina of the young nurse from the night before, and her voice turned cold. "I have nothing to be shy about."
Jacob's gaze was penetrating, as if he could see straight through her thoughts.
At eight o'clock, doctors and nurses arrived for their routine check. Serafina noticed the young nurse was absent.
Later, Jacob explained, "I had the hospital transfer her. I didn't want you to be uncomfortable seeing her again."
Serafina fell silent.
Serafina remained in the hospital for two weeks.
During those two weeks, Jacob attended to every detail of caring for mother and daughter. When Abigail soiled his expensive suits, he didn't seem to mind. He returned to the apartment once daily, while servants from Evergreen City came to prepare nourishing soups and supplements. He made the journey twice each day.
By the end of the fortnight, Serafina had regained her healthy glow, while Jacob appeared somewhat thinner.
The day before discharge, Isadora returned to Crystal City.
She tacitly allowed Jacob to remain at Serafina's side and to accompany them home. Her sources in Evergreen City kept her well-informed: Oliver and Sarah had visited the Everhart family to break the engagement. Though negotiations weren't complete, Jacob's ties to Chloe were effectively severed.
Isadora had always wished for Serafina's happiness.
Back at the apartment, Isadora excused herself to buy baby formula, leaving the spacious home to the family of three and two housekeepers—a more private setting than the hospital.
In the master bedroom, a pink crib held the peacefully sleeping Abigail.
Serafina adjusted her soft wool shawl with one hand as she leaned over to tuck Abigail's blanket more securely around her. Her expression was infinitely tender, her features soft with maternal love.
Jacob watched from nearby, unable to look away for the longest time.
He could hardly bear to tear his gaze from her. Only now did he truly understand how much he'd missed her, how deeply he'd longed for her, how desperately he wanted to hold her. The moment the thought occurred to him, he acted on it.
Serafina hadn't yet reached a full month postpartum, but her waist had already returned to its former slenderness. Now, held gently in Jacob's embrace, she caught the faint scent of tobacco on his clothes, mingled with a hint of aftershave.