Brian said sympathetically, "Don't push yourself so hard anymore. Your body can't handle high-intensity work right now. The volunteer drug trial I applied for at the hospital has been approved, which will save you a lot on medication costs."
I didn't expect it to go so smoothly; Brian must have helped a lot.
I said with gratitude, "Thank you."
A stranger had helped me so much, yet my husband hadn't even shown a bit of concern.
Brian handed me a handkerchief and said softly, "Wipe your tears."
I touched my face and felt the cold tears. I took the handkerchief, which had a faint woody scent. "I'll wash it and return it to you."
Brian didn't respond. He watched me take my medicine, gave a few more instructions, and then left.
In the following days, my health improved significantly. I could barely get out of bed and walk.
Nova visited me every day, and besides her, only Ryan occasionally called me.
Henry's assistant, in some ways, was more attentive than he was.
During the week he was out with Aria, he didn't call me once or send a single message.
One evening, just after I had taken my medicine and was about to rest, Ryan called. He sounded anxious, "Mrs. Phillips, have you been able to contact Mr. Phillips?"
I said, "No, if you want to find him, you should call Aria."
Ryan said worriedly, "Mr. Phillips and Ms. Clark's phones are both off. I can't reach them. There's an urgent document that needs Mr. Phillips' signature, or the contract will be void."
I replied indifferently, "If he isn't worried, why should you be?"
Ryan's voice was full of helplessness, "Mrs. Phillips, I'm really out of options. If this contract falls through, the company will suffer significant losses. The partner is Quinn Sullivan. She's a good friend of your mother's. If you represent the company, Ms. Sullivan will surely consider it."
"Sorry, Ryan, I can't help you." I hung up directly.
Over the years, Henry had had numerous scandals, but he had never abandoned his career for a woman.
This was the first time he had neglected the company to make Aria happy. He must really like Aria.
I closed my eyes, trying to sleep, but I couldn't. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw scenes from before our marriage.
Back then, he was so good to me. He treated me like a princess, holding me in the palm of his hand.
He would bring me a heating pad during my period, run a warm bath for me, and even carry me to the bathroom.
Once, I was in so much pain that I was writhing in bed, and he stayed up all night massaging my stomach.
He used to be such a good person. How did everything change?
I wiped my tears, but they wouldn't stop.
Suddenly, Henry called. I took a deep breath and answered.
His angry voice came through the phone. "Amelia, just because I didn't give you money, you let my deal with Ms. Sullivan fall through. How can you be so disgusting?"
"Not as disgusting as you, taking your lover on vacation, ignoring your assistant's calls, and then blaming me for the failed deal."
If he hadn't been indulging with Aria and left everything to Ryan, this mistake wouldn't have happened.
I was guessing there was little chance of salvaging the project with Quinn. Henry called me to take responsibility, just to leverage my connections with her.
Quinn was my mom's good friend. They had known each other for over twenty years and were like family.
When the Martinez family had trouble, Quinn wanted to help, but at that time, the Sullivan family's money and power were in her husband's hands.
She wanted to help but couldn't, and she always felt guilty about it. So later, she compensated me in many ways, treating me like her own daughter.
I had approached Quinn for Henry before. Quinn tolerated it several times for my sake.
"Amelia, every penny you spend now is mine!" Henry yelled over the phone, as if that could hide his guilt and anger.