Chapter 176
James kept his word and arranged for professional caregivers and a nutritionist. Two plainclothes bodyguards also appeared outside the hospital room—officially to protect her safety, but actually to monitor her every move.
After I didn't need to go to the hospital anymore, I was happy to have some peace, refocusing my energy on the studio and spending time with Aura.
After a few quiet days, Cecilia took the initiative to ask to see me, saying she wanted to express her gratitude.
I knew she definitely wasn't simply wanting to thank me—otherwise, she would have already sought out James to express her thanks. There was no way she would waste such a good opportunity.
Still, I was quite curious about her intentions, so I went to the hospital.
Cecilia kept pulling me into conversation, going over the same few things again and again—how she didn't save Aura to gain favors or expect repayment, and fishing for information about James.
I patiently chatted with her until lunchtime.
"Ms. Brown, I'm sorry, I got so caught up in our conversation that I lost track of time."
"It's lunchtime now. I wonder if you're free and willing to have lunch with me?" Cecilia said in a soft, gentle voice.
After chatting for so long, she was inviting me to eat with her—something felt off.
But I just raised my eyebrows slightly and didn't refuse: "Of course, what would you like to eat? I'll go buy it."
Cecilia seemed very easygoing: "Whatever you eat, I'll eat."
I went nearby and bought two boxed meals.
After we ate, right up until I left, Cecilia didn't pull any tricks.
Even though she didn't do anything, I just felt something wasn't quite right.
The moment I got home, I received a call from James.
"Something's happened."
I frowned deeply: "On Cecilia's end?"
James said that Cecilia had suddenly started vomiting and having diarrhea, with severe abdominal pain.
After examining her, the doctor initially determined it was acute gastroenteritis, but after carefully asking about her diet, they found there seemed to be something wrong with the food she ate at lunch.
My mouth twitched slightly. No wonder she invited me to lunch—she was waiting for me here: "I understand. I'll come over right now."
"I'll come back to pick you up. We'll go together."
James picked me up, and we went to the hospital together.
I sat in the passenger seat, propping my head up, asking somewhat irritably: "What do you think Cecilia is really trying to do?"
"She's been trying to frame you," James analyzed. "Maybe she wants me to think you're a bad woman, to drive a wedge between us."
I sighed: "More trouble you've brought on."
James was also helpless: "I didn't want this either."
I took out my phone to check. When I looked, I couldn't believe it—my mouth kept twitching.
"People online are saying I'm ungrateful, that I harmed my daughter's lifesaver out of jealousy."
James found a place to park, took my phone to look, and the more he read, the darker his expression became.
He handed my phone back: "Let's go to the hospital."
When we arrived at the hospital, Cecilia had just finished getting an anti-nausea injection. She lay pale-faced on the hospital bed, looking weak and fragile.
Seeing me and James come in together, a flash of panic crossed her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by grievance and fear.
"Mr. Smith..." Her voice was weak, and she instinctively shrank back, as if very afraid of me. "Ms. Brown..."
James ignored her performance and walked straight to the bedside, looking down at her with eyes devoid of any warmth.
"Ms. Thorne, regarding your food poisoning today, I'm already having people investigate." He got straight to the point, his tone cold and hard. "I hope you won't talk nonsense online and manipulate public opinion."
Cecilia's expression changed slightly as she tried to stay composed: "Mr. Smith, what happened online? I don't know, I didn't manipulate public opinion..."
Her shoulders trembled slightly: "I really don't know anything..."
"Do you really not know, or are you pretending not to know?" James interrupted her, his voice not loud but extremely oppressive. "I've already found out the truth, and you're still going to continue this act?"
Cecilia's eyes widened as tears welled up: "Mr. Smith... What do you mean? Are you suspecting me?"
"I saved Aura, and now I'm lying in the hospital with old injuries not yet healed and new ones added. Could I have harmed myself? I know Ms. Brown doesn't like me, but I never thought that even you, Mr. Smith..."
"Enough," James shouted her down, his face showing undisguised annoyance. "Cecilia, I don't have the time or interest to watch you act."
He leaned down slightly, staring into her eyes, each word clear and cold: "Don't test my limits."
"You saved Aura—the Smith family acknowledges this debt. If you want money, resources, or any compensation, as long as it's not excessive, I can give it to you. But beyond that, don't have any inappropriate ideas."
"About today's incident, I'm leaving you some dignity." He paused, his gaze sharp as an ice blade. "If you dare approach my daughter again or frame my wife, even your status as 'lifesaver' won't protect you."
Cecilia was shocked by the coldness and killing intent in his words. Her face turned deathly pale, her lips trembled, and she couldn't say a word—only tears kept flowing.
"Take care of yourself, rest, and recover. When you're healed, check out and go home." James straightened up, no longer looking at her, and took my hand. "Let's go."
Even after we'd walked far from the hospital room, I could still feel the low pressure around him.
"You were pretty fierce just now," I teased him.
"If I'm not fierce with her, should I let her continue fantasizing about me?" James gripped my hand tighter, his palm warm. "Sophia, with people like that, being too polite is just enabling them."
He looked at me, his gaze deep: "I will never let anyone, under any pretext, hurt you or use Aura to hurt you."
My heart jumped suddenly, burned by the determination in his eyes, and I quickly looked away.
So much so that I forgot he was still holding my hand. We held hands all the way to the car, and only then did James let go.
I felt the hand he'd held burning up, so hot...
I immediately warned myself—don't fall for him, don't fall for him.
After being warned by James last time, Cecilia quieted down.
For the next few days, she was unusually quiet and well-behaved.
A week later, Cecilia's burns and gastroenteritis had mostly healed, and the doctor approved her discharge.
On the day she was discharged, James sent a driver and assistant to pick her up and take her back to her own home. As previously stated, he gave her a check for a substantial amount as thanks and compensation.
Cecilia accepted the check without saying much more. Before leaving the hospital, she called Aura to say a gentle goodbye, telling her she would be going to work in another city and reminding Aura to listen to James and me.
On the phone, Aura seemed a bit reluctant but still said obediently: "Goodbye, Cecilia. Take care of yourself."
After hanging up, Aura was in low spirits. I held her and comforted her: "Cecilia just went to work. In the future, if there's a chance, Aura can go visit her."
Aura nodded and leaned against me.