Chapter 20
After saying that, Howard coughed hard a few times. He looked so weak and drained, nothing like how he'd been doing tai chi in the yard just a few days ago.
Ava sobbed uncontrollably, remembering how her grandmother had fallen in the yard, and after that, her health went downhill day by day until she passed away six months later.
At this age, the body is more fragile than you can imagine.
When it's time to go, they just go.
"Grandpa, please stop talking and get some rest."
Howard sighed, tears squeezing out from the corners of his eyes.
Then he started coughing violently again.
Ava was so heartbroken she could barely speak.
"Grandpa, please don't get upset. I agree, I agree..."
After coughing for a long time, Howard finally calmed down. He stroked Ava's hair, his eyes full of apology.
"Ava, you must have been so scared, right? Did you stay up all night watching over me? Go home and rest. Let that bastard William stay here today."
"Grandpa, I'm not leaving. I want to stay here with you."
"Be good and go rest. I'm fine, still going strong.
William, call the driver and have him take your wife home."
William knelt on the floor making the call, and soon the driver arrived.
Ava obediently got in the car back to the Morgan Mansion, set an alarm for Howard's dinner time, and dozed off in a daze.
In the afternoon, Veda made a nutritious meal for Howard. The driver was going to deliver it, but she felt uneasy staying home, so she got in the car too.
In the hospital room, Howard was sleeping while William still knelt by the bed. His upper body was straight, and even while kneeling, he radiated an unmistakable pride.
He was born proud.
Ava stared for a few seconds, then sat on the bench outside the door with the thermal container. After hearing slight movement inside, she looked through the door window and saw that Howard had indeed woken up.
"Grandpa, you're awake. Do you want some water?"
Howard shook his head. "Silly girl, I told you to go home and rest. Why are you back?"
"Grandpa, I brought you food. Rest a bit more, then eat something so you'll get better faster."
Ava put down the thermal container and went to adjust the bed.
Her hand touched the handle, she glanced at William kneeling on the floor, then let go.
"Grandpa, I can't do it. Let William help."
Howard was sharp and knew exactly what the girl was up to.
"Your wife is pleading for you. Why don't you get up?"
William, granted mercy, hurried to stand. He'd been kneeling too long, and his legs were numb. He held onto the edge of the bed, struggling to push himself up bit by bit.
"Ava, help him up."
Howard was annoyed with William, but he wanted the young couple to make things work.
Ava looked at his pained expression and felt her heart soften a little. For Howard's sake, she went over to help him.
The nearly six-foot-three man almost knocked her over.
"Can you be a little lighter?"
William said helplessly, "My legs have no strength."
After helping him up, Ava pulled over a chair and put her hand on his shoulder, pressing down slightly. William was pushed right into the chair.
After nearly three years together, this was the first time she was in a strong position while he was weak.
It felt pretty good.
William glanced at her a few times and sat obediently.
Right now, his legs were nearly crippled from kneeling, so he could only let her do as she pleased.
After getting him settled, Ava efficiently raised the bed, set up the table, and prepared to feed Howard.
Seeing the two getting along okay, Howard's mood improved, and so did his appetite. He had half a bowl more porridge than at lunch, with every bite personally fed by Ava.
In the evening, Ava offered to stay overnight, and William didn't dare leave either. Unfortunately, there was only one single bed for family in the room.
After Howard fell asleep, William went downstairs to smoke. Because of her pregnancy, Ava got sleepy easily, and with last night's all-nighter, those few hours during the day weren't nearly enough to make up for it. She leaned against the family bed and fell into a deep sleep within minutes.
William stayed downstairs for a while, then returned to the room, drawn by the sound of light snoring.
He frowned, thinking, "This woman sleeps so soundly, and she snores. But it seems like she's having a nightmare."
He walked over and studied her carefully in the moonlight.
Ava had a gentle, graceful look, delicate as poetry, but with a pair of alluring fox-like eyes. Countless nights, he'd been captivated by them beyond control.
This look perfectly matched his taste.
William couldn't help but lift her into the bed and tuck her in. Ava licked her lips and settled back into sleep.
Her lips were cherry red and full, slightly parted at the moment, her breath sweet. Anyone who saw them would want to have a taste.
William watched, getting more and more absorbed, unconsciously leaning closer. Just as he was about to touch her lips, Ava moved her arm and started talking in her sleep.
"Joseph, Joseph..."
He snapped back to reality, his expression turning cold.
She was dreaming of Joseph again.
Three years sleeping beside him, and he'd never once heard his own name in her dreams. It was always Joseph.
Damn Joseph!
Coldly, he yanked away the blanket he'd just tucked in and quietly watched this ungrateful woman.
Ava felt the cold and curled up her whole body, like a cat, small and tiny.
A moment later, the blanket was back on her, and her curled body relaxed again.
That night, Ava didn't sleep well, having nightmares the whole time. In the morning, she was woken by voices and opened her eyes to see a room full of white coats.
While kneeling by the bed yesterday, William hadn't been idle. He'd contacted top experts from around the country who rushed over overnight to consult on Howard's case.
Howard was cooperating with a doctor taking his blood pressure.
"Ava, you're awake?"
With Howard's words, seven or eight pairs of eyes in the room all turned to her at once.
Ava awkwardly fixed her hair, silently cursing herself for sleeping so late. She glanced at William resentfully—this guy didn't even wake her when he got up.
She was here to keep watch, but she slept even more than the patient.
Truly embarrassing.
Howard saw through her thoughts and comforted her.
"Ava, you were too tired. I told him not to wake you. Sleep, it's fine."
A doctor joked, "Howard really dotes on his granddaughter. Now that this girl is awake, can we talk loudly?"
Howard laughed. "This is my grandson's wife. She was exhausted yesterday. Please understand!"
The doctors nodded repeatedly. "We understand, we understand. Young people need more sleep. Being able to sleep is a blessing."
Ava's face turned even redder.
After the doctors finished their examination and left, William followed them out.
Ava took a towel to wash Howard.
"Grandpa, why didn't you wake me? That was so embarrassing just now."
Just then, the hospital room door was pushed open, and William happened to hear her say, "That was so embarrassing."
"You know it's embarrassing? I've never seen you sleep so soundly on the three-hundred-thousand-dollar mattress at home."
Ava was left speechless. Howard wasn't having it and looked up at him sternly.
"You covering someone with a blanket in the middle of the night isn't embarrassing? Sneaking a kiss on your wife isn't embarrassing? Who was it that carried her into bed? Always so stubborn."
William pinched the bridge of his nose, getting a headache.
Ava's eyes switched back and forth between the two, completely confused.
Just then, Isabella arrived with the driver bringing breakfast.
William actively busied himself, adjusting the bed, setting up the table, feeding porridge—all to change the subject and shut Howard up.
Fortunately, Howard didn't say anything more, and he breathed a sigh of relief.
Howard ate half a bowl of lean meat porridge, one sea cucumber, and half an egg. Isabella wrote this down and instructed the driver, "Bring more food in three hours."
Seeing she had no intention of leaving, Howard directly sent her away.
"You go back too. Let these two kids keep me company today."
Ava knew that when Howard talked about keep him company, he really wanted William and her to spend more time together. Her heart ached as she silently thought, "Grandpa, we're getting divorced."
A few minutes after Isabella left, there was a knock on the door. Ava thought Isabella had forgotten something and went to open it. When she saw who was outside, she froze in place.