Chapter 105 What Do You Mean You Have No Time?
Just thinking about Alex's expression earlier made her feel exhausted.
She really didn't want anything more to do with Alex.
But he kept showing up again and again...
Forget it.
Emily let out a soft sigh and simply stopped thinking about it.
The most important thing right now was getting her daughter better quickly.
Everything else could wait.
Soon enough, dawn broke.
During this time, aside from Andrew having someone check in on them a few times, it was surprisingly peaceful.
Emily had the household staff bring her tablet and design drafts to the hospital room.
She took care of her daughter while handling company matters.
Buzz buzz—
Emily had just finished feeding her daughter when her phone rang.
She glanced at the caller ID: "Matthew, what's up?"
The man's gentle voice came through the receiver: "Emmie, I still have some things to handle at the company before I can come over. How's Eleanor? Has her fever gone down?"
A smile flashed in Emily's eyes: "Yeah, the fever's down, don't worry. You don't need to rush over. Eleanor's stable now. Just focus on work first. If anything comes up, I'll call you."
Matthew leaned back wearily against his desk, pressing his temples. "I should be there with you both, but the partner suddenly changed their price. This project is really important, so I had to come back to handle it. You..."
Emily didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and quickly said: "I know, Matthew, you don't need to explain so much. Work is important, and Eleanor's fine. You don't need to come see us. The nurse is here to check her temperature, I've got to go!"
With that, she hung up.
However, Matthew looked at the darkened phone screen and let out a helpless, bitter laugh: "I wish you weren't so understanding..."
At least that would mean she was depending on him.
All these years in Paris, Emily had never depended on him. Whatever happened, she handled it herself.
A socialite daughter had turned herself into a powerhouse businesswoman.
Matthew's eyes dimmed. He said nothing more—the documents on his desk were practically burying him.
...
That day.
Alex didn't show up again.
Emily stayed by Eleanor's side constantly, wiping her face and giving her water.
She had to admit, the people Alex had arranged were very attentive.
Whether the medical team or the caregivers, everyone was very careful.
So it wasn't too busy.
While taking care of Eleanor, she could also handle work matters.
The Morrison collaboration project was still moving forward, and the final stages of the design drafts had been finalized.
Next came the actual implementation.
Headquarters called to check on progress and needed her to oversee things personally.
Emily sat by the bed, watching her daughter while working.
Two birds with one stone.
The hospital room was quiet, with only the soft mechanical sounds.
Soon it was afternoon.
Emily had just stood up to stretch when there was a sudden knock at the door.
"Come in." Without looking up, she responded softly.
A caregiver pushed the door open, looking somewhat troubled: "Um... Miss Johnson, Mr. Baker isn't feeling well right now. He's getting an IV in the room next door."
"Michael is a bit anxious outside. He's asking how you helped Mr. Baker with his stomach problem before? He really doesn't know what to do."
Emily had been browsing a design proposal, but at these words, her mouse suddenly froze.
She looked up, her brow furrowing slightly: "Alex's stomach problem is acting up again?"
Hadn't it just flared up a couple days ago...
In just two years, had it already gotten this bad?
The caregiver nodded, sounding even more troubled: "Yes, from what I heard from the assistant outside, Mr. Baker has been running between the company and hospital these past few days. During the day he handles company business, at night he comes to watch over the old man. He's been going non-stop for several days, barely eating and still having to attend business dinners. He wasn't feeling well last night. Then this morning when the doctor made rounds, they found Mr. Baker was in terrible pain. After the examination, they said it was acute gastritis... he has to get an IV and stay for observation. But he insists on going back to the company to handle work. We can't talk him out of it!"
Hearing this, Emily fell silent.
By rights, no matter how much Alex was suffering, it had nothing to do with her.
But her daughter had received timely treatment because Alex had used his resources to arrange it.
For a moment, Emily felt strangely conflicted.
She didn't want to care whether he lived or died.
But...
Just then, Eleanor slowly opened her eyes, her little hand tugging at her sleeve, saying softly: "Mommy, is Uncle sick? Go see him!"
Emily was startled: "You want... to go see him?"
The little one nodded without hesitation, then sat up with her limp hair: "Yes! Needles hurt!"
Emily looked down at her daughter and immediately understood.
She must have heard what the caregiver said and thought Alex was in pain right now.
And getting an IV, in a child's eyes, was very painful.
Emily pressed her lips together, looking at the pure concern in her daughter's eyes...
Fine.
For the sake of him arranging medical care for Eleanor, she'd make the trip.
"Okay." Emily closed her laptop and put a jacket on her. "Mommy will take you with her."
Then she picked her up and left the room.
Whether it was coincidence or not, Alex was actually in the room right next door.
Emily was completely speechless.
With Alex's status, he could easily have a top-tier private room in this hospital, the kind without even a hint of disinfectant smell.
At first glance, you'd think it was a suite.
Seeing the door wasn't fully closed, Emily gently pushed it open.
But before she'd taken two steps inside, she heard a cold bark: "Get out!"
Emily stopped in her tracks.
What, throwing people out before they even got in?
The doctor stood to the side, not daring to move, only carefully advising: "Mr. Baker... you're weak, you need to rest properly. Can't the company matter wait a bit? Otherwise the IV won't do any good."
Alex was half-reclined on the hospital bed, a needle in the back of his hand, but that didn't stop him from working on his laptop.
His dark suit jacket was already off. He was now wearing only a black dress shirt with the collar slightly open, revealing the lean muscle below his collarbone. Though his face was pale, it couldn't hide his usual noble and cold bearing.
Alex didn't look up, his tone indifferent: "Everyone out."
The doctor was helpless and didn't dare say more.
Emily stood at the door holding Eleanor, knowing full well that once he decided something, no one could change his mind.
"Seems Mr. Baker is very busy."
Alex paused, looked up and saw the mother and daughter at the door, those two delicate faces almost identical.
Alex's throat felt dry: "You came. Her fever's down? Is she okay to leave the room?"
He closed his laptop and sat up straighter.
"Uncle Alex!" Eleanor's little legs kicked, and she toddled over to the hospital bed, her small hand gently touching the back of his hand.
There, where the IV needle was.