Chapter 84
Chapter 84
Laura, Doris, and Rupert surrounded the doctor and asked, “Doctor, how’s our mom?”
The doctor looked at the anxious trio and said, “She has multiple soft tissue injuries and two fractured ribs, but her life is no longer in danger. She just needs proper rest.”
Hearing this, Doris, Laura, and Rupert all visibly sighed in relief.
Peyton was transferred to a ward. Laura, Doris, and Rupert followed her there.
Peyton lay unconscious on the hospital bed, her face deathly pale, an IV drip attached to her hand.
Rupert received a phone call and left..
When he got home and entered the living room, a pillow came flying straight at him.
Caught off guard, Rupert was hit, but he didn’t get angry. He picked up the pillow, walked over, and sat beside Claudia. “Honey, what’s wrong?”
“Rupert, stay away from me.” Claudia scooted away, clearly unwilling to be near him.
“Honey, don’t be mad. Getting angry isn’t good for your health or the baby.” Rupert moved closer and hugged her.
Claudia pushed him away with a cold expression. “Oh, so you know stress is bad for me? Then why aren’t you doing something about finding a job and making money? You left early this morning–where the hell were you?”
Rupert answered truthfully, “Mom got into a car accident. I was at the hospital. The moment you called, I came straight home. What, did you miss me?”
“Dream on!” Claudia had been irritated ever since Rupert lost his job at Watson Group and could no longer stand the sight of him.
“I’m still carrying your child, and you don’t even have a job to support me and the baby? When I married you, what did you promise me? Now you’re
abandoning us?”
“Of course not,” Rupert said.
“Oh really? I’m out of money–give me some.” Claudia held out her hand.
“I–I don’t have any either.” Rupert had always spent money lavishly and never saved a dime, relying entirely on his parents.
“Didn’t you promise to give me 3 grand on the 10th of every month? How long has it been overdue? Are you backing out now?” Claudia said, displeased.
“I really don’t have any money right now.”
“Then your parents have money. If you won’t give it to me, ask them. If they refuse, go borrow some. One way or another, I expect every penny of what you promised.” Claudia demanded firmly.
After all, now that she and Rupert were legally married, the wedding gifts were in her hands, and the house had her name on it. She no longer needed to keep up the act of being a sweet, virtuous wife.
“Honey, wasn’t there 7,000 dollars in that account last time?” Rupert took her hand. “Once I find a job, I’ll definitely give you more.”
“Find a job?” Claudia sneered and pulled her hand away. “Rupert, it’s not that I’m looking down on you, but with your qualifications, do you really think you’ll land a better job than the one at Watson Group? Do you think you’ll make more
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money with better benefits?
“Even if you do get a job, it’ll only be around one thousand dollars a month. How are you supposed to support me and the baby with that? Are we supposed to suffer with you? If that’s the case, then we might as well not have the baby.
“It’s still early enough in the pregnancy to terminate it. Raising a child is expensive, and if we can’t afford it, then we should just give up. No need to make life harder for everyone.
“I’ll call the hospital now to book an appointment.”
Claudia picked up her phone, but Rupert immediately snatched it from her hand. “Claudia, don’t do this.”
“Then what do you want?” Claudia stared at him. “I just don’t want our child to suffer. I’m trying to reduce our burdens- what’s wrong with that?”
“It’s my fault. I’m useless. But Claudia, I love you. Please, don’t give up on our child.”
Rupert gripped her shoulders, his eyes full of desperation. “I’ll find a job. Trust me, I can support you both.Of course, I want to work at Watson Group again. But Doris refuses to cooperate, and I don’t know what to do.”
Claudia snapped angrily, “She won’t cooperate? Then find a way to make her cooperate.”
“Do you have a plan?”
“I do have a plan, but it depends on whether you dare to go through with it.”
“Tell me. As long as I can return to Watson Group, I’m willing to do anything.”
“Ryan wants Doris to get a divorce, doesn’t he? You need to give him a push to make it happen. That way, he’ll agree to let you go back to work.”
Claudia leaned close to Rupert’s ear and whispered her plan.
Rupert’s eyes lit up, and he praised her, “Honey, you’re brilliant. I’ll do exactly that.”
Claudia finally smiled in satisfaction, “This is letting her off too easily, though. She won’t even appreciate it. I’ll probably end up being scolded because of you.”
Rupert held Claudia in his arms. “I’m here, and so are Mom and Dad. Doris wouldn’t dare do anything.”
Doris stayed by Peyton’s side at the hospital all night.
Early in the morning, Jimmy and Rupert arrived with breakfast.
Rupert placed a thermal food container on the bedside table and emphasized. “Mom, Claudia couldn’t come to see you in person, but she asked me to bring you some chicken broth.
“She made it herself as a token of her filial respect. Just heat it up whenever you want to drink it. She said she’ll make more once you finish this.”
“Thank Claudia for me. She’s pregnant—just tell her to take care of herself instead of making things for me. I have Chris and Laura looking after me,” Peyton said, worried that Claudia might overexert herself.
“Exactly,” Jimmy agreed. “Rupert, you must take good care of Claudia. We’ll take care of Mom.”
“Alright.” Rupert nodded and handed a breakfast portion to Doris. “Mom, Doris, you should eat your breakfast.”
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Chapter 84
Doris wasn’t used to Rupert serving her food. “Thanks,” she said as she accepted it.
After breakfast, Laura arrived and immediately noticed the dark circles under Doris‘ eyes, knowing she hadn’t rested well.
Laura said to Doris, “You’ve been exhausted for a whole day and night. Go home and rest. I’ll stay here.”
“Alright.” Doris was indeed drained. “I’ll come back in the afternoon.”
“Since Laura’s here, I’ll head back too. I’m getting old and can’t handle too much exhaustion,” Jimmy said, and then called out to Rupert, “Rupert, take me home and drop Doris off on the way.”
Laura chimed in, “Doris, don’t take the subway. Just take Rupert’s car and get home faster to rest.”
And so, Doris got into Rupert’s car with Jimmy.
Rupert first dropped Jimmy off at Maplewood Estates before driving Doris home.
+23)
Doris hadn’t slept well the night before. As soon as she leaned back in the seat, drowsiness took over, and she quickly dozed
off.
When Doris woke up again, she found herself in a hotel room.
Propping herself up on the bed, she tried to recall what had happened, but she couldn’t remember a thing.
She thought, ‘How did I sleep so deeply? Thankfully, myclothes are intact, and there are no signs of anything unusual.
Feeling thirsty, Doris called Rupert.
Rupert answered, “What’s up?”
“Rupert, why am I in a hotel? Doris asked in confusion.
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