Chapter 18

He remembered Naomi's call from the previous year. He'd been in a meeting and asked Jason to return the call, but she'd said everything was fine. Later, he went on a business trip.

Observing Berdan's change in expression after she revealed what she'd been holding back, Bailey turned to Naomi and said, "Naomi, get some rest. I'll come visit you later."

After Bailey left, Naomi noticed Brendan had remained silent with a stern expression. She resumed her usual composure and remarked, "Alright, don't look so stern. With a wife as considerate as me, you should be happy."

She added, "Don't mention Bailey next time. There are many things you don't know, and doing that would upset her." It was unacceptable for outsiders to discuss it, let alone someone close to her.

Naomi dismissed Brendan's indifference. He held the back of her neck and pulled her close. "Naomi, do you still have feelings for me?"

Observing Naomi, and considering her past avoidance of trouble and her stubbornness in steering clear of it, Brendan felt uneasy. He was afraid of becoming the person Naomi wanted to avoid.

In response to Brendan's question, Naomi smiled faintly. "If I felt nothing, how could I go on? Besides, even though I'm unwell, you've come here to visit me empty-handed, and now you're wearing such a stern expression. Do you have no shame?"

Naomi casually teased Brendan, but he slowly loosened his hold on her neck. Gently stroking her face, he asked, "Why didn't you tell me about such an important thing?" Another woman would probably have mentioned it repeatedly. Naomi, however, hadn't.

Naomi, in her hospital gown, casually remarked, "It's all in the past, and I'm fine now." The more casually she spoke, the more uncomfortable Brendan felt. Despite their strained relationship, he was still her husband.

With her right hand on Brendan's wrist, Naomi was about to move his hand from her face. Brendan pulled her closer. Stumbling forward, she ended up nuzzling against him.

Seeing affection in his eyes, Naomi raised her hands, encircling his neck. "Are you ready to have a child?"

"Don't you have anything else on your mind?"

Naomi insisted, "Let's have one! Otherwise, life would be too boring."

Brendan declined. "No."

Rising on her tiptoes, Naomi playfully rubbed her forehead against his. "Let's have one, just one!"

With a smile, Brendan said, "Nope."

Naomi, still childlike, hadn't yet figured out her own feelings.

"Brendan!"

He gave a noncommittal hum.

In the midst of their ambiguous interaction, the door opened. Heather's voice burst out, "Naomi, why are you suddenly sick?"

Inside the room, Brendan and Naomi quickly separated. Heather stood at the door for a moment. After staring at them, she finally asked, "Are you two fighting or being affectionate?"

Naomi didn't answer, saying instead, "Mom, you're here!"