Chapter 99

Just now, it seemed that she heard Ophelia calling… husband? At the school gate. Seeing the familiar car, Ophelia quickened her pace and ran over.

“Honey! You…!”

As soon as I got in the car and had just opened my mouth, I was tightly pulled into a hard embrace. The irresistible force made Ophelia feel as if she was about to suffocate from lack of oxygen.

Holding the girl’s soft body in his arms, with his nose buried in her fragrant neck, Winford’s tense forehead gradually relaxed, and the anxiety and rage in his heart were finally suppressed.

“Honey, what was wrong with you…?”

Ignoring the discomfort caused by his grip, Ophelia asked with concern. Looking at the girl’s eyes, which revealed her unreserved worry, her hastily thrown-on clothes, and the slippers she hadn’t had time to change, Winford suddenly felt an indescribable emotion in his heart.

“It’s nothing. I just missed Lia.”

His voice faintly revealed exhaustion. Ophelia observed carefully and noticed the bloodshot veins in his eyes, which made her feel a pang of sympathy. “Did you not rest well?” she asked.

Chapter

Winford did not speak. The co-pilot, Graham, opened his mouth as if to say something, but he didn’t dare to speak. Mr. Winford hadn’t slept at all that night. By the time he was supposed to rest, not only did he feel no drowsiness, but he was also extremely irritable, with a frighteningly dark expression on his face. The doctor had advised that Mr. Winford’s condition was very bad, and that he should not stay up late; otherwise, it was uncertain whether he would even live to see thirty. To this end, he endured immense pressure and reminded them several times. However, he did not expect that Mr. Winford’s dependence on his new wife had become so severe without him realizing it. Even when he lay in bed, he still couldn’t fall asleep.

So, in the dead of night, Ventura University arrived. The car started, and Ophelia thought they were heading back to Sunset Vista. She didn’t say anything, as Winford’s current situation worried her, and there was no point in going back. However, a few minutes later, the car stopped at an apartment near the school.

“Hey? Husband…?”

She hadn’t had the chance to ask anything before Winford carried her out of the car. The feeling of unease that hung in the air made her instinctively wrap her arms around his neck. The man took large strides and reached the house in just a few steps. Before she could clearly see the furnishings around her, he had already carried her into the room, and by the time she realized it, she was lying on the bed. He did nothing but hold her tightly, as if trapping her in an indestructible cage, like guarding a rare treasure he could not afford to lose.

At that moment, his tightly furrowed brows finally relaxed, his body also loosened up, and without saying a word, he fell into a deep sleep.

Ophelia was stunned. She moved slightly, and then felt the arm around her waist suddenly tighten. His thick eyebrows furrowed sharply, as if he was about to open his eyes the next moment. She immediately dared not move and obediently lay in his arms. The phone suddenly rang, and she hurriedly pressed the mute button. I took a quiet glance and saw that it was a message from Graham. Mr. Winford had not slept at all that night. A single short sentence had stirred Ophelia’s heart deeply.

I couldn’t sleep… Was it because she wasn’t there?

Looking at the man beside her who had fallen into a deep sleep, she felt both happy and sad at the same time. She was happy that she was so important to him, but also sad that she was so important to him. What had she given him? Nothing at all, just accompanied him for a while, just said some nice words to him, and that was it. Yet, he had become so attached to her. How much indifference had this man endured to care so much about her insignificant bit of love and warmth? Her eyes felt dry and sore as she gently leaned into his embrace and closed her eyes.

Ophelia had a good rest in the first half of the night and woke up very early the next day. Winford was still asleep, lying obediently in his arms without moving. Her eyes couldn’t help but fall on his chest, where the beautifully defined muscles stretched against the thin shirt. She tried to hold back, but couldn’t resist. She quietly looked up and saw that he was still sound asleep, so she mustered her courage and reached out a finger, gently poking him.

“Ah!” The small hand was suddenly wrapped by a large hand, and she let out a small gasp in fright.