Chapter 172

It was already 1:00 a.m. when they finished supper. The children were so sleepy they could barely keep their eyes open, constantly rubbing them.

"So sleepy!" one child mumbled.

"It's already one o'clock," their father, Bruce, said. "Go to bed. We have to go to the hospital tomorrow."

Joanna stood up. "I'll sleep with the children!"

"They're grown up now," Bruce protested. "How can they sleep with their mother?"

"Bruce, stop being so domineering!" Joanna retorted. "They're only four years old and need their mother's company!"

"Ah, alright, alright!" Bruce conceded, not wanting to argue. "Do as you please!"

"Let's go to our room!" Joanna said.

"Okay!" the children replied.

The two boys led the way to their room, Joanna following behind. The children's room was surprisingly spacious, with a large bed. To prevent Bruce from entering, Joanna locked the door, wedged a chair against it, and hung a glass on the handle. Any attempt to open the door would be noisy.

Davian and Irvin were already in their pajamas. The bed, a generous 2m x 2m, easily accommodated the three of them. Davian jumped onto the bed and hugged Joanna's arm. "I want to sleep next to Mommy!" Irvin immediately hugged her other arm. "Me too!"

"Go to sleep! You need to wake up early tomorrow," Joanna instructed. "If you sleep too late, you won't be able to get up."

"Okay!" the boys replied obediently, closing their eyes.

Joanna slept in the middle, with Davian and Irvin on either side. They were so sleepy that they fell asleep within ten minutes. Exhausted herself, Joanna soon followed suit.

Half an hour later, a click. The small balcony door opened quietly. Bruce entered. A dim table lamp illuminated the room, but he could still see everything clearly. Joanna slept in the middle, the children on either side.

"Hmph, you guys are quite intimate," Bruce muttered, feeling a pang of jealousy. He couldn't help but feel possessive, even though they were his own sons. How could his woman sleep with other "men," even if those "men" were his children?

He bent down to look at them more closely. They were all soundly asleep. He gently lifted Davian and moved him to another bed, then did the same with Irvin.

Once the children were settled, Bruce crept to the bed and lay down beside Joanna. She remained asleep, completely unaware of his presence. He wrapped his arm around her waist. Joanna hadn't slept properly in two days. Now that she was asleep, her slumber was deep and peaceful. Bruce felt a surge of affection, but he didn't want to disturb her tranquility. He simply enjoyed holding her close.

At 6:00 a.m., Joanna stirred. She reached out to hug Davian, but instead embraced a large, unfamiliar form. The touch was unsettling; it definitely wasn't Davian. She opened her eyes to see Bruce's handsome face inches from hers. He was fast asleep.

"Why are you in here again?" she asked, sitting up in alarm. She remembered locking the door and barricading it. She couldn't understand how he'd gotten in.

Her movement woke Bruce.

"Is it morning?" he mumbled.

Joanna tried to hide her panic. "Bruce, how did you get in?"

"Through the wall!" he said playfully, rubbing his eyes and tightening his hold on her. Joanna looked to the side of the bed—the children were gone. It was only her and Bruce.

"What about Davian and Irvin?" she asked.

"They're on the other bed," he replied lazily.

Fury choked Joanna. She tried to pull the covers away and get out of bed, but Bruce's arm held her fast.

"It's not even dawn yet. Where are you going?"

"Lunatic, let go of me!" Joanna pushed him angrily.

"Shh, be quiet, don't disturb the children," Bruce whispered.

All traces of sleepiness vanished from Joanna. "Bruce, you said you wouldn't touch me. You can't go back on your word!"

Bruce snorted. "Did I touch you?"

"Aren't you touching me by hugging me like this?"

Bruce smirked. "If this is considered touching you, then I don't need to try any harder!" He rolled onto her.

Joanna's eyes widened in horror. "Bruce, what are you doing?"

"You're the one who said it. Since it's considered touching you, I might as well really touch you!"

Joanna tried to push him away. "Get up quickly. The children are still there!"

"Then keep your voice down. We don't want to wake them."

"Bruce, I'm begging you, don't do this!"

"Joanna, don't you miss me?" Bruce's breathing grew heavier. He hadn't touched her in a long time.

"Get up, I'm begging you!" Joanna pleaded.

Bruce lowered his head to kiss her. "Are you really going to reject me?"

Joanna turned her head to avoid his lips. "You're crazy! Get up"

"If you scold me again, I won't be so polite anymore!"

"Bruce, I'm begging you, please don't do this!" Joanna cried, tears streaming down her face. She was terrified by his intensity, especially with the children so close. She didn't want to traumatize them.

Bruce smiled suggestively. "Why are you afraid of me? We were husband and wife."

"Bruce, can you get up first?"

"Are you afraid of waking the children up?" Bruce began untying the straps of her pajamas.

Joanna gasped, feeling trapped. She knew resistance would only make him more aggressive.

"I'm not interested or in the mood right now!" she said. "Can you bear with it for two days? After Lilia gets better, we'll"

Bruce released her and kissed her forehead. "Okay," he said. "If you'd asked nicely from the start…"

"Hug me," he added.

Joanna forced a smile. "It's dawn. Time to get up."

"It's only six o'clock. Sleep for another two hours!"

She dared not resist and allowed him to hold her. He was a wild beast, ready to pounce. Resistance would only escalate the situation.

"Hug me," he commanded.

She wrapped her arms around his waist.

"Tighter!"

She tightened her grip.

"What are you afraid of?"

For the next hour, neither of them slept. Joanna’s heart pounded. Bruce's frustration grew, but he held back, keeping his promise and wanting to avoid her resentment.

"Mommy" a child's voice called out.

"The children are awake!" Joanna quickly broke free from Bruce's embrace. "Davian, Irvin, you're awake! Hurry up and get up. We're going to the hospital to see your sister!"