CHAPTER 96 MINDED

"We broke up three years ago.” Henry lit himself a cigarette. 1

Shane wanted one for himself when he saw it. "Then what's the meaning of what you’ve done during this period of time?"

"You're referring to?" Henry puffed smoke and looked a t his friend indifferently, i

Shane flicked off some ashes. "Of course it's you being nice to Jacqueline. If I weren’t clear of things, I'd really think that you guys got together behind Yvonne's back."

"Nothing like that," Henry replied with a downward gaze.

Shane smiled. "I know that. But how you acted with her, like the intimate interactions and too much of your concern, gave people a lot to think about.”

Henry took another puff of his cigarette without saying anything.

Shane asked, "Why have you suddenly gotten levelheaded and why did you tell her these things?"

Henry was still silent.

Shane rolled his eyes. "Sure, acting deaf and mute, are you?"

"What are you trying to get at?" Henry creased his brows impatiently.

Shrugging, Shane replied, "Nothing. Just wanted to ask you why didn't you tell her that in the beginning? Do you know that how you've treated her during this time makes her think that you two have a chance at reconciliation?"

"I won't reconcile with her," Henry answered faintly.

He was well aware that he was married now. His wife was Yvonne Frey. As for Jackie, the past was the past. Even when he could not entirely forget her, he would not have anything to do with her.

"You won't, but that doesn't mean she doesn't think about it. Jacqueline's nature..." As if recalling something, Shane's gaze was frosty for an instant." Never mind, forget it. Just watch out more. And protect Yvonne."

"Protect?" Henry narrowed his eyes. "You mean Jackie will target Yvonne Frey?"

"That's what you say. I've reminded you anyway.

Whether you believe me or Jacqueline, it's your decision. Don't you regret it then," Shane stubbed his cigarette.

Henry turned to gaze at the door to Jacqueline's ward.

"I believe that Jackie won't do that. She's a kind soul." 2

Shane nearly slipped from the comment.

Kind?

If a woman like Jacqueline was kind, this world would be without a malicious person!

"Sure, look out for yourself then." Shane patted Henry's shoulder with a fake smile.

Henry jerked and flung his hand off. "Isn't your patient an urgent case?"

"Patient?” Shane froze before he spotted the stethoscope hanging around his neck and looked appalled. "Oh my, I almost forgot. Henry, I can't be your company, bye!"

He dashed for the elevator.

"Dumbass!" Henry could not help making fun of him while looking at his frantic sprint. His patient was unlucky to meet a forgetful doctor like him!

Finishing his cigarette in silence and looking back at Jacqueline's ward, Henry did not enter once more, leaving the hospital after stubbing out his cigarette.

Returning to the villa, he made Sue think that her eyes were fooling her.

"Sir, why are you home so soon?"

"Where's Yvonne Frey?" Henry asked instead of answering.

Sue pointed upstairs. "Madam went back to rest not long after you left. She probably isn't awake yet."

Henry hummed and headed for the room.

Opening the door, he gently made his way in and stopped by the bed.

Yvonne was sound asleep in the big soft bed. Slightly curling up, she looked exceptionally tiny and spurred one’s protective instincts.

Henry sat down slowly beside the bed and pinned the hair on her hair to the back of her ear. Her palm-sized face was fully exposed to his view. She was not exactly beautiful. At most, she looked fresh and delicate.

In the past, Henry was not the slightest bit interested when he looked at her. Now, however, he realized that she had grown easy to his eyes.

"Hmm..." The woman in the bed groaned out of the blue, making Henry retract his hand promptly. He thought that she was waking up but she was only turning around to continue her slumber.

No longer curled up, Yvonne was now splayed in the bed with her limbs fully stretched out, showing no grace in her sleeping position. She had kicked her blanket off far from her and half of it was hanging off the floor.

Taking in the view, Henry felt the veins on his forehead throbbing as he picked up the blanket and covered her with a long face.

Perhaps it was the higher temperature of the air conditioning. Feeling warm, Yvonne kicked off the blanket again a few seconds after it was draped on

her.

Henry's lips were pressed into an unhappy line as he stared at her for a while before he held it in and covered Yvonne with the blanket again. This time, he did not let go immediately after completing the action but pressed on the corners of the blanket tightly.

When he noticed that she was kicking off the sheets again, he spoke coldly, "You don’t have to sleep anymore if you kick it again!"

Jolted awake, Yvonne opened her eyes to see a frosty face in front of her. She was stunned for two seconds before she reacted, calling out unsurely, "Henry?”

"Since you’ve woken up, get up," Henry let go of the blanket and spoke faintly, not at all guilty that he had interrupted someone’s sleep.

"It's really you!" Yvonne gasped rubbing her eyes.

Henry raised his brow. "Who else do you think it is if not me?"

"Uh...” The corners of Yvonne's lips twitched. "I don't mean it like that. I’m just surprised that you’re suddenly back. Weren't you working?"

"I have something to talk to you about.” Henry smoothed out his sleeves.

Yvonne sat up. "What is it?"

"I went to the hospital to see Jackie," Henry said, looking into Yvonne's eyes.

Yvonne froze slightly, a tinge of sorrow flowing into her eyes. "Is it..."

He was probably there to console Jacqueline. After all, she had angered the woman. It was impossible that he did not visit her when he loved her so much.

"Aren’t you curious about what I want to tell you has t o do with me seeing her?" asked Henry. exclusive content.

Yvonne hung her head. "How would I know? Just tell me directly."

Henry pressed his lips together. "I told her that it's no longer possible between us."

"What?” Yvonne snapped her head up. "You... really told her that?"

Did he not love Jacqueline?

She knew that Henry said that nothing would happen between him and Jacqueline, but he did not tell the latter that. For him to say what he did now, was he not afraid of upsetting Jacqueline?

"Mm, I should've told her these a long time ago but I wasn't aware." Henry cast his gaze down.

It was because he still had Jackie in his heart. That was why he would subconsciously act so intimate with her. If it were not for Shane and his grandfather's reminders, he probably would not have realized if he was right or wrong.

"But what about Miss Conrad?" Yvonne asked

carefully.

"What about Jackie?" Henry frowned.

"Aren't you worried that she’ll be saddened when you told her that?"

Henry was quiet for a few seconds. "It's better to be sad now than to be sad in the future."

Yvonne grinned.

"What are you smiling at?" Henry looked at her.

"I'm very happy," she replied.

"About?" Henry leaned against the bed frame.

"Of course about what you told Miss Conrad. Actually, since Miss Conrad's appearance, I've minded her presence," Yvonne took a deep breath and spilled what she had been keeping in her heart boldly.

"Minded?" Henry squinted.

"Mm, because you're my husband, so I mind that you have another woman around you," Yvonne answered holding her hands.

Listening to what she said, Henry was hit with an inexplicable sense of delight despite him maintaining an aloof front. "You mind it because of this? Nothing else?"