Free Web NovelChapter 596: Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff
"If you know that he has found someone who looks exactly like me, then you’d have guessed why I am being held captive here," Wendy sighed.
Zen tried hard to recall what had happened, "All I remember is that when I was thrown into the plane, I saw a person who looked exactly like you. But someone knocked me out when I turned around to try and warn you guys.
"I might have woken up a few times during the trip, but I cannot, for the life of me, remember what went on. All I remember is that I was hurting very badly. The pain was so bad that I was shaking down to my very soul."
Having had some water to drink, Zen seemed less dehydrated and was now able to string a couple of sentences together.
"That was because the doctor was trying to remove the bullet from your wound," Wendy informed her. Thinking back, she cringed with fear and heartache as she remembered a pale-faced Zen with huge beads of sweat rolling off her forehead.
"The flight time from Rheinsville City to Lake City takes more than ten hours."
"Your wound was life-threatening. They had no choice but to remove the bullet in flight. You had to endure the pain because there was no anesthetic on board the flight.
"You were woken up a few times because of the pain, only to pass out again."
"But why are we here?" Zen looked at the unfamiliar setting. Although she knew that they were now held captive by Christian, she did not know the specifics of what was going on.
"I don’t know where we are either," Wendy replied honestly. "All I know is that we are still in Rheinsville City, in Christian’s territory. We are now his prisoners."
That said, she lowered her voice and whispered in Zen’s ears, "This is a basement. I believe this is Christian’s hideout."
"Do you think we’d be able to escape from here?" Despite being held captive by Christian, Zen was nonetheless going to try to find a way out of here.
Even a one percent chance of escape was desirable.
Even if they could not escape together, Zen still wished that Wendy would be able to get out of here.
Wendy was pregnant. She should not be suffering at Christian’s hands like this.
Besides, with Christian’s erratic moods, there was no telling when and how he might harm Wendy, despite his love for her.
It would be potentially dangerous for Wendy if Christian got mad enough and decided to harm her.
Wendy said nothing in response to what Zen told her. Instead, she reached out and held Zen’s hand, sighing almost inaudibly, "Let’s just get you well first. I’m sure we’ll find a way to get out of here."
Of course, she had said that merely to console Zen.
Because she realized that it would be very difficult for them to escape.
Zen was about to speak up when she was overcome by a fit of coughing.
Despite no longer being under the effect of the anesthetic, she had still been able to endure the pain from her wounds.
However, the coughing fit had ripped through her wounds and she instantly turned pale at the excruciating pain.
Scared out of her wits, Wendy immediately shouted for the doctor.
The doctor helped Zen lay back down on the bed and he checked her wounds.
Noticing that some of her wounds had been ripped apart, he set about dressing them again.
Eventually, he gave her another shot of anesthetic to temporarily help with the pain.
When he had settled Zen down, the doctor said, "Since Ms. Tanner has just woken up, she should not be doing too much talking. Make sure she gets plenty of bed rest.
"If she gets agitated, her wounds might rip again and that would impair the recovery."
Wendy felt guilty when she heard the doctor’s words.
She said instantly, "Rest up, Zen. We’ll talk when you’re fully recovered, OK?"
Actually, there was a lot more that Zen wanted to say to Wendy but for now, all she could do was to nod weakly.
Not wishing to keep Zen from getting proper rest, Wendy left the basement.
Thereafter, she came back at one-hour intervals to check on Zen.
...
"Why are you up so early?" "Wendy" asked. She had spent the night watching over Michael in the hospital and had only gone home in the early morning to make some oatmeal porridge for him.
Seeing the thermal flask of food in "Wendy’s" hand, Michael’s gaze turned a lot more tender.
Noticing that Michael was trying to sit up in bed, "Wendy" quickly stepped forward, deposited the thermal flask on the table, and helped him.
"It’s just past seven. Did you go home to make this?" Michael asked, sounding concerned.
"You’re pregnant and you need your rest. Don’t worry about me. The medical team here will take good care of me.
"I can always get Mr. York to buy me breakfast. I just don’t want you tiring yourself out traveling back and forth between home and the hospital.
"Besides, you are also injured."
Indeed, there was a wound on "Wendy’s" neck.
"It’s no big deal. My injury is not serious. I couldn’t sleep. That’s why I left early to make oatmeal porridge for you," "Wendy" explained.
While talking, she opened the thermal flask, spooned some of the aromatic porridge, and blew on it to cool it down before feeding it to Michael. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
"I can eat on my own," Michael said, not wanting to over-exert "Wendy".
After some hesitation, he accepted the bowl from "Wendy".
Taking the bowl from her, Michael patted the space beside him on the bed, gesturing for her to sit there.
Smiling, "Wendy" walked over and sat beside him.
She watched happily as he ate up all the porridge that she had made.
After a few mouthfuls, Michael looked up and smiled, "This porridge tastes a little more grainy than what you usually make. I remember that you used to cook it till it’s really mushy."
"Wendy" lowered her eyes for one second before quickly recovering to look into Michael’s eyes, saying, "I did not want you to wake up and find yourself alone. I wanted to come back here as soon as possible.
"That’s why the porridge is not as well cooked. Don’t eat it if it’s not to your liking. I will go out and buy something for you."
This was a viable explanation that also showed that she cared very much about his well-being.
When he saw "Wendy" reaching out for the bowl as she talked, Michael felt sorry for being thoughtless.
Moving away, he dodged "Wendy’s" hand, saying, "How could store-bought food compare with food made by you? I was just making a fleeting comment."
At that, he began to eat big mouthfuls of the porridge, cleaning out the bowl in no time.
Then he passed the empty bowl to "Wendy" and, with a gentle smile, said, "One more please."
"Wendy" took over the bowl and filled it for him again.
As she watched Michael empty out the second bowl of porridge, "Wendy’s" smile broadened.
"Want more?" "Wendy" sked.
Michael shook his head. "I do want to eat more but I’m too full."
"It’s not advisable to eat too much for breakfast. Leave it if you’re full," "Wendy" got to her feet and began to clear away the thermal flask.
"Have you eaten?" Michael asked her.
"Wendy" had in fact already eaten, but an idea came to her mind, so she shook her head in response to his question.
"Why have you not eaten?" Michael looked worried. "You’re carrying a baby. You must have your meals regularly."
At that, Michael began searching for his phone, speaking as he searched, "I’ll call Zess now and ask her to cook you something."
"Oh, that’s not necessary. Look, isn’t there some porridge left?"
That said, "Wendy" picked up the bowl that Michael had used, scooped some porridge into it, and began eating in his presence.
...
Michael grimaced when he saw that "Wendy" was using the bowl that he had just used without even washing it first.
"That’s the bowl I just used," he reminded her.
"Wendy" paused with her spoon in hand before smiling and saying nonchalantly, "So? We’re married. Would you be squeamish about using a bowl that I had just used? Besides, we have only one bowl here."
Michael relaxed a tad at her explanation.
She was right. Since they were a married couple, why would they mind using cutlery that the other had just used?
Despite her past obsession with hygiene, "Wendy" might just have changed. After all, they had been through some pretty traumatic incidents.
And, in his opinion, this was a change for the better.
That was why he thought no more of it.
"This oatmeal porridge has no nutritional value. It’s all right for me since I should eat bland food given my condition.
"However, in your case, you need a balanced meal of high nutritional value. You must eat something else in addition to this porridge," he declared as he whipped out his phone and called Zess immediately.
The call was quickly accepted as Zess said, "Mr. Lucas..."
"Can you make some breakfast for Wendy please?" Michael asked, adding, "Thank you."
"You’re very welcome," Zess replied instantly. "I will start cooking right away. I will make something that Wendy likes."
Although she appeared to be smiling, "Wendy’s" eyes emitted a quick flash of menace at Michael’s concern for her.
"Wendy" finished eating the porridge in the bowl and packed up the thermal flask.
Then she looked at Michael’s leg.
She could see traces of blood through the white muslin dressing of the wound. ƒгeewebnovёl.com
Looking pained at the sight of his wound, "Wendy" asked, "How’s the leg?"
"Not a big deal," Michael replied. "I was careful and did not cause damage to the bone. Didn’t the doctor say yesterday that all I need is a few days of rest?
"If all goes well, I should be discharged in two days’ time."
Although Christian had wanted him to lose a leg, Michael was no idiot.
If he had to shoot himself in the leg, he would of course ensure that nothing vital was injured.
The bullet had simply ripped through the muscles in his thigh without causing damage to anything vital. And the price he had to pay for this was the pain and discomfort from the superficial wound.
"There’s no need to rush to get discharged. Since Christian has already left Lake City, what remains to be done is to wrap things up.
"Just relax and rest up in hospital. Mr. York should be able to handle the matters at the office in the interim, shouldn’t he?"
"Wendy" sounded very concerned as she continued, "Although your wound is not critical, it is nonetheless a gunshot wound. How can you be discharged in such a short time?"
"I was just mentioning that possibility. Stop fretting. I will not leave the hospital for as long as the doctor says that I’m not ready to be discharged. I won’t make you worry, OK?" Michael reassured her tenderly.
As far as he was concerned, nothing else mattered more to him than having Wendy safe and sound by his side.
When Wendy was being held hostage, he was prepared to give up everything in exchange for her safety.
He was even willing to give up his life, much less his company and business.
After what they had been through, it was even clearer to Michael now what Wendy meant to him.
"Wendy" smiled, apparently satisfied with what he had just said.
"Oh right, do the kids know anything about what had happened?" Michael asked.
Looking worried, he continued, "Especially Jake. He’s overly analytical. Let’s just keep this from him.
"If they ask for me over the next few days, just tell them that I’m very busy and away on a business trip."
"Don’t worry. Small matter. I will handle this," "Wendy" said. "You just relax and stay in hospital to recuperate. Don’t think about anything else."
