SWNOVELS Chapter 37
Chapter 37
Edith glanced at the back of her hand, where the IV needle had been removed and a bandage
applied. It still hurt a bit when she pressed on it.
Taking a deep breath, Edith appeared indifferent. “If you won’t admit it, that’s fine. I have no interest in rehashing the past with you.”
The past had passed, and talking about it wouldn’t make any changes.
Gideon found himself at a loss for words.
It was better when Edith was asleep. She would only argue with him when awake!
Seeing him gritting his teeth in frustration, Edith felt her mood lift considerably.
When the sun gradually set, the room grew dim and cold. The automatic lights in the ward turned
- on.
Feeling uncomfortable under his gaze, Edith spoke first. “I’m fine, really. Mr. Peterson, you don’t need to worry about me. You should go back.”
Gideon, however, didn’t move.
“Where’s… What about Shane? Why isn’t he here taking care of you?”
He had wanted to ask, “Where’s your husband?” But he couldn’t bring himself to say it.
After all, he was officially Edith’s husband as they were still legally married.
Edith paused, puzzled by his words.
The last thing she needed was unexpected concern from an ex…
Edith responded casually, “He’s busy. I can handle a slight illness like this myself.
“Mr. Peterson, isn’t it inappropriate to pry into an employee’s private life?”
Gideon looked at her, his tone mocking. “I thought he cared about you more than that.”
It seemed that was it, nothing more.
Although he didn’t remember the incident Edith mentioned about him not taking care of her when she was ill and hospitalized, he at least hired a nursing assistant. On the other hand, Shane hadn’t even made a phone call. Gideon wondered what Edith saw in Shane and why she liked him.
Edith was confused by his words. What was this man trying to say?
He had come all this way and sat by her bedside for hours just to mock her choice of a partner?
Edith refused to be outdone.
She retorted, not wanting to show weakness, “I didn’t tell Shane because I didn’t want him to worry. You didn’t tell Ms. Hayes about your stomach pumping last time, did you? Mr. Peterson, you should understand how I feel.”
But Gideon didn’t understand at all.
He didn’t tell Danika simply to avoid trouble, not because he was worried about her getting concerned.
Gideon regretted asking. It just added to his frustration.
He said mockingly, “You really like him, don’t you? You never seemed worried about me getting concerned.”
If Edith weren’t ill, she would have punched him in the face.
When Edith lost her temper, no one could reason with her.
She dismissed him with a stone–cold face. “You can leave now.”
Fully baffled by her, Gideon frowned in confusion, “What are you upset about?”
“I’m not upset.” Edith turned her face away, not wanting to see him, feeling inexplicably wronged deep inside.
Edith believed she had done quite well during her marriage to Gideon.
If it wasn’t a severe illness, she never bothered Gideon. Edith would take a taxi and go to the hospital alone. This independence extended to her everyday life as well.
Just because she didn’t speak of it didn’t mean it hadn’t happened.
Once, Edith went to the supermarket and wanted to cook a meal for Gideon. However, there was a heavy downpour on her way back. The roads were impassable, and pedestrians took shelter at the supermarket entrance, waiting for the rain to stop.
Edith just stood there for two hours. When she finally managed to hail a taxi, the driver was delayed and eventually canceled the ride. Just as she was about to book another ride, her phone suddenly shut down.
Edith remembered Gideon’s number. She thought about contacting him for a moment but was worried about disturbing his work.
That day, she walked home for forty minutes, arms laden with fruits and vegetables.
Her arms ached, but she endured it and prepared a meal for Gideon.
Gideon, however, was completely oblivious to her discomfort. He only commented that the vegetable soup was a bit too salty and suggested leaving the cooking to the housekeeper.
His indifferent tone put out all her enthusiasm.
At that moment, Edith felt an intense pain in her hands, a real, deep pain.
Memories came flooding back.
Edith’s eyes reddened and welled up, yet she held the tears back.
She didn’t want to show her vulnerable side to Gideon anymore.
Gideon stared at her clasped fingers, his eyes downcast.
“You’re lying. After all these years, you haven’t changed your habits. Why are you angry?”
Every time Edith lied, her hands would unconsciously clasp so tight that her knuckles turned red.
Gideon couldn’t help but recall how many lies Edith had told him.
There were too many to count.
The one that stuck in his mind the most was when Edith got trapped at the supermarket entrance during a heavy rainstorm. He had made several calls, but she didn’t answer. Only after sending Ray to look for her did Gideon find out that the silly girl had walked home for forty minutes, carrying fruits and vegetables.
By the time he got there, Edith had already made it home.
Edith must have been in quite a mess with so many things to carry. Gideon stayed in his car for over an hour before heading back, not wanting to embarrass her.
The table had been laden with dishes that day. When Gideon asked Edith if she had got caught in the rain, she clasped her palms and said no.
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Chapter 37
He noticed her arms trembling, so he made an excuse that the vegetable soup was too salty and told Edith she shouldn’t cook anymore to make things easier.
Edith took several deep breaths to calm herself down,
She managed to hold back her tears and looked Gideon in the eye again, saying indifferently, “Gideon, let me repeat, I’m not angry. You’re not worth my anger. Go back. I need to rest.
Edith pulled the blanket over her head so that even if she cried, Gideon wouldn’t see.
Seeing this, Gideon had no choice but to leave the ward.
“Is Mrs. Peterson alright?” Ray, standing at the door, immediately asked as he saw Gideon coming
out.
Gideon glanced at him emotionlessly and said, “If you want to know, go in and see for yourself.
“I’d rather not.” Ray sensibly looked away.
Gideon met Shane at the hospital entrance.
Their eyes met, full of tension.
Shane was leading Ruben and Jeanne by the hand.
“Gideon!” Jeanne greeted him as soon as she saw Gideon.
Ruben gave him a cold look, quickly pressed his lips, and lowered his head, subtly moving behind Shane.
He rushed out today and forgot to wear his glasses.
When Ruben heard that Edith had fainted, he almost wore the wrong shoes in his haste. He wasn’t thinking about something as trivial as his glasses…
Of course, Ruben hadn’t expected to run into Gideon here.
Gideon, hearing the voice, nodded. “Are you here to see your mom?”
“Yes! Mr. Simmons told us Mommy was in the hospital, so we hurried over.”
Jeanne answered and then asked, “Gideon, are you here to see her too?”
“No, I’m here for someone else,” Gideon quickly denied, his gaze inadvertently turning to Ruben.
He thought, ‘Why does Ruben keep avoiding me?‘
Jeanne was about to drag Gideon to the ward when she felt a poke in her back. Ruben, pointing at his eyes, whispered “Hurry up! We can’t let him see me like this!”
Jeanne reacted quickly. “Gideon, you go on with your thing! Remember to visit Mommy when you have time!”
She pushed Shane impatiently inside.
Ruben and Gideon looked too alike. If anyone got a closer look, they would indeed be exposed.
“Why are these two kids acting so weird? Especially that boy. Not only is he quiet, but he keeps hiding behind, lowering his head as if he wants to cover his face. It’s not like we haven’t seen him before…” Ray couldn’t help but mutter.
Gideon gave Ray a warning look, prompting him to fall silent immediately.