CHAPTER 70: CHAPTER 70: I CAN DO IT, BUT THAT’S A DIFFERENT PRICE

Just as Serena finished speaking, Timothy appeared in the living room, having woken up at some unnoticed time.

"I asked her to stay."

His voice carried the huskiness and displeasure of someone who has just woken up, instantly overpowering all the noise.

Sophia immediately stopped talking and hurried forward to support him: "Timothy, why are you up? Didn’t the doctor say you should lie down more?"

Timothy sidestepped her hand and frowned, "From now on, you don’t need to come every day; it’s quite tiring for you."

Sophia looked at him incredulously, "Timothy, are you insane? Zoe is nothing but a promiscuous harlot, she and that bastard Ethan nearly killed you, and you dare to keep her by your side?"

Serena also walked over and softly said, "Timothy, let me take care of you, okay? Thinking about my sister’s death still leaves me with lingering fear. I’m so scared you’ll leave me too..."

I understood that sentence.

It’s a hint that not only did I kill Naomi, but now I’m going to cause Timothy’s death too.

I smiled and said, "Timothy, you heard her, if you don’t want to die so early, you’d better hurry and process the divorce with me. After all, if you die now, I’ll still be able to inherit half of your assets."

Sophia cursed angrily, "You slut, finally speak the truth! Timothy, did you hear her? She’s utterly malicious!"

Timothy glanced at me and said to his mother, "Then let her try; let’s see if she can kill me."

Serena’s eyes reddened, "Timothy, I can’t let you take risks; please let me stay and care for you!"

Timothy’s voice was flat, "Go back and keep Doris company. Otherwise, without mom and dad around, she’ll be scared."

Serena’s face paled as she unwillingly whispered, "But... but I’m afraid Miss Ellison will be too tired alone. Why don’t I take turns with her?"

"She’s used to it." Timothy spoke blandly as if stating a mere fact, "I’ll pay her a salary."

The words "used to it" pierced my heart like needles.

Yes, I’m used to it.

Used to his coldness and neglect, used to giving in this marriage.

To the extent that he considers everything I’ve done for him as a given.

I clenched my fists to stop myself from turning away.

Ethan is still waiting for my news; I can’t let all my efforts go to waste.

Sophia wanted to say more, but Timothy’s look silenced her.

He looked at me with a slightly commanding tone, "Come in, pour me a glass of water."

Taking a deep breath, I walked into the hospital room with an expressionless face and poured a glass of hot water to hand to him.

As he took it, his fingertips inadvertently brushed against the back of my hand.

I jerked my hand back as if shocked, the force causing the glass to wobble and a few drops of hot water splashed onto his hand.

"Sorry."

I apologized verbally, but inwardly cursed him deservedly!

Sophia and Serena couldn’t persuade Timothy, but refused to leave the living room.

I deliberately asked Timothy in a voice they could hear, "Didn’t you say you’d pay me a salary? How much are you prepared to pay?"

Timothy’s hand holding the glass tightened slightly, coldly asking, "How much do you want?"

"President Xavier has immense wealth, a hundred thousand a day isn’t too much for you, is it?"

Timothy tugged at his lips slightly, saying, "Alright."

Sophia was livid, pointing at me, "You don’t even pretend anymore! You’re shamelessly asking for a fortune, right?"

I smiled at her, "Wait until the day the assets are divided, there’ll be a time you feel the pain too!"

Timothy said in a low voice, "Zoe Ellison, that’s enough!"

His dark eyes full of displeasure, I said no more.

But Sophia was almost fainting from anger at what I said earlier.

Seeing that Timothy remained unmoved, Serena reluctantly left with Sophia.

Because Timothy had stayed up all night last night, he slept again.

Meanwhile, I took the opportunity to head home.

Firstly, to get my laptop; writing novels on a phone is too inconvenient and tiring for the eyes.

Secondly, I needed to find Katherine and reassure her.

Upstairs, I found Katherine and Jenna together.

She had also come over after hearing about Ethan’s situation.

Jenna apologized profusely, "Auntie Katherine, it’s all my fault. I’ve been holding back because of Zoe’s situation but can’t talk to anyone about it. Just yesterday Ethan called asking about Zoe and I couldn’t help but complain a little. I didn’t expect him to go and confront Timothy."

Katherine started crying at the mention of her son, "Ethan has never suffered since he was a child. Who knows how he’s doing inside? With his temper, what if he clashes with the police, could he be beaten?"

"Auntie Katherine, I caused this mess, I will find the best lawyer to help Ethan."

After Jenna spoke, Katherine shook her head in despair, "This time, even a lawyer won’t work; he’s dealing with Timothy!"

I told her about my deal with Timothy and assured her, "Once Timothy recovers and is discharged from the hospital, he’ll issue a letter of understanding for Ethan."

"Really?"

Katherine’s eyes finally showed a gleam, gripping my hand, "Zoe, you’re not lying to me?"

I smiled bitterly, saying, "I’m not lying."

But Jenna wasn’t willing.

"No way! You can’t go!"

She’s the only one who knows Timothy caused me to have a miscarriage.

Upon learning I was going back to care for him, Jenna firmly refused to let me go.

I sighed lightly and asked, "Do you have any other way to get Ethan out?"

Jenna fell silent.

We left Ethan’s house together, and suddenly Jenna asked me, "Zoe, are you upset with me for being a blabbermouth? It was Auntie Katherine who told me about Ethan’s situation. I can tell you’re angry with me."

"Hm."

This time, I said earnestly, "Jenna, knowing Ethan’s feelings for me, you shouldn’t have told him those things. And about my... miscarriage, did you tell him?"

Jenna hurriedly replied, "No! I didn’t mention that. I only told him Timothy, without distinguishing right from wrong, made you kneel at Westcliff Monastery."

I sighed and said, "I know you care about me. But my current goal is to divorce Timothy; I don’t want any more complications. Do you understand?"

"I understand."

Feeling overwhelmingly guilty, Jenna believed she was the reason I had to act as a nanny for Timothy before the divorce.

Just then, my phone rang.

Seeing the caller ID, I frowned and answered.

Timothy’s cool voice came from the other end: "Where did you go?"

I replied dismissively, "Just stepped out for air. What’s up?"

"I’m hungry."

After he spoke, I remembered he hadn’t had breakfast.

And now it was almost noon.

"Alright, I’ll be back soon."

After hanging up the phone, I suddenly remembered my former self. When he didn’t eat, I’d feel more anxious than he did, even wanting to starve with him.

But now, when I got home in the morning, I cooked myself a bowl of instant noodles and ate it with relish!

Yet I didn’t spare a thought about whether Timothy had eaten.

It turns out that no matter how deep the feeling, no matter how much love, one day, it will be depleted.

On the way, I packed some vegetarian dishes from a restaurant, thinking that post-surgery patients should have some pigeon soup or black fish soup to replenish themselves.

But since Timothy adheres to vegetarianism because of his white moonlight, I couldn’t break his rules.

So I returned with a few portions of vegetarian dishes.

When Timothy saw me placing the takeout boxes one by one in front of him, he frowned tightly.

"Zoe, what is this?"

His tone was cold, carrying a hint of interrogation.

I said indifferently, "Aren’t you hungry? Food, of course!"

Timothy articulated each word, "I’m paying you a million every day, and you still won’t go back and make a meal for me, is that it? What did you do this entire morning then?"

I was slightly startled.

Could this man really have thought I went back in the morning to cook for him?

Ha!

Even now, he’s confident that I’d care for him and make sacrifices for him without hesitation.

I packed up the meal in front of him, saying, "I’ll ask Nanny Lowell to cook something and send it over. What would you like to eat?"

"I want you to make it for me!"

Suddenly, Timothy fell into a morbid obsession, "A million isn’t enough, then two million, five million, ten million! Is that enough?"

"That’s enough."

I took out my phone, saying, "Transfer the ten million first, and I’ll go make it for you."

Now that feelings are gone, talking money isn’t bad.

Just right, at this price, I’ve already recouped the expenses of buying evidence of his affair.

Make a few more meals, and I’ve recouped the cost of hiring a private investigator into him.

Not a loss!

Timothy’s eyes narrowed fiercely at me, then he opened his phone and transferred the funds to me.

Seeing the amount in my bank card, I was ready to go back and cook.

Unexpectedly, Serena came with Doris, holding a meal box in her hand.

"Daddy!"

Doris ran over to Timothy’s bedside, sweetly saying, "Mommy and I came to see you! And, I got a little red flower at preschool today!"

Saying that, she carefully took out two tiny red flowers from her pocket and held them in her palms to show Daddy.

Timothy was clearly still angry at me, casting a cold glance in my direction, then turned to his daughter warmly, "Doris, that’s wonderful!"

Serena placed the meal box on the coffee table, her expression gentle, "These dishes were made by Mom and me together. She was particularly upset this morning when I returned home, but she still cooked for you, worried that you won’t get enough nutrition post-surgery."

Timothy’s gaze returned to me, as if saying, let me see how well others treat him?

And I turned my face toward the window, refusing to receive the signal.

Anyway, it’s impossible for Timothy and me, and whoever wants to treat him well, it’s nothing to do with me.

Just then, Serena saw the food I packed for Timothy, exclaiming immediately, "This... What is this? Timothy, you’re still sick, how can you eat this kind of food? How can restaurant food be healthier than home-cooked?

"Throw it away!"

Timothy coldly commanded.

Serena had just fetched the trash can when I intercepted her.

"Miss Ellison, this kind of thing shouldn’t appear in front of Timothy. You’ve been married to him for so many years, don’t you know this?"

She eyed the takeout bag in my hand with disdain.

I chuckled, saying, "Thanks for the advice. Now I know. However, it’s better for those who believe in Buddhism not to waste food, right? There are a lot of stray dogs behind the hospital, I’ll feed it to the dogs."

Serena looked at me in shock.

Timothy’s gaze seemed like it could tear me apart.

I really went and fed the dogs these meals. Although they were veggie dishes, I think the restaurant must have cooked them in animal fat.

Therefore, the dogs weren’t picky; they ate heartily.

After quite a while, I leisurely returned and happened to encounter Serena exiting the elevator.

I originally didn’t want to interact with her, but she gave a mocking smile, "Miss Ellison, I’ll leave Doris in your care."

I furrowed my brow slightly.

Seeming to sense my confusion, she said, "I recently found a teacher to learn acting from, heading to Aurelia tomorrow. So, Doris will be staying with Timothy recently."

Though I felt a bit irked, I truly admired her.

She’s trying so hard not to give me the chance to be alone with Timothy!

Serena said, "Miss Ellison, please treat Doris kindly, don’t transfer your resentment towards me onto the child."

"Rest assured! You’re young and following your sister, with no name, no share, accompanying Timothy, even helping your sister raise her child. You’re this tolerant, how could I be petty with a child?"

I finished speaking, Serena’s face changed, eyes flashing coldly, "Miss Ellison, who knows who will come out on top? Don’t be too happy prematurely."

She strode off in high heels.

I couldn’t help worrying.

Does this woman leave Doris here purely as a third wheel or does she have other intentions?

When I returned to the ward, Timothy was coaxing her.

"Daddy, I don’t like her!"

The little girl pointed at me, saying, "Can grandma take care of you instead? Doris doesn’t want to stay with her."

Timothy gently said, "This auntie is not a bad person. How about this, you interact with her for a few days. If you still dislike her, Daddy will ask her to leave. All right?"

Before Doris spoke, I said, "Timothy, you should just interact with your daughter yourself. Don’t later blame me if she falls or gets hurt."

I spoke frankly from the start.

Upon hearing my disapproval, Doris huffed, "I don’t want to deal with you either!"

Timothy gave me a warning glance, "Doris, that’s not what auntie means. Oh, she can make cakes. Tonight, let her make you a cake, okay?"

Doris’s eyes lit up at the mention of cake, "Can she make a cake in the shape of Labubu?"

Timothy looked at me.

Actually, he knows I have a pastry chef certification.

Though he doesn’t like sweets, I specifically learned baking for the one birthday cake annually.

So now, Timothy wants me to do it for his daughter.

My face blank, I said, "I can’t do it."

Timothy coldly replied, "The ten million I transferred isn’t enough for you to make a cake, is it?"

I smiled and said, "The ten million is for cooking meals for you. To do it for your daughter, that’s a separate price!"