CHAPTER 145: CHAPTER 145: HE HAS TO WIN HER OVER SLOWLY

Josephine Thompson’s stomach churned, making her dizzy and lightheaded.

"I won’t eat, take it away..."

Nathaniel Gallagher’s eyes flickered, his tone heavy and hoarse, "How can you regain energy if you don’t eat?"

"There’s still the issue with Director Linton and Curator Sterling waiting for you to handle!"

Josephine felt distressed listening to him.

Indeed.

No matter what, she couldn’t collapse!

Even if she were to collapse, she must first recover the stolen artifacts!

"...How is Director Linton? Has he been rescued?"

Slowly, Nathaniel opened the insulated container and scooped a bowl of bird’s nest porridge for her, "Don’t worry, he’s been rescued and is temporarily out of life-threatening danger."

Josephine felt slightly relieved hearing this, "And is someone keeping an eye on him? He mustn’t be allowed to attempt suicide again!"

"Don’t worry, I’ve arranged for caretakers and bodyguards to watch him 24/7. It’s not going to be easy for him to die."

"That’s good..."

Nathaniel: "Ken has also returned and retrieved part of the antiques. Those that aren’t retrieved will be compensated with money through Curator Sterling."

Josephine listened, "Then what about Director Linton? If he really refuses to hand them over, we have no means to force him."

Nathaniel smiled gently, his tone carrying a hint of ruthlessness, "You just focus on recuperating, don’t worry about anything else, I’ll handle it all."

After speaking.

He picked up the spoon, scooped a warm spoonful of bird’s nest porridge, and gently brought it to her lips, "Eat something!"

Josephine’s vision darkened, "I’m not hungry, I can’t eat!"

"Just eat a little, this way you can replenish your nutrition."

"Don’t worry, I only want your body to recover quickly, there’s no other intention. I will respect your wishes and won’t force you to have this child."

"I only plead with you, I hope the leadership carefully considers and doesn’t make rash decisions. After all, this concerns the lives of two children."

"..." Josephine felt a lump in her throat, unable to respond.

Her mind was now in utter chaos, she had temporarily lost the ability to make judgments.

Of course.

She wouldn’t make any rash decisions.

Even though she hated Nathaniel.

But she still wanted a child of her own.

To continue her legacy, to inherit the Thornton Family line.

"Come on, open your mouth."

Josephine’s gaze fell upon the spoonful of bird’s nest porridge.

Despite not having an appetite.

She obediently opened her mouth and ate the porridge.

"Have another bite." Nathaniel felt a surge of joy, scooping another spoonful, his tone softening.

Josephine no longer refused, mechanically swallowing.

She indeed needed to recover her strength as soon as possible.

Nathaniel fed her spoonful by spoonful, his gaze focused as if attending to something of utmost importance.

The light cast on his handsome side face concealed the calculations and schemes deep in his heart, leaving only impeccable gentleness and gentlemanly demeanor.

The bowl of porridge was finally emptied.

Josephine leaned against the headboard, closed her eyes to rest.

Nathaniel tidied up the insulating container, his movements light as if afraid to disturb her.

"Sleep for a while, I’ll notify you if anything comes up." He tucked the blanket corners for her, his tone gentle.

"Director Linton..."

"Rest assured, I’ll handle it. If he dares to play tricks again, I’ll make him regret it."

His tone was light and nonchalant.

But listening to him, Josephine couldn’t help but shiver.

This man was truly terrifying!

Dark-minded and scheming, with no limits, extremely deep in thought.

She couldn’t empathize with her past self from four years ago, how could she have fallen for such a man?

Even...

Back then, she naively thought he was a straightforward and simple person. Thinking back now, at that time he purposely wore a mask, performing for her!

Nathaniel poured her a cup of warm water, gently placing it at the bedside, "Rest well, don’t think about anything now. Empty your mind, and once your brain has rested, think about other things."

"Okay..."

"Then I’ll be going."

"Alright."

Nathaniel didn’t say anything more, instead leaving the hospital room.

Just after stepping out of the room.

The gentleness on his face turned into cold frost, and he whispered to the bodyguard stationed at the door: "Keep watch on the hospital room, don’t let anyone enter or leave at will. Especially... don’t let Josephine hear any news from the pediatric side."

"Yes, President Gallagher." The bodyguard replied solemnly.

He turned and headed towards the elevator, quickly tapping messages on his phone screen, sending a message to his assistant: "Investigate the batch of artifacts stolen by Director Linton, see if they have flowed overseas, focus on monitoring Director Linton’s overseas accounts."

After sending.

He put away his phone, a cold smirk formed on his lips.

Director Linton refusing to hand them over?

No problem, he has ways to make the man ’willingly’ hand them over. He can deceive Josephine and take advantage of her, but no one else can. Anyone who dares bully her is against him.

As for Josephine, what she needs now is stability, and gentle persuasion rather than force.

He has to coax her slowly, without pushing her.

The elevator doors slowly closed, reflecting the sure contempt in his eyes.

...

Inside the hospital room.

Josephine leaned against the headboard, her fingertips unconsciously grazing over her abdomen, her mind replaying moments spent with Nathaniel.

Four years ago.

His cautiousness when pursuing her, the solemnity of the proposal. And the gentle, caring details after marriage, all turned out to be a meticulously designed script.

Her heart felt like it was blocked by something, suffocatingly painful.

She picked up the warm water by the bedside, drank a sip, trying to suppress the surge of emotions.

She, Eleanor, Nathaniel Gallagher, standing in their respective positions, seemed blameless.

Yet combining the fates of the three people together created a dramatic, ethical tragedy.

"Buzz buzz..."

The phone vibrated; it was a video request from Grandpa.

Josephine Thompson took a deep breath, quickly adjusted her expression, and pressed the answer button.

"Josephine, where are you now? When are you coming back to Northwood?"

On the screen.

Master Thompson wore reading glasses, his face full of worry.

He still didn’t know about all the things that happened at Audenburg’s Treasury Gallery.

Josephine Thompson was afraid of shocking Grandpa, even more afraid to tell him.

"Grandpa, I’m in Audenburg handling some matters, I might have to stay a bit longer."

Master Thompson: "Where are you now? Why do I feel like you’re in a hospital?"

"It’s nothing, Grandpa, just a bit of low blood sugar, so the doctor suggested a two-day observation in the hospital." Josephine Thompson forced a smile, trying to make her voice sound relaxed, "Don’t worry, it’ll be fine in a couple of days."

"Is everything really okay? Don’t lie to Grandpa."

"It’s really fine. Once I finish handling matters here, I’ll rush back to Northwood. Grandpa, how are you?"

Master Thompson: "Hmm, getting much better now, don’t need a cane to walk."

Josephine Thompson: "That’s great, Grandpa, take care of yourself."

"Hmm, you take care of yourself too."

"Alright."

The grandfather and granddaughter chatted for over ten minutes and hung up the phone.

"...Sigh, should this child be born?"

"But I don’t want any entanglement with Nathaniel Gallagher."

She wanted a child of her own.

But she didn’t want the child to be connected to Nathaniel Gallagher.

She could completely provide the best material life and education for the child.

"Forget it, my brain is about to explode, I’ll think about it after sleeping!"

After all, this is a significant matter, can’t decide hastily.

Hence, she must carefully weigh the pros and cons.

...

At nine o’clock in the evening.

Nathaniel Gallagher drove to The Rose Garden.

Eleanor had been waiting for him to come back for dinner, the meal had been reheated three or four times.

"Eleanor, I’m back." Nathaniel Gallagher walked into the house with a heavy face, casually threw his jacket on the sofa.

Eleanor looked gentle and caring, "Nathaniel, you’re finally back, why so late? Tired?"

Nathaniel Gallagher: "Hmm."

Eleanor: "Hungry? Go wash your hands and get ready to eat."

On the dining table.

Set with all his favorite dishes.

Eleanor waited all this time, not touching a single bite.

Nathaniel Gallagher was moved: "I told you not to wait for me, you should eat first."

"How can that be? You’re not back, I obviously have to wait for you."

"..." Nathaniel Gallagher felt a pang in his heart, looked at her with guilt.

Sometimes thinking about it, indeed felt sorry for her.

In his heart, he was determined to spend a lifetime with her.

But...

He just couldn’t suppress the demons and desires in his heart.

Whether it was Josephine Thompson or Eleanor, he couldn’t let go of either.

"Has Henny’s final diagnosis come out yet?"

Nathaniel Gallagher paused while holding the chopsticks.

Pupils flickered, a heavy fatigue covered his eyes, his voice heavy like soaked in water: "Yes, diagnosed with a rare type of leukemia."

Bang!

Eleanor’s mind exploded, the chopsticks in her hand fell onto the table with a "plop".

"Then... is there a cure? What did the doctor say?" Her voice shook violently, eyes red, tears welled up.

Nathaniel Gallagher put down his chopsticks, handed her a tissue, spoke with deep regret: "Doctor said, conventional chemotherapy has poor effects, the only hope is bone marrow transplant or umbilical cord blood transplant."

"Then we’ll go for matching types! My bone marrow, your bone marrow, we’ll surely match one!" Eleanor grabbed his hand like clutching the last straw for life.

"I’ll go for a test right now, right now!"

"Already checked."

Nathaniel Gallagher’s voice got lower, with a deliberately suppressed sense of helplessness, "I didn’t match."

"There’s still me."

"No, your health is already so weak, plus you’ve used too many hormone medications. Doctor said, even if matched, can’t transplant."

Eleanor’s hand instantly turned icy cold, her whole body felt like the bones were sucked out, slumped in the chair, muttering: "How could this happen... how could this happen... Henny’s only three years old..."

Nathaniel Gallagher watched her collapsing state, swallowed hard, finally said the long-prepared words: "There’s still one person, maybe... maybe can help."

"Who?" Eleanor suddenly raised her head, eyes still flickering with a trace of weak light.

"Josephine."

"Josephine Thompson?" Eleanor was stunned, then like a cat whose tail was stepped on, suddenly raised her voice, "Why involve her? She hates us deeply, how could she save Henny?"

Nathaniel Gallagher interrupted her, his tone intentionally heavy and dejected, "She’s pregnant, doctor says the umbilical cord blood from her baby has the highest matching success rate."