CHAPTER 153: CHAPTER 153: AREN’T YOU GOING TO SHOW ANY APPRECIATION?

Josephine Thompson took the slip of paper and glanced at it.

It clearly listed the location and time of the deal, among other details.

"...Is this reliable?"

Nathaniel Gallagher chuckled, "Do you think I’d give fake information just to claim credit?"

Josephine felt a block in her chest, "Alright then, thank you."

She seemed so indifferent.

Nathaniel felt uncomfortable, and sulkily said, "Is it just a simple thank you?"

He had put in a great amount of effort, and it was extremely difficult to find this critical information.

Frankly speaking, without his help, she would have suffered a huge loss of at least five billion!

Now, with Herculean effort, he had helped her recover nearly four billion in losses.

Four billion!

If it were someone else, they’d probably be tearfully grateful, clinging to his leg and calling him dear father. Of course, he didn’t expect her to call him dear father.

But...

At the very least, she should be decent enough to clean up herself and throw herself at him once, that’s not too much to ask, right?

But what did she do?

Just said a flat ’thank you’.

Josephine looked at him in disbelief, "What else do you want?"

"...At least...at least!" Nathaniel hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping.

Josephine’s expression turned colder, "At least what?"

Nathaniel felt a lump in his throat, unable to resist claiming credit, "...I put in a lot of effort and spent a lot of energy this time, barely managing to recover your loss."

"Don’t you have anything to offer?"

Poof!

Josephine felt a burst in her heart, utterly speechless.

Initially, she felt somewhat grateful to him.

But his blatant claim immediately wiped out all her gratitude.

"What do you want to offer?"

Nathaniel’s heart felt empty, "Ha~, Josephine, can’t you be a bit less cold?"

Poof?

Josephine heard this and nearly spat blood on the spot.

He actually learned from Julian Grant to call her Josephine.

Really, utterly speechless.

"Shut up, don’t call me Josephine."

"Why? Only Julian Grant can call you that, and I can’t? Did he get a patent?"

Josephine’s heart was frantic, "Nathaniel Gallagher, I really have nothing more to say to you."

"Do you have anything else? If not, please leave."

Saying this, she angrily pointed to the door.

Nathaniel’s handsome face showed a trace of mischievousness and annoyance, "Tsk tsk tsk~, heartless little thing. Sigh, such a heartless woman!"

"When you need someone, you think ahead; when you don’t need someone, you think behind."

Josephine heard this, growing even more furious, "Shut up, get out."

"Am I breaking the law by staying here?"

"Nathaniel Gallagher, get out--" Josephine was angry and enraged, directly pushing his shoulder, trying to shove him out.

Nathaniel remained motionless, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment, his voice suddenly softened, "Alright, I’ll leave. But at least... let me touch your belly, okay?"

Saying this.

His gaze fell on her lower abdomen.

A complicated emotion flickered in his eyes, a mix of anticipation and caution.

Josephine’s face instantly darkened, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, she shrank back sharply, "Nathaniel Gallagher, don’t push your luck!"

She knew he had ill intentions.

A single ’thank you’ really couldn’t satisfy his greed.

"I just want to feel... the baby’s presence. That’s all." Nathaniel hurriedly explained, his tone carrying a bit of grievance and sadness.

"Nathaniel Gallagher, don’t forget, we signed an agreement between us. This child has nothing to do with you, don’t think of acknowledging the child."

Nathaniel: "I know, I just want to feel the child’s presence now. I mean no harm, nor will I fight you for the child!"

Josephine’s eyes widened in anger, "Shut up, leave now!"

"Will you leave or not?"

Seeing she was about to get angry again.

Nathaniel let out a heavy sigh, "Fine, I’m going."

"Take care and don’t overexert yourself."

Josephine glared at him coldly.

Nathaniel dared not linger, quickly opened the door and left.

After he left.

Josephine immediately instructed Ruby, "Ruby, go handle the discharge procedures."

Ruby: "President Thompson, the doctor said you need to stay in the hospital at least another week."

Josephine’s brows furrowed tightly, her tone resolute: "I’m not staying, do it now. This place is not quiet at all, I can’t stay here."

Just thinking of Nathaniel’s aggressive attitude earlier made her uncomfortable. Who knew if he would take advantage of her hospital stay to come and disturb her daily? Rather than being here worried, it’s better to be discharged early and find peace in her own place.

Ruby looked concerned: "But President Thompson, your health..."

"I know my own health better."

Josephine interrupted her, her hand gently covering her lower abdomen, "The baby is very obedient, not that fragile. Go handle the procedures, I’ll pack up my things."

Her attitude was too determined.

Ruby knew she couldn’t persuade her, so she nodded reluctantly: "I’ll go ask the doctor first. If the doctor agrees, I’ll immediately handle it."

Josephine nodded, starting to organize the documents on the bedside table.

Those auction materials and police connection records. And the slip of paper Nathaniel left, she sorted them by category.

Especially that slip of paper.

She hesitated a bit, but still tucked it into the lining of her handbag. After all, the information on it was really crucial, she couldn’t afford to lose it.

Meanwhile.

She also decided to close the three private collections in Audenburg. She categorized the collections, stored the ones suitable for private collections in her own secure vault, and from now on, they will no longer be exhibited.

The rest will be partly transferred to the Audenburg Museum and partly auctioned for cash.

The Thornton Family has too many collections already.

It’s time to cash in some of them.

"Doo doo doo!"

She had just finished packing her personal belongings.

Evelyn Thorne called.

Josephine Thompson glanced at the caller ID, hesitated for a moment, but still answered, "Hello, Evelyn."

On the other end.

Came the voice of Evelyn Thorne, full of helplessness and anger, "Hello, Ms. Thompson, it’s me."

"Yes, I know. Is there something you need?"

Evelyn paused, "Ms. Thompson, you’ve really put Grant the Dog through the wringer."

"..." Josephine Thompson felt a pang in her heart, and her hand holding the phone trembled slightly.

Evelyn continued, "What did you say to him last time he came to find you? That upset him so much?"

"... How is he? Is he okay now?"

Evelyn became angrier, "Do you even have the nerve to ask how he is? He’s near death, do you know that?"

Boom!

Josephine Thompson’s mind went blank, her heart worrying even more, "What exactly happened to him?"

"He became depressed after returning from Audenburg last time. He refuses to cooperate with doctors for treatment, and he won’t communicate with anyone."

"He’s like a completely different person now, doesn’t eat anything, just drinks. You know he shouldn’t be drinking with such serious injuries."

"I just want to ask, what exactly did you tell him to get him this upset?"

Josephine tightened her grip on the phone. Her heart felt like it was being squeezed by an invisible hand, making it ache.

He knows...

He must be unable to accept the fact that she’s pregnant with Nathaniel Gallagher’s child again.

After all, he had proposed to her so publicly. And she, fearing to hurt his pride in public, didn’t immediately refuse him.

She initially intended to explain everything clearly to him the next day.

Unfortunately, he had an accident that very night, and she was forcibly taken away by Nathaniel Gallagher.

"Hey~, are you listening? Why aren’t you saying anything?"

"... I’m listening."

Evelyn was still upset, "So, what are you going to do? Aren’t you going to see Grant the Dog?"

"..." Josephine felt choked up, not knowing what else to say.

Sometimes, it’s better to endure the pain once rather than prolong it.

Since she wasn’t planning on accepting him, she shouldn’t string him along or give him any hope.

Once he’s gone through this pain, he should be able to let go of her.

But if she goes to see him, it would undoubtedly be like pouring salt on his wound again.

"Alright, I understand."

"When are you going to see him then?"

"... I’ll go when I have time. That’s it for now, I’m still busy." After speaking, Josephine hung up the phone directly.

She feared that if she said another word, she wouldn’t be able to hold back her tears.

"Julian Grant, forget about me sooner! I’m not worth this, and I believe you’ll meet a better girl."

Josephine held back her tears and tried her best to calm her emotions.

She could only silently pray in her heart for his quick recovery.

"Click!"

Ruby pushed open the door of the hospital room and walked in.

"Are the discharge procedures done?"

Ruby’s face finally showed some relief, "President Thompson, the doctor has given the green light! He said you can be discharged, but there are conditions."

Josephine looked up, a flash of hope in her eyes, "What conditions?"

"You must return for a check-up twice a week and bring detailed prenatal check-up records."

After Ruby finished speaking, she handed over a note, "These are the doctor’s notes on what to watch out for, and instructions on taking prenatal medication, stressing not to slack off at all."

Josephine took the note and quickly scanned it.

As long as she could leave the hospital, these conditions weren’t much.

She sighed in relief, a rare smile appearing on her lips, "Got it. Go and move everything into the car."

"Alright."

The discharge procedures went through much faster.

Maybe because the doctor finally relented, the process was smooth.

An hour later.

Josephine Thompson walked out of the inpatient building.

"President Thompson, please get in the car."

Sitting in the car.

Ruby thoughtfully pulled up the sunshade, "President Thompson, are we heading back to the villa?"

"Yes."

Josephine leaned back in the rear seat and closed her eyes, "Also, have Housekeeper Sterling prepare some light porridge. I don’t have much appetite."

The car smoothly left the hospital.

As Josephine listened to the wind outside the window, the tension in her heart finally eased slightly.

Although she still had to return for weekly check-ups, at least she wouldn’t be confined to that oppressive hospital room every day, or constantly on guard for Nathaniel Gallagher’s sudden appearance.

"By the way, President Thompson, the auction house called earlier. They said quite a few collectors have registered for next Wednesday’s auction and were asking if you want to go personally?"

Josephine opened her eyes, thought for a moment, and said, "We’ll see when the time comes. For now, make sure the list of items is double-checked, so there are no mistakes."

"Alright."

The car drove into the Thompson Estate.

As Josephine watched the green trees pass by outside the window, she suddenly felt much more at peace.