CHAPTER 40: CHAPTER 40: WHO IS SHE, REALLY? YOU LOVE HER VERY MUCH, DON’T YOU?

Every word he said felt like a sharp, cold arrow.

Each arrow pierced through her heart.

"Nathaniel Gallagher, stop talking..." Josephine Thompson felt a sudden, sharp pain in her chest, and a buzzing in her head.

Oh my God.

One Vivian Shaw was already unbearable and unacceptable for her.

She didn’t expect that behind her back, there was another woman he loved even more.

He really deserved to be struck by lightning, deserved a bad end, deserved to go to hell.

"Honey, please don’t be so sad, okay? I know it’s hard for you to accept right now. I’ll give you time to slowly come to terms with it."

Josephine’s heart was ashen, "Come to terms with what? Accept that you have both a wife and a mistress?"

"Tell me, who is she really? How long have you been together?"

"..." Nathaniel Gallagher’s face was gloomy, unwilling to answer.

Josephine’s heart trembled, and tears streamed down, "You must really love her, right?"

"..." Nathaniel’s scarlet eyes flickered, not denying it.

"Ha~" Josephine let out a bitter laugh, realizing her question was redundant.

If he didn’t love that woman.

How could he be willing to have a child with her?

He probably felt sorry for her weak body, unwilling for her to suffer the pain of childbirth.

That’s why he came up with such a plan to replace the real with the fake.

"Every time you went abroad, it was to be with her, right?"

"..." Nathaniel tacitly agreed.

Josephine felt like she was plunged into an ice cave, as if struck by a bolt from the blue, "Since you love her so much, why didn’t you marry her?"

Nathaniel closed his eyes and sighed, "She doesn’t want to marry me."

"..." Josephine froze for a full two minutes.

"And what about the child? You could have had another woman give birth for you. Why did you choose me?"

Nathaniel’s eyes turned more scarlet, and he didn’t want to lie to her anymore, "Because I don’t want my child to be born a disgraceful illegitimate. He needs a mother with a clean background and good family status."

Plop.

Josephine heard this and her eyes instantly filled with tears.

He was truly a considerate father, even thinking of that for the child.

"Thank you..."

"Thank you for letting me see the truth." Josephine’s chest felt blocked, unwilling to ask more.

There was nothing worth asking anymore.

Apart from cutting her losses in time, nothing else mattered.

Nathaniel Gallagher felt like his heart was being cut by a knife, and tried to hold her, "Now you are my wife, the most important person to me. I know I lied to you, and I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you."

"Get out! I don’t want to see you again!"

Josephine lay weakly on the side of the bed, her hand clenched into a fist, pressing hard against her chest, feeling a strong surge rushing up her throat.

When it came to feelings.

She was sincere and devoted, with no reservations.

She always believed that marriage was the end point of love, sacred and pure. Once in the fortress of marriage, one should consciously abide by the rules, be loyal, responsible, and wholeheartedly take care of the other.

If one couldn’t do that, they shouldn’t enter marriage lightly.

Before getting married, she asked him many times if there was someone he couldn’t forget.

But he was so good at pretending, appearing so... frank and curious.

Like a college student in love for the first time.

But thinking about it now...

He probably knew psychology, effortlessly switching to the persona women liked most.

"Honey, please forgive me this once, okay? We have a long future ahead, I’ll be a great husband and make you happy always!"

"Cough, cough... cough..." Josephine almost spat out blood hearing this.

Nathaniel knelt on one knee by the bed, trying to calm her down, "Josephine, this is actually... actually a very simple matter. Don’t overthink it, there’s no need to be sad."

"Our life won’t change or be affected; I still love you, love our family!"

"Shut up!" Josephine trembled violently, wanting to slap him hard, but she had no strength left.

Nathaniel was in a mess, "Okay, I won’t say anymore, don’t be so agitated. Quickly lie down, you still have a drip in your hand."

Saying this, he tried to move her back onto the pillow.

Josephine struggled to raise her arm and slapped him with all her might, "Bang--"

"Don’t touch me, get out, get out--"

"Cough, cough--cough gasp--"

The flow of energy in her chest couldn’t be controlled and surged toward her throat, spitting out a mouthful of blood foam.

She spat out a mouthful of blood, finally relieving the congestion in her chest.

Following that, a black fog engulfed her vision, and she completely lost consciousness.

Seeing this, Nathaniel Gallagher was terrified and at a loss, "Josephine, someone get here quickly, doctor, doctor."

The doctors heard the call and rushed into the ward.

"What’s wrong?"

"My wife coughed up blood and fainted, quick... quick..."

The doctors immediately went forward to check, "The patient’s heart has stopped, start CPR immediately."

"Get the defibrillator."

The nurse hurriedly pushed him out, "President Gallagher, please leave the ward."

Nathaniel was completely flustered, "No, I’m not leaving, I want to stay here with her!"

He rushed to the other side of the bed, gripping her hand tightly, calling out, "Honey, wake up, please wake up."

"I’m sorry, I’m sorry, it’s all my fault."

"President Gallagher, please don’t interfere with the doctors’ efforts to save her."

"If you stay, it will affect their performance, which isn’t good for the patient."

The nurse spoke and persuaded, finally managing to push him out of the ward.

Outside the ward.

Nathaniel stood dazed and distraught at the door, his heart pounding heavily.

Mrs. Gallagher and Mrs. Dixon were about to enter the ward and saw the doctors rushing in, "Nathaniel, what’s going on again?"

"How is Josephine? Is she okay?"

"..." Nathaniel’s lips were dry, unwilling to say a word.

Seeing this, Mrs. Gallagher felt even more uneasy, "Son, are you having that much trouble talking to your mom?"

"Young master, the madam is also worried about the young lady."

"Mom, Mrs. Dixon, don’t bother me, I’m very upset right now!"

Mrs. Dixon and Mrs. Gallagher exchanged a glance and didn’t dare ask him further, instead, they pulled over a nurse to inquire about the situation.

"Nurse, how is my daughter-in-law? What are you all busy with?"

The nurse was busy with the equipment, responding solemnly, "Mrs. Gallagher suddenly had an acute heart attack, and she’s in critical care now."

"What? Is it that serious?" Mrs. Gallagher’s face changed.

Hearing this, Mrs. Dixon couldn’t help but curl her lips into a cold smile.

She inwardly prayed that Josephine wouldn’t survive the critical care and die in the ward.

"How did this happen out of nowhere? Nathaniel, maybe it’s time to call Master Thompson here!"

Nathaniel couldn’t hear anything, only panicked, praying desperately for Josephine’s safety.

At the same time, he regretted telling her too much.

Some things, if they can be hidden for a lifetime, should be hidden for a lifetime...

...

Inside the ward.

Josephine was too overwhelmed to handle it, triggering an acute heart attack.

Fortunately, she was at the hospital, and the doctors acted swiftly enough. Otherwise, within just a few minutes, she could have died suddenly.

Half an hour later.

Master Thompson finally received the news of his granddaughter’s admission to the hospital.

Worried, the old man rushed to the hospital.

Recently.

Nathaniel Gallagher had been using Josephine’s phone to send messages to the old man, assuring him that everything was fine.

The old man, at his age, wasn’t very adept with electronic devices. He naturally couldn’t distinguish AI voice or video.

He only knew.

The voice messages and videos his granddaughter sent were always filled with joy and sweetness. His granddaughter also told him that she had reconciled with Nathaniel and that the previous talk of divorce was out of spite.

He was told not to worry.

Seeing the young couple in love again made the old man happy for them.

But when the old man received the news and arrived at the hospital, he realized he might have been deceived.

"How is Josephine?"

"..." Nathaniel Gallagher remained silent, his face somber and dejected.

Master Thompson was both anxious and angry, "What on earth happened? Josephine just got out of the hospital not long ago, and now she’s injured and hospitalized again?"

"What did you do to Josephine?"

"Grandpa, I’m sorry, it’s my fault for not taking good care of Josephine." Nathaniel pressed his fist against his forehead, feeling a chill and pain deep in his heart.

A nurse hurried out to fetch emergency equipment.

"Nurse, how is it inside?"

"The patient is still under emergency care, please wait outside. We will inform you of any developments."

"..." Master Thompson staggered slightly upon hearing this, almost losing his balance.

"Sir, Grandpa, be careful." Auntie Lena and Nathaniel Gallagher quickly supported him.

Filled with raging anger, the old man raised his wooden cane and, without a word, struck Nathaniel hard with it.

"Bang--"

The solid wood cane hit Nathaniel’s shoulder with force.

"You... you wicked thing, did you harm Josephine again?"

"Grandpa, I’m sorry." Nathaniel stood still, his arm in such pain it seemed like it might break.

"Let me tell you, if anything happens to Josephine, I’ll risk this old life of mine to fight you!"

Master Thompson, unable to contain his anger, raised his cane again and struck at Nathaniel furiously.

"Thud... Thud..."

The cane landed heavily on him, making a dull sound.

Nathaniel stood still, not making a sound, as if being hit was someone else’s affair.

Mrs. Gallagher felt her heart break seeing her son take a beating, "What are you doing? How can you hit him?"

"Stop him quickly!"

"Let’s see who dares!"

The bodyguards stopped, too scared to move!

"Do you bully my granddaughter because you think there’s no one in the Thornton Family?!"

"Today, I’m going to teach you a good lesson for Josephine!"

Mrs. Gallagher, frustrated and angry, stepped forward to stop him, "Stop, try hitting my son again and see what happens?"

Mrs. Dixon also helped intervene, "Sir, you’re being unreasonable, you can’t bully others because you’re old! A hit to make a point is enough, how can you be so heavy-handed?"

"It’s only because you’re an elderly man that our young master doesn’t hold it against you. Otherwise, with your old body and limbs, one punch could cost you your life!"

Hearing this, Master Thompson was infuriated, "Thunk!"

A diversionary strike of the cane intentionally landed on Mrs. Dixon’s head.

"Ouch—" Mrs. Dixon screamed miserably, clutching her head and scurrying away.

Master Thompson, still not satisfied, swung his cane at her again, "You gossiping troublemaker, never doing anything good, just stirring trouble every day."

"Ow, ow—"

"Someone’s beaten to death!" Mrs. Dixon ran off in fear, while Master Thompson chased after her a few steps, then grabbed his chest in pain.

Auntie Lena hurried to support him, "Sir, please calm down, don’t get so angry."

Nathaniel Gallagher looked anguished, "Grandpa, I’m sorry. If something truly happens to Josephine, rest assured, I will atone with my own life."

Hearing this, Master Thompson took a heavy breath and sat on the bench.

"Take a blood pressure pill quickly!" Auntie Lena promptly took out some around-the-clock medication for him.

Mrs. Gallagher was also concerned as she checked her son’s injuries, "Let mom see, where did you get hurt?"

"Hiss~, Mom, I’m fine, don’t worry." Nathaniel was in pain all over.

Some of the hits were particularly heavy, almost breaking his bones.

However, he had always had a high pain tolerance.

In the past, he frequently encountered situations involving fights, but regardless of how badly he got injured, he toughed it out, never letting anyone see his suffering.

So, this pain, he could endure.

"Why haven’t the doctors come out yet? How long has Josephine been in there?"

"It should be soon."

Just as they spoke.

The door to the hospital room suddenly opened.

The doctor removed his mask and walked out slowly.

Everyone immediately gathered around, Master Thompson shakily grabbing the doctor’s white coat, "How is my granddaughter?"

"Mrs. Gallagher is out of danger, but due to severe emotional distress, her heart muscle is significantly damaged. Continuous treatment and rest are required."

"After the patient wakes, she may have post-traumatic stress disorder, and psychological treatment must proceed concurrently, with no further distress allowed."

Hearing this, Nathaniel Gallagher staggered, leaning against the wall, unable to produce a sound as if his throat were strangled by steel wire.

Master Thompson also breathed a sigh of relief, "Good, good, as long as she’s alive..."

"When will she wake up?"

"After the anesthesia wears off, she’ll awaken within an hour."

"Alright, doctor."

Master Thompson looked solemn, "What exactly triggered Josephine? Why is it so severe?"

The granddaughter had always been strong.

She rarely experienced such strong emotional fluctuations.

For something to cause a sudden heart attack, it must have been incredibly serious.

Nathaniel Gallagher’s face was gloomy and silent.

He had only said a few words, but they had provoked Josephine into a heart attack.

The old man is of advanced age and likely couldn’t withstand such a shock.

"Sir, let’s wait until Miss wakes up before discussing anything. There’s no point assigning blame now."

"Mm~, we hope Josephine will recover well."

Nathaniel was tormented with inner turmoil, closing his eyes in regret.

Perhaps he had indeed made a mistake.

But saying anything now would be futile.

He could only strive to make amends, minimizing the harm as much as possible.

"Josephine, I’ll make it up to you..."

Buzz, buzz, buzz.

His phone rang.

Taking his phone out, he saw the caller ID was a number from Vessia.

Nathaniel furrowed his brows, instinctively walking toward the other end of the hallway.

Seeing this, the old man shouted in a panic, "Josephine hasn’t woken up yet, shouldn’t you be watching over her? Where are you going?"

Nathaniel did not respond, he just quickened his pace out of the hospital hallway, answering the call, "Hello..."