CHAPTER 19: CHAPTER 19: HONEY, IT’S MY FAULT FOR MAKING YOU FEEL INSECURE

The air was filled with a pungent smell of medicine.

Ian Kane was leaning against the side of the bed, his forehead covered with a fever patch, eyes closed, lips dry and pale, the dark shirt he wore unbuttoned at the collar, revealing flushed skin.

He was evidently thinner, with a painful murmur escaping his lips.

Vera Sheridan was stunned.

"Wife?" Ian Kane opened his eyes and saw her, his lonely eyes lighting up with a hoarse call.

The next second, he picked up a black mask from the bedside table, put it on quickly, and then started coughing violently.

"Madam, President Kane caught a new type of pneumonia from getting wet in the rain. It’s serious, and he hasn’t dared to go home these past few days for fear of infecting you," Elias Crowe came over to explain to Vera Sheridan.

Vera’s heart shook.

These past few days, he wasn’t having an affair with Nina Sullivan.

She moved forward, to go in.

Elias quickly stopped her, "Madam, put on a mask first, this virus is aggressive."

Vera took it, "Why isn’t he hospitalized?"

Elias sighed and said softly, "He’s a workaholic, you know that. And I didn’t dare persuade him. Besides, if word got out about his illness, the stock market would fluctuate."

"These days, President Kane has been getting IV drips at the apartment at night, and working as usual during the day."

Vera nodded slightly.

Elias exited, closing the door behind him.

In the rest room, only the two of them remained.

Having just finished a violent cough, Ian Kane’s eyes were a shade of red at the corners, leaning against the headboard, his watery eyes staring unblinkingly at Vera.

"Wife, why did you come to the company?"

Vera felt guilty.

He had caught pneumonia from the rain while rescuing small animals for her, afraid to come home for fear of infecting her, yet she had thought he was having an affair and not returning home.

A sense of shame, like a burgeoning vine, quickly spread throughout her heart.

"You haven’t been home for a few days, so I came to the company to see." She forced a clumsy lie, her steps growing slower, her eyelids lowered to avoid his burning gaze.

If she really cared about him, she could have called, not suddenly appeared like this.

He surely wouldn’t believe it.

Ian Kane got out of bed, staggered slightly as he stood, and walked toward her in big strides.

"Wife, you’re finally not mad at me?" The man looked down, his hoarse voice tinged with joy.

Vera looked up and met his smiling, bloodshot eyes.

Her nose soured, guilt weighing heavier, she stiffly nodded.

Ian Kane lifted his hand, gently tugging out the strands of her hair caught in the mask, "It’s my fault, being forgetful, making you feel insecure."

Vera knew he was referring to the watch incident.

"Why are you still working? Your lungs are already fragile, it’s best to go to the hospital..." Vera’s voice grew hoarser as she spoke, her eyes reddening.

Ian Kane held her cool hand, "Lately there’s been a lot going on, internal and external struggles haven’t ceased. If I were to be hospitalized, they wouldn’t rest easy."

Vera knew, the various sons of the Kane Family had always been coveting Ian Kane’s position as president, but none of them had much capability, always resorting to underhanded tricks against him.

The external competition was even harsher, the business world a battleground, fraught with bloodshed.

"Even so, your health must come first. Now come home with me, and I’ll call Dr. Donovan to give you IV drips at home."

Ian Kane’s throat bobbed but he said nothing, just watched her.

Meeting the tiny sparks in his eyes, Vera’s heart softened, "Let’s go home."

"Yes, my dear wife!" He smiled broadly, his voice incredibly hoarse.

Vera went to fetch his suit jacket, helping him dress.

As he did so, Ian Kane continued the conversation, "I’ve gotten someone to redesign that renovation plan for your little animal shelter these days, the foundation needs to be elevated."

Vera paused, her mind bringing up a memory from university when he braved snow overnight to help her feed stray cats and set up a warm shelter for them... That was also the first time she developed a fondness for him.

"Thank you, husband."

Ian Kane, "Love me, love my dogs."

Vera’s heart shook again.

As a child, he was chased and bitten by a vicious dog and feared small animals, yet he was willing to do these things for her—it was truly love by association.

The two of them left the president’s office together.

Ian Kane held her hand tightly, the wedding ring on his left ring finger catching the light with a cold metallic sheen.

The VIP elevator doors opened with a "ding."

A man stepped inside with long strides, dressed in an immaculate suit, exuding dignity and composure, carrying a briefcase, followed by several elite-looking men, each carrying a bag.

Seeing him, Ian Kane instinctively tightened his grip on Vera’s hand, and greeted loudly, "Old Man Grant."

Vera smiled, "Senior Grant."

Noah Grant looked at her, nodding slightly.

"Heading out?" He then asked Ian Kane.

Ian’s eyes gleamed with pride, "My wife has ordered me to go home and rest, apologies for the four o’clock meeting."

Noah’s expression darkened slightly, his gaze serious, "Today’s matter is a bit complicated."

Ian Kane’s smile faltered slightly, he looked to Vera, "Wife, I’ll attend a meeting first, I’ll be home tonight, okay?"

Vera frowned.

"Wife, please? I’ll be home right after the meeting." Ian Kane leaned down, his forehead brushing against hers, coaxing in a soft voice.

Vera turned her face away.

Noah brushed past her, his voice slightly deep, "I’m heading to the meeting room first."

Vera considered that anything Noah found troublesome must be serious, so she no longer persuaded Ian.

Upon reaching the B1 parking lot with the driver, Vera saw a familiar figure.

Nina, wearing oversized sunglasses, emerged from the Kane Group’s luxury mall brandishing shopping bags, heading toward a pink BMW mini.

So, she was here to shop at the Kane Group.

Vera felt uneasy.

After getting into the car, the driver, Old Man Woods, asked if she was heading home.

Vera, "To the supermarket."

...

In the meeting room, after listening to the law firm assistant’s report, Ian Kane frowned deeply, "Old Man Grant, this is it?"

"Isn’t this trivial, you had to involve me too?" As he finished speaking, his fingertips tapped the desk idly, eyeing Noah with leisure.

Was he still not over Vera?

Noah drew a cigarette, held it between his lips, lit it with a frown, his tone indifferent, "Not serious?"

A sly glint flashed in Ian’s dark eyes, "Ultimately, it’s not as important as the love with my wife."

"I can tell, you’ve been single too long and can’t stand others’ happiness. Didn’t I hear you’re planning a marriage alliance with Veridia’s renowned family? Couldn’t find anyone suitable?"

Noah flicked the ash from his cigarette, retorted, "Do I need to marry for alliances?"

With his fingers rubbing his wedding ring thoughtfully, Ian concurred, "True."

They were both capable of marrying for love.

...

Leaving the supermarket, Vera stopped by a large pharmacy, picking up some herbs beneficial for the lungs.

When Ian Kane’s lungs acted up in the past, she would always make medicinal soups for him, which were quite effective.

As she was settling the bill, someone approached and placed a box on the counter, "To pay."

A familiar female voice, a familiar perfume scent.

Without turning her head, Vera knew the person beside her was Nina Sullivan.

The next moment, she noticed the box on the counter that had words like "Early Pregnancy Rapid Test Strip" written on it...