CHAPTER 69: CHAPTER 69: HUNGER STRIKE

"You?" After a moment of shock, Seraphina Sinclair responded, letting out a laugh: "Are you going to sell yourself to support me?"

Saying this, she got out of bed despite Desmond Fairchild’s attempt to stop her, her eyes darting around as if searching for her phone.

"Do you think you can get out?" Desmond Fairchild stood behind Seraphina Sinclair, his voice icy cold.

Desmond’s words were a threat, and at the same time, an indication that he was angry.

Seraphina Sinclair’s temper flared up instantly. Aside from selling himself, Desmond’s salary wasn’t even enough for himself, let alone sustaining her?

But learning from past mistakes, Seraphina didn’t say anything hurtful this time, just took a deep breath: "If I can’t walk out, I’ll run out; if I can’t run out, I’ll crawl out. One way or another, I’m getting out!"

A chilling light flashed in Desmond’s eyes, and he swiftly caught up with her, grabbed her arm, and directly carried her back to the bed.

"Desmond Fairchild! I’m a patient!" Seraphina Sinclair struggled but couldn’t break free, shouting out.

Desmond’s lips brushed against Seraphina’s ear, "I know, which is why I’m making sure you rest. But since you took such good care of me yesterday, I should repay the favor."

Seraphina tried to wiggle away but only ended up bringing them closer together.

Suddenly, the atmosphere grew strange; Seraphina could distinctly feel the heat emanating from Desmond and the rapid beating of his heart.

Desmond looked into Seraphina’s eyes, and almost instinctively, he kissed her to silence her incessant protests. The sweetness was irresistible.

He...

Seraphina froze, a complex emotion clouding her eyes.

Just then, Desmond’s phone rang in his pocket, breaking the odd tension. After a moment of reflection, Desmond realized his behavior was off, gradually letting go of Seraphina to answer the call.

His voice was somewhat hoarse: "What’s the matter?" he asked while stepping out.

Seraphina let out a deep breath, as if escaping from a lion’s maw.

As she was feeling relieved, a locking sound came from the door. Seraphina reacted, rushing over, only to find Desmond had locked the door, leaving her with no way out.

Not letting her out?

Fine, then no one gets to come in either.

Standing at the tightly shut door, Desmond frowned in frustration. When he returned from his call, no matter how hard he tried, the door wouldn’t budge.

Jude Sinclair stood at the door as well, furrowing his brows. He had made juice and a fruit salad for Seraphina, hoping she’d taste his creations.

"Seraphina, open the door!"

"No, I’m fasting!"

...

"Sigh." Jude sighed deeply, full of worry, "Where did Mom pick up this behavior?"

Desmond shot a glare at Jude, surely mother and daughter are two of a kind?

Seraphina was furious that she just wanted to see how Kevin was doing, but ended up being forcibly detained by someone.

"Hey, Kim! How did the meeting progress a while ago?" After considering thoroughly, Seraphina decided to make a call to confirm.

The two outside weren’t having a good time either; Jude had been coaxing at the door for ages, yet inside, Seraphina remained unmoved, truly determined to fast.

Mom’s really terrible, needing a child like me to coax her to eat!

The doctor had mandated medication to be taken on time, seeing as the time was nearing, Desmond’s face grew darker, his patience waning, commanding in a deep voice: "Jude, unlock it."

The door here was an electronic password lock, albeit complex, it required time to crack.

But for Jude, the little genius, it was nothing but a walk in the park.

Putting down the tray of food, Jude took out his iPad, connected to the network, and entered the hospital’s domain. A long string of complex codes appeared on the screen, Jude’s small fingers moved swiftly across the screen and before long, there was a beep.

Desmond picked up a glass of juice and a bag of pills, striding over to open the door, while Jude, following with his little legs, was promptly ordered by his father to wait outside.

Seeing Desmond enter with a grim look from outside, Seraphina, just coming back to her senses, was shocked to see the ill-tempered person.

She hadn’t fully gathered herself when Desmond strode over, exuding a mighty arrogance.

"How did you get in?" She clearly had locked it tight!

Desmond spoke in a low voice: "Fasting?"

Before Seraphina could say anything, Desmond chuckled lightly, already placing the pills meant for her in his mouth, tipped back a large gulp of juice, then fiercely tossed the cup aside, the sound of glass shattering echoed.

One penetrating gaze advancing step by step, the other retreating slowly step by step.

Until there was no retreat left, Desmond suddenly reached out a hand, cradled Seraphina’s head and drew it toward himself, forcing her to tilt upwards, then in her stunned gaze, he kissed her lips, passing the juice and pills from his mouth.

Seraphina swallowed it down in gulps, juice dribbling down from her lips, over her neck, and dripping into the deep hollow of her collarbone.

With a punitive notion, Desmond licked clean the juice remaining at Seraphina’s lips, his eyes deep and dark, "If you insist on fasting, I’ll feed you this way."

Perhaps the impact of Desmond’s action was too great, Seraphina stood speechless, her expression dazed.

Desmond smiled contentedly, whispered at her ear: "Dare you do it again?"

In order to prevent the incident with Shirley Lynch yesterday from disrupting Seraphina’s rest again, Desmond set up layers of guards inside and outside of the hospital, unexpectedly, now they were used for confining Seraphina.

Escape? Impossible to escape.

Hide? With Jude, the unlocking prodigy present, no matter which room she locked herself in, she’d be found in less than five minutes.

Even more daunting was Desmond’s method of dealing with her fasting.

Quickly, Seraphina accepted her fate, as half a day passed, her anger subsided significantly. It’d only be two or three days, endure it a bit, and it’d pass.

If she said no, Desmond would inevitably devise some means to torment her.

Thinking of this made her head throb, she hadn’t anticipated that this man still had his own indomitable ways.

"My work..."

"I’ll go back and handle it for you; if there’s any issue, consult Irene Rowe," Desmond interrupted.

Seraphina raised an eyebrow, could Desmond really do it? It might be worth a shot, this rather pricey husband might still have many abilities she hadn’t discovered.

Thinking this, she couldn’t help but scrutinize the man before her.

Once her health had recovered sufficiently, Seraphina was escorted home under Desmond and Jude’s dual "protection."