CEO Ex-Husband, Don't Bother Me-Chapter 69: Dare to Be a Little More Self-Righteous (2)

Chapter 69: Chapter 69: Dare to Be a Little More Self-Righteous (2)

The dream was so beautiful, the images so clear, that she didn’t want to wake up. She didn’t dare to. She just let herself sink deeper into its sweetness.

So when she finally awoke, she found the sun high in the sky and her son, Dylan, gone from her arms. A wave of panic washed over her as she frantically called his name.

"Dylan! Dylan!"

She leaped out of bed, not even stopping to put on shoes, and dashed into the adjoining sitting room to find him. It was empty. The color drained from her face as she rushed out and grabbed the first nurse she saw.

"Where’s my son? Where’s my son?"

The nurse took in her messy hair and bare feet, then smiled reassuringly.

"Didn’t Mr. Donovan take Dylan for a check-up?"

"A check-up?"

Naomi Shaw asked, dazed. In her panic, she had completely forgotten that Dylan was still sick. She’d also forgotten that Julian Donovan had stayed with them all through the night.

Just then, she heard Dylan’s young voice.

She turned, stunned, to see Julian Donovan walking down the hallway toward her with Dylan Donovan in his arms. Tears instantly welled in her eyes. She rushed forward, snatched Dylan from Julian’s embrace, and clutched him tightly, crying as she spoke.

"Dylan, where did you run off to? Mommy thought something happened to you!"

Dylan was her life; the smallest thing was enough to make her break down.

"Mommy, don’t cry..."

Dylan wiped away her tears with his small hands and leaned in to kiss her cheek.

"What on earth goes through that head of yours!"

Julian Donovan glanced at her—disheveled hair, tear-streaked face, sobbing as she clung to Dylan with no regard for her appearance. He tossed the remark at her before turning and entering the hospital room. It was obvious she had thought something terrible had happened to their son.

He had woken up early. When he came out of the sitting room, he saw that Dylan was awake in her arms as well. But the boy was being considerate and not waking her up, simply blinking his big, bright eyes and staring blankly at the ceiling. Julian couldn’t help but smile. ’What a sensible little guy.’

He glanced at her, lying beside the boy. He wondered what beautiful dream she was having, the corners of her lips curved into a joyful smile. He found himself mesmerized. He couldn’t remember the last time he had seen her smile so freely. It felt like it had been back when he first arrived in Thailos. Back then, she was always smiling, shy and happy, innocent and content. He suddenly realized that ever since she got with him, she had never smiled with such radiant joy again.

Dylan saw him and called out to him softly.

That snapped him out of his reverie. He walked over and whispered to Dylan.

"Want to get up?"

The little guy immediately nodded. He gently lifted Dylan out of her arms, then grabbed Dylan’s clothes and carried him to the sitting room to get dressed.

His attempts to dress Dylan were so clumsy that even the boy couldn’t help but tease him.

"Daddy, you’re so clumsy!"

"Is that any way to talk to your old man?"

Sweat beaded on Julian Donovan’s forehead as his large hands fumbled with the tiny shorts, turning them over and over. ’Damn it,’ he thought, ’what kind of ridiculous clothes did she buy? I can’t even tell the front from the back.’

"But you really are clumsy!"

Dylan giggled. Finally, unable to bear it anymore, he piped up.

"Oh, come on! That’s the front!"

Julian Donovan finally managed to pull the shorts on him and let out a long sigh of relief. ’This is more exhausting than my morning run.’

Once Dylan was dressed, Julian took him to the doctor for a check-up. When they returned, he found her in that state.

Hearing Julian Donovan’s remark, Naomi Shaw, still crying and clutching Dylan, felt a flush of embarrassment. She carried Dylan back into the room and immediately ducked into the bathroom to pull herself together.

When she came out, Julian Donovan looked at her and said,

"The doctor said he needs another day on the IV to completely flush the toxins from his system."

She nodded. He hesitated for a moment, then added,

"I’m going to see her off in a bit."

Naomi Shaw glanced at him and said lightly,

"Actually... you don’t have to do that. Miss Jennings came all the way to Thailos..."

’Dylan is mostly fine now. He can go be with the person he loves.’

"Naomi Shaw, are you really that understanding? Do you honestly not mind?"

Julian Donovan’s tone was harsh, his question cold.

Naomi Shaw kept her eyes downcast, refusing to look at him. He suddenly roared.

"Look me in the eye and answer me!"

Naomi Shaw flinched at his sudden outburst of anger and raised her eyes to meet his. Her gaze was filled with stubbornness, defiance, and a sense of being wronged. ’How could I possibly be so understanding? How could I honestly not mind?’ But her stance hadn’t changed. ’If you don’t love me and Dylan, then don’t be so good to us...’

Julian Donovan’s face was full of displeasure, and Naomi Shaw refused to back down. The two were at a stalemate again.

A weak voice piped up from the side.

"Mommy, my tummy hurts..."

The color instantly drained from Naomi Shaw’s face, and she rushed over to fuss over Dylan. Meanwhile, Julian Donovan dashed out to get a doctor. Their tense conversation was cut short. On the bed, Dylan blinked his big eyes slyly and continued to whimper.

The doctor came and put Dylan back on an IV drip. Just then, Mrs. Sommers arrived carrying a thermal container. Seeing Dylan’s condition, her heart ached terribly.

"I’ve brought some porridge for Dylan. Feed him a little, the poor darling!"

Naomi Shaw took the bowl and began feeding Dylan the porridge, no longer in the mood to deal with Julian Donovan. Once Dylan was settled with the IV, Julian shot her a harsh glare and left.

After Julian Donovan had gone, Dylan took a spoonful of porridge from Naomi Shaw.

"Mommy, you shouldn’t make Daddy angry anymore!"

Naomi Shaw was exasperated. ’What does he mean, I shouldn’t make him angry? When did I provoke him? He’s the one who’s always looking for a fight!’

The fact that her own son was taking his side only made her more frustrated. She unhappily scolded him.

"This is between adults. Children shouldn’t get involved!"

Dylan paid her no mind, retorting with the tone of a tiny adult.

"Whatever he says, you should just listen to him!"

Naomi Shaw’s lip twitched. ’How is it that Dylan hasn’t picked up any of his other traits, but has perfectly inherited his male chauvinism?’

Mrs. Sommers, who had been listening from the side, couldn’t help but chuckle. Naomi Shaw set the bowl down and tried to reason patiently with her son.

"Dylan, male chauvinism is wrong. It’s a sign of not loving someone. If you love someone, you respect their opinions, not just boss them around and give orders!"

Dylan blinked his dark, sparkling eyes, pretending not to understand her complex lecture. She felt defeated and resignedly picked up the bowl to feed him again.

Years later, when Dylan fell in love with a girl, he would come to believe his mom’s view was mistaken. He was only overbearing because he loved her; if he didn’t care, he wouldn’t even bother giving her the time of day.

After leaving the hospital, Julian Donovan drove to the hotel where Juliet Jennings was staying. The moment Juliet saw him, she threw herself into his arms with a pitiful look on her face.

"Julian, you’re finally here!"

Julian Donovan frowned, pushing her away. He walked to the window and lit a cigarette before turning back to face her.

"Juliet, can you go back to Meridia for now? My son is sick. I’m in no mood to be on vacation with you right now."

Juliet Jennings couldn’t believe he was trying to send her away.

"Julian Donovan, this is unfair to me! Didn’t you say you were coming back to deal with this marriage? Are you backing out now just because your son got sick? Maybe this is just that woman’s ploy to keep you here. Your son probably isn’t even sick. She’s just making him pretend, isn’t she? Her mind is truly twisted and malicious!"

Julian Donovan never expected Juliet Jennings to say such a thing. A flicker of shock crossed his eyes, and his expression darkened instantly.

"Juliet, you’ve gone too far. She’s not that kind of person!"

’She’s too innocent and kind. How could she ever resort to the kind of schemes Juliet is describing?’

Juliet Jennings became frantic.

"Julian Donovan, you’re actually defending her? This is the woman you claim, over and over, that you don’t love, and you’re defending her?"