The General's Wife Wants to Leave-Chapter 286: Reward

It was what Canillas observed. His brother-in-law did not pay attention to the lady that his wife did not want her brother to be with.

Once he arrived at the festival, the so-called cheeky man had turned into a serious person who focused only on the people that came to his booth and whom he questioned with several questions. His hands were also not idle, as they were moving to scrape on the papers. When the sky turned dark and more people swarmed toward their booth, it was when his brother-in-law asked for his help to take his part to write.

His handwriting was not something to be proud of. If he could choose, he would prefer to keep it confidential to himself rather than open it for many eyes to see. However, when he glanced at Joanna’s brother’s handwriting, he felt that there was nothing to be ashamed of, as a doctor’s handwriting was not far different from his.

Aside from that, instead of asking for help from the lady that seemed to do her best for her existence to be noticed, Phillip de Lara chose him for that errand. That way, he could keep his wife’s words to make her brother be around his surveillance. Thus, it was how he spent his time to fulfill his role as a good husband and brother-in-law in the festival.

Joanna subtly nodded her head, aware now of what was done by her brother and her husband. And she could not help but feel glad about how her brother Phillip had dedicated himself to being a doctor.

She remembered how surprised she was when Phillip announced that he would become a doctor, following the path of their uncle, the older brother of their mother.

She had been skeptical if Phillip could finish his study, as his character and temper did not give a sense of being able to deal with heavy, serious, and complicated matter. He was a free spirit who was interested only in a simple and comfortable life.

However, it seemed that her view of life needed to be broadened. As people grew up, they could change to the point of not being able to be discerned. The irresponsible would change into responsible, like something impossible could turn into something possible.

Joanna smiled at the thought, feeling glad that her brother changed in a positive direction.

And her smile got wider at the information shared by Canillas that her brother gave no slightest attention to Valerie. She also felt relieved knowing Canillas could adapt well there, as she had thought it would turn out to be.

There was nothing to be worried about with her husband dealing with something that he objected to before, as she was well aware that he had surely faced more bizarre and unpredictable situations on the battlefield.

"Have you had dinner?" Joanna asked. Her gaze had been on the carpet on the floor since Canillas made her lay back in his arms.

"How could I not if my wife had asked for the dinner to be prepared for me?" Canillas replied. "I have also bathed with warm water."

Joanna felt more delighted at what she heard. Bianca had always been helpful to her.

At first, she wanted to wait for Canillas and Phillip’s return. However, the pain in her abdomen prevented her from doing anything other than lying down. Hence, she asked Bianca to prepare dinner and hot water for Canillas.

She did not need to think about Phillip, as, without being asked, all of the servants in the de Lara mansion knew what they should do for their sole young master.

"Good to hear that," Joanna muttered with a smile.

"So, does it work?"

’Does it work?’ Joanna could not help but frown at Canillas’ inquiry, repeating it in her mind as she was perplexed by what he meant.

"What does work?" She questioned when her perplexity kept going on, unable to find a correlation between his inquiry and the previous topic of their conversation.

"This." And Joanna shuddered when Canillas applied more pressure and made the circular motion on her stomach more vivid as he answered her.

As her previous perplexity was brushed away, another cluster of perplexity rushed over her.

For a moment Joanna contemplated whether she should say yes or no. The fact was that it did work, but she did not like the impact that was caused by his touch.

She felt drained as her heart did not stop thumping uncontrollably, and it was not easy to steady her breath or to make herself remain calm. And there was a peculiar feeling billowing in her body, which made her somehow worry if she could not control that.

"Yes." But what slipped out of her mouth above a whisper was the opposite of the decision she had in her mind. And she took a deep sigh inwardly due to that.

Perhaps it was because she wanted to reciprocate the kindness her husband had shared with her that her mouth betrayed her mind. Joanna reasoned to herself.

"If that’s so, is this husband worthy to be rewarded?"

In the blink of an eye, Joanna’s countenance changed. Her heart skipped a beat, yet her brows furrowed upon what she just heard.

’Reward.’

That word played in her mind. She suddenly felt disappointed because Canillas once again bargained with her. She thought he was sincere, giving her a hand for free, but it turned out he asked something from her.

Nonetheless, in one corner of her mind, Joanna approved that Canillas deserved to be rewarded for everything that he had done for her. Not only what he just did but from the moment they met up.

His patience, his acceptance, his understanding, his care, and... his love...

He never asked a lot from her, but one thing. He did not want to separate from her. He did not want to end their marriage. He wanted them to live as husband and wife. Thus, he made the blood agreement—an agreement he made because of her confusing bearing.

Because he was afraid of losing her. And because... he loved her... A love that made him able to view a marriage as sensible without the presence of an heir.

Recalling their moments of togetherness that mostly made her lost for words on how to describe them, Joanna turned her head only to meet Canillas’ eyes that were already fixed on hers.

In their close proximity, where the tips of their straight noses were only a hair’s breadth away from each other, her eyes lingered on the piercing green orbs for a few seconds before she brought them to trail down, falling at Canillas’ lips.

She let her eyes fix on his lips for another few seconds until she turned her body to face him completely, inviting Canillas’ anticipation to peak.

Nonetheless, his anticipation dimmed when the kiss that he had waited for did not come. Instead of kissing him based on how intense her gaze was on his lips, she chose to embrace him.

Yet a blissful smile grew, adorning his beaming face. What could he expect from his shy wife? Canillas thought inwardly.

"Thank you..."

Then, he heard her soft voice, conveying her gratitude to him. In response, Canillas wrapped his arms around Joanna, who buried her face on his chest and slid one of her hands on his waist before resting it on his broad back.

"... Husband..."

Freeze. It was Canillas’ reaction to Joanna’s single word, adding to the thank you that she said before.

The smile left his lips before he took a deep breath and closed his eyes. For a moment he felt his body tremble.

It was not the first time in this lifetime for her to mention him and address him as ’my husband’ in a conversation, but it was the first time in this lifetime for her to directly call him ’husband.’

The meaningful address that was hard to slip from her lips was now uttered by her despite the restraint that still lingered in her soft voice.

In the past, it was how she called him with her typical endearing voice that he always loved to hear, full of affection and contentment. Until that one cloudy day became the last time he heard that acknowledgement of his status in her life.

Until they separated to never meet again, she never called him ’husband.’ She did not even call his name ’Canillas.’ She stopped admitting his existence. He was no one. He was only a stranger.

As the painful memory of the past surfaced in his mind, Canillas felt his eyes burn. With his eyes closed and his arms around her body tightened, he kissed the top of Joanna’s head only to bring him more to those old moments when he inhaled the familiar soothing scent that emanated through her silky, dark hair.

’You are most welcome... love..."

Love. The word that he never said to her in the past was now for her to hear for the whole of his life.

"I love you. Remember that."