Chapter 435 She Has Been Waiting for Someone!
She glared at him, her eyes getting all teary and red.
Andrew felt a twinge of regret but couldn't muster up any comforting words.
After what felt like forever, Chloe finally muttered, "I can't compete with you. Master of female friendships!"
With people around, Andrew kept his mouth shut.
Landon, being the smooth operator he is, chimed in, "I'll wait in the car! You two need to sort this out!"
He then laughed, "Mr. Devereux, this is one big misunderstanding!" And with that, he left, carrying Gavin.
Chloe was about to bounce too.
Andrew grabbed her arm, his voice all raspy, "Chloe!"
Chloe shook off his hand gently and whispered, "I'm outta here!"
Andrew knew she was pissed and softly apologized, "My bad! Can you cut me some slack this time?"
Chloe was on the verge of tears. Andrew lightly touched her face and asked, "How's the baby?"
Back in the day, she would've argued with him for hours because his words stung.
But he was sick.
Chloe didn't want to rile him up; she thought if she got mad, it would just make things worse. With a shaky voice, she whispered, "The baby's fine."
After that, she looked at him.
Andrew's face was pale and worn out.
He looked at her and smiled gently, but there was a hint of sadness in that smile.
She got what he was thinking.
At that moment, Chloe felt a pain in her heart she couldn't describe.
It seemed like the confident and composed Andrew she liked had vanished.
He had turned into just another guy.
He couldn't admit he was jealous.
Chloe choked up, "I'm heading back now! Take care of yourself."
Andrew quickly asked, "When's the next prenatal checkup? Can I come with you?"
Chloe looked up at him.
She said very softly, "9 AM, Thursday, week after next."
Andrew didn't say anything more, just gently patted her head.
Neither of them made any promises.
She didn't say she'd stick around after he got better.
He didn't mention wanting to get back together.
Their two kids were their only link.
Chloe left the hospital room, feeling sad, and stood alone at the end of the hallway.
Chloe cried for a long time, heartbroken by Andrew's illness and how it had changed him. She thought, 'Even though we're apart, I still hope he can be that spirited Andrew again.' She lingered outside Andrew's hospital room for a long time.
Andrew hadn't told her earlier that his illness couldn't be treated here; he had to go abroad.
He wanted to be there for one more prenatal checkup.
Chloe went downstairs.
Landon didn't have the best relationship with her, but when he saw her coming down, he immediately got out of the car and opened the door for her.
"Lovers meeting, shouldn't you be happy? Why are your eyes red?"
Chloe got into the back seat, "None of your business!"
Landon fastened his seatbelt and turned to her, "You think I want to care about you! It's Charlotte who asked me to watch over you, afraid you'd get upset and affect the baby! I don't get you two. You like each other, and now there's a baby. If he dies, wouldn't it be a pity!"
Chloe didn't want to talk to him.
Landon lightly pressed the gas pedal, "Keep him by your side and make him suffer a bit. He's actually quite good-looking, not worse than Frederick!"
Chloe wiped her tears. "Landon, you still wanna grab a bite?"
Of course, Landon was down, even though Charlotte would never give him the time of day, but he could still go and see her.
In the end, they headed to the villa. Yet all he saw was Chloe crying!
Half a month later, Chloe went for a prenatal checkup, with just a driver for company. Andrew had promised to come, so she didn't ask her family to tag along.
Jared dropped her off at the hospital room door.
Chloe knocked and walked in, only to find the room all neat and tidy.
Sunlight streamed in. The bed was made, like no one had ever slept there. Everything was spotless, and there was nothing left that belonged to Andrew.
Chloe was stunned. Where was Andrew?
A nurse doing rounds saw her and pulled a letter out of her pocket, handing it to her. It was from Andrew. Chloe ripped it open, and inside was just a single sheet of paper with a brief message: [Chloe, don't wait for me. If you meet a nice guy, grab your happiness!]
The letter slipped from her fingers.
Tears streamed down Chloe's face.
She wasn't sure if she was waiting for Andrew to get better, to ask for forgiveness, to promise a healthier future, or to finally give her the happiness she craved.
She hadn't figured it out yet; he just said, don't wait for him.
Who was waiting for him? She just came for a prenatal checkup with him and to let him name the baby. A small hope flickered within her: could she be the reason he finally chose to fight for life?
Ultimately, he left her once more.
Chloe thought, 'If I were 18, I might run to him without hesitation. But I'm in my 30s now. When it comes to being ruthless, no one can compare to Andrew.'
Jared sensed something was off and came over, stunned, "Chloe, why are you crying?"
Chloe lightly wiped her tears and said, "I'm not crying! The wind got in my eyes!"
Jared's eyes widened, seeing the letter, he gently picked it up.
Chloe slowly took it, then tore it up, smiling bitterly, "Jared, from now on, let's pretend this person never existed."
She knew his illness was severe.
He might not get better.
He might die!
But his decision meant she wouldn't even get to see him one last time.
'Andrew, you are truly ruthless,' she thought.
Chloe choked up, "Jared, come with me to the prenatal checkup!"
Jared's heart trembled, silently supporting her as they left.
Later, no one mentioned this matter.
Later still, Frederick investigated and found that Andrew's condition worsened that night, and Nathan contacted a hospital in Vienna, sending him away overnight.
He only left a letter for Chloe.
Andrew left without hope.
He didn't want Chloe to see him one last time.
Andrew disappeared. Almost everyone had forgotten that there was once such a person.
Only Gavin would call out for him in his sleep at night.
From that day on, Chloe never called Andrew, nor did she contact Nathan. She truly acted as if this person didn't exist.
Autumn passed and winter came.
For the New Year, the Hawkins Family celebrated at home.
With many kids around, it was lively and bustling.
Chloe wore a smile, but she always looked lonely, which made Charlotte feel the worst.
Frederick put his arm around her shoulder.
Patrick called over a few kids to take turns giving gifts.
Patrick patted Johnny's head lovingly and said, "Johnny's been the best, a role model for his younger siblings."
Lola pouted, "I did well too! I even helped change Kingsley's diaper!"
Kingsley nodded vigorously.
Patrick handed Lola another gift. "I was gonna give this to you secretly."
Lola happily took it.
Only Gavin sat by the door, quietly looking outside; it was snowing. He was waiting for Andrew.
Just like in previous years, Andrew would suddenly show up, pick him up, kiss him, and call him a "silly boy," then give him a gift.
But this year, he waited for a long time and still didn't see Andrew.
Some said Andrew was dead.
Others said Andrew didn't want him and his mom anymore.
Snowflakes clung to Gavin's eyelashes.
He sat there motionless.
His body was completely stiff, but in his heart, Andrew was holding him by the fireplace, playing with blocks and telling him stories.
They noticed that there was someone missing in the hall.
Chloe turned and watched her son from afar, knowing what he was thinking.
She wanted to go over.
Frederick gently patted the back of her hand and whispered, "I'll go."
Chloe nodded, her eyes slightly red.
Frederick said gently, "It's the New Year, and you're about to give birth. No crying, okay?"
He asked Charlotte to stay with Chloe.
Frederick walked to the door, where Gavin was hugging himself, staring at the light snow outside.
In the dim light, he thought he saw Andrew.
Frederick sat down next to him.
He pulled Gavin into his arms, warming him with his body, and asked softly, "Thinking about Dad?"
Gavin refused to speak.
Andrew's departure had a huge impact on him. He was already a quiet kid, and now he spoke even less.
After a long time, he said sadly, "I heard he took Molly."
Frederick patted the little guy's head.
He didn't tell Gavin that Molly had been mistreated by the servants at the villa, and Andrew had taken her away.
Gavin's eyes were fixed on the snowy night.
He asked softly, "Is Andrew still alive?"
Frederick's voice choked, "Yes! He's still alive."
Gavin said, "Why doesn't he come back to see me, or see Mom? Sometimes Mom cries at night."
Frederick kissed him.
He patted Gavin's head, "Then our Gavin should grow up quickly, so Mom can rely on you."
Gavin nodded.
Frederick asked, "What do you want for a New Year's gift?"
Gavin thought for a long time and softly said, "Can you call me a silly boy?"
Frederick was on the verge of tears.
He was a strong-willed person who rarely cried, but he couldn't help it now. "Silly boy!"
Gavin smiled lightly.
Gavin followed Frederick back to the hall, which was still lively, and everyone tacitly avoided mentioning Andrew.
That night, it snowed, and Frederick and Charlotte stayed over.
Charlotte tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
In the past four months, she had flown to Vienna six or seven times.
Andrew was in bad shape!
Charlotte had never mentioned it in front of the Hawkins Family, and she rarely talked about it even with Frederick.
Frederick touched her face. "Can't sleep?"
Charlotte looked at her husband in the dark and softly said, "Yeah."
Frederick was silent for a while.
He spoke softly, "Dad has a friend whose son, recently divorced, has his eye on Chloe. He's a good guy. Dad's thinking maybe they should meet after the baby is born and a bit older. Maybe it'll work out."
Frederick felt he needed to discuss this with Charlotte.
Charlotte got what he meant.
She leaned gently on his shoulder and softly said, "Let's see what Chloe thinks then."
Frederick smoothed her hair.
"If it doesn't work out, she can stay single. We can afford it."
Charlotte closed her eyes. After a moment, she opened them and said, "Frederick, I feel uneasy, like something's gonna happen tonight! Don't fall asleep just in case."
Frederick listened to her.
They lay there, chatting together.
Meanwhile, Chloe was holding Gavin.
Close to giving birth, she couldn't sleep well at night, suffering from insomnia.
She gently stroked her belly.
In half a month, the baby would be born, and they still hadn't decided on a name.
At that moment, Gavin started talking in his sleep again.
He called out for his dad.
Chloe gently stroked Gavin's face, feeling heartbroken but not knowing how to explain.
Her lower abdomen began to ache. Suddenly, the bed sheet was wet. Her water had broken.
She was in so much pain she couldn't speak, clutching her belly and unable to straighten up. Gavin woke up from his dream and saw his mom clutching her belly, her forehead covered in sweat.
'Mom is about to give birth.' Gavin quickly climbed out of bed and ran to the room across the hall to knock on the door.
"Uncle Frederick, Mom is about to give birth."
Frederick was talking to Charlotte and immediately threw off the covers. He didn't even have time to put on a piece of clothing and ran over.
Charlotte followed behind.
It was indeed an early birth.
Frederick grabbed a down jacket for Chloe and told Charlotte, "I'll carry her down! You wake up Mom and Dad, and we'll take Chloe to the hospital now. Someone needs to stay and watch the kids."
Charlotte nodded.
Two minutes later, the Hawkins Mansion was brightly lit.
On the first day of the New Year, the Hawkins Family was about to welcome another child.
Frederick drove, with Patrick giving directions.
Charlotte held Chloe, with Gavin, who had insisted on coming along, sitting beside her.
Chloe was in so much pain that she was sweating profusely, clinging onto Charlotte.
Charlotte gently rubbed her belly, constantly comforting her, "It'll be better once we get to the hospital."
Up front, Frederick focused on driving.
The snowy night made the roads slippery, and he didn't dare to lose focus for a second.
Half an hour later.
The black Bentley arrived at the hospital, and an ambulance immediately came to take Chloe straight to the delivery room.
Chloe was in so much pain she was delirious.
In her daze, she forgot everything and called out the name of the man who had broken her heart—Andrew.
Frederick was stunned.
Then he bent down and kissed Chloe's forehead, his voice hoarse, "I'll call him."
"No!" Chloe shook her head.
Sweat dripped down her forehead, and she looked extremely distressed. She cried, "Frederick, don't call him!"
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