Chapter 456 Rare Tenderness, Still Angry?
The crowd finally cleared out, leaving the big VIP room all quiet.
Natalie, looking well-rested and surrounded by shiny new toys, was busy playing with her chubby little legs.
Gavin had his nose in a book.
Andrew was leaning against the headboard, keeping an eye on Natalie.
But every now and then, he'd sneak a glance at Chloe, who was tidying up the room, putting away stuff left by the visitors.
Andrew couldn't help but say, "You're way more efficient than before."
Chloe put away the last item and brushed her hair aside. "Had to learn. With two kids at home, I can't rely on the nanny for everything."
Andrew watched her, finding her calm and composed.
After a moment, he asked, "What did you say to Grace?"
Chloe smiled slightly. "Not telling you!"
Andrew wanted to joke around, but with the kids in the room, especially since Gavin was old enough to understand, he held back.
Just then, the doctor walked in, checked on him, and smiled, "Mr. Devereux is recovering really fast!"
Natalie crawled over to Andrew.
The doctor, who had two sons and always wanted a daughter, was particularly fond of kids. Seeing Natalie, he felt a pang of envy.
He picked her up with his big hands. Natalie found the stethoscope on his chest fascinating and started playing doctor, mimicking what she had seen earlier.
The doctor chuckled and said to Andrew, "Looks like she wants to be a doctor when she grows up!"
Andrew smiled but thought, 'Being a doctor is tough. Natalie should be pampered. Lola and Sienna too!'
In the evening, Adeline brought dinner herself.
Even though Adeline wanted to stay and help out, she saw the family of four and decided to leave.
Andrew grinned when he saw the meal, "This looks amazing! I could eat like this for a month! But it's tough on Adeline to think of what to cook for us every day."
Chloe whispered while serving the rice, "Adeline's getting old, and you still make her work?"
Andrew just looked at her, saying nothing.
After dinner, he was sweating a lot. While Chloe was cleaning up, he went to take a shower. When he came out, he bumped into Chloe.
She frowned slightly, "You're weak; you shouldn't be showering."
Andrew rarely acted spoiled, "I felt gross! If I had asked you, you definitely wouldn't have agreed."
"Good that you know!" Chloe said, turning off the faucet and getting ready to leave.
Andrew grabbed her hand and locked the bathroom door.
"What are you doing?" Chloe, pressed against him from behind, sounded a bit uneasy.
Andrew wrapped his arms around her waist.
His chin rested on her slender shoulder, and they looked at each other in the mirror.
"Andrew! The kids are outside." Chloe's voice softened. After all, she was being held by him, and his hand on her waist was wandering. Chloe was a normal woman and couldn't help but feel aroused when touched by a man.
Andrew casually kissed her neck, making Chloe squirm, but she couldn't get away.
Her dress was lifted, and his fingers roamed freely.
"Andrew! Let go," she said, slapping his hand and tilting her head.
Andrew lightly nibbled on her neck, his voice low and sexy, "Just enjoy it."
After a few minutes, Chloe's body went limp in his arms, her fingers gripping the sink, her eyes dazed.
Andrew waited patiently for her to come back to her senses.
When she did, she was annoyed, "Let go of me!"
Andrew wrapped an arm around her waist, turned on the faucet, and slowly washed his hands, taking his sweet time.
Chloe felt he was doing it on purpose and struggled a bit.
Andrew turned off the faucet and looked down at her.
They were so close she could feel his warm breath, making her a bit nervous.
Andrew wrapped his arms around her and softly asked, "What did you say to Grace?"
Chloe didn't want to tell him.
Andrew didn't push, his voice softening, "Are you still mad?"
Chloe pretended not to understand, "No. Why should I mad at you?"
Andrew smiled, "Still saying you're not! I upset Gavin, and you felt bad for him. You've been so cold to me these days, how could I not notice?"
He was so smooth with his words, Chloe was left speechless.
Andrew suddenly hugged her tightly. "Chloe, you can blame me, hit me, scold me, just don't disappear, don't be distant! I'll do anything for you and the kids."
Chloe felt a warmth in her heart. After a while, she patted his hand, "Alright, I'm not mad at you anymore."
Andrew smiled faintly. He knew Chloe was soft-hearted, but he also knew it was because of her generosity. She had matured. For a moment, he missed her more straightforward ways from the past. It was his fault. When Chloe was in her prime, he didn't give her a home.
Andrew checked the time and asked her to stay, "Stay here tonight! There's a small bed inside, enough for Gavin and Natalie to sleep on."
Chloe knew Gavin wanted to stay, so she agreed.
Andrew bit her ear and whispered, "You sleep with me!"
Chloe refused, lowering her eyes, "I'll sleep on the couch; it's quite spacious."
Andrew didn't want to push her, so he agreed.
They stayed in the bathroom for about 20 minutes. When they came out, Gavin's eyes moved between their faces, showing no emotion.
Andrew felt awkward and cleared his throat, "I talked to Chloe. You and Natalie are staying here tonight!" Gavin looked at him.
Andrew thought he disagreed, but Gavin pulled out a small backpack, opened it, and dumped everything out: Natalie's little floral dress, pajamas, formula, diapers, and a bedtime storybook were all packed.
Under the bright light, Gavin bit his rosy lips and said, "Natalie cried and insisted on coming here. I had no choice. If it weren't for her, I'd definitely be sleeping at home tonight."
Andrew's gaze deepened. After a moment, he said, "So you're just using the fact that Natalie can't talk, huh? So young and already saying one thing and meaning another, just like your mom!"
Gavin, caught in the act, felt a bit embarrassed.
Gavin picked up Natalie and headed to the small room inside the ward. "Don't worry. I'll take care of Natalie."
Andrew smiled. After Gavin closed the door, Andrew patted the spot next to him, looking at Chloe, "Come here! The bed is more comfortable than the couch."
Chloe bent over, spreading a blanket on the couch.
Andrew walked over, wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, and whispered in her ear, "Earlier, I saw you needed it. Sleep with me, and I'll please you."
Chloe was mortified, her face flushed. "Still thinking about that at a time like this!"
Actually, she was hit right in the spot. Women always cared about their dignity, especially when it came to sex, and she didn't want to admit it.
Besides, he wasn't in good health and couldn't really do anything.
Yet he was teasing her!
Chloe lay down on the couch, covering her face with a small blanket, refusing to talk to him.
Andrew tugged at the blanket, "Are you mad?"
She didn't move.
Andrew sat down, gently tugged at her ear through the blanket, and then whispered close to her, "I miss you."
She still didn't respond.
Andrew pursed his lips, chuckled softly, and walked back to lie on the hospital bed.
He turned off the light. Andrew relaxed and slept soundly until morning.
When he woke up, Natalie was in his arms.
She had woken up in the middle of the night wanting milk, and Gavin couldn't handle it, sleeping soundly.
So Natalie had opened the door, ran barefoot to her dad, and now her little face was nestled in his arms, sleeping soundly, her little feet resting on Andrew's stomach.
When Natalie's little feet got itchy, she would rub them.
Andrew looked down at her. Natalie's face resembled his, but her eyes had Chloe's features.
He couldn't help but kiss Natalie's cheek.
Chloe came out from washing up and happened to see this scene. She went over to pick up Natalie.
Andrew was reluctant. "Let her sleep a bit longer!"
Chloe soothed Natalie, saying softly, "The nurse will be here soon to give you an IV! Andrew, you shouldn't spoil the kids too much."
Andrew smiled. After a moment, he said softly, "I can be the strict parent! You spoil them, and I'll be strict."
Chloe ignored his nonsense. She soothed her little daughter and made some formula.
While waiting for the milk to cool, she brushed Natalie's teeth, making them clean and shiny.
The nurse came to set up Andrew's IV. Afterward, she couldn't help but look at Natalie. She played with her a bit and whispered, "The doctor keeps talking about how cute the little girl is. All the nurses in the ward want to come see her, but this is the VIP ward, and Mr. Devereux has guards at the door, so they can't get in."
The nurse left with a satisfied look on her face, and Chloe felt a mix of emotions.
After she was gone, Chloe turned to Andrew, "From now on, Natalie should go out less often."
Andrew looked at her, "Afraid others will covet her?"
Chloe felt awkward. After a moment, she said softly, "I was like that when I was little, loved by everyone, and it made me the way I was before!"
Andrew's expression softened. "The way you are is great! I like it very much!"
Chloe was taken aback. In her life, she had only two relationships, one with Ethan and one with Andrew.
Ethan didn't like her. He was with her purely for the Hawkins Family's resources, but what did Andrew see in her?
Andrew saw her deep in thought and said softly, "Chloe, don't deny yourself! You're better than you think! I've seen many people in powerful circles, but no girl is as pure and lovely as you, and you're kind to others." Perhaps it was this rare quality that moved him.
Chloe was touched but didn't want to show it. She glanced at him, "Sick like this, and still sweet-talking."
Andrew smiled lightly. He was naturally gentle, and his smile was especially attractive.
Chloe's cheeks turned slightly red, and she lowered her head to feed Natalie.
Andrew, being emotionally intelligent, naturally sensed her feelings for him. He watched quietly, feeling a slight stir in his heart.
Just then, Chloe's phone rang. It was Eli's assistant calling.
Eli had been a mentor to her, but this time they had a falling out.
His assistant, familiar with Chloe, called to give her a heads-up, saying, "I don't know what's gotten into Eli this time. Not only does he want to replace you, but he also wants to sue you for breach of contract."
She paused, "And the next movie, which Mr. Devereux invested $80 million in because of you, Eli wants to replace you in that too!"
Chloe felt a lump in her throat. She didn't want Andrew to know that, so she said softly, "I got it."
She hung up. Andrew's gaze deepened, "Trouble at work?"
"No!" She continued to feed Natalie, who didn't get upset after the interruption and waited patiently in her mother's arms.
As soon as the bottle was brought over, her little mouth immediately opened, drinking eagerly.
Andrew leaned against the headboard and said softly, "I won't ask you to apologize and make amends."
Perhaps this was common in the workplace, especially in the entertainment industry.
But Chloe was from the Hawkins Family, and she was his wife. She had already been more than fair to Eli, even making amends before. This time, Eli was too unreasonable.
Andrew planned to resolve this matter for her. On the surface, he remained calm, "There will be other opportunities."
Chloe responded with a hum.
Andrew felt very uneasy. He could guess that Chloe had worked hard to reach her current position in the industry, but she was willing to offend a senior director for him.
Andrew took his phone and sent a message on Facebook to Nathan: [Find out where Eli is?]
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