Chapter 936
Lillian was startled and instinctively crouched down.
Inside the hospital room.
Calliope had a nagging feeling that someone was watching them. She thought it might be a nurse, but when she glanced towards the window, she saw no one.
She said to Phaedra, who was in her arms, "Phaedra, can you play by yourself for a bit? Mommy needs to make a phone call."
Phaedra nodded obediently and ran off. Calliope walked towards the door and yanked the handle open.
However, outside the room, it was empty. No one was there.
Having been a former actress, she was particularly sensitive to being watched.
Could it be that she had been out of the spotlight for so long that she was imagining things?
She retreated into the room and closed the door.
In the stairwell, Lillian heard the noise and clutched her chest, trying to calm her racing heart.
It was her first time spying on someone like this, and she felt both guilty and exhilarated.
She didn't dare show herself because she sensed that Calliope was intentionally hiding something from Ambrose.
Ever since the Kelly Group scandal, everyone knew that Lillian was the heiress to the Kelly family.
Calliope must have known about her relationship with Ambrose, and Lillian worried that if Calliope saw her, she would immediately take Phaedra and leave.
Lillian clutched her phone and returned to Taylor's room. Taylor was still sound asleep in bed, but Jackson was nowhere to be seen.
Some noises were coming from the bathroom, so Lillian excitedly opened the door and slipped inside.
"Jackson, guess what I found out?"
She rushed in only to find Jackson had taken off his hospital gown and was unwrapping the bandages on his shoulder.
Lillian was alarmed. "What are you doing? Why are you taking off the bandages? Did the wound reopen?"
She hurried over, and Jackson turned around, pulling her into his arms.
"No, it's just that the wound is really itchy. I wanted to see what's going on."
Lillian glared at him. "You couldn't wait for me to come back and help you? What if you tear the wound open again? I won't let you off the hook!"
She scolded him, giving him a playful glare.
She pushed him away and moved behind him, indicating for him to sit on the toilet lid.
Jackson obediently complied, spreading his legs and sitting down.
Lillian leaned in, but the space was too cramped. She tried to maneuver behind Jackson but found it difficult to squeeze through.
As she was figuring out where to step, Jackson wrapped an arm around her waist, causing her to fall onto his lap with a soft gasp.
Jackson rested his head on her shoulder and tilted it slightly.
"Just check it like this."
His wound was on his shoulder, and Lillian, seeing that she could still inspect it from this position, didn't get up.
She carefully peeled off the bandage bit by bit, constantly watching his reaction to avoid causing him pain.
In doing so, she didn't realize that her movements caused her body to lean forward, pressing her chest tightly against Jackson's firm shoulder and arm.
Jackson's breathing grew heavier, and when Lillian shifted to get a better view, he let out a low groan.
Lillian's hands trembled slightly, and she immediately stopped, turning her head to ask him, "Did I hurt you?"
Before she could finish her sentence, Jackson turned his head and kissed her.
Lillian instinctively let go of the bandage, which fell to the floor. One hand gripped Jackson's hot, muscular shoulder to steady herself, while the other hand hovered uncertainly, not knowing where to place it.
Jackson's large, warm hand suddenly caught her small hand in mid-air and guided it down.
Jackson released her lips, his own brushing lightly against her now even more alluring and tender lips, and said in a husky voice, "It does hurt. You should rub it."
Lillian thought his gunshot wound was on his shoulder. Even though the wound had scabbed over, it hadn't fully healed inside. Rubbing it would only make it worse.
The next second, her face turned bright red.
When they finally emerged from the bathroom, nearly an hour had passed.
Taylor was still sound asleep, her little bottom sticking up in the air. Lillian worried that the noise they made in the bathroom might have woken her.
Jackson had held her, whispering reassurances that he would be quick and that he was listening for any sounds from Taylor.
But he was a liar, a big liar.
Seeing Taylor still asleep, Lillian breathed a sigh of relief and then shot Jackson a fierce glare.
Jackson, looking satisfied and smiling, wrapped an arm around Lillian's waist and led her to the couch, urging her to lie down.
"Weren't you complaining about your back hurting? Lie down, and I'll give you a massage."
Lillian, feeling sore all over, didn't refuse Jackson's offer of kindness.
She lay on the couch, resting her head on Jackson's lap, as his large hand gently massaged her waist.
Lillian's face still had a rosy tint, and Jackson, looking down at her, felt his desire stir again.
He hadn't been fully satisfied earlier, given the unsuitable location.
She had been mindful of Taylor outside and his shoulder wound, so she hadn't fully cooperated, despite his coaxing.
But it had its own charm.
Lillian knew him too well. Sensing his mood, she quickly changed the subject to distract him.
"I really think Calliope's daughter might be Ambrose's."
"Are you sure?" Jackson's interest was piqued, and he raised an eyebrow.
Although Ambrose had supposedly moved on, Jackson remained vigilant.
He knew that sometimes letting go was just a reluctant choice, not a sign that someone was truly out of one's heart.
Maybe Ambrose still had lingering feelings. As long as Ambrose remained unmarried and childless, Jackson couldn't fully relax.
After all, Lillian's trust in Ambrose often made Jackson jealous.
If Ambrose had a daughter, it would be like a gift from the heavens, eliminating a potential threat.
"Let me show you some photos!"
Lillian eagerly pulled out her phone and showed Jackson two photos.
"Look at the little girl you bumped into in the hallway. Isn't she the same one?"
Jackson glanced at the photos and nodded.
"Yes, that's the girl. She's very well-behaved, which means her mother raised her well. But why do you think she's Ambrose's daughter?"
Lillian pointed to Calliope in the photo. "Don't you remember? This actress is Calliope. You watched her TV show with me before."
Jackson had watched a couple of TV shows with Lillian, but he had little interest in the strange shows she liked. Most of the time, he watched her, occasionally glancing at the screen.
"Maybe. I don't remember. Did she play the villain in that show?" he replied.
Lillian was speechless and sat up straight from Jackson's lap. "She was the lead actress, okay?! Calliope's face is so beautiful, and you didn't remember her?"
Jackson shrugged, a bit helpless. "You're the most beautiful."
He meant it. In his eyes, and even objectively comparing, Lillian was the most beautiful. He already had the most beautiful rose of his own, so why bother paying attention to other women?
Lillian's cheeks warmed at his words, and she let out a small hum. She suspected he was sweet-talking her to make her happy, but she had no proof, and it did make her feel sweet inside.
Suppressing her smile, she said, "Don't you remember? You were the one who told me that Calliope was blacklisted online and had to leave the industry because of rumors with Ambrose. Then Anouk targeted her, and you used that to warn me to stay away from Ambrose."
Jackson thought for a moment and realized she was right. That was when Ambrose had just appeared in Lillian's life, and Jackson felt a strong sense of crisis, prompting him to investigate Ambrose.
"So, the rumors about Calliope and Ambrose were true? Calliope secretly had Ambrose's daughter? Is it possible that Ambrose knows about Phaedra but doesn't want to raise her?"
"Impossible! Ambrose isn't like that!" Lillian immediately defended Ambrose.
Jackson watched her passionately defend Ambrose, her trust in him making Jackson jealous.
He nodded, "Alright, then what do you suggest? Should we secretly do a paternity test for Ambrose and Phaedra and tell him once it's confirmed?"
Lillian's eyes lit up. "Is it easy to do a paternity test?"
Jackson nodded. "It's not difficult. Phaedra is staying at Frane Hospital, and the hospital should have her blood samples. Comparing them is easy, just a matter of making a call."
Lillian thought for a moment but shook her head. "It's not right to do it without informing Calliope. We're not related to Phaedra, and it would be wrong for the hospital to break the rules."
She had hated the hospital's various violations due to Taylor's previous situation. Jackson had even worked to rectify the hospital's issues, and Lillian didn't want them to become rule-breakers and abuse their power.
Jackson found her thoughtful expression amusing. "Then just tell Ambrose directly. He has the right to know about his daughter."
Lillian agreed. "Alright, let's tell him directly. If she is his daughter, he gains a wonderful child. If not, it doesn't harm him."
She eagerly opened her chat with Ambrose and saw that he had replied with two voice messages an hour ago.
Lillian lowered the volume and listened, her eyes curving into a smile.
"I tried to set him up with a girlfriend, and he said if I go back to work at the Kelly Group, he'll go on a date. He's negotiating with me, not knowing he might have a sweet daughter, all depending on my decision."
Jackson saw her smiling and chuckled. "Then don't tell him yet."
He thought, having a wife and child together really softened a man's resolve. He didn't know about others, but Jackson didn't want to go to work at all now. He wanted to be with Lillian and their child every moment.
If Ambrose knew he had a daughter and started dating, how could he manage the Kelly Group properly? If Ambrose really quit, Oberon, being so old, couldn't handle it, and Lillian, as the Kelly family heiress, would have to step in. If Lillian took over the Kelly Group, she'd spend most of her time in Seaspring Valley City. What would he do then?
'No, no, a man has to be selfish for his happiness. Better not let Ambrose know.'
Lillian didn't know Jackson's thoughts. She looked at him, puzzled by his changing ideas. "No, we have to tell him."
Jackson had just been thinking aloud. He didn't really want to prevent their reunion. He had lost Taylor once and knew that feeling. Even if Ambrose didn't know he had a daughter now, he'd eventually find out and regret missing those years. Reuniting them sooner was better.
He patted Lillian's shoulder. "Go make the call."
Lillian stood up. "Okay, I'll go outside."
Jackson stood up too. "Just call here. I'll wake Taylor up. He's been sleeping like a little pig, and if he doesn't wake up, he'll be up all night."
Lillian checked the time. Taylor had indeed been sleeping for a long time, so she didn't object. Jackson went to the bed and picked up Taylor, while Lillian dialed Ambrose's number.
Ambrose answered quickly, his warm voice coming through the receiver. "Are you tired from being at the hospital these past few days?"
"Not tired. Taylor's been good, and Jackson doesn't need my care. I'm bored at the hospital. How are things in Seaspring Valley City? When will you finish and come over with Grandpa?"
Ambrose easily picked up on her hint and raised an eyebrow. "What? Did you really set up a date for me and want me to come over?"
Lillian was about to tell Ambrose, but hadn't figured out how to start. Considering Ambrose's heart condition, she coughed lightly and said, "Ambrose, actually, you know the girl I'm talking about."
"I know her?" Ambrose stood up, walked to the window, and loosened his tie.
"Calliope." He sounded quite certain.
Lillian's eyes sparkled with gossip. "Why did you guess Calliope? You must have something going on with her! Ambrose, if you like her, stop hesitating and take action!"
Ambrose felt helpless. He guessed Calliope because Oberon and Lillian had teased him about it before. It made him feel like there was something between him and Calliope.
Ambrose opened his mouth to deny it, but he suddenly remembered the moment in the hospital elevator when Calliope's hair got caught on his cufflink. He found himself unable to deny it.
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