Chapter 166 He Came to Bother Her in the Middle of the Night
"This is my phone. If you need anything, you don't have to go through Assistant Wilson. You can call me directly, and I can come over anytime." Dr. Ward handed his business card to Jessica.
"Thank you, Dr. Ward." Jessica quickly took it.
Fortunately, she had called Landon first when things were urgent, and Landon had helped her get Dr. Ward, who knew more about Gabriel's condition.
Otherwise, she would have been in a panic and might have called 911 for emergency help.
After seeing Dr. Ward off, Jessica stood in the living room for a while before hurrying back to the bedroom.
She saw that Gabriel was already awake, lying there, looking in her direction with a relaxed gaze.
Of course, if his face wasn't so pale and haggard, the term 'relaxed' would suit him better.
Jessica's emotions were complicated.
Seeing Gabriel in her bed was a reminder of a few months ago when he had similarly taken over her main bedroom.
And this time, she was the culprit.
Who knew he had a stomach problem? Gabriel had exerted so much strength last night, not just last night, even when he was at her house, and his injury hadn't fully healed. There was a clear disparity between them.
Never did she imagine that she would inadvertently trigger his illness.
Why did she put mustard in the sandwich? Why did she give him to drink milk?
"The doctor said you have a recurrence of acute gastritis. Although it's not serious, the fever caused by inflammation means you don't need to take fever-reducing medication for now to avoid irritating your stomach. You just need physical cooling," Jessica mechanically repeated Dr. Ward's words, then stood there stiffly for a while before remembering to find an ice pack in the fridge, wrap it in a towel, and bring it back to the bedroom to place it on his forehead.
Feeling the cold sensation through the towel on his forehead, Gabriel, seeing her absent-minded state, reached out and took it. While applying the ice pack to himself, he looked at her and said in a slightly hoarse voice, "There's no need to blame yourself. I chose to eat the mustard, so I should bear the consequences."
Jessica sat by the bed and withdrew her hand. "I'm not blaming myself."
Gabriel looked at her.
Expressionless, Jessica said, "I suspect you're my jinx."
Gabriel narrowed his eyes coldly. "Who nearly had a stomach bleed and had to be rushed to the hospital? Who's the one lying here now? I'm your jinx?"
"That's different," Jessica said as she reached out to take the ice pack from his head, not hiding her annoyance. "And it's indeed your own doing. Under normal circumstances, I definitely wouldn't put so much mustard in a sandwich."
Gabriel seemed to lack the energy to argue with her at the moment. Closing his eyes, he let out a meaningful sigh. "It turns out one shouldn't be too impulsive."
Jessica was a bit angry.
He came to bother her in the middle of the night, causing her to lose sleep all night, and now this thrilling scene in the morning had left her a bit disoriented.
And now she was the one being impulsive?
Comparatively, the way he looked weak and speechless when he was still recovering from his injuries in her house was more endearing.
The usually reserved and taciturn father figure, once he started talking more, was equally annoying.
Jessica directly tossed the ice pack into his hand. "You apply it yourself!"
After saying that, she angrily walked out.
However, Jessica was always someone with a tough exterior but a soft heart. While she stormed out as if she never wanted to deal with him again, she went straight to the kitchen to prepare a light meal.
By the time Jessica had cooked soup in the kitchen and deliberately searched for recipes online to make a stomach-friendly snack, she returned to the bedroom.
She saw that Gabriel had gone to the study at some point, grabbed his computer, and was now sitting at the bedside, checking his emails. Gabriel's usually pale features now bore a stern and serious expression, quite different from his teasing demeanor.
Approaching him, Jessica was about to take the computer away.
However, as she tried to grab the computer, Gabriel, still focused on the screen, said in a calm tone, "Wait."
Jessica paused, realizing he must have urgent matters related to the company. She didn't insist further. Just as she was about to retract her hand, Gabriel finished reading the email, looked up at her, and, with a composed smile, said, "Why are you staring at me?"
"Aren't you supposed to apply the ice pack? Aren't you supposed to rest?" Jessica looked at the computer in front of him, unsure whether to continue trying to take it away.
After all, he was the head of the Harriman Group, bearing countless responsibilities she couldn't fathom. Any small mistake or delay could have significant consequences. Without understanding the situation, she couldn't act presumptuously.
"I'm already resting by sitting here. I've taken off the ice pack a while ago; it's been on for quite some time." Gabriel noticed the slight hesitation in her eyes.
This was Jessica's nature. While her attitude hadn't changed much due to his true identity, she knew how to maintain a balance that she thought was appropriate.
Gabriel didn't need her to keep that balance, but he would give her time. In the adult world, not everything needed to be explained, especially to a smart woman like Jessica; he didn't need to explain too much.
"I'll get another ice pack." Jessica picked up the ice pack from the bedside table, checked it, then went out to change it. After replacing it, she brought it back in and used a thermometer to check his temperature.
His temperature wasn't as high as in the morning, but he still had a slight fever.
Handing him the ice pack, she said, "Continue applying it for a while. If you feel better, lie down and rest. Put the company matters on hold for now."
After saying that, she abruptly left the room, saying outside the door, "I have a friend coming over later. Lock the door and rest well. Don't come out."
Gabriel fell silent.
To him, her words meant to stay in bed and rest, not to move. On another level, it also implied that she had a friend coming over, and he shouldn't be seen.
Couldn't he face people?
Cynthia arrived as promised, coincidentally on duty, looking very handsome in her police uniform. When Jessica opened the door and saw this beautiful policewoman outside, she couldn't help but lean against the door in admiration and say, "Ms. Young is a woman who makes people's minds wander. If you were a man, how could you handle it?"
Cynthia casually handed two cans of pepper spray to Jessica and said, "If I were a man, could I still send you back to your country?"
Jessica laughed as she took the items. "You better not. How could I compete with the famous FBI Professor Cox for women? I'm afraid he'd shoot me on the spot."
