Chapter 2 Her Husband

The private room fell into dead silence.

Emily's face turned pale. The milk in her hand dropped onto the table as she looked at Nicholas with reddened eyes.

"Hannah!" Nicholas said coldly, walking up to Hannah and grabbing her wrist. "What are you trying to do? Making a scene here for everyone to see?"

Caught off guard, Hannah stumbled backward. Her waist hit the edge of the table, making her groan in pain as she fell to the floor.

On her white dress pants, a small patch of dark red blood slowly spread.

Emily gasped, then covered her mouth, her eyes panicked yet with a hint of hidden satisfaction. "Hannah, you're on your period and didn't even notice? Coming to a business meeting like this—isn't that kind of inappropriate?"

She turned to Nicholas. "Nicholas, don't blame Hannah. She's probably really not feeling well."

Nicholas stared at the bloodstain on Hannah's pants, his face dark.

Last night he had indeed seen it—that small patch of red on the bedsheet.

He had just assumed he'd been too rough and didn't ask about it. Now he only felt that Hannah was deliberately embarrassing him.

"Hannah, do you not know your place? Using these cheap tricks to disgust people? Do you know how important this meal is today?"

The air around them seemed to freeze.

Hannah slowly stood up from the floor. The pain in her waist made cold sweat break out on her forehead, but she still smiled.

She brushed the dust off her white pants, then took off her jacket and tied it around her waist, covering that touch of red.

Her movements were as calm as if she were organizing a document.

"I know my place." She let out a soft breath. "I'm the Chief Secretary of Robinson Enterprises. My job responsibilities include assisting the CEO with daily affairs, arranging schedules, preparing meeting materials, following up on project progress—but they don't include delivering medicine and milk to the CEO's close female friend during non-work hours, and they definitely don't include being asked to drink on someone's behalf when I'm not feeling well."

Nicholas stared at her bloodless face, his brows furrowed.

Perhaps her attitude was too unusual—he instinctively took a step forward.

"Nicholas." Emily suddenly clutched her chest, her face turning pale as she leaned toward him. "I... I feel a bit dizzy."

Nicholas immediately turned to support her, his attention instantly shifting. "Not feeling well? I'll take you to the hospital."

Emily pointed at the medicine she had just taken. "I don't know what's in the medicine. I might be allergic—I'm having trouble breathing."

Nicholas's expression turned cold. "Hannah, you can't even handle a simple task like buying medicine? Did you do this on purpose?"

"You're coming to the hospital with me. You caused Emily's allergic reaction, so you should take care of her."

"What are you standing there for?" Nicholas had already picked Emily up and turned back to bark at her. "Go get the car!"

Hannah took a deep breath.

She calmly apologized to everyone, turned and followed them, forcing herself to endure the pain and not collapse.

In the car, Emily leaned against Nicholas, sobbing softly. "Nicholas, am I useless, always causing you trouble? Not like Hannah—so strong and independent."

Nicholas patted Emily's back soothingly, his tone gentle and calm. "You just went through something so upsetting. It's normal for your body to be weak."

He glanced at Hannah, who was quietly driving. "As for her, as Chief Secretary she can't even handle such a small task. She doesn't deserve your praise."

Hannah gripped the steering wheel tightly and didn't respond.

She was just a secretary—a secretary who couldn't even buy medicine properly, a secretary who had failed at her job.

Hospital emergency room.

All the dermatology specialists showed up. After a detailed examination, they determined that Emily only had skin redness from contact irritation—not even an allergic reaction.

But with Nicholas present, the doctor still prescribed medication and had her stay for observation.

Emily lay in bed looking weak. "Nicholas, I'm fine. I can be discharged."

"Listen to the doctor." Nicholas's tone was firm.

Turning to see Hannah still standing there, he habitually ordered, "Go get Emily a glass of warm water, 110 degrees Fahrenheit. And buy a clean towel. Go to the pharmacy to pick up the medicine."

Hannah turned and left without a word.

When she returned, she ran into Opal, the nurse who had cared for her that morning.

"Ms. Nguyen, didn't the doctor tell you to stay in the hospital for a few days of bed rest? Why did you leave without saying anything? Are you taking your antibiotics on time?"

Nicholas happened to walk by and heard this. His brows furrowed slightly. "Stay in the hospital? Would period cramps be serious enough to require hospitalization?"

Opal instinctively started to explain.

Hannah spoke first. "It's nothing. I've recovered. I brought what you asked for. Let's go in."

But Nicholas didn't move. As if seeing through her evasion, his expression grew darker. "I'm your husband! I ask you one question out of concern, and this is your attitude?"

Husband?

Hannah almost wanted to laugh.

This was Nicholas—he'd fooled her for three years with a fake marriage certificate, and now he could still righteously call himself her husband.

Opal clearly remembered that Hannah had gone through the surgery alone, paid the bills alone, and had nearly hemorrhaged during the procedure.

Looking at this Nicholas who seemed closely connected to her, Opal said coldly, "How dare you call yourself her husband, and still make her do these errands? Do you know she just had..."

"Had what?"

"Nicholas!" Emily suddenly walked out of the observation room, her voice full of helplessness. "My arm is so itchy. Hasn't the medicine arrived yet?"

The question Nicholas was about to ask stuck in his throat.

He took the ointment from Hannah's hands, only dropping a sentence, "Wait here."

Then he strode toward Emily.

Hannah quietly watched his retreating figure.

I know—whenever Emily appears, his choice is always her.

Even a stranger can see my weakness and feel sorry for me, but Nicholas, whom I've loved for so many years, is the one who hurts me the most.

That's fine. I didn't want him to know I just lost our child anyway.

What would it matter if he knew?

For the remaining thirty days, I just want to get through them peacefully, without adding more troubles.

Her vision went white, and Hannah couldn't hold on any longer. She collapsed heavily to the side.

"Ms. Nguyen!"

Hannah woke up in severe pain.

Looking at the sunlight outside the window, she hazily realized she was home.

She had slept for a whole day, but the pain in her body hadn't eased at all.

She forced herself to walk out of the bedroom, then her steps suddenly stopped.

Nicholas was sitting upright on the living room sofa, reading a financial report while drinking black coffee.

He was actually here.

In three years, he had appeared at home in the morning fewer than ten times.

"You're up?" Nicholas looked up, his gaze falling on her pale face with particular coldness.

"Now that you're up, get ready. Be at the office by nine sharp. Don't delay the handover work with Emily."

Hannah's hand gripping the doorframe tightened. After the surgery and not eating for a day, she could barely stand.

"I'm not feeling well. Can I take the day off?"

"Not feeling well?" Nicholas looked at her mockingly. "What's wrong? Period cramps? Pretty convincing act."

He stood up and walked over to Hannah, his tall frame creating an invisible sense of oppression.

"Emily was so worried about you that even though she's sick, she went to ask the doctor about your condition."

"The doctor said you just have normal period cramps. You didn't take any antibiotics at all, and you were never hospitalized."

"Hannah, you fainted yesterday—who were you putting on a show for?"