Forced Marriage: My Wife, My Redemption by Lilyheart

Chapter 234: Phobia

"That’s more like it," she grumbled, her face turned away, refusing to meet his gaze.

Her cheeks were still puffed from crying, eyes rimmed with red. Davis felt his chest tighten.

He felt guilty for being the one person who had made her shed tears.

"Why are you crying?" His voice softened, laced with concern. "I only told you to stay back and get treated. Or... is it really that hard to hang a bottle?" He frowned, unsure if he was missing something bigger.

As much as he hated seeing her cry, he had to be strict with her. She needed to learn how to care for herself now, how to put herself first.

Her selfless attitude had always been a matter of concern to Davis, and he had always nagged her for being too careless—thinking about others without thinking about herself, even when chaos brimmed before her.

Jessica bit her lower lip, her voice a whisper. "It’s... a bit difficult. And I’m not sick, Davis. Just... experiencing symptoms." She still wouldn’t look at him, staring at the floor like it held all the answers.

Davis let out a breath, his fingers brushed the tears from her lashes with slow care before he pulled her into a gentle hug.

"Baby," he said, his voice aching with emotion, "do you know what might happen if these symptoms spiral into something worse? You might also think it’s a symptom when in truth it has already taken from you so much. Do you think I could bear that? My heart’s not that strong." He concluded. Mm

Her pout deepened. "That still doesn’t mean you should shout at me..."

At that, Davis felt a headache pulsing behind his eyes. For the past week, she had exhibited certain traits—she was turning into a full-blown sulky child, crying and throwing tantrums to get what she wanted.

The transformation from the fierce, sharp-tongued Jessica to this emotional, vulnerable woman was stunning and terrifying.

He sighed inwardly. He would have chosen to have the fierce Jessica over and over again. But as he stared at her now—teary-eyed and clinging—he knew, without a doubt, that he loved this version of her too.

"Alright, hubby was wrong. He won’t raise his voice at you again," he coaxed, rubbing her back gently.

"Now, can we talk about hanging the nutrient bottle?" His hand never stopped patting her back to keep her calm. He knew it wouldn’t be easy, but even just one bottle would help.

"I can’t," she murmured, her voice trembling. "I’m... scared of hospitals."

Davis’ hand faltered, his heart skipped a beat as he detached himself from her, holding her shoulder and his gaze settled on her face as though he was seeing her for the first time.

And not just one, but you are a surgeon,

at her nails. "You’re right, I can go to the hospital, I can enter the operating room, I can offer resuscitation services if needed, and can do practically anything—but

a phobia of hospitals and you’re able to handle your work efficiently, isn’t

one thought—saving my mother. That’s what keeps me going. Call it my coping mechanism and you might not get it wrong." She answered

voice cracked, and tears welled again in her eyes. "Every time I treat someone, I feel like I’m bringing her back, even if it’s just in my mind. But when it’s about me... it’s different. I can’t breathe. I see her eyes. That pain. That smile she wore for me

been able to perform

if given a chance—every surgery, every shift, every

dark. She saw herself weak, breathless, watched

fallen unconscious just because her subordinate thought the distance to the base was much and

seeing her red eyes and tears flowing from the open wound

woman who had always stood tall to protect him and shield

she was the one in need, everything came

he had to plan her giving birth to be at home?"

swallowed hard and embraced her tightly. "It’s okay," he whispered into her hair. "You don’t have

around his back, holding him

past, she had always taken treatments at home and dared not keep her eyes

the reasons she had an equipped emergency room in her house. Her subordinates had also been instructed not to take her

with you," he said. "Until you heal. Until the shadows don’t scare you anymore," he said with an assurance and promise from

lightly. She had always kept this pain hidden but never thought it would resurface at the mention of going to the

hearts opened, pain finally seen. Yet, she couldn’t help marveling at her emotional control rating that had crashed

am getting too dependent and emotional. I’ve to do

himself, seeing her fully

don’t you find me a burden?" she asked with a raised brow. She had always remembered her father’s words when her mother died

a crybaby like you. Not even your mother would want you." His voice had boomed through the entire ward and

her tears and promised her mother not to be a crybaby. She no longer cried

it seemed all these facades were broken by him, leaving

No matter how it turns out—I will be there

get her wounds healed and become the best lady

faintly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Now let’s just hope Deborah doesn’t nag you again for missing