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.

of the hospital?" he asked again unbelieving. "But you work in one. And not just

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

because I only have one thought—saving my mother. That’s what keeps me going. Call it my coping

in my mind. But when

Jessica, she had always blamed herself for being incapable. If she had been capable, she would have been able to perform that surgery. She should have been able to detect the poisoning. She had always asked

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

her own health, the memories turned dark. She saw

thought the distance

knocked the air out of his lungs seeing her red eyes and tears flowing from the open wound in her

to protect him and shield him

had built her entire life around that one loss, and now that she was the

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

"You don’t have to go to the hospital. We’ll do the treatment at home, and I’ll take care of

felt her arms slowly wrap around his back, holding him like he was the only thing keeping her

always taken treatments at home and dared not keep her eyes open to

room in her house. Her subordinates had also been instructed not to take her to hospital

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

pain hidden but never

time to heal this wound. Or maybe this was what healing looked like—tears shared, hearts opened, pain finally seen. Yet, she couldn’t help marveling at her

through her lips. "I am getting

away from himself, seeing her fully calm. "What can you do

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

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

mother not to be a crybaby. She no longer cried no matter how hurt she

Davis’ interference, it seemed all these facades were broken by him, leaving a vulnerable,

No matter how it turns out—I will be there with you," he said, a faint

to get her wounds

from her face. "Now let’s just hope Deborah