Chapter 3

"I'll arrange for more medical teams to be sent over. With doctors there, you'll all be fine."

Arthur's voice was utterly calm.

As if he weren't speaking to his wife, but to some insignificant stranger.

He added, as if remembering something, "Just stay home during this period until the virus passes."

Elaine's smile grew increasingly bitter.

This was a new mutated virus.

A citywide outbreak.

Even if they developed a vaccine, it would take time.

"Arthur, is this the best arrangement you can make for us?"

Elaine's eyes were bleak as she spoke with biting sarcasm, "You know how to take care of Emily, but you leave us all at home."

Arthur's voice turned frosty, "The plane is about to take off. We'll talk later."

Elaine stared at the disconnected call.

The black screen reflected her desperate, bitter expression.

For Emily, he had even used his privilege to arrange a private plane, yet left her and the children behind.

As a husband, he failed. As a father, he failed even more!

The lives of all three of them combined weren't worth as much as Emily's!

Elaine's eyes burned with unshed tears. She returned the phone to the assistant and went back to Vera's room.

The doctor could only prescribe medications based on Vera's condition, but whether they would work remained to be seen by morning.

Elaine didn't sleep all night. She filled a basin with warm water from the bathroom and continuously wiped Vera's body with a damp cloth.

Due to excessive vomiting, Vera had developed a fever.

With medications failing, this was their only hope.

Elaine lost count of how many times she wiped Vera's body throughout the night.

Vera cried constantly from discomfort.

Fighting her exhaustion, Elaine lifted Vera from the bed, gently patting her back while pacing and humming her favorite nursery rhymes.

By the time Vera finally fell into a deep sleep, Elaine was so exhausted she could barely lift her arms.

Outside, daylight had broken, with sunlight filtering through the curtains.

Rubbing her sore arms, she turned and went to Julius's room.

Elaine had intended to check if Julius was properly covered, but as she approached the door, she heard him complaining inside.

The door wasn't completely closed, allowing Elaine to hear clearly from the hallway.

Julius lay on his bed, whining to Arthur through his smartwatch.

"Dad, when are you coming back? I don't want to stay with Mom."

"She just makes all these rules to control me. I can't even have an extra piece of cake that I love. Yesterday she yelled at me too. I miss Emily."

"That's just how she is."

Arthur's cold voice came through the phone as he asked with concern, "How's Vera doing? Is she still vomiting?"

"She's probably fine. The doctor gave her medicine yesterday."

After saying this, Julius steered the conversation back, "Dad, can you send someone to take Vera and me away too? We don't want to keep living with Mom."

Arthur gently coaxed, "Be good. The situation is unstable. Staying home is safest right now."

"But being with Mom is so depressing."

Elaine closed her eyes, suddenly feeling an unprecedented exhaustion washing over her like a tidal wave, completely engulfing her.

If not for this call, she would never have known Julius felt this way.

Back then, despite her frail body, she had carried twins, enduring countless hardships, receiving daily injections at the hospital to prevent miscarriage.

In the end, she underwent an early C-section.

Because both children were premature and weak, and Julius had digestive issues, she had always strictly controlled their diet.

Julius loved sweets, but being young and losing his baby teeth, she had established strict rules about his diet and daily sugar intake.

Now this had become one of his reasons for finding life with her "depressing."

Elaine turned and left.

She returned to Vera's room, leaning against the wall to rest briefly.

But she couldn't sleep soundly, constantly worrying about Vera's condition. Only when the thermometer reading finally dropped did she allow herself to relax into sleep.

Vera slept until noon before waking.

When she awoke, she had visibly regained her energy. Opening her eyes, her first question was, "Mom, what time is it? Did I miss Emily's celebration party?"

Elaine rubbed her aching temples, "It's noon now."

"How did I sleep so long? I'm so stupid—I missed Emily's party and didn't even congratulate her."

Vera sat up anxiously, her face filled with self-reproach, tears welling in her eyes.

Elaine sat beside Vera, comforting her, "You slept so long because you were sick yesterday. Let me take your temperature again in a bit."

Vera tugged at Elaine's sleeve, "Mom, can I video call Emily? Please?"

Elaine's first instinct was to refuse.

She disliked Emily—hated her, even.

As a woman, she could read the ulterior motives hidden beneath some of Emily's words and actions.

Yet her children were inexplicably attached to her.

Vera was on the verge of tears, pleading again, "Please, Mom? I'm afraid Emily will be mad at me and won't be my friend anymore."

After hesitating, Elaine slowly nodded.

Vera was still pale and sick. She couldn't bear to see disappointment on her daughter's face.

Given permission, Vera immediately brightened, almost jumping up.

She quickly grabbed her smartwatch to video call Emily.

Emily answered promptly. On screen, she appeared sleepy-eyed with tousled hair, wearing a silk nightgown, with a distinctly disheveled look.

"Vera."

"Emily!"

Vera called out excitedly, then looked dejected, "I'm sorry, Emily. I got sick yesterday and missed your celebration party. I didn't even get to congratulate you. I had a gift prepared for you and everything."

Emily smiled, "I already feel Vera's sincerity. That's the best gift for me."

As she spoke, she casually brushed back her long hair.

Behind Vera, Elaine's expression suddenly darkened as she bit her lip hard.

When Emily's movement had partially concealed her neck, the large patches of intimate red marks hadn't been so obvious.

But now, with her hair swept back, those suggestive marks were fully exposed, even extending beneath her nightgown.

The intensity of last night's passion was all too evident.