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Chapter 332: SS1 09: An A-PEEL to the Mother

"We checked the x-rays and it's an avulsion fracture on the hip. It's when a small chunk of bone attached to a tendon or ligament gets pulled away from the main part of the bone. It's also common in sports."

"And he's not allowed to move right? Like going to work? Must rest until fully healed?"

"Well"

"I want the fastest way to recover, doctor," Avery Hathaway demanded. She stood before the young doctor with her arms crossed over her chest. Although he was taller, she clearly had the upper hand in terms of superiority. 

"Then, yes! Rest is definitely a must!" He quickly said, clearing his throat. Then, he switched to his patient who glowered on the bed. "Ice on the injured area is also required for the first few days. I'll write you a prescription, Mr. Hathaway. I wish you a speedy recovery."

He wrote it quickly while Avery sat on a chair. She had left the house in a rush, only throwing on a coat and a scarf to keep herself warm. Who could blame her? Ambryan had never been sick enough to be confined in a hospital. His last illness was a fever which he actually rested for.

But that was when Eve was his secretary who handled things while he was away. He trusted her enough to have things under control. 

Since Hannah was still new, she had full confidence that Ambryan would be constantly restless even when capable people were still available like his father and Madison. And that was because he'd refuse to accept his condition.

'Men and their pride,' she sneered in her head.

"Hmph!" The madam half-rose from her chair and pointed a finger at Ambryan's face. "You heard what the doctor said. Rest is primary treatment. Don't you dare move until you need to. You should also stay at the mansion. No one can look after you in the penthouse."

Ambryan fixed his expression to be blank. It also reflected in his tone. "That's not true, mother."

"Is it?" Avery countered, raising an eyebrow. "Eve needs to go back to France."

"Richard can look after me."

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At the mention of his name, Richard choked. He had retreated to the other furniture in the room. It was a sofa near the window. Ambryan shifted his attention towards the man who had a debt to repay. The latter felt a chill down his spine.

One look said it all.

'Take my side or I'll give you hell.'

"Uh," Richard stammered as he fiddled with the remote, twirling it in his fingers. It clattered to the floor. "Uh, yes, Aunt Avery. I can look after Ambryan."

The madam heard none of it. She threw her arm sideways in protest. "Nonsense. You have work to do. We need someone who can keep a constant eye on him. Who knows what he might do alone because he'll hate every minute of this."

"How are things?" Eve asked when she opened the door, carrying a bag of fruits and food for visitors. She heard from the nurse that Avery had come. It calmed her instantly to know the madam was present. 

That meant she wouldn't be alone with Ambryan again for quite some time.

"Oh, Eve!" Avery cried. "Knock some sense into this man."

Eve stopped next to the bedside table and filled the empty fruit bowl she noticed earlier. The corner of her lips curled upward. "You mean the floor wasn't hard enough?"

"How could you laugh at this?" The madam gaped at her amused face. Then, she looked at Ambryan. Then, at Richard who shrugged in response.

Eve rolled her lips inwards. Now, that was an excellent question. Her eyes connected with Ambryan's, a silent warning over them. Eve smiled sweetly and made sure Avery couldn't see it.

She wrapped her arm around the madam, saying, "Oh, Aunt Avery. Ambee is a big boya really really big BOY. He can handle this and take the consequences unlike a kid or a teenager."

Ambryan clenched his jaw and stared hard at the ceiling. Richard caught his actions, frowning slightly. He bit his tongue and chose not to ask. Was it always gonna be like this now? The private jokes between couples that he could never hear about? 

His heart ached. Ambryan had even stopped running to him for problems. He had been replaced and he missed the good old times when he could be better than Ambryan at something. 

Avery looked up at Eve. "But you agree that he should stay at the mansion, right?"

"Of course."

"I'm fine in the penthouse," Ambryan was quick to cut in. If he went to the mansion, not only would he have limited movement but his mother would fuss. It wouldn't be quiet even if the doctor said he needed to rest. 

If that was the case, he could use that time to be productive instead.

It sounded logical enough to him.

"If you're at the penthouse, you'd ask Wen to take you to the office. You might need crutches for a while. Are you sure you want your employees to see that?" Eve snorted. She stuck her thumb over her shoulder. "The press is already outside."

"Ugh," Avery groaned, massaging her temple. She stood up and placed her hands on her hips. "I should take care of that now. What's the story we need to cover up? I imagine you don't want anyone to know about this?"

Ambryan and Eve shared a silent debate. They could produce a lie for Ambryan's dignity but they had witnesses on the scene. Unless they tell the truth, one of them might spill the beans. Not to mention how convenient smartphones have become. 

Someone might have even filmed the whole thing! They needed to cover every area if they didn't want the public to know.

And so, Ambryan reluctantly grunted for Eve to tell his mother and best friend what happened. 

The madam raised her eyebrows, astonished by the intricate storytelling Eve had conducted. Her wide violet eyes flashed at her son. The latter turned his head away and hid the subtle blush on his cheeks. Unfortunately, Richard still had a good view of it but Ambryan glared before he could say anything.

"Well" Avery began to say. Her voice broke the moment of silence that abruptly appeared. "At least I know what to get you next Christmas. Try not to get another injury before then, Yan-yan."

"..."

Eve covered her mouth, suppressing her laugh.

"See you again soon."

With that, the madam headed for the door. Richard dashed to open it for her. His rushed movements didn't go unnoticed. Eve and Ambryan understood immediately when he followed behind Avery and left the room.

So the couple were alone once again.

"Discharging soon?" Eve asked, trying to make conversation. She picked up an orange and started peeling it. It took her mind off the awkward atmosphere that had engulfed the room.

Ambryan sighed. Exhaustion weighed over his shoulders. "Should be fine in a few hours."

"That's some good news, at least." 

Eve sat on the bed and offered him the orange. She had peeled off its skin, leaving it stuck together in its original shape. Ambryan quirked an eyebrow. "Are you really about to let a sick person feed himself?"

Words failed Eve. No combination of words could describe her thoughts on her fiance's shamelessness. She pulled out a piece of the orange and lifted it to his mouth. "Look at you changing your mind when it's not about work."

Ambryan ate it in one bite and licked her fingers. 

She slapped his arm. "Ambee!"

"The fibers of the fruit are important for recovery. I can't let any go to waste." He swallowed the orange and said nothing else. Eve continued to feed him, peeling another orange. Ambryan accepted each one without another trick this time.

Eve could almost hear the frustrations in his head. Although it was for his own good, she knew he didn't want to go back to the mansion. His life would change for the next few weeks and she could empathize with itespecially when she worked as a secretary.

Just one sick day during the work week could cost her a lot.

She'd rather work from her laptop if she could. 

"How about I convince Aunt Avery to let us go back to the penthouse until my flight?" She suggested after a while. She picked up a third orange. "It shouldn't be too hard to convince her."

He gave her a look. "That's because she loves you a lot."

"More than you do?" Eve teased. She broke the orange into quarters this time. The bigger they were, the more he needed to chew. That also meant the more oranges he could eat.

Ambryan pushed himself up and grabbed her wrist. He ate the remaining orange pieces in her hand. The juice oozed out, coating her skin. He sucked her fingers and winked at her shocked face when he was done.

A smirk emerged on his lips.

"Never."