Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph
Chapter 196 I Can't Bear to See You Suffer

Ethan wrapped his shaky arms around my shoulders and pulled me close.

"I tracked down the guy who robbed you. The phone and necklace were sold, but I managed to get them back. Do you have any idea how dangerous it is for you to go out alone?"

"So what am I supposed to do? Tell me. Should I just stick around shamelessly? What about my pride?" I looked up at him, stubborn and hopeful.

I wanted Ethan to give me some kind of explanation, even if it was just a pretty lie.

But he just looked down, staying quiet for what felt like forever, his furrowed brow full of unspoken regrets.

"Emily, the world is round. No matter how far you go, you'll end up back where you started, back to me."

So, in the end, he didn't explain anything.

I felt a pang of sadness, then forced a casual smile.

"How can you be so sure? What if I don't come back?"

He perched on the armrest of the chair, gently rubbing my shoulder, his touch warm and real.

"If you don't come back, I'll follow you and find you," he said.

I sighed, staring off into the distance. Unlike Faye, who could be as willful as she wanted, I knew being too stubborn wasn't good. I didn't want to cling to one issue. But with this unresolved knot in my heart, we could never go back to how we

were.

Ironically, our hearts used to be close, but our statuses were far apart. Now, our statuses were close, but our hearts were far apart.

A few days after the full moon, the babies started crying non-stop at night, refusing to nurse, even though their temperatures were normal. They were too young to tell us what was wrong, so they just cried, and I was totally panicked. The postpartum doula thought it might be a stomachache but suggested we take them to the hospital. I didn't want such young kids on antibiotics, so I thought of Aron and took the kids to his clinic.

I called Aron on the way, and he was waiting for us when we got there. He checked the kids and said it was indigestion with mouth sores, indicating gastrointestinal discomfort. He prescribed some digestive medicine for me to take so it could pass to the kids through my breast milk.

As we were leaving, Aron gave me some basic tips to handle simple situations in the future without freaking out. Ethan and the doula took the kids to the car first, and I joined them after a bit. Back home, the doula calmed the kids while Ethan prepared the medicine.

The kids kept crying, and I was anxious, so I waited in the kitchen. When the medicine cooled, Ethan handed me the bowl. I took a sip and almost gagged from the bitterness. "Forget it. Let me drink it," Ethan said.

I looked at him. "What good would that do?"

He took the bowl, drank a big gulp, then suddenly grabbed the back of my head and kissed me.

He pried my teeth open with his tongue, kissing me while transferring the medicine from his mouth to mine.

This was the first time he kissed me since we reunited, and it was like this.

After months apart, his kiss still made my mind go blank, and the medicine didn't taste as bitter.

After swallowing the medicine, he let me go, smiling at my dazed expression.

He took another sip and repeated the process until the whole bowl of medicine was fed to me this way.

"Bitter? Drink some water if it is," he said, picking up the water cup on the stove, pretending to drink.

I snatched it from him and gulped it down, accidentally choking myself.

"Slow down," Ethan said, gently patting my back, amused.

When I went back to the room, I picked up the baby to nurse, who was probably tired from crying and finally stopped.

The postpartum doula took the other baby to the living room, soothing him as she walked.

Ethan stood quietly by, and I looked up to find him staring at the baby nursing, his eyes fixed, and his Adam's apple moving several times.

After feeding both babies and massaging their bellies as Aron had shown, they finally fell asleep.

The postpartum doula stayed with the babies while they slept. But I couldn't sleep, so I sat on the couch in the living room.

Ethan came out and sat beside me.

We didn't turn on the lights; we just sat there in the dark.

"Was the $200,000 investment from Aron arranged by you?" I finally asked.

In the darkness, Ethan stayed silent.

I let out a bitter laugh. "I thought I was lucky to have found a benefactor. I thought everything was my hard-earned reward, but it was all just an illusion."

Ethan pulled me into his arms, kissing my hair, and said hoarsely, "I couldn't stand to see you suffer."

Tonight, Aron told me to cherish what I had. He and his wife were genuinely kind, not just because of Ethan. They knew raising kids alone wasn't easy, no matter how successful I was. Material wealth couldn't replace a father's love, so Aron suggested I make some compromises for the kids.

Ethan lifted my chin and kissed me gently. I didn't resist. His arm tightened around me, and he kissed me delicately. It stirred up all my longings from the past months.

Our bodies brushed against each other on the small sofa. I felt his desire, restraint, and patience. When the kiss ended, he pressed my head against his chest, his heartbeat fast and strong.

Forty days postpartum, I started visiting the beauty salon. After two months, I fully resumed work. I set up a small room next to my office where the postpartum doula could help with the babies. When it was time to nurse, she brought them to

me.

Emberlyn Beauty Retreat's services gained market recognition, and I planned to expand.

Ethan didn't rush to leave or mention returning to Starlight City. He knew my career was in Seabreeze Harbor.

One day, as I was nursing, one of the babies peed. Before the doula could get a diaper, Dakato came in with one. After nursing and changing the diaper, the doula took the babies away, and I continued watching a makeup-related USB drive. A thought struck me. Why did Dakato come in so timely? She often showed up at just the right moments. The more I thought about it, the more something felt off.

Half an hour later, I walked into the small break room. I lay on the bed, casually browsing my phone.

Twenty minutes later, I heard footsteps outside. I got up and opened the door. Dakato, standing by the potted plant, turned around as if startled.

"Dakato, getting water again today?" I walked out slowly, smiling faintly.

Dakato lowered her eyes, looking a bit flustered.

I walked over and lifted the cloth covering the potted plant. From the branches, I took out a tiny pinhole camera.

I examined the item in my hand and smiled. "Dakato, what is this?"

Dakato kept her head down, not speaking. I patted her shoulder.

"Don't be nervous. I know someone instructed you. Bring that person here, and I'll be waiting in my office."

After that, I leaned back in my executive chair, and it wasn't long before Ethan arrived.

I picked up the pinhole camera on my desk and asked with a smile, "Mr. Windsor, I didn't expect you to be into this kind of thing?"

Ethan placed his hands on the desk, looking at me helplessly.

"I wanted to see you, and I was worried about you. How could I be at ease without seeing your daily state with my own eyes?"

I put on a stern face and snorted. "You tend to invade my privacy."

He walked around to my side, leaning against the desk, and lifted my chin with one hand.

"Are you really angry? I was worried about you."

I wasn't actually angry; I just didn't like being the last to know. It made me feel foolish.

I turned my chin away, ignoring him.

He turned my face back, smiling apologetically. "Alright, it was my fault. What can I do to make you not angry?"

I suddenly stood up and took a brush from the makeup box on the desk.

"I'm learning makeup. You be my model, and I'll do your makeup."

Ethan gave me a reluctant look but eventually agreed.

I pressed him into the executive chair and gave him a smoky eye look I had just learned.

Looking at my work, I couldn't help but laugh.

Ethan tried to grab a mirror, but I wouldn't let him.

"Go out for a walk like this, and I'll forgive you for installing a camera in my office without my consent."

Ethan swallowed, looking quite aggrieved and reluctant. "Honey, I'm a man. Give me some dignity."

I put on a stern face and turned to leave.

He grabbed me. "Alright, to make my honey happy, I'll do it."

Seeing him actually heading out, I widened my eyes and quickly pulled him back, pressing him into my chair and wiping off his makeup with a wet wipe, laughing as I did. "Would you really go out like that? If you did, Mr. Windsor's cool image would be ruined."

As I finished wiping off most of his makeup, he suddenly grabbed my hand and pulled me into his arms.

His eyes were burning as he looked at me, and he suddenly lowered his head and kissed me.

Ethan's kiss carried a hint of frustration, kissing me fiercely, quickly arousing my feelings.

"Honey, I can't hold it anymore. Can I?" His voice was like burning fire.