Third Person's POV
Cedrick held her close and strode toward the emergency room. Jessica was diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis—no wonder she was in such agony.
Lying in the hospital bed with an IV drip in her hand, Cedrick sighed and sat beside her.
"If you ever feel unwell, go to the hospital immediately. Got it?" He wanted to scold her but couldn't bring himself to. It was a helpless feeling.
"Got it!" Jessica meekly obeyed, too pained to argue.
"You're just not learning your lesson!" Cedrick didn't believe she'd really heed his warning.
Jessica, seeing his worried and angry expression, suddenly chuckled and reached for his clenched hand with her other hand.
Cedrick gently shook off her grip, but before she could retract her hand, he firmly held it in his.
The surprised look on her face faded, replaced by a joyful smile.
"Cedrick, you know what? On my way here, I was thinking—what if I'm pregnant? I was sort of hoping for that," Jessica joked.
Cedrick's eyes widened slightly, and his grip on her hand tightened. "You're too young to be pregnant."
Jessica raised her eyebrows in disagreement. "That's not necessarily true. Having a child at a younger age has its perks. When I'm twenty-five, my child would be six or seven. How wonderful it would be to take beautiful photos with my child!"
"You're overthinking. Rest now." Cedrick was amused by her whimsy.
Jessica, gazing at his smile, couldn't help but be smitten. "Cedrick, you're so handsome, especially your profile when you smile—it's perfect."
Cedrick chuckled again. "At a time like this, you're still thinking about that?"
"With you here, I fear nothing—not even the pain in my stomach," Jessica whispered.
Cedrick leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead. Her cool skin made his heart ache with tenderness.
"Alright, I'm not going anywhere. Sleep if you're tired," Cedrick said softly.
"Okay, I'll sleep then." After enduring so much pain, Jessica was truly exhausted. With Cedrick's promise, she closed her eyes and drifted off.
Cedrick gently tucked her exposed hand under the covers and held her IV-hand in his own.
Watching her angelic sleep, his heart grew calm.
Living with her these past few days had been like being in a couple's routine.
She was mischievous at times, innocent and lovely at others, but mostly still carried a childlike capriciousness.
To Cedrick, this Jessica was truly captivating and filled him with longing.
Could he really keep her by his side forever?
Cedrick let out a gentle breath. No matter what difficulties lay ahead, he would stand firm, shield her from all odds, and never let anyone tear them apart. The people he valued and the decisions he made were worth fighting for.
In the hospital corridor, a few girls stared in disbelief at the photos they had just taken.
"Is that really Jessica? Our eyes aren't deceiving us, right?"
"No, it's definitely her. The man holding her is so handsome and charismatic. Isn't he the Lawrence family's eldest son, who was rumored to be dating her before?"
"It is him. I can't forget that face. I've got his photos on my phone. Let me show you."
"Seriously? Are they really together?"
"There were reports of them vacationing abroad, but it was later downplayed. Seems like it's true after all!"
"Jessica's so lucky to have the Lawrence heir doting on her!" The girls were a mix of envy and admiration.
Over two hours later, news of Cedrick accompanying Jessica at the hospital reached the media.
Soon, a crowd of reporters gathered outside the hospital, waiting for the latest scoop.
Cedrick sat on the sofa in the hospital room, checking his phone. He saw the news and his expression stiffened.
He hadn't expected the media to act so swiftly.
"Ahem..." Jessica, asleep on the bed, suddenly coughed and woke up disoriented.
"Cedrick..." she murmured, her eyes still closed.
Cedric quickly got up and went over, speaking softly, "You're awake? Thirsty? I'll get you a glass of water!"
"Yes." Jessica sat up, noticing the IV bottle was almost empty.
Cedrick handed her a glass of warm water. Too lethargic to reach for it, she let him bring it to her lips and took a few sips.
"I just had a dream that our relationship was exposed," Jessica said after drinking, now feeling stronger.