Chapter 29

A shiver coursed through Yvonne, her thoughts scattering into silence.

Julian tilted her chin upward, his gaze sharp. "Maybe I should summon a doctor right now and uncover exactly what you're hiding."

Her breath steadied as she forced herself to regain control. Gently brushing his hand away, she answered evenly, "You've barely been home these past three years, so you wouldn't know. I once had a traumatic accident at a hospital. Ever since, I can't stand the idea of medical treatment."

The crease in Julian's brow deepened-he hadn't known that.

"But since you insist, I'll see a doctor," Yvonne continued, her voice calm, decisive. "I have one I trust.I'Ll call him here."

For a moment, Julian hesitated. Then he gave a curt nod, unwilling to push further. Deep down, guilt gnawed at him-three years of neglect had left him little ground to argue.

Yvonne pulled out her phone, her tone softening as she dialed. "Spencer, I'm suffering a fever. Do you have time to come over?"

Julian's head snapped up, eyes darkening as her words sank in. He swallowed the anger rising in his throat,his expression tightening. He should have known-of course she would call Spencer. Who else could she lean on?

Barely ten minutes passed before the doorbell rang.Julian's face soured as he strode to open the door.

Standing in the hall was Spencer, crisp in a tailored suit despite the late hour, gold-rimmed glasses glinting beneath the light. To Julian, he looked like a showy peacock, smug and shameless, circling what wasn't his.

A cold laugh escaped Julian, ready to spill venom, but Spencer swept past him without a glance, heading straight for Yvonne.

"Yvonne,how did you end up with such a high fever?"Spencer's voice softened with concern as he bent toward her. "Is it because you've been living alone with no one to look after you? Do you want to move in with me instead?"

Julian shoved the door closed, the echoing slam reverberating through the apartment-a sharp reminder that his presence loomed over them both. Neither Yvonne nor Spencer flinched. Their silence carried the weight of unspoken agreement: Julian didn't matter in this moment.

Her voice, soft and steady, broke the air. "Not that bad.Thank you for worrying about me."

Spencer only shook his head,already pulling open his medical kit. With calm precision, he began checking her over, his focus entirely on Yvonne, as though Julian were nothing more than a shadow in the corner.

Hours crept by. At last, Yvonne swallowed the medicine Spencer prescribed and slipped into a deep,fevered sleep.

When the two men stepped out of her room, Julian's gaze hardened into ice. "The examination is finished.Dr.Patel,you can leave now."

Spencer met his stare directly, refusing to yield."Leave? This isn't your place, Julian. This is Yvonne's apartment. As her friend, it's only natural I stay and look after her. The real question is-what about you?She doesn't seem so eager to have you here, does she?"

A sneer twisted Julian's mouth. "You seem to forget she's my wife. I don't need permission to be in her home. Tell me, Dr. Briggs-the Briggs Group is up for that outstanding-enterprise award this year, isn't it?What would your grandfather think if he learned you spent the night at another man's wife's apartment?"

Spencer's jaw clenched, fury flashing in his eyes. "If you were half the man you claim to be, you'd stop chaining Yvonne to a life that only hurts her. Husband or not, you've given her nothing. You don't deserve her."

Julian's retort came like a whip crack. "Whether I deserve her or not isn't your decision. Until the day l sign those divorce papers, she is still my wife!"

The air thickened, their locked glares sparking with hostility. Then, breaking the moment, Spencer's phone buzzed. One glance at the screen altered his expression. He cast Julian a sharp look, then turned away to answer the call.

After a moment, Spencer ended the call with a hardened expression, slipping his phone into his pocket before fixing Julian with a stern look. "I left some light food for Yvonne. When she wakes up,make sure she eats it."

He started toward the door but paused halfway,glancing back over his shoulder. "She deserves to be looked after-don't forget that."

Julian answered with a derisive snort, bristling at the audacity. To him, Spencer was nothing more than an intruder with no right to lecture him about his own wife.

The door clicked shut behind Spencer, leaving the apartment wrapped in silence. Julian strode back into the bedroom, his gaze landing on the thermos set neatly on the bedside table. A cold laugh escaped his lips. Without hesitation, he scooped it up and tossed it straight into the trash.