After Juliet Jennings left, Felix Draper strolled into Julian Donovan’s office. He casually plopped onto the sofa, crossed his legs, and imdiately started with the sarcastic remarks.
"Aren’t you two usually all over each other? Why the sudden urge to not see her? You made co out here and bail you out on short notice. I lost a ton of brain cells because of you!"
Julian Donovan turned and shot Felix Draper a fierce glare.
"Thanks. I owe you one."
Even though Felix Draper had just helped him, his words made Julian Donovan genuinely reluctant to be indebted to him.
Felix Draper nodded with an air of great importance.
"Sigh, I feel so bad having you constantly in my debt. Why don’t I give you a chance to pay back right away? Next month, after Naomi has the baby, you can cover a trip to Thailos for us guys. We can visit her and my little nephew while we’re there!"
Felix Draper had expected Julian Donovan to refuse outright. He was surprised when Julian just frowned and remained silent for a long mont before finally speaking.
"Let’s talk about it after we get through this busy period."
’In the end, Julian didn’t tell Felix about the premature birth. If he had, the other three would have forced him to go back. Ken had told him her condition wasn’t good, but their company had only been established a few days ago. It was the culmination of all four of their efforts. If he left now for personal reasons and everything fell apart, he would be letting the other three down terribly.’
’She was so understanding. When the ti ca, if he explained it to her properly, she would surely understand, right?’
Felix Draper was not pleased.
"Why wait? The company seems to be running just fine right now, doesn’t it..."
Before he could finish his complaint, Julian Donovan cut him off bluntly.
"Are your balls really aching from boredom?"
Felix Draper bristled.
"I’m warning you guys, don’t let hear that ’balls ache’ phrase again!"
’Ever since Henry Hale had bizarrely blurted out that phrase, the other three had been using it to tease him at every opportunity. He was a normal, healthy man with a vigorous... appetite. Being told his balls ached all the ti gave him the mistaken impression that he was lacking in that departnt. How could he not be furious?’
Naomi Shaw woke up on the second day after her C-section. Lara Nash and Mrs. Somrs, who had been watching over her, teared up the mont they saw her open her eyes.
"Naomi, you scared us to death!"
Her body felt weak, but her mind was clear. Her eyes frantically searched the room.
"The baby... how’s the baby?"
Mrs. Somrs grasped her flailing hand, consoling her.
"The baby is safe. He was premature, but he’s very healthy. It’s a boy. The nurses are taking care of him right now!"
"That’s wonderful..."
Naomi Shaw began to weep with joy, a huge weight finally lifting from her chest. Mrs. Somrs got up to bring the baby in for Naomi to see. Lara Nash tried to hold her tongue but couldn’t, and the words tumbled out.
"Naomi, don’t bla for saying this while you’re so weak, but Ken already called Julian Donovan. He still hasn’t co back. After all this, ti and ti again, you must see what kind of person he is now, right? How can you still be so blind and let him get to you like this?"
Naomi Shaw knew Lara was referring to how she had been so affected by the scandal with him and Juliet Jennings that she’d lost her footing and fallen down the stairs. She just averted her gaze and said nothing.
’She had to admit, she’d brought this on herself. She deserved it.’
That day, she had been coming downstairs when the news about him and Juliet Jennings ca on the living room TV. The dia first reported that Juliet Jennings, who had fallen out of favor in the country, had inexplicably signed on for a major Hollowind film overnight. Then, they revealed the identity of the mysterious man backing her.
The footage was shockingly clear and sensational: the two of them in a passionate embrace, followed by photos of him entering a high-end apartnt building at night. He didn’t erge until nearly noon the next day. What happened that night was anyone’s guess.
In that instant, her mind went completely blank. She didn’t know how, but she suddenly missed a step.
’So, she still hadn’t been able to truly let him go. She thought she could handle it, that she could take it or leave it, but now she saw that was just a lie she’d been telling herself.’
’But Lara was right. Getting hurt once or twice was bearable, but ti and ti again... if she still didn’t learn her lesson, then she really did deserve it.’
Seeing her like this, Lara could only let out a heavy sigh. The pain of this incident should be enough to make her reflect. Here she was, going through a difficult pregnancy and giving birth to his child, while he was far away in ridia, flaunting his passionate romance with his first love.
Mrs. Somrs ca in holding the baby. Lara helped Naomi Shaw sit up. A little clumsily but with imnse joy, Naomi took the tiny human being into her arms. The little one was sleeping with his eyes closed, his face all wrinkled. Naomi carefully held him close and kissed him. One kiss wasn’t enough, so she brought his little face to her lips and kissed him several more tis.
The little guy let out a few soft, impatient grunts but kept his eyes closed and went on sleeping. Seeing him like this, Naomi Shaw’s eyes crinkled into a smile that ca straight from the heart.
Lara played with the baby’s tiny, fisted hands and said to Naomi,
"The baby doesn’t have a na yet. You should hurry and pick one!"
"Mhm!"
Naomi was very excited. She gazed gently at the little one, furrowing her brow in thought.
"I hope... he’ll grow up to be a person with great aspirations—knowledgeable, wise, and intelligent. What about... Dylan?"
Lara thought for a mont, then nodded in approval.
"That’s a great na! Dylan Donovan it is, then!"
Seeing the two young won decide on the baby’s na all by themselves, Mrs. Somrs interrupted.
"Naomi, a child’s na is for life. How can you decide it so hastily? It would be best to discuss it with Julian before finalizing it!"
The smile on Naomi Shaw’s face froze instantly. ’She’d forgotten this child wasn’t hers alone.’ Lara Nash seethed at her side.
"Who needs a father like him! What’s there to discuss? I think Dylan Donovan is a great na!"
Naomi Shaw bit her lip, hesitating.
"I’ll give him a call and ask."
’Perhaps she was just too traditional at heart. She believed the man should be the head of the household, so after what Mrs. Somrs said, she also felt she ought to discuss it with him.’
Cradling the sleeping baby, she picked up her phone and dialed the almost-unfamiliar number. It rang for a long ti before soone picked up. Just as she was about to speak, a soft, charming female voice ca from the other end.
"Hello, Julian is in a eting right now. If you have a ssage for him, you can tell , and I’ll pass it on to him later."
Naomi Shaw clutched her phone, unable to utter a single word. ’Of course she knew who this woman was. A re secretary would never call him so intimately by his first na, Julian.’
Just then, the baby in her arms suddenly squird, opened his little mouth, and let out a powerful, wailing cry. Left with no choice, she hastily hung up the phone and fumbled to soothe him.
Even the angels laugh at for loving you so foolishly, only to be punished by love in the end.
Though the baby had been crying his heart out, he stopped as soon as Naomi clumsily soothed him. He snuggled into her arms and went back to sleep. Seeing how well-behaved he was, Naomi felt her heart lt. She lowered her head and kissed his wrinkled little face over and over, vowing to love and dote on him with her entire life.
’In reality, she was only twenty-one years old. She was at an age when she should be in her pri, freely enjoying her youth, yet she was already a mother.’
She handed the baby to Mrs. Somrs. Thinking of the phone call she had just made, she said flatly,
"His na will be Dylan Donovan."
Mrs. Somrs had clearly seen her hang up without saying a word. She started to speak, but Naomi Shaw cut her off.
"Soone else answered and said he was in a eting. We don’t need his opinion. I insist. His na is Dylan Donovan."
She had almost never insisted on anything so forcefully, so Mrs. Somrs didn’t know what else to say.
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