Alexander stayed up the entire night, guarding beside Isabelle's bed.

As the doctor had mentioned, the anesthesia lasted a long time. She slept for a long time with no signs of waking. Halfway through, the doctor visited but left without saying much more than that she was in deep sleep.

The next day at 7 am, Alexander called his assistant to drive him and Isabelle back to York Garden.

Madam Mary was already awake. When she saw the car, she ran out to greet them. Alexander carried Isabelle, who was fast asleep, upstairs, into their room.

With concern, Madam Mary asked, "Mr. Smith, what's wrong with Mrs. Smith?"

When Alexander changed his shoes, he remembered what Madam Mary had just said. Without shifting his eyes, he carried Isabelle while telling Madam Mary, who was putting the shoes away, in a flat tone, "Nothing much, Mrs Smith was just on her period."

Alexander paused for a while, then remembered the doctor's instructions and said, "Make more nutritional foods for the Mrs Smith to nourish the body."

As soon as Madam Mary heard that it was the period, she instantly felt relieved and nodded without hesitation in response to Alexander's instructions.

The bed cover and quilt cover on the bed had already been changed by Madam Mary. Alexander put Isabelle down. He pulled over the covers and didn't forget to turn up the central heating in the room by two degrees. Then he walked out of the bedroom, back downstairs, and out. The assistant was still waiting at the door.

Alexander silently glanced over at the assistant, but then strode over to the back garden.

The assistant hurriedly caught up.

Alexander was far away from the mansion by the time he stopped. Having done an all-nighter, he pulled a cigarette out from his pocket. He lit it up and took two hard drags before he told the assistant, "I won't be going to the office for a while. If there's anything that can be pushed back, do that. If there's something really urgent, send me an email. I'll handle it at night. Try not to call me."

Alexander took another hard drag and added in calm voice, "I want to stay at home with her for some time."

The assistant knew the "her" Alexander mentioned referred to Isabelle. He nodded and said, "Understood, Mr. Smith."

Alexander thought about it for a moment, then instructed him, "Also, her scenes in 'Alluring Times' for the next five days, delay them. The doctor says, she needs at least seven days rest."

"I'll contact the director."

Alexander didn't say anything.

The assistant waited a while, and said, "Mr. Smith, is there anything else?"

Alexander's eyes fell on a rose that bloomed not too far away. He stared straight at it for a long while before turning to say to the assistant, "Her... miscarriage, don't let her know..."

"But what do we do if Miss Davis senses something wrong?"

"I'll tell Madam Mary that her period came, and I'll talk with the hospital. They won't leak any information. Also, check to see if anyone followed us and took photos. If they did, then stop them. I've spoken to the doctor. They say that after the operation, besides feeling weak, she'll feel a little bloated, no different from a period."

Alexander took another drag, and with hints of sadness in his voice said, "No matter what happens, just do as I tell you to. I just can't imagine what would happen if I told her when she woke up that she'd lost her child, not to mention..."

At this point, Alexander felt like something was lodged in his throat. It was unbearably painful. He stopped for a long while. His voice quivered slightly when he spoke again. "This was all my fault to begin with, let me be the only one punished. I really don't want to see her sad."

If it weren't for him, last night's tragedy would have never had happened.

Considering she spent last night unconscious, and knew nothing, let her continue to stay that way.

The loss of a child. The insufferable pain.

That kind of pain, only he should have to endure.

The assistant looked on silently, watching as Alexander took one drag after another. At that exact moment in time, his face clearly looked laid-back and virtuous, but yet, he gave off hints of devotion and persistence.

In that instant, the assistant didn't quite know what to say. From the bottom of his heart, he thought that a lot of people made mistakes in this world and worked hard to keep it hidden, but mostly so that others didn't hate them or because they didn't dare face the truth in their heart. Yet Mr. Smith was hiding because it was too painful.

The two of them were silent for a long time before the assistant snapped out of his wild thoughts. He broke the silence. "Mr. Smith, if there's nothing else, I'll be on my way to the office now."

Alexander nodded with a "mm". The assistant slightly bowed, then turned to leave.

~*~

Isabelle woke up at three in the afternoon.

After sleeping for as long as eighteen hours, when she opened her eyes, her mind was a little fragmented, and her memory didn't quite connect together.

She blankly laid in bed for a while, before she realized that she was in her room in York Garden. Then she slowly remembered that she was clearly watching tv last night when she fell asleep for some reason.

Isabelle tilted her head, and glanced over at the time on the wall. It was already three in the afternoon. She actually slept for that long?

Surprised, she wanted to get out of bed, but she realized that her entire body was so weak that she hardly had any strength in her.

She furrowed her brows, feeling that something was wrong with her body; she had lost a lot of strength. Uncertain, she flipped the covers over and got out of bed.

There wasn't a single person in the bedroom. Beyond the closed windows, the sun was bright.

Isabelle treaded on the fluffy rug on the floor and walked out of the bedroom. She walked bare-footed across the cold floorboards towards the railings. Then she called downstairs. "Madam Mary?"

Perhaps it was because she had slept for so long, her voice was a little hoarse. She clearly tried to shout, but her voice was very low. So she cleared her throat and tried again, louder this time. "Madam Mary!"

Who would have guessed, Madam Mary didn't appear, but the study room door nearby opened.

Isabelle turned her head to see Alexander walk out. She was a little astonished to find him home, and stood stunned for a while. The next second, Alexander furrowed his brows, taking big strides over to her and unexpectedly picking her up in his arms. Then he gently asked, "Why are you calling for Madam Mary?"

Isabelle was a little stunned by Alexander's sweep. She blinked, then answered, "I'm thirsty."

Alexander turned his head and cried out, "Madam Mary."

His voice was louder than hers by far. Madam Mary immediately ran out of a room on the first floor. "Mr. Smith, what are your orders?"

As Madam Mary asked, she lifted her head to see Isabelle in Alexander's arms. With surprise in her eyes, she immediately asked, "Mrs Smith, you're awake?"

"Pour a cup of water, send it up." Alexander impassively threw her those words. With Isabelle in his arms, he walked back into the room and put her down on the bed. He pulled over the covers, then said, "Your body isn't well right now, you must rest more in bed."

Isabelle heard Alexander's words, then came to the realization that her stomach felt bloated.

Her period actually arrived whilst she was asleep?

Suspicion flashed across her mind.

Madam Mary brought up a cup of water. "Mrs Smith, you're finally awake. You slept really hard last night. You didn't even notice that you were on your period. In the end, Mr. Smith discovered it."

Alexander discovered it? So that's to say, he came back to York Garden last night?

Madam Mary, who liked to chatter, continued on, "At first, Mr. Smith thought something had happened to you, so he hurriedly carried you and rushed you over to the hospital. You really frightened me at the time."

Was there really such a blunder? Yet Isabelle didn't want to smile the least bit.

Isabelle's face heated up in a instant, and she couldn't help but glance over at Alexander.

Alexander's expression was calm as usual. Ever since he took the cup from Madam Mary, it was like he felt some warmth. He held it for a while before striding over to the bedside.

As he drew closer, Isabelle's face heated up, and she couldn't help but lower her head.

Madam Mary, who still stood to a side, said, "Mrs Smith, thank goodness your period came. At the time, I thought you had a miscarriage..."

When Alexander heard those words, a flustered look flashed across his eyes. But then he quickly regained his composure, casually interrupting Madam Mary, "Mrs Smith just woke up, she must be hungry. Did you cook soup? Bring it up."

Alexander's reminder made Madam Mary remember important business. She immediately said, "I'll go now."

Then she turned around and ran down the stairs.

Isabelle's mind was filled with the thought of Alexander. She simply didn't pay attention to what Madam Mary had been saying. Not to mention, since she started feeling bloated yesterday afternoon, she though her period was coming, so she didn't think much of it.

Alexander saw that Isabelle's expression looked quite normal, and it left him at ease. He brought the cup to her. "Didn't you want a drink?"

When Isabelle heard Alexander's voice, her face was almost blood-red. She quickly lifted her head and glanced up at him. Then she took the cup, lowered her eyes, and drank the water.

After Isabelle drank half the cup, Madam Mary brought over some food.

Having brought the tray to the bedside cabinet, she picked up the soup, stirred it a little, and was ready to feed Isabelle, when Alexander, who was standing nearby, said flatly, "Let me."

By the time he said it, he had already sat down by the bed and was moving to tentatively put two pillows behind Isabelle.

Madam Mary froze, then immediately handed Alexander the soup with enthusiasm.

Alexander scooped a spoonful of soup, blew on it, and brought it near Isabelle's lips.

Isabelle was a little shocked by the affection. She furrowed her brows and hesitated for a bit, to confirm she wasn't in a dream. Then she opened her mouth and ate the soup.

When Alexander finished feeding her soup, he started to feed her rice.

Madam Mary made steamed fish. With every piece he picked up, Alexander was afraid there were bones in it.

His expression was very focused and serious. It was as though he was carrying out really important work.

Isabelle couldn't help but feel a little stunned. She still felt that this moment she was living now was just like a dream.

Isabelle blankly let Alexander feed her, one mouthful at a time, until she shook her head at him, too full to eat anymore.

Alexander didn't push her. He put the chopsticks down and shot Madam Mary a look. She instinctively knew to take the tray away and walk out of the room.

Alexander took the pillows behind Isabelle away for her to lay down, not forgetting to pull the covers over her.

Isabelle had slept for so long. Even though her body was weak, she wasn't very sleepy. She was a little bored of just laying there, and so she wanted to get up to grab her phone, but then, Alexander, who had just pulled the covers over her, said, "What do you want to do?"

Isabelle, who was stunned for a moment, lifted her head and innocently looked up at him, saying, "Get my phone."

Alexander didn't say a word but walked to the coffee table, picked up her phone, and handed it over to her.

Isabelle sat up again, embarrassed, and took her phone. She randomly browsed through some websites, but she couldn't get into it at all. Every now and then, her eyes would look over at Alexander, who was sitting on the sofa.

Since they've known each other, at the calmest times of their relationship, he would always be cold and distant in front of her. However, today, he was so considerate and gentle. There were even hints of docile indulgence and spoiling, which left her a little embarrassed and at a complete loss.

Also, when her stomach was in pain, he had bought her medicine... When she continuously made retakes, and she came out for fresh air, he had come out to give her his jacket... So it was true that he hadn't treated her that bad recently, but today was particularly nice...

Isabelle started to waver. She really didn't want to argue about what happened that night of his birthday and would have been glad to comfortably and harmoniously get along with him, yet she was also afraid of when he would suddenly become cold and heartless again.

Her feelings were extremely complicated.

In the end, Isabelle, who was weak from surgery, fell asleep once again.

~*~

This time, Isabelle only took a short nap. She woke up at seven something in the evening.

As she ate lunch a little late, she wasn't hungry, and so she sat in her bed watching TV. When it reached nine something at night, she then had dinner.

At eleven, Alexander ordered Madam Mary downstairs to make her a cup of hot milk.

Madam Mary said she would do so, and went into the kitchen. When she opened the fridge to get milk, she remembered that Isabelle had brought home swallow's nest a few days ago, so she turned her head, asking Alexander, "Mr. Smith, there's swallow's nest at home, would you like me to heat it up for supper?"

Alexander answered from upstairs, walking out from his study, "Heat it up just for Mrs Smith."

"Mr. Smith, you're not eating it? But the Mrs Smith brought the swallow's nest home."

"Mrs Smith bought it?" Alexander asked Madam Mary. His footsteps halted, and he stood listening, interested. He turned his head and looked down the stairs.

"It didn't seem like Mrs Smith bought them." Madam Mary wasn't particularly clear on the whole story, and so she hesitated to speak out of turn. "Mrs Smith brought them back from set one day, and also, they were unpacked."

Brought them back from set?

Alexander suddenly remembered that Isabelle had visited James in the hospital a few days before, and it was the Williams family's chauffeur who had taken her back to the hotel that night. At the time, he even gave her two boxes of something. That day, he sat in the parked car far away, and so he couldn't take a good look at what those two boxes were.

Could it have been the swallow's nest?

Alexander furrowed his brows, and as though lightning had struck his mind, a series of thoughts flashed through his mind...