How to Train Your Ex-Billionaire novel Chapter 46

Winifred lagged a few steps behind, watching Yvan's steady, solid back, an unidentifiable feeling stirring inside her.

If their daughter were still alive, if it were their child he was holding…

Noticing she had fallen behind, Yvan stopped and turned. "Hurry up, you're getting wet."

Snapped out of her reverie, Winifred quickly caught up, stepping under the umbrella with him.

"Let me hold the umbrella," she offered.

Yvan glanced at her. "Are you sure you're tall enough to cover me?"

Winifred pressed her lips together. She only came up to his chest; holding the umbrella would indeed be awkward. She didn't insist.

They entered the hospital and went to the pediatrics department.

"Thank you," Winifred said. "You can give her to me now. I can take it from here."

Yvan didn't let go. "How are you going to manage by yourself with her like this? I'm already here, I might as well hold her for you."

Before Winifred could refuse again, Yvan was already at the nurses' station. "Hi, we need to register a patient."

Since they were in the emergency section, they were seen quickly. Yvan stayed with Winifred as Delia saw the doctor, had her blood drawn, and was put on an IV drip.

It was confirmed to be hand, foot, and mouth disease, and a fairly serious case.

While Winifred was off paying the bill, Delia woke up. Seeing Yvan holding her, she wasn't frightened.

"You're the nice man who beat up the bad guys for us," Delia said.

Yvan smiled. "That's right. And you're Delia?"

Delia nodded. "My nickname is Delia, but my full name is Sabina Lewis."

"Sabina?" Yvan repeated. "That's a beautiful name."

"My mommy picked it for me," Delia said. "I think it's pretty too."

So Winifred named her. Yvan felt a pang of sorrow as he looked at Delia's delicate features.

Winifred lowered her eyes. "He's at work. He's busy, but he'll be here later."

"Later? By the time he gets here, Delia will have finished her treatment," Yvan scoffed. "She's this sick, and he's comfortable leaving her in the care of one woman? If I hadn't run into you today, you would've had a rough time."

Winifred clutched the receipt. "I don't see it that way. He's busy earning a living, not out having fun. If he's busy, it's only natural that I take on more of the responsibility."

Hearing her defend the man made Yvan both angry and jealous.

"I never realized you were so understanding. That man is damn lucky to have married you," Yvan said sarcastically.

Winifred pretended not to catch his underlying meaning. With her eyes downcast, she said, "Thank you for your help today. You should go if you're busy."

That was the second time she'd told him to leave.

Great, he thought. Use me and then toss me aside, without even a proper thank you. Did she really want nothing to do with him? Or was she afraid her elusive husband might get the wrong idea?

What was so great about that man, anyway? He was abusive, and yet she still defended him.