Chapter 415

Amid the tense atmosphere, the doctor finally broke the silence.

“Ms. Harris’ progesterone levels are rising again. Have you been emotionally unstable recently?

Perhaps experiencing frequent fits of anger or bouts of sadness?” the doctor asked.

Gwendolyn lowered her head and kept mum.

It wasn’t right to withhold information in front of a doctor.

Cedrick gripped Gwendolyn’s hand tightly, speaking on her behalf, “Yes, there have been some unpleasant incidents at home recently. Her emotions have been rather turbulent, and it seems she has been having difficulty controlling them. Last night was particularly notable. She bit me simply because I refused to let her have an orange.”

His voice fell at the last few words, with a hint of mild resentment in it.

“She became angry over an orange?” The doctor couldn’t help but chuckle.

Gwendolyn hastily explained, “I have been having trouble with my appetite, even to the point of throwing up due to acid reflux. I even have to consume so many bitter medications, and the one time I come across a fruit I enjoy, he is absolutely adamant about not letting me have it! Not even one extra piece! It’s incredibly frustrating!”

Her brows furrowed tighter as she recounted the incident. In the end, she withdrew her hands from Cedrick’s grasp, sulking once again.

Cedrick was rendered speechless.

The doctor chuckled and said in a rather envious tone, “Your relationship is quite endearing. Frankly, I find your squabbling adorable.”

Gwendolyn, maintaining a serious face, continued to explain, “I was indeed angry last night, but I didn’t think it would go to the point where I would actually bite him hard. It seems I really have trouble controlling my emotions.”

The doctor carefully examined all the test results again.

“Ms. Harris, it’s your first time being pregnant, and you’re having twins, no less. It’s supposed to be more tiring. However, seeing as Mr. Jenson seems to be carrying on with his life as if nothing has happened, coupled with the added stress recently, it’s no surprise that you’ve been finding it difficult to control your emotions. As a result, you have been venting your frustrations on Mr. Jenson. Speaking of which, Mr. Jenson, you have to pay more attention to Ms. Harris’ mood in the future. If she can maintain a happy mood, she should recover normally. Aside from that, Ms. Harris, everything else is normal. There are no major issues with your health.”

Upon hearing the doctor’s words, they both heaved a sigh of relief.

It’s only a false alarm.

After leaving the hospital, Cedrick carefully helped Gwendolyn into the car, pondering a solution to the situation.

“Gwenny, you’re having a hard time being pregnant and I can’t help you. I wasn’t thoughtful enough and let you carry all the burden yourself. From now on, I will split the pain whenever you are not feeling well,” Cedrick said.

Gwendolyn raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement dancing in her eyes. “And how would you share that?”

“For example, when you suffer from morning sickness, you can pinch me. And if you’re upset and want to vent, feel free to pinch me as well. That way, I won’t be so carefree,” Cedrick quipped.

“Will that really work?” Gwendolyn questioned, doubt flickering in her eyes.

Cedrick took her hand and led it down, through the layers of his clothes, until it rested on his warm skin.

“Why don’t you give it a try?”

A mischievous glint flickered across her eyes. Her fingertips lightly traced circles on his waist before she grabbed a handful of his flesh and gave it a twist.

Cedrick furrowed his brows, his thin lips pursed tightly as he endured the pain. After a moment, he asked in anticipation, “So, does it feel better, seeing me sharing your pain?”

Gwendolyn gave it some thought before nodding. “Yes, much better!”

However, her expression fell after a moment. She rubbed his waist and said, “But it also hurts to see you in pain.”

Cedrick was content with her compassion. “I’m fine. Feel free to pinch me. I’ve got thick skin!”

Despite his reassurance, Gwendolyn didn’t have the heart to cause him any more discomfort. “I’ll try to control my emotions from now on. Besides, things are getting better day by day, so I don’t have much to be upset about.”

Cedrick eyed her cheery look, knowing full well that she had not moved on from what happened to Asher. However, he said nothing.

Soon, they returned to Harrick Villa.

Yesterday afternoon, Gwendolyn had signed her inheritance rights with Jared, so she had a lot more to deal with now.

Hence, as soon as she arrived, she disappeared into her study to work.

Cedrick placed a stool next to her. He would massage her shoulders and bring her water or fruit whenever she felt thirsty or tired.

In the meantime, he was also attending to matters pertaining to Jenson Group.

Neither of them spoke throughout the process, but they shared a tacit understanding of each other’s work.

With just a glance from Gwendolyn, Cedrick would understand what she wanted and hand it to her.

The afternoon flew by quickly.

When it was time for dinner, there was a visitor at Harrick Villa.

This time, it was Sienna.

Gwendolyn had nothing against her and wanted to invite her in. However, Sienna insisted on standing at the door.

Noticing her red eyes, it was evident that she had been crying. Gwendolyn felt a pang of sympathy and had a pretty good idea why she had come.

“If you’re here on Asher’s behalf, you need not say another word,” Gwendolyn said.

Tears fell from Sienna’s eyes as she sobbed and grasped Gwendolyn’s hands. “Gwen, please come back with me. Asher is not doing well. He got drenched in the rain the other night and caught a fever, but he refuses to see a doctor or take any medicine. He’s been very stubborn and has started to abuse himself. It pains me to see him like this.”

Gwendolyn furrowed her brows and turned around to cast a bemused glance at Cedrick. “Abuse himself? What do you mean?”

Sienna only continued to weep and offered no further explanation. “He doesn’t know I’m here. I came on my own, not to help him beg for your forgiveness, but to ask you to come back with me and see him.

Please…”

Sienna was crying so bitterly that Gwendolyn, remembering how this woman had cared for her in the past, decided to go with her.

At the ancestral hall of the Harris family at Mount Tranquil, Gwendolyn could hear the sharp sound of a whip, accompanied by occasional grunts of painfrom Asher as she approached the entrance.

It was rather scarry.

Cracking the door to the ancestral hall just slightly ajar, Gwendolyn stole a glance through the slim slit.

There, against her sight, knelt a man, with his back against her, kneeling before the altar.

Asher was only wearing a simple white shirt, his back graced with crimson lashings, evident of a painful ordeal.

Fevering and shaking under the weight of each whip, his body wavered yet remained resilient, enduring the torment without a murmur.

Gwendolyn watched for a moment. A strange sensation pricked at her heart, but she soon suppressed it. Then, she gently closed the door.

Beside her, Sienna sighed helplessly, her voice barely more than a whisper. “After he returned from Harrick Villa the other day, he behaved as if he was possessed. When dinner time came around, he knelt down before the altar and whipped himself twenty times. Then, he started to recite Heagurn Sutra in its entirety. Then, he would repeat the same thing the next day.”

All the while, Gwendolyn remained silent as she listened.

“Gwen, it’s only been two days, and he’s already covered in injuries, but insistent on punishing himself.

Could you please persuade him? Even a word from you will suffice!” Sienna pleaded.

She clutched Gwendolyn’s hand in a desperate grasp with hope brimming in her eyes.

Gwendolyn hesitated and did not give her a response.

Soon, the crack of the whip in the ancestral hall ceased. Less than a minute later, Asher’s recitation of Heagurn Sutra echoed.

His voice was parched, roughened with a hint of hoarseness.

It was evident that this wasn’t a performance put on for Gwendolyn’.

Gwendolyn remained silent for a long while as she listened to Asher’s chant.

She then realized that he was sincere, and despite the occasionally strained breath that disrupted his rhythm for a few seconds, the overall tone was stable. It was apparent that he was at peace with himself.

Under Sienna’s tearful gaze, Gwendolyn’s expression remained impassive. Yet, at last, she began to speak.