Chapter 72: The Long-Awaited Exnation


    Irene''s quiet sobs could be easily heard in the ward. She couldn''t stop her tears from flowing despite


    beingforted by the others. She told them not to worry, for she would be alright after letting all her


    tears out.


    "Irene! What happened?" Edward asked with concern. He could hear her crying as soon as he stepped


    foot into the ward, so he quickened his pace and ran inside.


    Edward hurried to Irene side and wiped away her tears. He wrapped his arms around her in an attempt


    tofort her, not wanting her to be sad.


    His heart ached when he saw her cry, and his heart rejoiced when he saw her radiant smile. However,


    he wasn''t aware how many tears Irene had shed because of him.


    "You''re here, Edward. I''m alright," Irene said, feeling warm and secure in his arms. Nevertheless, she


    knew that this hug wasn''t exclusive to her. Edward had also hugged Celine in this manner.


    "I''d rather not ept the gift that you''ve offered everyone," Irene thought.


    Irene suddenly recalled reading this quote from a book in the school library when she went to borrow


    some books with Millicent.


    Back then, she thought the writer was very arrogant. So she asked for Millicent''s opinion about it—


    would you ept a gift that has been offered to everyone?


    "Hmm, I''m not sure. I guess it depends on who''s the one offering it," Millicent had replied. Irene could


    still hear those words echoing in her mind.


    "Oh my, Millicent, what a pretentious answer! Honestly though, I don''t know what I''d do either," Irene


    said, before bursting intoughter with Millicent.


    "I''m pretentious? Hehe, looks like I''ll need to show you my true colors..."


    "Millicent!"


    ...


    This was what they discussed at that time, and they couldn''t find an answer.


    However, Irene now shared the same sentiments with the author—she would definitely refuse.


    "Don''t cry, Irene. It pains me to see your tears. Share your sorrows with me, my dear," Edward coaxed


    her gently.


    When they heard him, Madeline and udia decided to leave the ward tactfully. However, Elio didn''t


    seem to budge even after they left.


    Things were getting a little awkward. Clearly, the young couple wanted some private time together, and


    Elio seemed like a smart individual. Why did he choose to remain in the room?


    He continued to stand there calmly, never taking his gaze off Irene.


    "Mr. Ann, we should give them some privacy. Moreover, you haven''t slept a winkst night, so you must


    be tired. Perhaps you should get some rest," udia said tactfully.


    It was obvious to everyone that Elio loved Irene deeply. However, he could only keep his feelings to


    himself, for Irene was married to Edward.


    "Okay, I''ll be leaving then. Irene, I''ll visit youter when I''m free."


    It seemed like his only option was to leave right now.


    Elio had stayed awake all night, and he could finally feel his fatigue catch up to him. Moreover, he


    should arrange the departure of Irene and her daughter. He needed to freshen up too—his stubble had


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    grown overnight.


    "Okay, Elio, you should return home to rest. Surely you must be exhausted after staying up the entire


    night? Take care of yourself first, and don''t worry about me. You also have your own matters to deal


    with after all," Irene said concernedly.


    In fact, she was also quite worried about Elio and hoped he would quickly go home for some rest. He


    had guarded her for such a long time.


    But those words sounded very unpleasant to Edward, and jealousy bubbled up in his heart. Still, he


    kept his feelings to himself.


    "That''s right, Mr. Ann. Even Irene wants you to get some rest. Besides, you don''t have to worry about


    her safety with me here."


    How much self-control did Edward have to suppress his anger and speak so calmly? His younger self


    would have already lost his temper. However, he didn''t have the right to be mad, because Elio had


    spent the night watching over Irene.


    "Of course. In that case, I''ll leave Irene in your care, Mr. Wilson. I''m off to sleep," Elio said before


    leaving Irene''s ward. It was time for him to rest.


    "Irene, what''s wrong?"


    After everyone else had left the ward, Irene pushed Edward''s arms away. He was puzzled and a little


    annoyed at her cold demeanour.


    "Nothing''s wrong, Edward. I''m fine," Irene said indifferently. She really wanted him to leave her alone


    right now, for she no longer held any expectations for him.


    Edward was vexed because of Irene''s distant behavior. How could she give him the cold shoulder like


    this?


    "Irene, are you mad you can''t see Elio because I asked him to leave? I can always call him over! Will it


    make you feel better?"


    In the end, Edward could no longer suppress his anger. He really didn''t want to quarrel with Irene, but


    his rage consumed him.


    He thought of how he rushed to the hospital immediately as soon as he settled Celine''s problem.


    But what did she do?


    It was inevitable that Elio had watched over herst night, but did she really need to send him off with


    such loving words of concern? The fire in Edward''s heart grew ever stronger at that thought.


    "Edward, were you always this childish? There''s nothing I can do about it if you think I''m that sort of


    person," Irene said nonchntly.


    She couldn''t be bothered to speak to such a childish Edward.


    "You..." Edward paused, realizing the anger in his tone. He had caused Irene''s premature delivery, and


    she was still weak. He really shouldn''t lose his temper with her.


    So he spoke gently this time, "I''m sorry, Irene. I shouldn''t have yelled at you just now. Did anything


    happen? My dear, please talk to me—don''t brush me aside like that," Edward pleaded with Irene.


    It was strange that she was behaving so distant and heartless.


    "Nothing, I just want to rest. Edward, just what sort of attitude should I have for you to be satisfied?"


    Irene asked in desperation.


    She didn''t want to talk to him anymore, because she would be reminded of the unhappy events.


    She would think about her mother''s death, the coat with lipstick and perfume, and how Edward had lied


    to her about an emergency in thepany when he was actually spending time with Celine.


    All these things strengthened Irene''s determination to leave Edward.


    "I''m sorry, I shouldn''t force you. You can talk to me however you''d like, as long as it makes you happy.


    Irene, I heard you crying when I came in earlier. What happened?"


    Edward had been a little impulsive earlier, so he was now slowly gaining control of his temper. They


    hadn''t quarreled ever since they revealed their true feelings for each other, and he really didn''t want to


    start it all over again.


    The fight today displeased him.


    He tried his best to figure out why Irene was behaving like this.


    Edward was a smart person, and he had an idea why she behaved so cold and distant. Perhaps she


    was disturbed by that scandalous news article.


    Thinking back, Edward knew he had been too impulsive when he lost his temper with Irene. He simply


    couldn''t hold his feelings back when he saw how intimate Elio and Irene were talking to each other.


    "Irene, I''m not in a rtionship with Celine. I wasn''t able to be here when you woke up because my


    mum had told me to settle this matter as soon as I could. She said that everything would be alright


    once that''s been taken care of," Edward exined with sincerity.


    ...


    However, Irene was exhausted and didn''t want to continue this rtionship anymore. She had given up


    all hope, so she didn''t react to Edward''s exnation.


    "Irene, please—you have to believe me! I swear to God that I don''t have a rtionship with Celine. I''ll


    even stake my own life on it! You''ve seen how deceitful Celine can get. Why won''t you believe me?"


    Edward pleaded sincerely.


    Irene remembered the time he had continued to trust Celine despite all the evidence of her schemes.


    The only thing she wanted now was to leave this ce.


    "Enough, Edward. I have already seen your exnation on the Inte. You don''t have to repeat them


    to me, I know."


    Edward was delighted to hear that, and he thought she didn''t misunderstand him. However, he was


    wrong.