Chapter 222


    Joanna listened, her eyes turning red as she stared at Bruce with resentment and anger.


    Bruce sensed her anger but remained unaffected. He raised an eyebrow slightly, his gaze calm yet


    provoking.


    If she wanted to challenge him, he had plenty of ways to put her in her ce.


    *I’ll count to 3. You should be right over for dinner!


    “You know, I always keep my word!”


    Joanna rolled her eyes, and tears welled up instantly.


    She had intended to stand her ground against him, but the moment she saw the children, she crumbled


    instantly.


    This damn jerk always knew how to exploit her vulnerabilities.


    Receiving no response from Joanna, Bruce began counting, “One”


    Joanna’s heart tightened, and she stared sharply at Bruce, filled with intensity.


    “Two…” Bruce’s tone grew more serious.


    “Three…” Bruce finished counting and stood up, heading towards the door.


    Seeing this, Joanna didn’t dare to argue further. She suppressed her anger and reluctantly walked


    toward the dining table.


    Her hair was disheveled, and her figure had be so thin, she was like a bag of bones. Even the


    smallest–sized clothes hung loosely on her.


    On the table, there was an assortment of nutritious dishes.


    Milk, sea cucumbers, codfish, and more, were all carefully prepared by top nutritionists.


    However, despite her two–day hunger, Joanna had no appetite.


    Joanna sat down at the table, feeling numb.


    Bruce sat across from her, his demeanor cold, as if interrogating a suspect, his gaze fixed on her.


    Though his face remained expressionless, his heart felt like it was being pricked by a needle.


    Back when he first met Joanna, although she was slim back then, she wasn’t as emaciated as she was


    now.


    At that time, she was radiant and healthy, her eyes bright and clear, always apanied by a gentle


    smile. She was like a sunflower blooming under the sun, leaving an evesting impression.


    But now, although still beautiful, she emitted a sense of sickness and destion.


    Especially how thin she had be! Her limbs were so delicate that they seemed like they could snap


    with the slightest touch.


    “Drink this milk!” Bruce pushed a bowl of milk toward her.


    Joanna, like a young student, slowly picked up the spoon and took a sip.


    The milk was smooth and had an excellent texture when consumed.


    Unfortunately, she was experiencing severe morning sickness now. Combined with her depression, her


    digestive system no longer weed any disappointments.


    Joanna managed to take only one bite before feeling nauseous and retching.


    Having eaten nothing for the past two days, she only vomited stomach acid. Her stomach and


    esophagus burned.


    Bruce felt even more distressed witnessing her condition.


    He quickly came over to pat her back, his brow furrowed, and asked, “How did you end up like this?”


    Joanna remained silent, her eyes empty and bewildered.


    Ever since her mother’s passing at the tender age of 12, she had ceased to feel any love or warmth in


    this world.


    Once taken in by the Haynes family, she strived to blossom, excel, and win her father’s affection,


    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    longing for that elusive sense of familial love.


    Yet, in the end….


    Their eyes met in silence, burdened by unspoken emotions. Bruce was also overwhelmed with


    distress, rendered speechless by the weight on his heart.


    It seemed as if fate itself toyed with them, their rtionship destined to be a tragic tale from the very


    beginning.


    Oh, how desperately he yearned to love her, to be loved in return!


    How he wished to atone for the pain he had caused her in the past! However, her grandmother’s death,


    a consequence of their association, made forgiveness impossible–for both him and her.


    “I can’t eat anymore, please, don’t force me.” Joanna weakly protested.


    Angered, Bruce retorted, “You haven’t taken a bite. Are you trying to kill yourself?”


    Joanna couldn’t hold back the urge to retch, her stomach’s burning torment causing tears and mucus to


    cascade down her face as she curled up in agony.


    Bruce saw that she was in pain and didn’t dare to force her anymore. “Lilian, call the doctor


    immediately!”


    “Yes, sir!” Lilian answered obediently.


    Bruce stirred the milk with a spoon and personally fed it to Joanna’s mouth. “Can you have some


    more?”


    Joanna vomited even more! She couldn’t even see the milk.


    The burning sensation in her stomach made her tears and snot flow down her face. Her body arched


    like a bent shrimp!


    “Alright, alright, stop eating!” Bruce quickly put the spoon back. His heart was clenched!


    “Lie down, rest,” he urged gently, bending down to lift her in his arms.


    With no strength left to resist, Joanna weakly leaned against his shoulder as Bruce carefullyid her


    back on the bed, his troubled expression fixed upon her.


    This vexing woman always managed to bring him sorrow.


    Was she here to seek revenge?


    Why else would she pierce his heart so mercilessly?


    Fifteen minutester, the family doctor rushed over.


    “Mr. Everett, how are you? Ms. Haynes, are you alright?” the doctor greeted them.


    Bruce furrowed his brow. “She has been experiencing constant sickness and can’t eat anything! Please


    check if there’s any treatment avable!”


    Bruce watched attentively as the doctor examined Joanna, checking her pulse, listening to her


    heartbeat, and measuring her blood pressure.


    “She is suffering from severe malnutrition and intense anemia,” the doctor gravely informed him.


    “And?” Bruce raised an eyebrow.


    The doctor furrowed his brow, his expression serious. “Her health is in such a critical condition that I


    rmend… terminating the pregnancy!”


    “What?” Bruce’s eyebrows shot up in shock.


    The doctor furrowed his brow and said gravely, “Ms. Haynes’s health is in such a poor state that I


    suggest… terminating the pregnancy!


    “If the pregnancy continues, not only will it harm her, but it will also affect the fetus!”


    “Isn’t there any treatment avable?”


    The doctor paused for a few seconds. “If you insist on having this child, Ms. Haynes must urgently


    replenish her nutrition!


    “And she must let go of all her work and focus on a healthy pregnancy! Especially during the first three


    months, it would be best if she stays in the hospital for the sake of the fetus!


    “Otherwise, as the pregnancy progresses, the risk of miscarriage will increase!”


    Bruce’s thick eyebrows furrowed deeply. His sharp eyes were filled with disappointment!


    Two days ago, he truly didn’t want this child!


    But now, the closer he felt to losing it, the more afraid he became!


    “For now, prescribe folic acid and pregnancy stabilizers.


    “As for morning sickness, it’s amon pregnancy symptom. It’s best to consume more fresh fruits


    and avoid medication. It will improve after a while!”


    Bruce took a sigh of relief. “Alright.”


    “And Ms. Haynes needs to pay attention to resting more. She shouldn’t exert herself anymore. It’s best


    to stay in bed and take proper rest.


    Bruce’s heart skipped a beat upon hearing this!


    Joanna’s stubbornness made it unlikely for her to put aside everything and focus on a healthy


    pregnancy,


    After the doctor left, Bruce contemted for a while and decided to have a calm conversation with


    Joanna.


    “Joanna, can we talk calmly?”


    Joanna weakly looked at Bruce!


    Bruce looked at her with a serious expression. “The doctor just said that you’re severely malnourished!


    “If you want to save this child, you have to let go of everything and focus on a healthy pregnancy!”


    Joanna remained silent, quietly listening to him. She waspletely weak,cking the energy even to


    argue with him!


    Bruce pondered for a moment before saying, “Don’t do anything for this year!


    “Alright, prepare to give birth safely! As for thepany, I’ll leave it to your father for the time being.


    Don’t worry about it for now!”


    When Joanna heard this, anger surged within her.


    Bruce was so eager to have her give birth, all because he wanted to regain the chairman position for


    his father–inw.


    “Impossible!


    “I won’t have this child, and I won’t let go of thepany!”


    Since Shaun didn’t acknowledge her as his daughter, she no longer wanted any connection with


    Shaun.


    Now that she had lost the child, she couldn’t afford to lose thepany as well.


    “Look at the state of your body! Do you really want to die? Even if you don’t have a child, you still need


    to take care of your health!” Bruce couldn’t help but get angry.


    He genuinely didn’t want to see her in this condition!


    He was even more puz?led.


    Couldn’t she just submit to him, give in to his wishes? She could have anything she wanted, so why did


    she have to go through all this trouble?


    “I know my own body. It’s none of your business!


    “Bruce, I’m begging you, please stop interfering in my personal life!”


    “No! You’re the mother of my child, and I have a responsibility to look after you!”


    When Joanna heard this, she became even more speechless with anger!