Chapter 174
Jude finally caught a cold, looking frail in Victoria's embrace. She frequently checked his temperature. Nestled in her warmth, he murmured, "Mom, I'm fine."
Seeing Jude in such a fragile state was heartbreaking, yet he comforted Victoria, reassuring her not to worry, which only made her feel more distressed.
"Let's go to the hospital," she insisted.
Later, Henry entered the room, checked Jude's temperature, and made a call to request a doctor. He asked the doctor to come.
"Have you figured out what happened?" Victoria asked after a moment of contemplation.
A truck had barreled out of nowhere during the heavy rain, and the driver fled after colliding with another car. There wast definitely more to the story.
Henry replied quietly, "Not yet."
There were procedures for involving the police in such cases.
He looked at Victoria and suddenly asked, "Are you worried about me?"
Victoria frowned slightly. "I'm worried about Jude."
She felt indifferent about Henry.
He scrutinized her and pressed further, "What did you spray on me last night?"
Victoria panicked, but since she was holding Jude, she managed to keep it hidden.
"It's a self–defense spray my grandma gave me," she said.
"So you used it on me?" Henry's tone turned colder.
Victoria met his gaze. "You ignored my wishes. Shouldn't I use it?"
"Very well!" Henry scoffed, clearly displeased.
Victoria turned her attention back to Jude, who was nestled weakly in her arms, his eyes slightly closed.
Jude felt confused listening to their exchange, but he was certain that Henry had treated Victoria badly, which was why she had sprayed him.
Jude found himself pondering a serious question, if his parents divorced, who would he live with? It was a heavy issue that needed careful thought.
The doctor arrived shortly, conducted a quick examination of Jude, prescribed some medication, and set him up with an IV to reduce his fever. If it flared up again, hospitalization would be necessary.
Victoria stayed by Jude's side, watching him fall asleep and then begin to sweat as the medication took effect. She gently wiped the sweat from his forehead.
By the time the IV finished, it was completely dark.
Sneaking out quietly, she approached Henry. "Jude's fever has gone down. I'm heading home."
Henry frowned. "He's sick and vulnerable right now. If you leave, aren't you worried he'll feel sad and abandoned?"
Victoria hesitated, glancing back at the door. The sound of the rain pouring was still audible through the glass.
"Eat something first," Henry said and went to the dining table before she could respond.
Victoria no longer insisted on leaving. She was genuinely concerned about Jude.
The dinner spread was filled with her favorite dishes, but she didn't feel moved and focused solely on eating. She was indeed hungry.
After dinner, Victoria's phone rang. Seeing it was Pete, she retreated to the guest room to answer. "Hello, Pete."
His worried voice came through, "Did you go to the hotel? What's going on?"
Victoria slumped onto the couch, fatigue evident in her tone.
"Jude has a fever, so I'm staying here to take care of him. Don't worry. I'm fine."
Pete replied, "Alright. I'm with your grandma. Just focus on Jude." With that, he ended the call.
Victoria tossed her phone aside and headed to the bathroom for a shower. Upon emerging, she realized there were no towels or bathrobes available.
She recalled Sophia wearing a bathrobe while leaving.
Realizing that Sophia had lived in this room, Victoria frowned, a hint of disgust flashing in her eyes as she scanned the space.
She had intended to sleep here tonight but now saw no option but to share a room with Jude.
After drying off with a towel and dressing, she made her way straight to Jude's room without acknowledging Henry, who was on the couch in the living room.
The moment she appeared, Henry's eyes were drawn to her.
Her skin glistened from the moisture. There was a faint blush on her checks, and the tips of her long curls were still damp. Her makeup had washed away, revealing a clean and bright visage, yet her expression remained icy. She didn't even glance in his direction.
Henry pressed his lips tightly, feeling a mix of displeasure and helplessness.
She had a bad temper now. Jude often mentioned they should accommodate her.
Contemplating how much he wanted to keep her, Henry decided he had to give in.
He sent a message to Jacob with some instructions before returning to his work.
As the night deepened, Victoria lay on the bed, feeling a warm breath against her back. Startled, she opened her eyes and turned to find Henry beside her.
She nearly screamed–when had he come in?
Instead of sleeping in the spacious master bedroom, he chose to share a bed with her and Jude. What was wrong with him?
Henry was enveloped in the scent of Victoria and finally felt drowsy. Suddenly, he was kicked. He jolted awake and grabbed the foot that had struck him.
In the darkness, Victoria's voice was sharp but hushed. "Get out!"
Henry could make out her angry expression.
He wrapped his arms around her, leaning close enough for his warm breath to brush against her ear. "I'm just here to sleep. Why are you overreacting? Are you sure you want to risk waking Jude?"
Victoria's body stiffened. "You can sleep in the master bedroom."
"I can't sleep there," he replied in a hoarse voice. "Victoria, be good. I won't do anything. But if you kick me again, who knows what I might do? You wouldn't want Jude to see that, would you?"
"How shameless!" Victoria gritted her teeth.
Henry kissed her and murmured, "We've been married for five years. You know what I'm capable of in bed."
Her cheeks flushed slightly, but knowing he could follow through, she didn't resist.
Henry held her close; he felt warm and soft against him, making his heart feel at home.
Sleepiness washed over him, and soon, he was deeply asleep.
Victoria, however, lay with cold eyes and a tense body. His sudden change in demeanor made her uneasy.
He claimed he was accustomed to her scent and didn't want a divorce, so leaving him was sure to be challenging.
But he was very awful. With Sarah and Sophia around, he wouldn't let her go.
Victoria decided to leave Camoreham as soon as possible. There was no time to waste in uncovering the truth about the incident from five years ago.
She had to find Joanna and get the evidence she needed, no matter what.