CEO Ex-Husband, Don't Bother Me

Chapter 188 - 155: Slander (Part 2)

After a busy day, a young nurse from her department approached Naomi Shaw as their shift was ending. Looking embarrassed, she asked if Naomi could cover her night shift. It was her boyfriend’s birthday, she explained, and she wanted to give him a proper celebration. Naomi agreed without a second thought.

It wasn’t just because her colleagues had often covered for her when she’d taken time off before. Even if that hadn’t been the case, her kind nature meant she was always willing to help. Besides, she didn’t have anything urgent to do at home in the evenings, aside from spending time with her two children. Oh, and now there was a grown man who needed her company as well.

The young nurse, full of gratitude, clocked out and left for her date. Naomi Shaw then called Julian Donovan, who sounded just as busy on his end. When she told him she had to work the night shift, he immediately protested, displeased. "If you’re on the night shift, what am I supposed to do? You’re not allowed!"

’She was supposed to leave him home alone for the entire night?’

Naomi Shaw was frustrated. "Hey, don’t be so unreasonable, alright? I already promised my colleague!"

He said domineeringly, "Then I’ll come and keep you company tonight!"

She felt like she was going crazy. "No, don’t! How would that even look? Okay, okay, let’s drop it. Since you haven’t left work yet, I’ll just ask your mom to pick up the kids, alright?"

"Mmm..."

Glancing at the mountain of work on his desk, Julian Donovan agreed. Naomi Shaw hurried to hang up, hoping to stop him from saying anything else ridiculous, but he called out to her just in time. "I really am coming to see you tonight!"

’Even if he couldn’t be with her all night, just a quick look and a hug would be enough. He’d only just had a few days of sweetness, and now he was being given the cold shoulder. Of course he couldn’t take it. He wished he could see her, be with her, 24 hours a day.’

Naomi Shaw hung up on him. ’He’s a grown man, so why is he clingier than a child? Even Joy and Dylan aren’t this attached to me.’

After hanging up on Julian Donovan, Naomi Shaw called Jean Coleman. Having once been a nurse herself, Jean understood the hardships of the job. She agreed to pick up the children and reminded Naomi to get some rest during her shift whenever she could.

With the children taken care of, Naomi Shaw went to the cafeteria for dinner with the other colleague on duty that night. Afterward, they returned to their department. They split up to check on the patients in the various wards, and once she was done, Naomi made a special trip to Charles Donovan’s room. His condition was critical. Although they had managed to revive him earlier that day, it seemed he didn’t have much time left.

Even though she knew what Charles Donovan had done to Julian Donovan, she remained professional and diligent in her care for him. She checked each monitor one by one, making sure his vitals were stable. First and foremost, she was a nurse who prioritized her patient’s well-being. Only after that was she a woman in love with Julian Donovan. Because of this, she never let her personal feelings affect her attitude toward Charles Donovan.

By the time she finished her rounds, it was already past nine. Just then, Julian Donovan called. She answered with a resigned sigh. "Hello..."

"Miss me?"

His languid voice came through the phone. She walked out into the hallway, phone in hand, and chided him in a hushed tone, "Why are you so sappy? It’s only been one day!"

"So you admit it’s been a whole day? And now I won’t see you all night, and I have work tomorrow, so I won’t see you then either!"

he complained. She argued back softly, "Hey, it can’t be helped."

’Other nurses worked a three-shift rotation. If she had a schedule like that, he’d probably just give up on life.’

His tone softened. "I’m outside the hospital entrance. Come on out. I brought you a late-night snack!"

"Seriously?"

She was shocked. ’He actually came.’ While it wasn’t ideal to leave during her shift, she knew he’d be angry if she didn’t go out to meet him. Since things were quiet for the moment, she just told the other nurse on duty that she was stepping out for a little while.

She jogged all the way outside, and sure enough, his car was parked there. After getting in, she noticed the exhaustion in his eyes. Her heart ached for him, and she couldn’t help but raise a hand to caress his strong jaw. "Don’t tell me you just got off work," she asked softly.

"Yeah..."

He childishly nuzzled his face against her palm. The rough scrape of his stubble sent a jolt through her, making her heart skip a beat. Pulling her hand back, she looked at him with concern. "You shouldn’t work so hard," she said, her voice full of heartache. "What’s the point of earning so much money? As long as we have enough, that’s all that matters."

’She truly had no desire for a life of extravagant wealth. She didn’t ask for much from life—just peace and security.’

Leaning back in his seat, Julian Donovan watched her and smiled. "You’re so content with so little. You’re killing my motivation to make more money!"

"Then stop making it!"

He was joking, but she was completely serious. ’Even if he quit now, wouldn’t the wealth he’s already amassed be more than enough for them to live on?’ Watching him work so hard every day pained her. She especially remembered the early years of his career, when her heart was constantly in her throat worrying about him—particularly when he had to meet with unsavory types for business. She never wanted to go back to that life where every day felt like an eternity of worry.

Julian Donovan saw the worry in her eyes. He smiled reassuringly. "Our son is so smart. I think I’ll be able to retire early. When I do, we can travel the world together!"

She pouted. "I don’t want to travel the world with you. I want to stay here and help Dylan raise his kids!"

’I have to fulfill my duties as a mother-in-law,’ she thought. Julian Donovan chuckled and ruffled her soft hair. "I’m planning to have Dylan take over the business as soon as he turns eighteen. Are you saying you want him to be a father that young?"

Naomi Shaw had no idea that "retiring early" meant he planned to hand the entire business over to Dylan the moment he turned eighteen. Still, she wasn’t opposed to the idea of Dylan marrying and starting a family young. "If he meets a girl he really likes, what’s wrong with getting married and having kids early?"

’It was just like her own life. She had fallen in love with him at eighteen, married him at twenty, and bore his children. Because she loved him. Even after all these years, after all the storms they had weathered, she still loved him.’

Julian Donovan didn’t say anything else. He just gave her a doting smile before turning to grab the late-night snack he’d brought from the back seat. It was a container with several exquisite-looking dishes. She carefully unwrapped a pair of chopsticks and handed them to him. "I’m not hungry. Go on, eat."

Julian Donovan didn’t press the issue. He took the chopsticks and started eating. The truth was, he hadn’t come all this way just to bring her food. He had come because he needed to see her. Otherwise, how would he ever get to sleep tonight?

When love matures, it becomes a constant pull on the heart.

Naomi Shaw waited for Julian Donovan to finish his meal, then glanced at the time and quickly excused herself. "I’ve been out here for a while, so I really need to get back. You should head home, too!"