Ch. 471..480

Chapter 471 Hesitation to Act

Search up Adrian's name?

After David left, Eva immediately pulled out her phone and opened her web browser, puzzled by David's suggestion. Was this Adrian really that famous?

While wondering, she typed his name into the search bar.

Just as David said, typing the name was indeed helpful; there was information about Adrian Blackwood, even a profile.

However, Eva scrolled and scrolled, but no photo appeared.

She thought to herself that this man's privacy was incredibly well-guarded. With such detailed profiles available, his status must be significant, yet not a single photo was to be found. After another fruitless search, just as she was about to give up, Eva stumbled upon a photo that could possibly be Adrian Blackwood. She clicked on it eagerly.

The photo was crowded and the subject was far away, but she could make out a tall, poised man at the center of attention.

The camera was distant, yet Eva could still discern his handsome features and the smooth contour of his profile.

Staring at the face in the photo, Eva lost herself in thought.

It felt so familiar...

But the photo was too distant, and the man was wearing sunglasses. She could feel the familiarity, yet it failed to jog her memory.

Now, just as before, staring at the photo brought back nothing.

Unsatisfied with giving up so easily, Eva saved the photo and exited to continue her search.

Her target might have kept a tight seal on his privacy, but even the most careful individuals can't always avoid the occasional candid shot.

As she was about to stop earlier, this photo had popped up. Maybe with a bit more persistence, she could find something clearer, something closer.

However, before she could resume her search, footsteps approached from outside her door.

The steady pace of the footsteps caught Eva's attention for a split second before she quickly exited the page, slipped the phone under her pillow, and laid back down, pulling the covers up. Shortly after she settled in, the bedroom door swung open.

The aroma of food wafted into the room.

Eva, lying with her back to the door, scrunched her brows ever so slightly as she caught the scent.

"Eva, asleep?"

Michael Cooper's footsteps stopped beside her bed, and he struck up a conversation: "How about grabbing a bite before you sleep?"

At his words, Eva purposely closed her eyes, feigning sleep to ignore him.

The next moment, however, Michael was right in front of her with a plate in hand, calling out to her again, "Eva?"

Eva remained silent, determined not to engage with him.

Her eyes stayed shut, her body motionless.

"Are you pretending to sleep?"

Michael, relentless as if he had no intention of backing down, pressed on, his breath growing closer to her.

Feeling his breath on her face, Eva couldn't keep up the act. Scooting backward, she dodged his advance, eyes flinging open. Sure enough, Michael had been leaning in close, and as she scooted away, a slight distance finally emerged between them. Eva's heart skipped a beat. Had she not moved when she did, what had he been planning to do?

She reminded herself, never to pretend to sleep before him again and to start locking her room.

Annoyed, Eva said sharply, "I'm trying to sleep. What do you want?"

"Eat something first, hm?"

Eva glanced at the food in his hands and declined, "I'm not hungry."

"But I heard from the attendant you barely ate today. Are you neglecting your health?"

Containing her irritation, she insisted, "I'm really not hungry. I just want to sleep now, can you please leave?"

"Eva..." Michael's voice held a note of helplessness as he uttered her name, "It's not good to skip meals."

"I'll eat when I feel like it, you don't need to worry about that," she retorted stubbornly.

Michael gazed at her quietly, apparently reluctant to leave.

Eva couldn't care less, turning her back to him and pulling the covers over herself as she demanded, "Please leave and close the door behind you. And stop barging in."

While this was his domain, her unyielding stance made it seem as if he was the intruder on her territory.

Despite being disregarded so blatantly, anger didn't suit him; considering she'd be around for the future, he dismissed further thoughts.

After a lingering silence, Michael finally obliged and left.

Eva waited until all was quiet, then swiftly got up, tiptoed to the door, and turned the lock.

Only when she heard the sound of the lock clicking did Eva exhale in relief.

This should deter any easy entrances from now on, right?

Michael Cooper held the keys to the mansion, potentially even to her room. If he was determined to enter, he held the means. Nonetheless, setting the lock on her door was her own statement of boundaries. David had been gone for nearly three hours before he returned. His first order of business was to seek out Eva.

"How is it?" Eva asked anxiously as soon as she saw him.

David had rehearsed his response. "Ms. Hansen, there's no immediate threat to his life," he said, facing her.

Though Mr. Blackwood's condition seemed dire, with Cooper's men in charge, the situation was under control -- at least to ensure it wasn't life-threatening.

Eva wasn't sure if she was overly sensitive, or if there was something in David's message that caused her alarm.

"No immediate threat?" She couldn't help but press, "Is his condition that critical?"

David pressed his lips together and let out a resigned sigh.

"It doesn't look good, but Mr. Cooper won't let anything happen to him."

After all, he mused, if anything serious happened, Ms. Hansen wouldn't stay, would she?

Her response was a clenched jaw.

"Not letting anything happen to him and letting him be safe and sound are two different things."

David silently agreed.

Indeed, preventing disaster didn't necessarily mean keeping Mr. Blackwood unscathed. An individual could be kept alive on the brink of death just as well as in full health.

It all depended on how Michael Cooper's subordinates chose to handle the matter.

"If Ms. Hansen is worried, then we should expedite the process to get Mr. Cooper to bring him back," David suggested.

"What about his own people?" she inquired.

"What?" David took a moment to understand that she was referring to Adrian Blackwood's associates.

He shook his head.

"We haven't received any communication on this end. I suspect they wouldn't dare make a move right now."

Eva bit her lip and looked down at her pale hands.

"I understand."

David wanted to offer some comfort, but realized his advice was futile at such a juncture. All his words retreated unspoken.

 

Chapter 472 Still Believe in Forever?

Eva had her dinner downstairs, with only Michael Cooper joining her at the dining table.

The others were all standing by on the side. Eva didn't like being watched by so many people while eating, so she said to Michael Cooper, "Can you have them leave us alone? Not stare over here?" Michael Cooper paused for a moment, then he instructed the attendants to leave.

Once the hall was left with just the two of them, Eva felt the air become somewhat more comfortable.

She stirred the food in her bowl with a spoon, looking up at Michael Cooper.

"Have something you want to say to me?"

"Yes.

Eva nodded, and since he had brought it up, she went straight to the point: "David has already told me about Adrian Blackwood's situation."

Michael Cooper didn't speak, only quietly watching her, waiting for what she was going to say next.

"I hope you can promise me one thing."

"Tell me."

"Let him get out of here unharmed."

At that, Michael Cooper's eyes seemed to flutter, and after a moment the corners of his lips curled, "Unharmed? I'm afraid not."

"What do you mean?" Hearing his words, Eva almost jumped up, "Why not? Don't you want to keep your promise?"

Seeing her in such a hurry, Michael Cooper's eyes darkened slightly, his thin lips pursed tightly.

Even after losing her memory, is she still so anxious for him?

"Do you like him that much?"

"Does it have anything to do with liking? It was you who promised me......

"When did I promise you to leave him unharmed?"

The conversation made Eva look at him incredulously.

"So what if you don't want to keep your promise now? If you don't want to keep your promise, then is it okay for me to?"

Before she could finish, Eva's wrist was held by Michael Cooper.

"Eva, it's not that I don't want to keep my promise. I simply can't ensure he won't be harmed, especially since he's already injured." Eva paused.

"I can only promise you that I will do my best to heal him."

With a sigh of resignation, Michael Cooper said, "So what were you thinking just now? Do you see me as someone who doesn't keep his promises? Even with memory loss, am I really so contemptible in your eyes?" He looked wounded, his gaze painfully resting on Eva.

Confronted by such a look, Eva felt an inexplicable guilt, as if she had committed some unforgivable sin.

She turned her head away, biting her lower lip gently.

"I didn't mean that; I misunderstood what you said earlier."

After saying this, she asked, "So what you're implying is that you'll arrange the best possible treatment for him right away and ensure his safe departure, right?" Detecting her intentions, the corners of Michael Cooper's mouth curved up slightly.

"Yes, I can do that. I will arrange the best doctor for him and have someone personally ensure his safe return to his country, but I have one condition."

At his words, Eva furrowed her brows.

"What's the condition?"

"Marry me."

The air seemed to freeze as Eva did not answer his question, and her gaze towards him gradually became icy cold.

"Unwilling?" he queried.

"What do you think?" she retorted.

"What are we to do then? I will only agree to your request if you agree to mine."

Michael Cooper gently grasped her wrist. "This is an additional condition. Think about it seriously; I'm not in a hurry."

There it was again.

He claimed he wasn't in a hurry.

He knew full well that Adrian Blackwood was injured, yet he said he wasn't in a rush.

Who was left to feel urgency? That burden seemed to fall solely on her.

Eva bit her lower lip and asked, "What if I don't agree? Will you still send him away?"

"Of course, I will. That's what I promised you before. As long as you stay here, I'll ensure he's safely escorted out... However, I won't be responsible for the medical equipment and resources he'll need during his departure." Eva looked at him.

It took a while before she spoke again: "I heard that you two were friends once."

The comment caught Michael Cooper a little off guard, probably not expecting her to come out of nowhere.

"Are you always so ruthless towards your friends?"

The faint smile on Michael Cooper's lips vanished as he fixed his gaze on her.

"You can ignore how severely your friend is hurt, even joke about his life. Could there come a day when my life becomes another one of your jokes?"

This statement caused Michael Cooper's brows to furrow deeply, and he immediately denied it.

"That's impossible, Eva. You hold a different place in my heart than others; you are the most special one."

"Is that so?" Eva let out a cold laugh. "You like me now, so you say I'm the most special one. But what about later? If you stop liking me, will you treat me just like you treat others?"

The more Michael Cooper listened, the more alarmed he became.

"Eva, what are you talking about? It's impossible for me to ever treat you that way. In my eyes, you will always be the most special person."

"There's no such thing as forever."

Eva interrupted him with some impatience, "How old are you to still believe in such fairy tales of forever? Or how old do you think I am? Do you think I would believe it?" Michael Cooper pursed his lips.

"You're young now, so you can recklessly say I'm special and even talk about forever, since there's no loss for you. But whether or not you can live up to those words in the future, who can see that?" Michael Cooper looked at her steadily: "If you don't believe it, then stay by my side and find out."

"I don't even like you. Why would I stay with you to confirm something so illusory?"

Her blunt declaration of disinterest pierced sharply into Michael Cooper's heart.

"Now you treat your friend this way, and in the future, you'll treat me the same, yet you expect me to get engaged to you."

Her words threw Michael Cooper into a bit of a panic.

His intention was to get her to agree to an engagement, to achieve his goal, but unexpectedly, it made her see him as dreadful, even filling her gaze with fear.

For a moment, Michael Cooper didn't know whether she was being sincere or acting.

As clever as she was, it wasn't beyond possibility that she was putting on an act to deceive him.

But Michael Cooper knew, whether her emotions were genuine or an act, the look she gave him at that moment truly made him feel anxious.

With this thought, he could only try to compose himself and steady her.

"Don't rush into anything. Let's finish our dinner first, and after that, we can discuss this matter properly."

Yet Eva just stared blankly at the food in front of her, and after a moment, she let out a bitter laugh.

"Today we have a feast laid out. Maybe tomorrow I might be the one injured, lying somewhere waiting for someone to rescue me?" Michael Cooper: "..."

"There's no need to eat anymore."

Eva put down her spoon with a desolate smile.

"After all, it seems like a miserable end is inevitable, sooner or later."

Having said that, Eva stood up, ready to leave.

Michael Cooper was infuriated by her remarks, but he still called out to her as she was about to depart.

"Wait."

Eva turned back, giving him an icy stare.

"I'll arrange for the best doctor to treat him right now. Is that okay? Are you satisfied with that?"

 

Chapter 473 Yet to Wake

Eva, however, met his words with skepticism. "Empty promises. How do I know whether what you're saying is true?" Before her eyes, Michael took out his phone and made a call. "Get the best medical team for Adrian Blackwood immediately." As he made the call, Eva watched with a detached coolness. After he hung up, he looked at her, searching for a sign of trust. "So? Do you believe me now?"

Eva hadn't anticipated that her suspicions would lead to such swift action. Initially constrained by his controlling demeanor, she never expected that her doubts about whether he would treat her like he did Adrian Blackwood would send him into an anxious frenzy to prove himself.

She was pleasantly surprised to discover this effective strategy.

Eva then said, "Don't all your people obey you? Perhaps you are just putting on an act in front of me. Anyone can do that."

After saying this, Eva stood up and left without giving him another chance to prove himself.

Anyway, the one who should be anxious now was probably him.

Although she didn't understand why her skepticism had made him so eager to prove himself so frequently, she still didn't believe him. So, if he ultimately wanted her to believe, he should present the results right in front of her. That would be the best proof.

When Eva returned to her room, she saw Jane waiting for her at the door.

Because she disliked having a bunch of attendants standing around while she ate, everyone had gone off to attend to their own tasks.

Ever since Jane had been chosen by Eva that day, Michael Cooper had directly assigned her to follow Eva. Thus, when Eva went downstairs, Jane could only wait outside for her return. Seeing her come back, Jane quickly approached her.

"Ms. Hansen, have you had your meal?"

Noticing the enthusiastic Jane, Eva felt somewhat better. She lifted the corner of her lips and nodded.

"Yes, I have."

"How much did you eat? Did you have enough?" Jane asked, while observing her, "Ms. Hansen, you really are too thin; you need to eat more."

Lost in thought, Eva didn't hear Jane until she called her name a second time. She finally snapped back to reality.

"What is it?"

"Nothing much, I just noticed Ms. Hansen seemed lost in her thoughts. I called you several times, but you didn't hear me," Jane said.

After hearing Jane's words, Eva slipped back into her own musings.

Witnessing this, Jane couldn't help but sigh softly to herself. The weight on Ms. Hansen's mind seemed too heavy.

This time, Jane chose not to call her again and instead waited for Eva to come back around on her own.

Eventually, Eva did refocus, but her first question was to ask, "Where's David? Where is he now?"

"I'm not quite sure where David is at the moment," Jane replied, "but if Ms. Hansen wishes to find him, I can go look for him on your behalf?" "Yes, please do that. When you find him, tell him I need to see him."

"Alright, Ms. Hansen. I'll go right now."

David arrived quickly as usual, and as soon as Eva saw him, she recounted everything that had transpired downstairs.

"So, Ms. Hansen, you would like me to verify if the information is accurate?" David quickly grasped what she was hinting at.

Eva nodded and said, "You're the only person here I can trust, so when the time comes, help me investigate to see if he really did call for the best medical team to treat him." David pursed his lips and nodded in agreement, "Alright, I understand."

He had only been to Adrian Blackwood's current location once, with Michael Cooper's permission, to confirm there was no immediate threat to his life.

That place...

David's eyes narrowed slightly; getting back in would likely be challenging unless Mr. Cooper permitted it.

It seemed he needed to come up with a plan.

As David walked away deep in thought, his phone received a summons the next second. He looked at the message-it was from Michael Cooper, consisting of just two words: "Come here." Since he had been assigned to Eva's side, Michael Cooper rarely called for him anymore because his task was to ensure Eva's safety, which generally meant there was no need for further summons. If he was being summoned now, it surely had to do with something related to Eva.

Could it be related to what Ms. Hansen had just mentioned?

David made his way over promptly.

Indeed, as he had anticipated, Michael Cooper got straight to the point upon seeing him, instructing him to follow up on the progress and confirm the matter that Eva had discussed with him.

Upon learning that a medical team had indeed been called to treat Adrian Blackwood, David pursed his lips and, unable to contain himself, asked, "Mr. Cooper, did you do this because you're worried Ms. Hansen might misunderstand you or because he was once your friend and you can't bring yourself to be harsh with him?"

Hearing this, Michael Cooper's actions paused, and then he turned his head to look at David, his gaze turning frosty and ominous.

"Your task is to report the results of the situation to her, not to question my decisions here."

"I just want to know, Mr. Cooper, have you at any point regretted your decision?" David continued.

Michael Cooper looked at him coldly.

Now, he had completely lost his former gentle demeanor.

"Get out."

David gave him a silent look and added one last remark: "It's not too late to turn back now."

After saying that, David turned and walked away.

Michael Cooper remained alone in place, his gaze darkly fixed on a particular spot, his lips tightly pressed together, deep in thought.

A long while later, he finally rose from the darkness and slowly made his exit.

The following day, David came back to see Eva.

"I checked last night, and Mr. Cooper indeed brought in a top-tier medical team to treat Mr. Blackwood. Mr. Blackwood's condition is currently very stable."

Even though Eva didn't remember Adrian Blackwood now, hearing the news of his safety still brought her immense relief and joy.

"Really?"

So he hadn't lied to her?

David nodded: "Yes, if he remains stable for a few more days, he should be able to leave."

Something crossed Eva's mind, and she asked, "Is he willing to leave?"

David paused, then said, "Mr. Blackwood has been unconscious the whole time up to now; he hasn't woken up yet."

Hearing this, Eva finally understood that the person for whom she had come rushing to provide aid was not solely on the receiving end of her efforts. If he was conscious, surely there would have been other actions taken on his part. So it turned out that he had been unconscious all this time.

Unconscious for so long...

Eva looked up at David: "Didn't you ask the doctors about his current condition? Being unconscious for such a long time, could it mean his brain has suffered some damage?"

Upon Eva's inquiry, it was evident that David hadn't asked, so he could only reply, "If I can go there again tomorrow, I'll ask the doctors on behalf of Ms. Hansen."

 

Chapter 474 Anorexia Nervosa

Michael Cooper kept his word, and David was able to visit Adrian Blackwood again the next day. He brought the update that Adrian was doing well, which allowed Eva to breathe a sigh of relief. Next, she needed to ask Michael Cooper when Adrian would be sent back.

David, however, seemed hesitant as she started downstairs.

"Ms. Hansen?"

Eva stopped and turned to look at him.

"Do you have something to say?"

After a moment's silence, with David's lips moving but no words coming out, Eva urged, "David, you're the only person I trust here. If you don't tell me, then I'm truly fighting alone." After hearing her say this, David finally spoke, "I just wanted to ask, what do you plan to do next?"

What to do next?

That question caught Eva off guard.

She pondered, "After Mr. Blackwood safely leaves, do you really plan to stay by Mr. Cooper's side?"

Eva pursed her lips. Michael Cooper was not her cup of tea, so, of course, she wouldn't stay by his side.

Eva had not yet come up with a good plan and, for the time being, her priority was to ensure that Adrian Blackwood could leave this place safely.

As for herself...

It might be easier to act when she was alone.

Seeing that she didn't respond, David continued, "Although I'm not entirely clear about what you'll do afterward, I hope Ms. Hansen can agree to a request of mine."

"Go ahead," she said.

"Even though Mr. Cooper has made many mistakes, I hope that in the end... Although we don't know what will happen later, if there truly is a contingency, Ms. Hansen, I hope you can give him a chance to make amends." Hearing this, Eva couldn't possibly misunderstand his implication.

He probably worried that once Adrian Blackwood left, she might call the police, right? He was hoping that she could go easy on Michael Cooper when the time came.

Eva pressed her lips together and did not continue the conversation.

Perhaps wanting Eva to be more sympathetic towards Michael Cooper, David recounted the events from Cooper's childhood, including his mother's suicide, to Eva once more.

"If possible, Ms. Hansen, maybe you could pay attention to Mr. Cooper's psychological issues. You were friends before, and his actions towards you have been driven by unrequited feelings, but he has never hurt you, and I can guarantee that." David spoke with such genuine emotion that Eva was moved.

She sighed softly, "I'm aware of what you've told me, rest assured, I will consider it."

Seeing that she had finally agreed, David left with peace of mind.

Truth be told, she didn't need David's reminder to know that Michael cared for her. Ever since she'd regained consciousness, he'd hung on her every word, paying careful attention to her dietary needs. His concern was undeniable. Yet his ruthlessness toward Adrian was just as real.

They had been friends before, and if he could treat a friend with such harshness, who's to say it wouldn't be her turn next?

Descending the stairs, Eva spotted Michael Cooper from afar, seated at the dining table waiting for her. A gentle smile graced his lips, and the overhead light softened his gaze, illuminating his eyes with warmth.

If it weren't for her body's adverse reaction to him, she sometimes really felt like the two of them could be a couple.

Unfortunately...

"Eva, here are some of your favorite dishes for dinner. Want to try?"

As soon as she approached, Michael Cooper considerately moved forward to pull out a chair for her, served her food and soup-essentially attending to her every need meticulously.

Eva watched him busily catering to her until he finally sat down. Then she picked up her spoon and took a few bites.

Michael Cooper was in no rush to eat his own food; he calmly watched her dine, gently asking, "Did David tell you everything? Can you now finally believe that I wouldn't treat you that way?"

Upon hearing this, Eva didn't respond to his question but continued to eat with a composed expression.

Seeing that she wasn't answering, Michael Cooper carefully probed further, "Or did David not tell you?"

Eva then looked at him.

"He did tell me. So what? Adrian is still under your control, and of course, you can do whatever you want with him, who knows?"

"You still don't trust me?"

A hurt expression flashed across Michael Cooper's face, "Even after I've done this, you're still unwilling to trust me?"

"Oh, can you arrange for Adrian to be sent away safely?"

"Of course, that's the promise I made to you."

"Then wait until you've safely sent him away before coming to tell me that you've fulfilled it."

Michael Cooper did not say anything more about her request. However, he frowned when he saw Eva had only taken a few bites before putting down her spoon again.

"Eva, eat a little more."

"I can't eat anymore."

After saying that, she put down her spoon and stood up to leave.

Watching her retreating figure, Michael Cooper finally realized a very serious issue.

During the days Eva had been here, she consistently ate very little each day.

At first, he thought it might be due to physical discomfort or a lack of appetite, which led him to ask the attendants to prepare various delicacies for her, even making dishes based on her past preferences. However, despite the food being among her favorites, it seemed as though she didn't enjoy them at all, and they failed to stimulate her appetite.

So now, Michael Cooper began to wonder whether her eating so little was a form of silent protest against him or because she genuinely had no appetite.

If it were the former, it would be better; if it was just out of spite, he could find ways to soothe her and encourage her to eat more.

But what if it was the latter?

What could be the reason for her lack of appetite? Could it be that she still hadn't recovered from her hospital stay?

Considering this possibility, Michael Cooper immediately made a phone call to arrange for a visit: "Have the doctor come over tonight."

It was time to check on her health condition properly to avoid delaying any necessary treatment.

Afterward, Michael Cooper called Jane over.

"Is her diet these past few days still exactly the same as before?"

Jane thought for a moment and nodded.

"Ms. Hansen seems to be eating very little, unusually so, and I've noticed she's lost quite a bit of weight these last few days. She looks rather worn out." Hearing this, Michael Cooper's brows furrowed.

"Mr. Cooper, I had a classmate back in my hometown who seemed to be in a similar state. When she went to see a doctor, the doctor said that she..." "What did he say?"

"He said that it could be anorexia nervosa."

Anorexia nervosa?

This term made Michael Cooper's narrow eyes slightly squint.

How could she suddenly develop anorexia nervosa when everything seemed fine?

 

 

Chapter 475 What's Wrong With Me?

The doctor arrived promptly, just as Eva was getting ready to rest for the night.

When she was told that the doctor was coming to see her, she was bewildered, and her delicate brows knitted together in confusion. "Why?" She asked.

Jane shook her head, "I'm not entirely sure, it seems to be just a check-up."

Eva felt perfectly fine, yet here they were, insisting on a health check-up?

She couldn't make sense of it and refused to comply.

After Jane conveyed her reluctance, Michael Cooper personally came into the room to talk to her.

"Eva, it's just a routine check-up and a brief consultation. Can you spare a little time for it?" he said gently.

Eva faced him with a look that was anything but friendly. "What are you really trying to do here?"

"Nothing insidious. I'm just concerned about you. You were recently hospitalized, and this is merely a follow-up."

The mention of her recent hospital discharge quieted her.

If it was just a follow-up after being discharged, then it seemed there was nothing to worry about. But shouldn't the follow-up be done at the hospital instead of calling the doctor to the house?

Seeing that she was still hesitant, Michael Cooper added, "The weather is very cold, and it wasn't easy for him to come all this way late at night. Moreover, he has already been waiting outside for a long time. It's just a routine health checkup and interview, why not let him in?"

That last sentence was somewhat more effective.

After a moment of silence, Eva finally nodded. "Alright."

The doctor came in, and Michael Cooper stood by quietly as consultations were taking place.

After a while, the doctor casually asked her, "How has your sleep been lately?"

Eva thought for a moment and nodded, "Not too bad."

"What do you mean by 'not too bad'? Are you sleeping a lot, a little, or having trouble sleeping?"

"I manage to sleep, and quite a bit at that."

Apart from when she was deep in thought, she felt constantly drowsy throughout the day.

Even without doing much physical activity, she'd lie down feeling exhausted, yearning for a good night's rest. Yet, she never seemed to achieve it. She didn't dream much either, just felt continuously lethargic, as if her sleep was excessively long. Hearing this, the doctor looked at her intently and then requested, "Can I see your tongue?"

Caught off guard for a moment, Eva then opened her mouth and stuck out her tongue.

Her lips were a healthy pink, and her tongue was clean and pink, free of any heavy coating and framed by her pearly white teeth. Michael, who had been standing calmly, didn't expect this moment. His gaze shifted uncomfortably before he looked away.

But he couldn't help but look back at her again after a short while, his eyes filled with deep affection as he watched her silently.

His hands clenched and unclenched at his sides, grappling with an urge he couldn't quite hold back, his desire for her growing inside him.

The seemingly nonsensical examination baffled Eva, but the doctor's gentle demeanor and good attitude prompted her full cooperation.

Throughout, the doctor asked a barrage of tedious questions. By the end, Eva almost doubted whether he was there to check on her health or just to chat.

Impulsively, she turned to look at Michael, thinking he would surely find such a doctor intolerable.

Yet, to her gaze, Michael only offered a tender smile, never once questioning the doctor's methods of examination from start to finish.

It was nearly half an hour later when the consultation was finally over.

Everyone had left the room, leaving Eva alone inside.

Stepping outside, Michael Cooper immediately inquired, "How is she?"

After a moment's quiet reflection, the doctor probed, "What's troubling the patient? What are her internal conflicts?"

The use of the word "patient" caught Michael off guard.

"Internal conflicts?"

"Physically, she seems to be okay. The real issues are with her lifestyle. The most obvious problems are her sleep and nutritional habits."

Michael Cooper wasn't sure about Eva's sleep, but nutrition was something he had noticed himself.

"I didn't have a deep conversation with Ms. Hansen today. I was worried she might become resistant."

The doctor left soon after giving Michael Cooper some instructions and had prescribed some medicine to stimulate appetite and aid sleep.

Michael ensured the doctor was escorted out, then stood there, holding the medication, pondering. Internal conflicts?

She had lost her memory already; why would she have internal conflicts?

What was the root of it? Was it the missing memories or the man lying motionless in the hospital bed?

The thought of that man who had been unconscious until now and still hadn't awoken caused a few shades of darkness to gather in the depths of Michael Cooper's eyes. If it weren't for Eva, perhaps the two of them could have been close friends.

But claiming him as a close friend meant forfeiting Eva. To have Eva, they were destined to become adversaries.

Not long after the doctor left, Michael personally delivered the medicine and poured a glass of warm water, gesturing for her to drink.

Eva looked at the white pills in his palm and frowned.

"What's wrong with me?"

A faint smile played on Michael's lips.

"It's not a sickness, just some medicine to help you sleep."

Hearing they were sleeping aids, Eva's resistance grew, her brow furrowed in refusal.

"I don't need this; I sleep just fine."

She thought she actually slept too much as it was, and now they wanted her to take sleeping medicine? Wouldn't that make her sleep incessantly?

"No, it's not like that," Michael tried to explain. "The doctor prescribed these because your sleep is restless. They should help improve the quality of your rest."

Improve sleep quality?

Eva glanced at the pills in his hand and questioned, "And the other one? Are both for sleep?"

"This is for your digestive health," Michael assured her truthfully, anticipating her resistance and explaining right away, "You've been eating very little lately, haven't you noticed? Might be a stomach upset, the doctor also prescribed you some medication." Eva had indeed failed to notice this, as her attention had scarcely been on what she ate. Whether she was sleeping, pondering over her memories, or contemplating the issues concerning Adrian Blackwood.

 

Chapter 476 I'm So Worried About Her

So, when Michael pointed it out, Eva reflected seriously and realized that she indeed hadn't been eating much. The medicine he encouraged her to take was justified.

Yet, when Eva looked at the pills in the palm of his hand, she ultimately shook her head.

"I don't want to take them."

"Eva, can you please just listen?" Michael's voice carried a touch of helplessness, and he let out a gentle sigh.

"If you're worried about the taste, should I bring some sugar?"

"It's not necessary," Eva replied with a frown.

She wasn't adverse to the bitterness, it was just a few pills that she could easily swallow in one gulp. She simply didn't feel unwell, so why the insistence on medication?

"Are the pills too big? Should I break them in half for you?"

Eva didn't respond.

Seeing his concerned face filled with suggestions only for her, Eva realized that if she didn't take these two pills, he'd probably keep on about it until she did just to put his mind at ease. "Alright, I'll take them."

Eva picked up the pills from his hand and swallowed them down with some warm water.

"Are you satisfied now? Can I go rest?"

As Michael watched her, he couldn't help but gently tousle her hair and whispered, "Goodnight, Eva."

The next day

At breakfast, Eva asked Michael, "When do you plan to let him go?"

"Soon," Michael replied. "In a day or two."

Eva nodded without further conversation, quietly continuing to eat.

Michael watched her carefully and saw her appetite didn't improve; in fact, it decreased. She put her spoon down early.

He pursed his lips, suppressing the unease rising in his chest, and called her back to the table before taking out the prepared pills. "Today's dosage."

Eva noticed that there were fewer pills than yesterday, the nighttime aid for sleeping was missing since it was now daytime. Michael watched her in silence.

The medication from yesterday showed no effect; was it ineffective, or was it not addressing the right issue?

What was the crux of her trouble?

Michael Cooper pressed his lips together, a thin line of contemplation.

He should have known. After all, the thing she'd been obsessed with lately was ensuring that certain someone's safe departure.

Would her anxieties unravel at the news of his safe exit?

It seemed the only course of action was to give it a shot.

So, Michael Cooper had no choice but to instruct his men to expedite Adrian's departure.

When Eva heard the news, she was genuinely taken aback. She had assumed there would be further delays, torturing herself over what to say to hasten the process. But as it turned out, he sped things up before she even had a chance to speak.

"Why he suddenly decided to move faster?" Eva couldn't figure it out, so she turned to David with her question.

David shook his head.

"Mr. Cooper's thoughts are beyond my guessing," he admitted.

He could perhaps guess a bit; ever since Michael Cooper had him come over to deliver this message to Eva, he had some suspicions.

But what he guessed might not necessarily be correct.

Furthermore, in case he spoke up and Eva used it as leverage, threatening to harm herself to get at Michael Cooper, it wouldn't benefit Ms. Hansen in any way.

After much thought, David could only claim ignorance.

"Weird." Eva could only prop her chin in her hands, voicing her confusion: "Could it be that he's suddenly had a change his mind? If I go now and ask him to let me leave with him, would he agree?" David remained silent.

"Never mind, it's never that simple. He wouldn't agree; it's clear he has his reasons for rushing Adrian Blackwood's departure," she concluded.

Subconsciously, Eva felt that's just the kind of man Michael Cooper was.

David listened to her mutterings without comment.

Two days later, David delivered the news to Eva that Adrian Blackwood had safely left.

Her response was an authentic, joyful smile.

"He's finally gone, then? Did his people take over?"

David nodded. "Yes, they've taken over, and he's left safely."

"Has he not woken up yet?"

"No, he's still unconscious. It'll take time for him to come around."

Eva bit her lower lip, "It's been so long already and he's still out of it. Are you sure he's okay?"

"Don't worry, Ms. Hansen. There shouldn't be any problems. And if there are any, his people will take care of them once they have him."

Indeed, Adrian's been taken back by his own people; there is no doubt that they will provide Adrian with the best of everything.

"Will we be able to get any updates on him?" she asked.

Having parted ways, she wasn't sure whether she would still be able to find out about him.

To her question, David did not respond. After all, they would be far apart from then on, and with the relationship between Adrian Blackwood and Michael Cooper being far from cordial, it was unlikely that either side would continue to seek out information about the other.

Besides, even if he managed to dig up some information, Michael Cooper wouldn't let his whereabouts slip back into Eva's life again.

In the future, he feared that Eva would have to erase Adrian from her life, along with those two children...

Just the thought made David's heart ache for Eva.

After Michael Cooper asked David to share the news with Eva and heard that she beamed with joy, he felt bittersweet. But knowing that it might help her to overcome her emotional barriers, he found some solace. Immediately, he had the kitchen prepare some delicious food to be sent to Eva's room.

Her medication continued as well, and though it hadn't taken effect over the past few days, her appetite should gradually improve once her emotional distress eased.

Michael Cooper looked forward to the days when she would get better.

Even though she still did not like him now, with time spent by his side, she would grow accustomed to his presence.

As for her memory, it would be fine if she forgot everything for life. And if she remembered, that would not matter either. When the time came, even with her memories intact, there would be no turning back for her. In his contemplation, the attendants returned.

"Mr. Cooper."

Seeing their troubled faces, Michael Cooper's expression grew stern.

"What's wrong?"

"Mr. Cooper, Ms. Hansen has refused everything you instructed us to make for her."

"Refused?"

His face darkened incrementally, "Did she eat anything at all?"

"Nothing, sir."

"I'll go check on her."

Michael Cooper stood up and headed straight for Eva's room.

At that moment, Jane was anxiously waiting outside the door. "Mr. Cooper."

"Why don't you go in and stay with her?"

Jane looked like she was crying, "Ms. Hanson is sleeping."

Michael Cooper narrowed his eyes and scrutinized her, "She's sleeping, why the tears?"

"Mr. Cooper, Ms. Hansen hasn't been eating properly for the past few days. She's been sleeping and I..... I'm really worried about her."

 

 

Chapter 477 Lingering Troubles

Michael Cooper's brow furrowed upon hearing that Eva hadn't been eating well lately.

"Didn't David stop by?" he inquired.

Jane nodded, "He did."

After her response, a puzzled look crossed her face as she lifted her gaze to Michael Cooper. "But Mr. Cooper, what does that have to do with Ms. Hansen's issue?" She found Mr. Cooper's behavior quite odd.

Didn't he care a lot about Ms. Hansen? Shouldn't the most crucial matter at hand be her lack of appetite these days? Why bring up David?

Since David visited, she should have been reassured by the news of his safe departure, so why...

Michael Cooper pressed his lips together thinly, saying, "I'll go check on her."

"Alright."

Jane opened the door for him, allowing him to enter.

The Room

The curtains on the balcony were fully drawn, shrouding the room in dimness with just slivers of light sneaking through the gaps.

Using this faint light, Michael Cooper saw the room's interior.

All was calm and quiet, and Eva lay curled up in bed, with only the back of her dark-haired head peeking out from the covers.

Approaching, Michael initially intended to switch on the lamp but hesitated, not wanting to startle her, and ultimately decided against it, simply standing there watching her in silence.

She seemed to be in a deep sleep, yet her breathing was erratic, a sign of unrestful slumber as the doctor had mentioned. It appeared she was troubled by dreams, occasionally flinching as her eyelids and lashes trembled. Even her body shivered at intervals.

Michael, having stood there for just a quarter of an hour, saw her forehead dampened with cold sweat.

Michael's hands, hanging by his sides, involuntarily clenched into fists.

Why was this happening?

Surely, she knew he had left, didn't she?

Could it be that her heart was burdened with more than just this one matter?

After struggling internally, Michael decided not to wake her and turned to leave instead.

Jane waited a considerable time outside until Michael Cooper finally emerged, and she promptly asked, "Mr. Cooper, how is Ms. Hansen? Is she willing to eat anything now?" Michael pursed his lips, and his expression registered a touch of displeasure.

"She hasn't woken up yet. Keep a close eye on her and let me know the minute she does," he instructed, his tone carrying the weight of urgency.

Jane could only nod in response.

"Will do, Mr. Cooper."

As Michael Cooper left, his gaze inadvertently met David's from across the room. Catching his eye, Cooper gestured for him to come over. "Mr. Cooper."

"Come with me."

David cast a concerned glance back at Eva's room before hurrying to keep pace with Cooper.

In the study, the air was heavy with unspoken tension.

"Did you make sure the news of his safe departure reached her? And she believed it?"

David nodded. "Yes, I told Ms. Hansen right away. She didn't seem to doubt me; she believed it."

After saying that, David realized something, "What, Mr. Cooper doesn't believe me? Then are you going to tell her the news in person?"

Cooper fixed David with a steely glance. "The doctor mentioned she might have some internal conflicts and unresolved issues, which is why she's refusing to eat." Understanding the implication, David nodded.

"So what you're suggesting is, letting Mr. Blackwood go might resolve Ms. Hansen's issues. By telling her, we could break through, and she might start eating again."

Cooper didn't say a word, but his silence was confirmation enough.

"So, by that logic, Ms. Hansen should be on the mend now," David mused.

Cooper looked at him sharply.

"Is that so?" Michael Cooper's voice was cold and detached. "If her issue is resolved, why does she still refuse to eat?"

David knew about the morning efforts; Cooper had prepared a variety of food, but Eva had shown no appetite. At first, he thought she was just not a big eater, attributing her slim figure to small portions. But over the past few days, he realized it wasn't just that. It wasn't that her appetite was small; she barely had one. If he had noticed this, of course Cooper would have too. But it wasn't David's place to worry about these things.

Yet now, it seemed Cooper was at an impasse.

David, trying to offer a suggestion, tentatively spoke, "If Ms. Hansen is still reluctant to eat, could it be there's another issue we haven't addressed?"

"And what would that be?" Cooper's eyes narrowed, a clear challenge in his gaze.

Michael Cooper's question rendered David utterly speechless, and a tense silence fell over both men.

It took a while before David mustered the courage to speak up. "Honestly, no one knows Ms. Hansen's turmoil better than you, Mr. Cooper. You've known her since she was young, and nobody here is more aware of her true desires and aversions than you."

"David, are you schooling me?" Michael Cooper's voice carried a hint of reprimand.

David hung his head. "No, sir."

"Then go back and keep watch over her," Michael said dismissively, clearly not wanting to hear another word from him.

But David hesitated, rooted to the spot.

"Ms. Hansen's current state is still okay, Mr. Cooper it's not too late for you to call things quits now."

Meeting Michael's gaze squarely, David pressed on: "Considering how Ms. Hansen is faring now, I just don't want you to end up with regrets."

"What did you say?" Michael Cooper's eyes narrowed dangerously.

"I'm not cursing her or joking. How long do you think she can survive, with her health, if she keeps starving herself like this?"

That last remark struck a nerve. Michael was stunned into silence, taking a long time to respond.

"That's all I'm going to say. The rest is up to you, Mr. Cooper." With that, David didn't wait for Michael to dismiss him again. He had said his piece and turned to leave.

After David's departure, Michael's gaze dropped, and he seemed lost in thought. Sometime later, something crossed his mind, igniting his fury, and he swept everything off the table in a fit of rage.

A loud clatter broke the silence of the study.

A passing attendant, thinking something dire had happened, rushed in, asking, "Mr. Cooper, what happened? Are you alright?"

"Get out!"

The attendant, startled by Michael's demeanor, scampered out as if fleeing a ghost.

The commotion wasn't small; the word "get out" reverberated through the halls, signaling to the staff that Michael Cooper was in a thunderous mood. Everyone began treading on eggshells, wary of becoming the next target of his ire. Just when everyone thought Michael Cooper's rage would persist, the oblivious Jane scurried over, knocking on the door under the alarmed gazes around. "Mr. Cooper, Ms. Hansen is awake," she announced.

There was a brief silence inside, then Michael Cooper emerged, his face no longer twisted with anger, his voice considerably softer.

"She's awake? I'll go check."

 

Chapter 478 You Really Hate Me That Much?

After Michael Cooper followed Jane out, the crowd exchanged perplexed looks.

"What set Mr. Cooper off like that all of a sudden?"

"It's unclear, but right after David came out from the study, one of the staff overheard a loud noise. At first, everyone thought something had just fallen over, but when they went in, they heard Mr. Cooper yelling at someone to get out. That's when we realized he lost his temper."

"I've always seen Mr. Cooper as such a calm man. Who knew he could be so frightening when he's angry?"

"Well, you can't judge a book by its cover."

"As soon as he heard something about Ms. Hansen, didn't he immediately go back to his usual self?"

Eva woke up drenched in a cold sweat.

However, she couldn't remember what she had dreamed about.

Sitting up in bed with her head in a fog, the thought of him leaving safely brought a slight smile to her lips.

The human body is strange; although her mind had forgotten past events, certain subconscious feelings and sensations seemed to be etched into her very bones.

Knowing he was in danger made her anxious and worried.

Learning of his safe departure, she felt a wave of relief wash over her, happy for him and feeling as if half her mission was accomplished.

But it seemed she was still engulfed by other emotions that she couldn't shake off.

For instance, although he had left in safety, she was trapped here.

She had thought about calling the police.

But then... she also thought of Michael Cooper's concern for her, and her subconscious told her she didn't want to hurt him.

So there Eva was, caught between a rock and a hard place regarding her body and mind.

As she was pondering, there were sounds from outside.

Michael Cooper strode in quickly. Seeing that she was awake, he sat down on the edge of the bed directly.

"Eva, you're awake?"

Seeing him, Eva nodded.

"Yes."

"Do you need me? Is there something you want to talk about?"

Since Adrian Blackwood had safely left, even though Eva was staying here on her own volition, she didn't want to talk to Michael Cooper more than necessary, or even see him again. After this, she probably wouldn't even go downstairs or eat with him anymore.

Michael Cooper detected her reluctance in her tone, and his heart, which had been worried about her all day long, sank instantly.

He looked at her with a bitter expression in his eyes.

"What's the matter? You chose to stay by my side on your own. Can't I come to check on you if there's nothing wrong?"

His words brought a flicker of confusion to Eva's eyes, and her somewhat pale face moved as if she wanted to say something.

But in the end, she said nothing, just diverted her gaze, looking too drained to even offer an explanation.

The emotions that had been building up over the past several days erupted at that moment.

Michael Cooper felt an intense surge of emotion that he couldn't control. After seeing her turn her head away from him, he reached out abruptly and grasped her chin, forcing her to look at him. He had never been so rough before, so when he gripped her chin, Eva was taken aback.

"You..."

"If you have something to say to me, why won't you speak? Is it that you can't stand to look at my face, or do you disdain speaking to me?"

Eva: "..."

Under the pressure of his hand, Eva's chin began to ache, and her delicate eyebrows knitted together slightly.

"Let go of me."

"Answer my question, Eva!" Michael Cooper's eyes were as deep as the ocean, his body pressing closer, "Do you really hate me that much? Hate me so much that you don't even want to speak one more word with me?" As he spoke, he leaned in closer and closer, his hot breath almost upon her, just inches away from a kiss.

Eva's heart pounded like a drum. As his lips neared, she mustered all her strength to push him away.

Caught off balance on the edge of the bed, Michael hadn't anticipated her push and tumbled to the floor beneath.

The sound wasn't loud, but it still startled Eva. She wanted to check on him, but thinking back to his crazed behavior just before, she was too terrified to approach.

She initially intended to shrink into a corner.

But considering that he might get up and go mad again, Eva decided to jump out of bed, barefoot, and run towards the door.

However, she didn't expect Michael Cooper to be faster than her; as she passed by, he reached out and grasped her wrist, pulling her back.

"Where are you going?"

"Let me go!"

Eva tried to push him away in panic, but he gripped her shoulder firmly.

Just when she thought he would go mad again, she heard him say earnestly, "Eva, I'm sorry!"

She froze, surprised, and looked at him.

Pain filled Michael Cooper's eyes. "Sorry, I lost control of my emotions just now. Did I scare you?"

He reached out to touch her face, but Eva dodged away.

A look of annoyance appeared in Michael Cooper's eyes, and under her struggling, he slowly withdrew his hand.

"Forgive me, can you forgive me?"

Eva eyed him warily, noticing that his emotions seemed to have stabilized and he probably wouldn't do anything to her again.

While she breathed a sigh of relief, she still moved to the other side of the bed to keep her distance from him.

"What did you come to find me for? If there's nothing else, then please leave. I want to go back to sleep."

Hearing this, Michael Cooper looked somewhat helpless, "Eva, you've just woken up, and you want to sleep again?"

"I didn't sleep well; can't I continue sleeping?"

Eva thought he was looking for an excuse to stay, so she could only insist stubbornly.

"You can, but do you remember how long it's been since you last ate? Aren't you hungry? Have something to eat before you sleep." "I'm not hungry, I don't want to eat."

She rejected his suggestion outright without even thinking about it.

Michael pursed his lips, looking at her with resignation. "Eva, we need sustenance to live, and that comes from eating."

"You've hardly eaten lately. Where do you think your nutrients will come from?"

"That's none of your concern."

His words struck a chord.

Michael responded, "It's my place you're staying in, and you agreed to stay by my side. If I don't look after you, who will?"

"I don't need your care."

"Eva, I have to ensure your safety."

As he attempted to approach her, Eva, still shaken from earlier, instinctively moved away.

"Don't come any closer!"

Michael halted in his tracks as Eva said "You can just stand there. Whatever you need to say, say it from that distance. Don't get too close."

Michael lowered his gaze to his toes for a long moment before looking up again, his eyes carrying a different emotion. "Do you really dislike me that much? How will you stay by my side in the future?" Calmly turning her head away, Eva remarked, "Unless I'm mistaken, after losing my memory, I only agreed to stay. I never promised to like you, did I?"

 

 

Chapter 479 Losing to Her

She was undeniably correct.

And how could Michael even dare to hope she'd harbor any affection for him, especially after all that had happened before her memory loss? Having done what he had, how could he still hope for her affection? He dared not speak it out loud but simply wished for her to stay by his side, to grow used to him-that would be enough.

Noticing his silence, Eva realized that she had struck a nerve. With a cool tone, she said, "Look, I'm staying. I haven't broken my promise. But I should still be free to do as I please, shouldn't I?"

All Michael Cooper could do was nod in agreement.

"Yes."

"So can you leave now?"

Hearing this, Michael Cooper fell silent, his gaze lingering on her for a long moment.

Confronted by her resolve, he finally conceded, "Alright, I'll leave. But you can't skip your meals. If you don't want to come downstairs, I'll have them bring the food up to you."

Worried she might object, he left the room immediately after speaking.

Once he was gone, the room fell silent. Eva waited until she heard the sound of the door closing.

He's gone.

She let out a sigh of relief and sat down on the edge of the bed.

The recent confrontation had left her breaking out in a cold sweat, afraid of what Michael Cooper might suddenly do to her.

Before, Eva was oblivious to this side of him, maintaining an indifferent attitude, but now that Eva knew about this facet of Michael Cooper, she felt she could no longer afford to take him lightly. What if one day Michael Cooper lost his sanity?

With these thoughts, Eva closed her eyes.

After an indeterminate amount of time, there came a knock at the door-it was the voice of Jane.

"Ms. Hansen, Mr. Cooper has had the kitchen staff send over some food for you."

Hearing this, Eva reopened her eyes.

"Come in."

Jane pushed the door open and walked in with a plate.

The plate was laden with several kinds of food, wafting a delicious aroma into the air. Eva smelled the scent but slightly furrowed her brows in response.

"Ms. Hansen, the kitchen prepared quite a variety today. Please take a look and see what you'd like to eat."

The food was beautifully prepared, and it was clear that whoever made it had put a lot of effort into pleasing the eater. Visually, it was very appealing, and logically, Eva should have liked it. Her subconscious told her that these were foods she used to enjoy.

But now...

"Ms. Hansen, why don't you start with some soup?"

Jane picked up a bowl of chicken soup that the kitchen had specially prepared, which included many ingredients to enhance the flavor and remove any strong taste. It smelled very appetizing.

She also considerately scooped up a spoonful to Eva's lips, hoping she would at least take a sip.

For her current state, even one sip was a gain..

But just as she brought the spoon to Eva's mouth,

Eva, who had only been slightly frowning, suddenly felt her stomach churn tumultuously upon smelling the aroma, forcing her to lose control for a moment and retch audibly.

Jane was completely taken aback until she heard the sounds of retching from the bathroom, prompting her to rush towards it.

"Ms. Hansen, are you alright?"

At this moment, Jane's face could be said to be even paler than Eva's.

Because it seemed she had caused a mishap; Eva was already having difficulty eating, and yet she had insistently brought the chicken soup to her, resulting in her retching like this. Could she possibly eat anything after this?

It was a disaster.

Jane began to worry about what would come next.

Eva leaned over the sink, heaving for quite some time. Despite the turmoil in her stomach, she hadn't eaten much recently, and today she had barely even drunk water, so there was nothing in her stomach to bring up. Finally, devoid of strength, Eva was helped out of the bathroom by Jane and nearly collapsed onto the sofa.

Jane looked at her, noticing how pale her complexion was, the dark strands of hair on her forehead even sticking to her skin due to sweat. She looked so frail and helpless leaning there, looking vulnerable. Why was this happening?

Jane gazed at her with immense heartache, biting her lower lip, her eyes reddening: "Ms. Hansen..."

It took Eva a long while to recover slightly.

As she was just beginning to recover, Eva heard Jane's sobs and looked up to see her tearfully gazing at her.

"What's wrong?"

She didn't expect Jane to be crying.

Nor had Jane expected herself to break into tears. While wiping them away, she apologized: "No, I was just a little scared. Ms. Hansen, are you okay?"

"Did I scare you? I'm sorry."

"Ms. Hansen, you don't need to apologize, it's my fault."

Jane said this as she took a handkerchief to wipe the cold sweat from Eva's forehead and suggested, "What should we do now? Ms. Hansen, you need to eat something. If you don't like what's at home, maybe I could take you out to eat?" Eva managed a weak smile as she leaned back.

"It's alright, no need to go out. I think I just have a poor appetite; it should come back in a few days."

Just a poor appetite?

That's what Jane initially thought too-Ms. Hansen has lost her appetite, so it would return after a while. But several days had passed, and instead of improving, her appetite seemed to have gotten worse. And considering that she was still taking medication on top of everything, how could this situation be considered fine?

"Or, maybe Ms. Hansen should see another doctor? Or go to the hospital for a check-up, maybe something is wrong with your stomach?"

"I really am fine. If you're worried, then please bring me some snacks."

Hearing her ask for food proactively, Jane immediately dried her tears and stood up to choose a bowl of soup to bring to Eva.

"Ms. Hansen, would you like to have this bowl of soup?"

"Yes, thank you."

 

 

Chapter 480 Emotional Support

Scared by Eva's condition, Jane wasted no time fetching Michael Cooper. On hearing the news, Michael dropped everything and hurried to Eva's side.

Jane followed behind, speaking as she walked: "Mr. Cooper, Ms. Hansen's appetite was already poor, and she was eating very little, but this morning, she vomited everything she had eaten."

She paused for a moment before adding, "Ms. Hansen's condition doesn't seem good. Mr. Cooper, should we call for a doctor again? Or perhaps, take Ms. Hansen to the hospital? She hasn't been eating well for several days now." Upon hearing this, Michael Cooper's steps halted, then he came to a stop and signaled to a nearby attendant.

The attendant immediately approached.

"Call the doctor over."

Hearing Michael Cooper instruct someone to fetch the doctor, Jane finally breathed a sigh of relief. She'd wanted to make a suggestion a couple of days ago but feared that Mr. Cooper would not be pleased.

But seeing Eva's condition today, she couldn't hold back any longer.

Jane stole a glance at Michael Cooper, wondering to herself does Mr. Cooper really care about Ms. Hansen?

She pondered whether this might be the right time to make another suggestion and if Mr. Cooper would be receptive.

Maybe it was worth a try?

After all, Ms. Hansen had been so kind to her, she didn't want anything bad to happen to her.

After some thought, Jane tentatively spoke up, "Mr. Cooper, I have a suggestion that might not be fully formed yet. Do you want to hear it?"

Michael Cooper, distracted by his concern for Eva, furrowed his brow slightly upon hearing Jane's words. He wasn't inclined to listen but considering that Jane had been taking care of Eva recently-and Eva seemed quite fond of her-he mustered a bit of patience. Despite moving quickly, he gestured with a twist of his brow, "What suggestion?"

"Well, it's just a personal thought, but it seems like Ms. Hansen's mental state... isn't too good. Of course, Mr. Cooper, I mean absolutely no curse against Ms. Hansen. What I'm suggesting is... in addition to finding a doctor for Ms. Hansen's physical health, maybe you should consider finding a psychologist or psychiatrist for her mental well-being?"

Michael Cooper did not respond.

Jane, unable to discern his thoughts, could only say, "I just made the suggestion because Ms. Hansen seemed off. If Mr. Cooper disagrees, then never mind." During their conversation, they had arrived at the destination.

Before entering the room, Michael Cooper turned back and glanced at Jane.

"Alright, I'll keep it in mind. Let the doctor have a physical check-up first."

With that, he went straight into the room.

Before entering, he hesitated for a moment, recalling how she might disapprove of his presence, but considering her likely suffering, he briskly stepped inside. However, when they approached the sofa, they discovered that Eva had fainted at some point.

"Ms. Hansen!" Jane was startled and quickly walked over to gently push her.

Unfortunately, Eva had already passed out and couldn't hear her voice.

"Don't move her."

Michael Cooper's voice came from behind.

Jane heard the sound and quickly moved aside, not daring to touch Eva again.

Michael Cooper then came over, picked up Eva from the sofa, and carefully placed her on the bed.

This was the first time she had fainted since her arrival, now lying unconscious on the bed, her complexion pale and her breath weak.

"Go to see if the doctor has arrived; if not, call and tush them. "

Jane, shocked by the urgency in his command, didn't dare delay and immediately ran outside.

"OK, I'll check right away."

Now alone in the room with Eva, Michael Cooper looked at her forehead soaked in cold sweat and took out a handkerchief from his pocket to gently wipe it for her.

As he wiped, Michael Cooper's expression was as dark as night. After finishing, he looked at the unconscious Eva, her face pale and her lips almost colorless. Seeing her like this triggered a thought in him for the first time.

By forcibly keeping her by his side-had he really made a mistake?

After all, she clearly did not like him. They could have been friends, but now...

What exactly had happened between them?

Why had things turned out this way?

He was just someone who liked her, that's all.

From a young age, Michael Cooper had never truly liked anyone. Due to his family history, he didn't trust anyone.

It was her arrival that gave him hope, yet she wouldn't be with him.

If that was the case, he truly wished she had never helped him; then he wouldn't have fostered those unwarranted expectations.

With this in mind, Michael Cooper gently brushed the strands of hair from her forehead and tucked them behind her ear, then carefully covered her with the blanket. "Just wait a bit; the doctor will be here soon."

As he spoke, there was a noise at the door, and it opened to reveal Jane leading the doctor in.

"Mr. Cooper, the doctor is here."

It was the same doctor as before, his expression devoid of surprise, as if he had anticipated this day might come.

"What seems to be the issue this time?"

Only upon approaching did the doctor notice that Eva had fainted this was much more serious than he had expected.

He had felt during his last visit that this young woman would likely need his services again, but he had not anticipated the situation to escalate so severely.

Furrowing his brow, he stepped closer and immediately asked, "What happened? How did she faint?"

Michael Cooper looked at him with an indifferent gaze and did not respond.

Sensing his cold mood, the doctor turned to Jane instead.

After hearing the account from Jane, the doctor's frown deepened.

"I didn't expect her psychological burden to be so heavy."

His comment caught Michael Cooper's attention, prompting him to look over.

"Her condition has deteriorated too rapidly, to the point where she can't eat anymore. In my opinion, there's no need for me to see her now. She should either be taken to a hospital for a full examination or consult with a psychologist for counseling."

Hearing the doctor's advice, Michael Cooper kept his lips tightly pressed together without responding.

Jane asked softly, "Doctor, is there no way you could prescribe some medication for Ms. Hansen in the meantime?"

The doctor replied, "I can't. It seems to me she has psychological issues, and taking more medicine may not help. After all, overusing medicine may lead to more health problems."

"Then... what should we do?" Jane asked.

"As I just said, you should seek psychological counseling."

"Prescribe medication. "Suddenly, Michael Cooper, who had been silent up until now, spoke up.