The Enticing CEO's Chosen Bride novel Chapter 1819

Before hitting the hay, Rose checked a few emails on her phone and made a call to check in with her company's project manager. Then, she opened her messaging app, tapped on the caregiver's profile, and typed out a quick message.

—[Please take extra care of the patient tonight, and if someone offers to help, don't hesitate to accept.]

—[Certainly, ma’am. You have nothing to worry about.]

Rose managed a half-hearted smile before powering down her phone and placing it on the nightstand.

"Time for bed, little one," she whispered with a sigh, a gentle smile gracing her lips as she lovingly caressed her slightly swollen belly, seemingly untroubled by the day's events.

With the lights off and only a dim nightlight glowing, she snuggled under the covers. Her eyes were wide open in the darkness, gazing at the ceiling, lost in thought. After a few minutes, her eyelids finally closed, and she turned on her side, drifting into sleep.d2

Meanwhile, Morrison had been anxiously waiting for Rose's return for two hours. Two hours was enough time for a leisurely soak in the tub and a hearty meal at a buffet. Even on foot, she should have been back by now.

His face grew increasingly grim as he sat up in his hospital bed and dialed Rose's number, only to be greeted by the sterile voice of the voicemail service. His expression darkened even further.

The hospital room's atmosphere plummeted into a frosty abyss, and the caregiver, huddled in a corner, couldn't help but shrink further into herself.

Undeterred, Morrison kept calling, each unanswered attempt followed by another every ten minutes, lasting well into the night.

The air in the room grew icier by the minute.

Several times Morrison contemplated hurling his phone against the wall but restrained himself. How would he reach Rose without his phone?

The caregiver mustered the courage to offer him a glass of water, "Sir, getting upset isn't good for your health. It's getting late. Perhaps you should try to rest."

She had no idea who he was repeatedly calling or what was going on. All she could do was offer blind comfort. But Morrison seemed not to hear her, instead sending a text to Rose.

When it remained unread, he tried WhatsApp and even the old-school App they used in college—all to no avail.

The night wore on, and by the early hours, the caregiver was genuinely concerned. She wasn't bothered about her own sleep, but she had promised to care for the patient, and his lack of rest could reflect poorly on her if his family were to find out.

The caregiver hesitated for what seemed like an eternity before finally approaching Morrison with a gentle reminder, "Sir, it's very late. You really should get some rest."

Morrison's steely gaze met hers as he set down his phone, asking in a chilly tone, "Did she say anything to you before she left?"

The caregiver trembled under his gaze, "No... No, sir. She didn't say anything to me before she left."

His voice grew colder, "She said nothing, and yet you're still here?"

After a brief pause, the caregiver realized he had been trying to reach his wife all along. "Didn't Mrs. Witt tell you? She sent me a message around 8 pm, asking me to take good care of you tonight."

Morrison's frown deepened. "She sent you a message at 8 pm?"

The caregiver nodded hesitantly, "Yes, that's right."

So, did that mean after she went back to shower and eat, she didn't plan on coming back to the hospital at all? Damn it!

As Morrison’s mood seemed to sink further, the caregiver added, "Please don't be upset, sir. Mrs. Witt is pregnant, and it's getting harder for her by the day. She has to take care of you and herself, which is twice the effort. Moreover, this is a hospital after all, and the strong medicinal smell is not good for a pregnant woman. It's only right that she gets some rest at home, don't you think?"

Morrison's brow was furrowed, "If she wasn't coming, why didn't she just tell me that in the first place?!"

"Would you have let her go if she had told you?"

Of course not.

Her attitude and behavior during the day had already made him feel uneasy, and then she stood him up at night. Just yesterday, when he was in the hospital, she wasn't like this.

"Sir, get some rest. Your wife loves you so much, she'll definitely come early tomorrow. If she finds out you haven't been resting well, she'll be worried."

Morrison looked at her, "You know she loves me too?"

The caregiver smiled, "Of course. Your wife is such an outstanding and beautiful woman. If she didn't truly love you, how could she have married you and be pregnant with your baby?"

Morrison stayed silent for a moment before a nearly imperceptible smile cracked his stern facade, "You're right."

He lay back down, "Okay, you can go. I'm going to sleep. Otherwise, she might worry."

His demeanor shifted as if the sullen man from minutes ago was someone else entirely, his actions almost childlike.

The caregiver exhaled with relief and nodded with a smile, "Alright, sir. Rest well. If you need anything, just ring the call bell on the cabinet."

"Mhm." Even his monosyllabic reply couldn't hide his improving mood, clearly pleased by the caregiver's reassurances of Rose's love.

-

As for Rose coming first thing in the morning—that was a farce.

Molly herself came to bring Morrison breakfast but there was no sign of Rose. Morrison's mood plummeted, "Where's Rose?"

Molly handed the meal to the caregiver and glanced at Morrison with indifference, "You leave your new wife alone at home for nearly three months right after getting married, and now you suddenly can't stand to be apart? Why should she cater to your whims? Who do you think you are?"

Morrison clenched his teeth in frustration, "She said she'd come this morning, but I waited all night for nothing!"

Molly scoffed, "Did she now? From what I saw last night, it didn't look like she had any intention of coming over at all. What's the matter with you, huh? One night alone and you're so anxious? Ever thought about all those nights since you’ve been married that you left her waiting up for you? Don't act like the world owes you anything. I don't care if you're my son. You're being downright clueless!"

Rose had waited more than just a few nights. How much must a woman love a man to wait alone hopelessly for so many years?