CEO Ex-Husband, Don't Bother Me-Chapter 178 - 149: Be Good, I Have a Gift for You Too

He was known for being so sensible, and now, because of her, he was being branded as unfilial.

’Couldn’t he have just said they had good genes? Did he have to make a perfectly fine statement sound so crude and vulgar? The moment he said that word, images of them tangled together would flash through her mind. Is his brain filled with nothing but filth?!’

Julian Donovan was in a great mood, laughing nonstop. In fact, he was thinking about the very same things she was, deviously plotting what new ways he would pleasure her tonight, when he saw her turn and stride toward Joy’s hospital room.

’What a pervert!’

Naomi Shaw fumed as she walked.

The Little Princess, just as expected, wasn’t crying or making a fuss. She was playing quietly on the bed by herself. Julian Donovan couldn’t help but lean down to kiss her delicate little face. "Sweetheart, you need to get better soon. Daddy has a gift for you!"

Princess, sweetheart, darling—no term of endearment was enough to express his love and affection for her.

Joy looked up at him. "Thank you, Daddy!"

Naomi Shaw, standing nearby, was not pleased. "Why are you giving her a gift? She’s just a little kid. What if you spoil her rotten!"

"Why are you so worked up? This is my first proper gift for my daughter. I have to give it to her!"

Julian Donovan insisted. Just as she was about to say something, he suddenly reached out and ruffled her soft hair, his tone a mixture of resignation and doting affection. "What? Are you jealous? Be good. I have a gift for you, too!"

Naomi almost choked. ’Her, jealous? She was worried about Joy being spoiled, thank you very much! He really had a high opinion of himself. Who would be jealous over him?!’

Before she could protest, Julian Donovan’s phone rang. He glanced at her and said, "It’s Lara."

Lara Nash rarely called Julian Donovan, so he handed the phone directly to her. Naomi Shaw remembered her own phone was broken and quickly took it. As soon as the call connected, Lara launched into a tirade. "Julian Donovan, where did you whisk our Naomi off to? Why isn’t her phone working?"

Naomi Shaw laughed. "Lara, it’s me!"

"Oh, oh! Why are you with Julian Donovan in the middle of the day? Did something happen?"

Lara knew Naomi Shaw worked at a different hospital, so she was curious why they were together at this hour. Naomi and Julian hadn’t told anyone about Joy’s injury, which was why Lara was asking.

Lara had just finished speaking when Naomi heard Cheryl shouting loudly in the background, "I... want... Ronan... Joyce..."

Lara, exasperated, snapped at her, "You little brat, get lost!"

Hearing that long-unheard name, Naomi Shaw felt a pang of sadness. "How did Cheryl find out?"

Lara complained, thoroughly exasperated, "Who knows where she heard that name? She screams it in my ear every day, repeating it over and over like a broken record, complete with that trumpet-like high-pitched voice of hers. It’s driving me crazy! I’m about to have a nervous breakdown!"

Naomi Shaw’s brow twitched as she thought of her own precious son. ’It couldn’t have been Dylan who found out and told Lara, could it? It must have been! No one around Lara would have helped Cheryl look him up, so it had to be Dylan. Sigh! Sometimes, having a son who’s too capable isn’t a good thing. Now he’s stirred up trouble.’

She sighed and quickly asked, "Lara, why did you call me?"

Lara’s tone faltered for a moment, then she said slowly, "I’m getting married next month. Come back for my wedding..."

Lara’s words were again cut off by a barrage of shouting. "I won’t allow it! I won’t allow it! I won’t let you marry another man! I want Ronan Joyce..."

Cheryl continued to clamor relentlessly. Lara was furious. "Butler! Come get her out of here!"

It sounded like the butler had entered. Naomi Shaw could just imagine Cheryl, kicking and screaming in the butler’s arms as she was carried away. "Lara, if you marry another man, I’ll run away from home..." 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"She’s driving me insane! That wretched girl!"

Lara, seething with anger, went and locked the door. Naomi tried to comfort her. "Cheryl throwing tantrums like this isn’t a solution. Why don’t you meet with Ronan Joyce and talk things over? I can have Julian arrange it for you."

"No need!"

Lara refused firmly. "Let that damn girl do whatever she wants. If she’s so capable, she can go find him and live with him herself. I’ve had enough of her behavior anyway!"

Naomi Shaw heard what sounded like scratching at the door from the other end. Cheryl’s voice came through intermittently. "My daddy is Ronan Joyce... My daddy is Ronan Joyce... I want my daddy... WAAH..."

By the end, it seemed Cheryl had started to cry, whimpering and scratching at the door.

Naomi Shaw sensed that Lara was starting to feel sorry for Cheryl and said softly, "Lara, why don’t you go check on Cheryl first. I know about the wedding. As long as you’re getting married, I’ll definitely be there!"

Lara didn’t say anything else, just gave a short reply and hung up.

With a heavy heart, Naomi Shaw handed the phone back to Julian Donovan. As he took it, he gently squeezed her hand to comfort her. "You have to believe that Lara, just like you, will find her happiness."

"Mm..."

Naomi Shaw nodded. ’Lara is so lively, cheerful, kind, and wonderful. She will, she absolutely will find a happy marriage.’

Pulling her hand away, she pointed at his phone. "That picture on your screen... it’s time to add someone."

The photo only had the three of them—her, Joy, and Dylan. Adding him would make it perfect. Love, with him in it, was perfect.

Julian Donovan was so overjoyed his entire face lit up with a smile. He stepped forward, swept her into his arms, and spun her around the spacious hospital room. He knew she wasn’t the type to be openly emotional. He didn’t need her to say touching words of love; just one hint like this was enough to make him ecstatic.

Startled by his sudden move, Naomi Shaw let out a cry, clinging tightly to his neck as he spun her around until she was dizzy. After putting her down, Julian Donovan still wasn’t satisfied. Completely ignoring that Joy was still there, he cupped her face and gave her another fierce kiss.

When Naomi Shaw finally broke free, she pushed him toward the room’s door. "Go on, get back to your work!"