Chasing His Runaway Wife by Jamie Stones

Chapter 81

Emmanuel regained his composure, swallowing back the outburst. “I'm sorry, | shouldn't have snapped at you,”

he said softly.

In the past, he had gone to great lengths to win Tabitha’s favor. Now that he was injured, it seemed the perfect

chance to gain her sympathy. How could he willingly distance himself from her just because of his fear that

Jayden might harm her?

Tabitha smiled. “It’s alright, I'm not upset.”

It was Christmas Day, and Emmanuel found himself alone in the sterile. hospital room, hiding his injuries from his

family and enduring the pain. in isolation.

With only a handful of friends he could count on, his situation seemed somewhat pitiful.

After a brief moment of contemplation, Tabitha took out a thoughtful gift from her bag and handed it to

Emmanuel. “Merry Christmas. Here's a little something for you. | wish you good luck for the year ahead.”

Emmanuel was slightly surprised. Tabitha, though younger than him, spoke with such sincere charm.

He chuckled helplessly, “I'm older than you. A gift for me, eh?”

“We swap gifts to spread love and joy during Christmas,” Tabitha explained casually. “I'm all about spreading

kindness, especially how. And, you know, it’s just a small something to brighten up your day.“”

“Well, that’s sweet of you.” Emmanuel took the gift from Tabitha and said sincerely, “Thanks for the thoughtful

present and your kind words.”

Tabitha continued chatting with him for a bit. Sensing Emmanuel’s low energy, she figured it was tto head

out. “I'll cto visit you again

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Chapter 81

when | have time.”

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Emmanuel did not try to keep her and only watched as Tabitha took off. Suddenly, a weird and new feeling

welled up within him.

Emmanuel looked at the gift.

Holding the gift tightly in his hands, Emmanuel could not help but feel a peculiar sense of irony.

Emmanuel had never once received a gift that carried with itself a

heartfelt blessing. Unexpectedly, the first Christmas present he ever got cfrom Tabitha, leaving him with a

conflicting mix of frustration and, secretly, an inexplicable joy.

For a moment, a darker thought suddenly crossed Emmanuel’s mind.

He had collided with Naomi to ruin Tabitha’s relationship with Malcolm, aiming to foster disdain for Malcolm in

Alaric’s eyes.

‘If | make a move to pursue Tabitha after she gets a divorce with Malcolm, would Granddad change his opinion

towardif he witnesses my close relationship with her?” Emmanuel wondered.

Just as he was lost in his thoughts, Emmanuel received a call from Naomi.

Faced with Naomi, Emmanuel instinctively put up a gentle front. “What's the matter?”

“Mr. Sinclair, | just called Malcolm, and he was talking about takingfor an amniocentesis in a few days. What

should we do.now?” Naomi asked.

It was Christmas Day, and Naomi’s original plan to persuade Malcolm to spend twith her had fallen through.

The latter, however, went against her hopes. Not only did Malcolm refuse, citing a busy schedule, but he also

brought up the sensitive subject of paternity testing.

Emmanuel narrowed his eyes in response. His tone carried a cold edge as

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Chapter 81

he asked, “Did you say something stupid in front of him again?”

“I didn’t. Malcolm's growing suspicious of me. Mr. Sinclair, I'm thinking of inducing a miscarriage and pinning it

on Tabitha,” Naomi said.

Naomi pretended to sound concerned as she continued, “But the child is yours. | should get your opinion first...”

Questions began to stir within Emmanuel. ‘If she wants to induce a miscarriage, that’s her choice. Why is she

trying to blTabitha?”

At the thought of Tabitha’s gift and the roasted turkey she had made for him, Emmanuel grew impatient.

“How do you plan to shift the blto her?” Emmanuel asked.

“I'll find a crowded place and deliberately provoke her into a fight.” A sinister look played across her face as

Naomi spoke, “Her health isn’t great, right? Maybe | can kill two birds with one stone and get rid of both children

in the end.”

Emmanuel’s eyes and eyebrows twitched involuntarily, an instinctive aversion kicking in at Naomi’s scheme.

Tabitha's health was indeed frail. She looked pale all the time, and her lips. had lost their usual color, showing

just how delicate she was.

“Mr. Sinclair?” Naomi probed cautiously, “Are you against this? Or is it that... you couldn't bring yourself to?”

‘Couldn’t bring myself to? How is that possible?” Emmanuel silently exclaimed.

Emmanuel’s face darkened.

Tabitha had only given him a cheap gift for Christmas. He believed he was not someone who could be easily

swayed.

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“Mr. Sinclair, when | was pregnant with your child, | considered bringing it. to the world for your sake,” Naomi

pleaded.

When she received no answer, Naomi could not help but feel somewhat triumphant, thinking that Emmanuel

could not bring himself to part with the child in her womb.

“But now Malcolm insists he wants to have a paternity test. If we keep the child, I'm afraid all our efforts so far

will be in vain,” Naomi carried on.

Understanding Naomi’s intentions, Emmanuel felt a surge of anger and almost scoffed aloud.

A woman like Naomi was not worth a word from him, let alone sparing a thought for her child.

Emmanuel frowned as he said, “Don’t go doing anything rash. Wait forto figure things out.”

Naomi, on the other hand, was feeling anxious. She was frightened by Malcolm. “You need to hurry. What if

Malcolm decides to takefor testing tomorrow? | don’t get what's happening, but he’s been obsessed with this

testing thing lately. It's freakingout, and | have to put on this fake happy face. It's getting hard to keep up

the act.”

Emmanuel said, “Just wait a few more days.”

While Emmanuel was typically soft-spoken, Naomi understood his character enough to know that he would not

allow any objections. Even when she felt anxious, she dared not push the argument further.

“Got it,” she replied.