Forsaken Until My Last Breath novel Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Vincent looked at the small infant on the bed, its face flushed from fever. His heart clenched. He glanced at the doctor and asked in a low voice. “What happened?”

The doctor replied, “Mr. Walker, the child caught a chill and developed a fever. It’s nothing serious.”

Vincent nodded, walked to the side and sat down, saying coolly to Susan. “The baby is still small. If you can’t handle it alone, hire a postpartum caregiver.”

Susan quickly responded. “No need, Vincent! This is my first time being a mother. I was careless this time, but it won’t happen again.”

Seeing her insistence, Vincent didn’t press further. He watched the doctor prescribe medicine and administer an IV drip to the child before standing to leave.

Frank had just texted him-Rebecca’s ashes had been placed at Spring Harmony Villa. He needed to return early to be with her.

Susan bit her lip as she saw him turn away without hesitation. She pleaded, “Vincent, I… I’m still uneasy. Could you stay with the baby a little longer? Maybe she’ll recover faster with you here.”

Vincent glanced back at the infant sleeping in the cradle. The delicate, unformed features were faintly reminiscent of Rebecca.

His expression softened. After a moment’s thought, he finally sat back down.

A flicker of delight flashed in Susan’s eyes as she hurried downstairs to instruct the maid to prepare Vincent’s favorite dishes.

Vincent paid her no mind, instead approaching the cradle to carefully observe his sleeping daughter.

For reasons unknown, he felt none of the initial anticipation toward this child born to Susan, nor any paternal joy.

He realized that since the birth, he’d only glanced at the baby once at the hospital before losing interest-perhaps that explained this sense of detachment.

Gazing at his slumbering daughter now, he couldn’t resist poking her tender cheek.

His touch proved too rough. The sleeping infant flinched away uncomfortably.

Her tiny head twisted, revealing a plump stretch of neck. Vincent’s gaze sharpened, his expression shifting.

How could such a young child bear bruises?

Alone in the room, he lifted the swaddling blanket and froze. Finger marks dotted the baby’s arms while faint scars

marred her back.

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08:49

The doctor had mentioned nothing of injuries, only diagnosing a chill.

Hearing approaching footsteps outside, Vincent calmly rearranged the blanket and asked with feigned nonchalance, “How did she get a fever?”

Susan’s heart raced. “She’s so young. Did you take her out?”

“I thought the weather was nice, so I gave her a sponge bath. Maybe she caught a chill then.”

Vincent narrowed his eyes. “Didn’t you notice anything unusual while bathing her?”

Susan seemed puzzled. “I checked with the doctor first. He said it was fine.”

Vincent studied her intently. “When exactly did you bathe her?”

After a hesitant pause, she murmured, “About… two hours ago?”

Vincent fell silent before replying gravely, “Understood.”

Before becoming head of the Walker family, he’d endured countless beatings. He knew bruises didn’t form within hours. Yet infants were fragile-those marks beyond the pinch wounds baffled him.

He summoned his secretary. “Get Frank here.”

Frank’s medical expertise was unquestionable. Though Vincent had beaten him after the villa fire, he still preferred Frank over incompetent doctors.

The secretary returned promptly, “Vincent, Dr. Frank has asked for leave. They say he’s gone back to his hometown.”

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