The IVF Secret That Shook a Dynasty novel Chapter 465

The back of his head still ached with a dull pain, forcing him to sleep only on his side. But he had no intention of letting Vivica know about that.

With tears welling in her eyes, Vivica stared at him, a storm of anger, heartache, and self-blame swirling within her. She was a trouble magnet. Not only had she dragged him into her messes time and again, but now he was in physical danger because of her.

Seeing her look of guilt and silent misery, Joseph managed a faint smile and squeezed her hand. “I’m really okay. That woman never got near me. I am always mindful of my status as a married man. Even when I wasn’t in my right mind, I remembered I had to stay faithful.”

He was trying to lighten the mood with a joke, but Vivica wasn’t having it. She gave his shoulder a light slap.

“Don’t you dare try to change the subject. In a situation like that, I wouldn’t have cared if something had happened with that woman. All I wanted was for you to be safe.”

But now, not only had he suffered physically, but his reputation was in tatters. Even if the police later cleared his name, the public would inevitably assume the Baird family had used its influence to buy off the officials. The damage from online mobbing was incredibly difficult to erase, especially in a climate of widespread resentment toward the wealthy and powerful.

Compared to that very real damage, the matter of his fidelity, which he seemed so concerned about, was the least of her worries. Even if he had been assaulted, she would never have held it against him. It would have only made her heart ache for him more.

“You came straight from the hospital today, didn’t you?” Vivica asked, her gaze fixed on his, searching for any flicker of an expression that might suggest he was downplaying the truth. “What did the doctor say? Will the drugs have any long-term effects on your body?”

This time, Joseph didn't try to soften the blow, because it directly concerned another pressing matter.

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