Filed To Story: The Broken-Hearted She and The Icy He Book PDF Free
Grace and Nancy, women who had given birth and knew the ways of pregnancy, immediately understood. A pregnant woman’s cravings change. Even if the bowl was expensive and nourishing, Grace wouldn’t force it on her.
“Don’t worry, don’t force it. I’ll have the cook make something different tomorrow. Right. Pregnant women need small meals frequently. When you want it, we’ll make it for you.”
Renee, who had secretly spiked the fish maw with the abortifacient she’d paid so much for, was furious that her plan might fail. She blinked a few watery, earnest-seeming tears and said, “Don’t get me wrong-I was only joking this morning. I only see James as a brother. There’s nothing between us. This fish maw is something Grandma and your godmother specially had prepared for you-they meant well. You should drink it. Pregnancy is hard; you’re so thin, you need to nourish yourself.”
James frowned.
Of course he wanted Lily to eat and gain strength-but he also knew pregnancy and food could trigger nausea. Lily had already said she didn’t want it. Renee was pressuring her, and it disgusted him.
He reached to take the bowl away so Lily wouldn’t be put on the spot.
Ivan was faster.
He was sitting slightly closer to Lily than James was. The smell of the fish maw made him hungry; seeing his sister-in-law decline, he grabbed the bowl and, without a spoon, started shoveling it directly into his mouth with a cheerful grin.
“If you won’t drink it, I will. I haven’t had fish maw in years, and I’ve been craving it. Grandma’s so biased-she only has the cook make it for you, never for me!”
Grace shot her youngest grandson a glare.
How could he compare himself to Lily? Girls were more precious than boys, and Lily was carrying her great-granddaughter. Of course she had to make sure Lily ate well, drank well, and stayed happy.
“Hey…”
Ivan wasn’t actually competing with Lily-he was just greedy. The Luke family’s cooks had skill beyond compare. The broth was fraAshton, so good he wanted another bowl. If only they’d add cumin, it would be perfect. He’d even suggested it once, but the cooks had only looked at him with complicated eyes and ignored him. That had hurt.
Renee bit her lip until it nearly bled.
Why was Lily so damn lucky? The cooks said she drank a bowl every morning-why did she refuse today of all days?
In the blink of an eye, the broth was gone, swallowed by Ivan. Her perfect plan shattered. Rage twisted inside her; she nearly lost control of her face.
Half-lowering her lashes, she forced herself to breathe deep, again and again, until she smoothed her features back into a mask of warmth and brightness.
“Renee, you should go back.”
When she still showed no intention of leaving, Grace turned to the butler. “Samson, have a driver take Renee home.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Samson took out his phone, just as Ivan clutched his stomach and cried out in pain.
“My stomach-ah, it hurts so bad! Am I poisoned? Why does it hurt so much? Maybe I didn’t finish in the bathroom. I need to… squat again!”
The words were crude enough to ruin anyone’s appetite.
Henry waved a hand, disgusted. “Go, quickly. Don’t talk about filth at the table.”
Ivan had had stomach aches before. Usually a trip to the toilet fixed everything.
But this time the pain hit harder, deeper, like his gut was being torn apart.
He staggered out of the bathroom minutes later, pale as paper, drenched in sweat, then collapsed to the floor.
“Help me up! It still hurts, I can’t stand. I didn’t eat anything bad, so why is this happening?”
Cold sweat poured from him until he looked like he’d been hauled out of a river.
At first, the elders had thought it was another of his false alarms. But now, watching his body twist in agony, they realized this was no joke.
James caught him before he hit the ground, supporting him firmly. “Ivan, hold on. I’ll get you to the hospital right now.”
“It hurts so much-I’ve never felt pain like this. I might not make it…”
Henry’s eyes reddened. “Nonsense! Stop with the unlucky words. Go with your brother to the hospital and quit talking like that!”
“I can’t… I can’t even stand. Grandpa, Grandma… you might really have to bury your grandson…”
Ivan, ever the optimist, didn’t want to say it-but the pain felt like his insides were rotting.
“Ivan, stay with me!”
James’s eyes were bloodshot now too. When Ivan’s body began to seize, James bent low, heaved him onto his back, and charged for the door.
Halfway there he turned to Blanc. “Dad, I think there’s something wrong with that fish maw. Have it tested.”
Yes-something was wrong with that broth.
At those words, Renee nearly collapsed.
The drug she’d used to induce miscarriage was dangerously potent. She had no idea what effect it would have on a man.
But she forced herself calm. Even if the broth was proven tainted, suspicion would fall on the cooks. Not her.
* Free Cong
Still, uncase clawed at her chest. She wanted to flee, but leaving now would look too suspicious. When the Lukes went rushing to the hospital, she climbed into one of the cars, following them.
James had already phoned ahead. Doctors were waiting outside.
The moment they arrived, the medics rushed forward, whisking the unconscious Ivan into the emergency ward.
Lily, pale with shock, followed them in.
??
Standing outside the emergency room, eyes fixed on the glowing red light above the door, Lily’s heart felt lodged in her throat.
Ivan had always been so good to her-protecting her, treating her as family. She cared deeply for him too. But halfway to the hospital his pupils had already gone slack, his body convulsing before he lost consciousness completely.
She was terrified that when those doors opened again, they would wheel out not her lively brother-in-law but a lifeless corpse.
Even James, usually so unshakably composed, wore a rare mask of gravity. In his memory, his third brother had always been sunshine itself-loud, boisterous, overflowing with vitality. But in the car just now, Ivan had foamed at the mouth, body seizing, whispering words like a last testament before going still.
James’s chest clenched with panic. People often said he was cold, unfeeling, detached. But how could someone raised in such a warm family truly be heartless? He loved his siblings-he could not accept that this vibrant younger brother might be gone forever.
“Ivan…” Grace wept openly, tears carving lines down her face. “You can’t leave us…”
Henry’s own eyes glistened. He feared the worst but could not bring himself to voice it. Instead, he gripped Grace’s hand tightly. “Honey, don’t cry. Ivan’s a blessed child-he’ll pull through.”
Blanc’s eyes were red as he held Nancy’s trembling hand.
Renee, watching the family’s grief, felt her stomach twist with guilt. The seller had assured her the drug was tasteless, invisible once mixed in. For a pregnant woman, it was fatal: the baby would be lost, blood would pour out, the womb destroyed.
But Ivan had no womb. What would the poison burn through in a man’s body? What would be left of him afterward? The thought left her rattled.
She pinched her palm hard to steady herself, then leaned sweetly against Grace’s arm, playing the part of the devoted granddaughter. “Grandma, don’t worry, Ivan’s so young, so strong. He’ll survive this. Just thinking of him foaming at the mouth, blood at his lips-it breaks my heart…”
The words were tender, but Grace’s eyes only grew colder. Having seen Renee’s true face, she found no comfort in her performance. She brushed off Renee’s hand and stared unblinking at the emergency doors.
Renee’s smile faltered. Stupid old hag. Once I marry James, I’ll see you dead sooner or later.
At last-after nearly five endless hours-the doors swung open.
Grace rushed forward and seized the director’s hand. “How is Ivan?”
Nancy, Blanc, Henry-they all leaned forward anxiously, awaiting the verdict.
“We pumped his stomach,” the director reported. “He’s out of immediate danger. However, the drug severely burned his stomach lining. There are ulcers that will take time to heal. With proper care, diet restrictions, and rest, he should recover without lasting damage.”
Relief broke over the elders like a wave.
Nancy discreetly wiped her eyes, while Grace wept freely, tears of gratitude. “Thank heaven… he’s safe…”
Lily had held back all this time, forcing herself to be strong. But once she heard he would live, her tears spilled unchecked.
“Don’t cry,” James murmured, gently brushing her cheeks, pulling her tightly into his arms despite the watching elders. “The director said he’ll recover quickly. Ivan’s going to be fine.”
New Book: Returned To Make Them Pay
On her wedding anniversary, Alicia is drugged and stumbles into the wrong room—straight into the arms of the powerful Caden Ward, a man rumored never to touch women. Their night of passion shocks even him, especially when he discovers she’s still a virgin after two years of marriage to Joshua Yates.