Chapter 182

Walter finally breathed a sigh of relief when he confirmed that Christina had only fainted from exhaustion.

As he looked at Christina sleeping peacefully in his arms, his eyes turned cold. Without a backward glance, he started walking forward.

Five days later, on a small island.

Christina sat in a corner of the villa, staring out the window at the waves crashing against the shore.

At the doorway, Walter watched as the wind gently lifted her hair, a silent, bitter smile playing on his lips.

"What's on your mind?" he asked casually, walking over and handing her a glass of water. "Here, drink this."

Since Christina had woken up, she had stayed within the confines of the villa.

She ate quietly, drank quietly, and then sat by the window as if waiting for someone, silent and still like a doll.

Even when changing her bandages, the pain from her wounds never made her flinch.

She never asked about William, as if he had never existed.

Thinking about this, Walter felt a pang in his heart.

With William's fate still unknown, he didn't know how to face Christina.

Fortunately, Christina's injuries were minor. With the care of a private doctor and her compliance with every instruction, she was almost fully recovered.

"Not much," Christina replied with a faint smile, taking the glass from him. "Thanks."

She drank the water in one gulp, but the next moment, she heard Walter's slightly apologetic voice.

"I'm sorry, Christina. We still haven't found William. He might already be..."

"It's okay," Christina interrupted him calmly after a moment of daze, shaking her head lightly. There was no trace of emotion in her eyes as she sighed softly.

"He's your uncle. It's your duty to do everything you can to find him. As for me..."

She subconsciously touched her abdomen, where a small life was growing.

Realizing this, her expression turned a bit wistful.

After everything that happened in her past life, she wasn't sure if she should keep this child.

"Focus on your recovery. You and the baby are the most important now. As for William's funeral..."

Walter's voice choked up slightly. "I'll take care of it. Don't be too sad."

Walter had been losing sleep over William's situation, and it showed in his haggard appearance.

Christina opened her mouth but didn't say anything more, offering only a few weak words of comfort.

To her, William felt like a distant memory from another lifetime.

He had taken a fatal blow for her, and from that moment on, they owed each other nothing.

William no longer owed her anything.

And likewise, there was no longer any connection between them.

It was Walter who had been a great help to her these past few days.

"Walter, I've caused you so much trouble lately. I can manage on my own," Christina said apologetically, forcing a smile.

Walter, who had no real obligation to her, had done so much for her.

Christina felt a bit guilty about it.

Since she couldn't reciprocate, she decided not to involve him any further.

"It's no trouble at all. You don't need to be so formal with me," Walter said, shaking his head and frowning slightly. "Christina, regardless of our relationship, I consider you a friend. You don't need to be so polite."

Christina hesitated. "But I..."

After everything that happened in her past life, she couldn't trust any man again.

She couldn't develop any feelings for Walter beyond friendship.

"It's okay, you don't need to say anything," Walter interrupted her quickly, forcing a light-hearted smile to hide his own feelings.

"The most important thing now is for you to take care of yourself. You're pregnant, so you need to be extra careful."

Christina nodded reluctantly. "Alright, I'll listen to you."

"That's the spirit," Walter said with a smile. He was about to say something to cheer her up when the private doctor appeared at the door. "Mr. Cavendish, it's time for Ms. Windsor's prenatal checkup."

Their rare moment of conversation was interrupted, and Walter felt a pang of disappointment. But he smiled and stood up.

"Let's go. I'll go with you to the checkup."

Christina nodded and stood up gracefully, her expression calm.

To her, whether William was alive or dead no longer mattered.

In this new life, everything seemed so different and unfamiliar.

The William who once discarded her now longed for her attention.

It felt like a twist of fate, with past events fading into distant memories, no longer connected to her.

At the hospital.

Walter stayed by Christina's side, handling the registration and payments, bustling around, making Christina feel a bit guilty.

"Walter, I'm troubling you again," she said.

Walter's smile faltered for a moment but quickly returned to normal.

"I told you, there's no need to be so formal with me. If you keep this up, I'll really get mad."

Walter pretended to be angry, and Christina, feeling helpless, was about to speak.

The doctor nearby couldn't help but tease, "You two are quite polite for a couple. It's normal for a husband to accompany his wife to a prenatal checkup, isn't it?"

Christina's face turned red instantly. "We, we're not..."

Before she could finish saying "a couple," Walter interrupted.

"Doctor, sorry for the misunderstanding."

Walter's smile was polite and composed as he took the medical records from the doctor, listening carefully to all the precautions and guidelines for pregnant women.

Christina, standing beside him, felt both embarrassed and reassured.

She was grateful to have Walter with her. Otherwise, she would have been overwhelmed and might not have even managed to see a doctor.

After the checkup, Walter took Christina back to the villa in the suburbs.

The area was quiet, with most residents being wealthy and influential.

The landscaping was beautiful, and as Walter put it, it was a good place for her to rest and take care of her pregnancy.

Christina had nothing much to do lately, with the design competition still two months away.

Under Walter's insistence, she stayed there, eating well, drinking well, and attending her checkups on time.

In her spare time, she hid in the small study, seeking inspiration and preparing for the upcoming design competition.

But each time, she spent over two hours in the study.

This worried Walter. Seeing her emerge from the study looking exhausted once again, he took her by the hand and led her to the garden for a break.

"Christina, you need to take it easy," Walter said gently. "You can't overwork yourself, especially now."

Christina sighed. "I know, but I need to keep my mind occupied. Otherwise, I'll just keep thinking about everything."

Walter nodded, understanding. "I get it. But you have to find a balance. How about we take a walk? The fresh air will do you good."

Christina smiled faintly. "Alright, a walk sounds nice."

As they strolled through the garden, the tension in Christina's shoulders began to ease. Walter's presence was a comforting constant, and for the first time in a long while, she felt a glimmer of hope.