Reborn as Mr.CEO's Fat Wife-Chapter 859: Life Is Ineffably Wonderful

After Abigail and Brandon Piers left, Benjamin Jones leaned back on the hospital bed, falling into silence. Suddenly, he had an intense longing to see Catherine Ford.

This uncontrollable yearning felt unfamiliar and intense, making him seem unlike himself. After a while, he took out his phone and called Seamus Noah, "Help me with the discharge procedures."

Seamus Noah had just finished paying the bill when he received Benjamin Jones’s call, which left him somewhat dumbfounded, "Lawyer Jones, you’ve just had surgery. Isn’t it too early to be discharged?"

"Just arrange it," Benjamin Jones said emotionlessly, curtly interrupting Seamus Noah, and then he sent a message to Reed.

...

LG Logistics Department.

Since returning from the hospital, Catherine Ford had been distracted, failing to hear her colleagues speaking to her several times. As soon as it was time to leave work, she hurriedly stood up, only to bump into Rita Pansy, who was slowly making her way back.

Compared to her and Grace Clarke, Rita Pansy’s return had attracted considerable attention from other colleagues. Those who were on good terms with Rita Pansy went straight up to ask about Benjamin Jones’s condition.

In the same building, news of Benjamin Jones’s illness and hospitalization spread fast, especially since Grace Clarke was a loudspeaker. She had briefly explained the situation to everyone in the afternoon. And with Rita Pansy being known as ’Lawyer Jones’s girlfriend,’ her return at this time made everyone naturally think that she was taking care of Benjamin Jones.

Catherine Ford knew that Rita Pansy had indeed visited Benjamin Jones after they did, and her leaving steps slowed down, eager to know how the man was doing, her heart had been hanging ever since she returned.

"Lawyer Jones is out of danger now, everyone can rest assured," Rita Pansy answered proudly amid the envious and gossiping gazes of the crowd, and then deliberately paused, "Also, this time the LG and Universal Law Firm’s mixer dance will be managed by Lawyer Jones’s secretary, Seamus Noah. As everyone knows, Universal has many eligible bachelors and bachelorettes. Those who are single should absolutely put in an effort this time!"

The crowd, hearing that Universal Law Firm was taking this event so seriously that Lawyer Jones’s secretary would be coordinating, but soon someone realized it wasn’t so much the event they were valuing, as it was valuing Rita Pansy.

Instantly, many looked at Rita Pansy with even more envy and attentiveness, with someone gossiping, "Rita, will Lawyer Jones be attending then?"

"This..." Rita Pansy was stumped by the question, then shyly giggled, "I can’t make any promises about that."

"What do you mean you can’t make any promises? We believe that as long as it’s Rita’s initiative, Lawyer Jones will definitely attend, right?" a male colleague teased.

Others followed with laughter and teasing, while Catherine Ford, with a complex expression, glanced at Rita Pansy and quietly left the department. She had just reached the elevator when she received a call from Reed, saying that he was already waiting for her at the usual place.

Catherine Ford, momentarily surprised, wanted to ask how Benjamin Jones was doing, but then the elevator doors opened, and she had to drop the matter.

Sighing softly in her heart, she looked up to see Grace Clarke rushing in, who then came up to her with a hint of mystery, "Catherine, Assistant Manager Helin from the sales department asked me out for dinner, should I go?"

Catherine Ford was taken aback, "Today?"

"Yeah, it’s all so secretive," Grace Clarke complained, always feeling that Assistant Manager Helin’s attitude towards her was more respectful than fond, but she really couldn’t recall anything about herself that warranted such respect, so she wrote it off as her own misperception.

Upon hearing this, Catherine Ford slightly furrowed her brows, "I don’t have a good impression of Supervisor Clements, and didn’t you say he was all neurotic?"

"That’s true," Grace Clarke found this to make sense, and promptly declined, then turned to ask Catherine Ford, "I’m not working overtime tomorrow, and I’ll go back to my parents’ house tonight, why don’t we take the subway together?"

Catherine Ford’s movement stiffened as she stepped out of the elevator, having completely dug herself into a hole, "Well, I... I have to pick up my child later, so I won’t take the subway."

"Oh, I see, okay then," Grace Clarke replied with disappointment.

Catherine Ford awkwardly chuckled and walked a detour after leaving the building to make sure Grace Clarke had gone far before turning around and walking slowly to the agreed spot, where Reed was already waiting for her. Catherine Ford quickly looked around, opened the car door, and got into the car, while Grace Clarke, suddenly remembering something she left at the office, jogged back and saw Catherine Ford getting into a black Cayenne. She recognized that car; it was the one she had just become acquainted with today, Lawyer Jones’ ride.

The shock made Grace Clarke forget to run, and she just stared dumbfounded as the car gradually drove away, wondering if she was hallucinating or if her presbyopia had worsened—how could it be possible, how could it be!

"It might not necessarily be Lawyer Jones’ car, right?" After a while, Grace Clarke murmured to herself, then shook her head first because she had made a point of checking Lawyer Jones’ car today after hearing Lewis’s words. Although it was just a Cayenne and looked ordinary, it was a car priced at three to four million, not something just anyone could afford. After thinking it over, Grace Clarke sent a message to Catherine Ford, "Did you catch the bus?"

Very soon, Catherine Ford replied that she had boarded the bus.

Grace Clarke, staring at those two words, suddenly connected all the events of the recent period. First, there were rumors that Lawyer Jones’ girlfriend was not Ellis Raindream, followed by whispers that Lawyer Jones’ girlfriend worked in the logistics department of LG, and people saw Lawyer Jones hugging his girlfriend getting into a car. Then everyone was guessing which logistics department member it could be.

Only Catherine Ford had been relatively silent, always deliberately diverting the conversation elsewhere when the topic arose. Especially this morning, Catherine Ford was visibly nervous when Lewis first mentioned that someone had snapped a photo of Lawyer Jones’ girlfriend, and Grace Clarke had even asked her why she seemed so hot!

Now Grace Clarke realized that it wasn’t heat—it was sweat from nervousness.

Putting the pieces together with Catherine Ford’s reaction afterward, it seemed that the blurry photo made it impossible to recognize the person in it, and only then did she relax. Once everyone unanimously agreed that Lawyer Jones’ girlfriend was Rita Pansy, Catherine Ford became even more silent.

And back at Universal Law Firm, no wonder Lawyer Jones fainted on Catherine Ford’s shoulder. No wonder Catherine Ford’s explanation felt strange back then; thinking about it now, a man like Lawyer Jones would have immediately sought his secretary or driver if he felt unwell, not leaning on Catherine Ford, and holding onto her hand tightly even while getting into the car.

As for Catherine Ford’s obvious nervousness and concern at the time, Grace Clarke simply did not catch on, and never suspected that Lawyer Jones’ girlfriend could be Catherine Ford. Now thinking back to the blurry photo with an elegant silhouette, who else in the logistics department besides Catherine Ford could it be? Only Rita Pansy had the audacity to take credit for it.

Having figured out the situation, Grace Clarke sighed wistfully. Although she didn’t understand why Catherine Ford had to keep it so secretive, on further reflection, if Catherine Ford didn’t wish to disclose it, then Grace decided to pretend she hadn’t noticed.

But she couldn’t help feeling suffocated and anxious.

Grace Clarke, looking at where the Cayenne had vanished, lost interest in returning to the office. She carried a secret like a thunderbolt in her heart, but she could only keep it to herself; it was a feeling others simply couldn’t relate to—suffocating yet thrilling. Just as she was thinking about whether to share it with her mom at home, a series of urgent honks sounded. Turning her head, she saw a head poking out of a car—it was the very Assistant Manager Helin who had asked her out today.

"Miss Clarke, where are you heading? Let me give you a lift," before Grace Clarke could reply, Assistant Manager Helin got out of the car, opened the door, and gestured to her to get in.

Grace Clarke had just experienced a brainstorming session and was still disoriented when she hopped into Supervisor Clements’ car. By the time she realized what was happening, he had already started the car, with his round face framed by fringed bangs, meant to make him look young, deeply furrowed in distress. Catherine’s news had left her dumbfounded, but it didn’t seem appropriate to get out of the car now, so she awkwardly gave him an address.

Supervisor Clements seemed surprised when he heard it, "Aren’t you going to the hospital?"

Grace Clarke was confounded by the question, "Why should I go to the hospital?"

"Ah, ha ha ha, it’s nothing, nothing." Realizing how low-profile she was—she didn’t even come forward when Rita Pansy pretended to be Lawyer Jones’ girlfriend—Supervisor Clements chuckled awkwardly as a cover, yet he couldn’t help probing, "I heard you were the one who took Lawyer Jones to the hospital today?"

"How could that be? It was Lawyer Jones’ secretary, I just gave a little help." Grace Clarke still hadn’t figured out Supervisor Clements’ angle, and replied without much thought, her mind preoccupied with the hope that he would drive faster to escape the embarrassment in this car.

Assistant Manager Helin was harboring a huge secret, and the owner of that secret was sitting in his car right now, but he couldn’t speak openly about it and was stifled. It was a careless slip of his before that started the rumor of Lawyer Jones having a girlfriend in the logistics department, causing a stir in the company. Now, everyone says that Rita Pansy is Lawyer Jones’ girlfriend, and today, even more outrageously, some said Lawyer Jones attended the LG annual fellowship for Rita Pansy.

As the instigator, he wonders if Grace Clarke was upset, which is why he tentatively tried to ask her out today, only to be outright rejected. He had lost hope, but fortune had it that he ran into Grace Clarke here.

He knew that getting acquainted with Grace Clarke was like getting acquainted with Lawyer Jones himself, and he was more aware than others of Lawyer Jones’ real identity.

The other party was not just any lawyer; his father was someone who could shake the whole country with a mere gesture, and the Jones family in Swallow City was beyond the reach of ordinary wealthy families.

If he could connect with Benjamin Jones, his own family’s status would skyrocket.

Supervisor Clements’ thoughts made him more and more excited, and he looked at Grace Clarke with an inexplicable fervor, complimenting her looks and cooking skills, repeatedly circling back to probe about Benjamin Jones. Unfortunately, Grace Clarke, feeling increasingly uncomfortable with his compliments, randomly pointed to a residential area, "That... Supervisor Clements, my house is nearby, you can drop me off here."

"Oh, sure, no problem," Supervisor Clements eagerly responded, then stepped out of the car to open the door for Grace Clarke.

Seeing Supervisor Clements acting like a sycophant solidified Grace Clarke’s conviction that he wasn’t actually interested in her but was getting close for some unknown purpose.

As this thought crossed her mind, Grace Clarke couldn’t help but get goosebumps when she looked at Assistant Manager Helin again, feeling that her life had become more and more fantastical.

First, her ordinary, divorced colleague with a child turns out to be the girlfriend of a top tycoon, followed by receiving attentions she normally scoffed at from a supervisor. She couldn’t help but shake her head in wonder, life is truly indescribable.

Catherine Ford, who had gotten into Reed’s car, was completely unaware that she had been exposed. As soon as she got into the car, she started to ponder how to inquire about Benjamin Jones’ condition, but Reed, as usual, was silent the entire trip.

Catherine Ford looked at Reed’s serious expression, and her already concerned heart grew even more anxious, finally breaking the silence when the car passed the hospital, "How is Lawyer Jones now?"

Thinking of his boss’ orders, Reed responded, "Although he has woken up after his stomach perforation, his condition isn’t very good. He’s weak and the doctors say he has to prevent infection. His meals must be regular from now on, without any spicy or irritating foods, otherwise a relapse could be very troublesome."

Having said that, Reed felt a twinge of conscience, but for the sake of his boss’s happiness, he could only ignore his conscience.

Catherine Ford saw Benjamin Jones being rushed into the emergency room today, guessing that his condition might not be very good, but she never imagined it could be serious enough to lead to a stomach perforation. But didn’t Rita Pansy say it wasn’t a big problem?

She then realized that Rita Pansy wasn’t actually Benjamin Jones’s girlfriend; how could she know his condition!

And Reed’s words made her heart pound with fear. She knew the seriousness of a stomach perforation—that it was life-threatening without timely rescue, and even if the surgery was successful, as the doctor said, if not careful afterward, it could lead to infections, which would be even more dangerous.

And she was the main reason for the man’s condition.

Self-blame, guilt, and uncontrollable heartache made Catherine involuntarily clench her fists, her face pale and unsightly, her eyes rimmed with redness.

Reed, not hearing a reply from Catherine, glanced at her through the rear view mirror, saw her clean and beautiful face absent of any color, her eyes suffused with red, and realized his words might have scared her. He hastily tried to make amends, "Miss Ford, don’t worry too much, our Lawyer Jones is blessed with great fortune; he’ll be alright."

His words only made Catherine feel worse. Everyone thought that Benjamin Jones was an invincible man, but all she could think of now was the image of him leaning on her shoulder, saying it hurt; the so-called favored son of heaven is just an ordinary person after all.

And she, out of spite, made him that dish with green peppers without knowing his physical condition; even when cooking for him on normal days, she never paid attention. If it weren’t for this hospitalization, she wouldn’t have known that man couldn’t eat spicy food at all.

The more she thought about it, the more Catherine blamed herself, the more she regretted.

But there’s no medicine for regret in this world. She curled up halfway into the shadows, bearing the discomfort and asked in a muffled voice, "I...can I go to the hospital to see him?"

She didn’t know if he would want to see her right now, but she really, truly wanted to see him, even if only to see from a distance that he was okay.

Reed found it difficult, "I’m sorry, Miss Ford, our Lawyer Jones instructed me to take you home."

He didn’t quite understand why the BOSS had changed his mind. Initially, it wasn’t supposed to be like this; he wanted Miss Ford to go home to cook and then bring the food to him at the hospital, but right before picking up Miss Ford, he suddenly changed his mind and asked him to take her straight home.

Upon hearing this, the hope in Catherine’s eyes dimmed. He probably didn’t want to see her!

Reed, sensing the oppressive atmosphere in the car, tried to comfort Catherine, "Lawyer Jones is also considering your situation; you still have to pick up Alice."

"Oh."

Catherine responded indifferently with an ’oh’, knowing that man cared more about Alice than about her.

And she was the main cause of the man’s hospitalization, so what right did she have, or rather, in what capacity should she visit him?

Thinking this, Catherine let out a self-deprecating laugh, turned her head towards the brightly lit city, and realized that after all, she was nothing.