Free Web NovelChapter 673: Who Would Want a Son Like Him?
Anthony was Christian’s father, so he ought to be at the press conference.
Since he had agreed to accept Christian into the family, he had an obligation to do so properly. In fact, Michael was taking this matter very seriously.
Mr. York nodded and left.
Michael saw his grandmother, Isabel, and Wendy looking at him worriedly.
He smiled as he said, "I am fine. Why are all of you looking at me like that?"
"Michael..." his grandmother began, but she only sighed in the end. "Never mind."
"Well, no big deal! No loss for me, isn’t it?" said Michael. "The chance of Christian being a match is slim, but we have to give it a try."
Michael would never put Leah’s life at stake. The atmosphere was suddenly tense.
Fortunately, Milo walked towards them at that particular moment with his hands in his pockets. Milo was a charming man. If not for the sake of his grandfather, who wanted him to inherit the family business in the medical field, he would definitely be famous by now in the entertainment industry. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
"Finally, you are back," said Milo as he approached them. He hugged Michael immediately. After that, he turned around and looked at Wendy. He intended to hug her too. But he halted suddenly and said with a smile, "I think I shouldn’t hug Wendy. Michael would kill me."
Milo’s joke eased the atmosphere.
"By the way, why are the both of you hurt?" asked Milo when he saw the wounds on Michael and Wendy’s bodies.
"No worries. It’s nothing," Michael and Wendy said at the same time. Then, they looked at each other.
"Seriously? Both of you are so in sync," laughed Milo.
"Milo, what about the antidote?" asked Michael worriedly. He had left Lake City for almost a week, so he wanted to know if the medical team had any progress with the antidote.
Milo sighed as he said gravely, "I have already put other research projects on hold.
I’ve even asked the top researchers to come and help me out. Rest assured. I am pretty sure that we will be able to develop the antidote soon."
"Thank you," said Michael.
"When the antidote has been developed successfully, I am so going to claim all the expenses from you," said Milo as he tapped on Michael’s shoulder. "Do you know how much money I’ve spent, and how many favors I’ve pulled?"
"All right. You may claim everything from me, no worries," said Michael generously without hesitation. In fact, he did not care about the money at all. If he had to spend all his money in return for his family’s safety, he would. It was a pity that money cannot buy everything in this world.
"Let me take a look at Leah and Jake," said Milo as he turned around and walked into the ward.
Looking in Milo’s direction, Wendy saw Mary standing at the door. She seemed to be eavesdropping on their conversation.
Wendy approached her and said, "Mom, do we have any relatives? I know that we were never in touch with them. But for Leah’s sake, could you please tell me if there is anyone else who can help?"
"No... no one else..." Mary’s eyes darted around as she spoke. She did not dare to look into Wendy’s eyes.
...
"Mom..." Wendy began. She pursed her lips and asked after a while, "Mom, are you hiding something from me?"
"What can I hide from you?" asked Mary as she forced a smile. Previously, Wendy had never bothered to ask about her father. But now, she could not remain indifferent. Leah’s life was at stake.
They could not simply sit and wait for Christian to take the test. Furthermore, many of their relatives had taken the test, but none of them was a match. Christian might not be a match too. They needed to approach as many relatives as possible to take the test. No matter how slim the chances were, Wendy had to explore all possibilities.
"Mom, I did ask you once about my father. But you blew up. You said that he was already dead before I was born," said Wendy as she recounted. But you cried your heart out after returning to your room. From that day onwards, I did not ask about my father anymore. But now, I need to ask you again. Is my father really dead?"
Mary lowered her head as she blinked. Her eyes welled up with tears. Mary remained silent. Wendy then asked Mary again, "Even if my father is dead, what about his family members? How about my grandparents or my cousins? And how about your parents?"
In Wendy’s memory, she did not have a father. She had never seen her grandparents either. Ever since she was born, Mary was her only family. They had only each other and no one else, even during festive seasons.
Mary took a deep breath as she wiped off her tears. She raised her head and said as the tears continued to fall, "Wendy, let’s wait for Christian’s result. Perhaps he is a match."
Wendy was stunned. "Mom, what do you mean by that?" asked Wendy instantly.
"Don’t ask further, Wendy. Let’s wait for Christian’s test result," said Mary. "I believe that the result should be out on the same day that he takes the test. Even though Christian is currently in Rheinsville City, it will take two days for the blood to to be transported here. We have enough time."
With Leah’s current condition, she had another month or so. Upon her mother’s insistence, Wendy did not press her further. She knew her mother better than anyone else. If she did not want to talk about it, nobody could force her.
Mary then turned around and went into the ward. She was flustered as she took an apple from the table. She smiled at Leah and Jake, "Leah, Jake, let me peel an apple for you."
Seeing Mary’s shivering hands, Wendy could only sigh. It seemed that Mary was indeed hiding something from her.
For the time being, Wendy could not be bothered about anything else. She could only wait patiently for Christian’s test result. It would be great if Christian was a match. Otherwise, she would have to broach the subject with Mary again. By then, Wendy would definitely go all out to plead with Mary to tell her about her father and her grandparents.
"Wendy, I am so sorry that I could not be of much help," Isabel sighed as she walked towards Wendy.
Wendy shook her head, "I should be the one thanking you."
Isabel was a celebrity. She had always been busy and she hardly came home. This time, she had put all her work on hold just to come back for the test. Wendy was already very grateful for this. In fact, it was absolutely beyond one’s control whether or not they are a match.
...
"Alright, got it. I will be coming over in a while," Michael walked towards Wendy after he hung up the call from Mr. York. He then said to her, "Mr. York has already contacted all the reporters. I have to go over now."
"I’m not going with you. I will stay here with Leah and Jake," said Wendy. freewёbnoνel.com
"Daddy, are you going to work?" Leah was struggling to get off her bed upon hearing what Michael said. She then looked at Michael, reluctance written all over her face.
She was afraid that Michael would be away for a long time. "For how long will you be away this time?"
She knew that both her parents were busy. Whenever they went outstation for work, it would always be a long while before they came home.
Michael could not bear to leave Leah too as he looked into her large innocent eyes that were filled with disappointment.
He bent over to kiss Leah’s cheek and said, "Daddy’s not going overseas. Daddy needs to handle some matters, but I will be back soon."
"How soon is soon?" asked Leah as she blinked her big round eyes.
"Well..." Michael gave it a thought and said, "Two hours. I will be back in two hours, okay?"
"Pinky promise?" said Leah as she stretched out her little finger.
Michael smiled as he entwined his pinky with Leah’s, saying, "Pinky promise."
"You make a pinkie promise, you keep it all your life.
You break a pinkie promise, I throw you on the ice.
The cold will kill the pinkie that once betrayed your friend, the frost will freeze your tongue off so you never lie again."
Leah recited the pinky promise rhyme as she held on to Michael’s pinky with hers.
She then sealed the promise by joining her thumb with Michael’s.
"Alright. Let the frost freeze my tongue off if I break my promise," said Michael as he smiled awkwardly.
Leah was very clingy as compared to Jake, which was not unusual since she was a girl. Now that she was sick, she was even more clingy than before. The more she behaved in this manner, the more Michael felt afraid of losing her.
He was so afraid that he would lose her should they fail to find a suitable bone marrow donor.
Michael kissed Leah again. When he wanted to hug Jake, Jake took a step back.
Michael was a little upset by his son’s reaction, but he put it aside and said to Jake, "Daddy will be back soon."
"I know. Didn’t you already say that to Leah?" Jake said matter-of-factly.
Michael didn’t know what to say to that, so he turned around and left.
When Michael arrived at the press conference, some of the reporters were already at the scene.
Mr. York approached Michael and said, "I have contacted eighteen news outlets. Ten of them have arrived. The rest are still on the way since they are quite far from here."
"All right," Michael nodded. Then, he asked, "Where’s Anthony?"
"I’ve already asked someone to escort the chairman here. He will be here soon," said Mr. York. As soon as Mr. York finished speaking, Anthony appeared at the entrance of the hall.
There were two bodyguards by Anthony’s side. When Anthony saw Michael, he walked over furiously. Then, he said with great impatience, "Michael, why am I here?"
"Haven’t you been thinking of your son, Christian Lucas? Now, I am giving you a chance to acknowledge him in public," said Michael coldly.
"Why would I want to acknowledge him as my son?" said Anthony angrily. "He is a drug trafficker on the run. Who would want a son like him?"
Christian had only just been caught by the Interpol, and news of his arrest had not been released to the public yet. So Anthony did not know about it.
Michael was amused by what Anthony said. Anthony cared more about his reputation than his own son.
