Free Web NovelChapter 684: I Was Once So Proud of You
The atmosphere in the room slowly calmed down as everyone waited for Leah to regain consciousness.
Jill glanced imperceptibly outside the room. After a brief moment of hesitation, she said, "Since Leah’s operation is over, I will make a move. I’m in the middle of a program and can’t stay away for long."
She was in the middle of recording a program and had left citing urgent personal matters when she received Wendy’s phone call. Since Leah was no longer in danger, Jill did not want to stay.
She did not know how she should face Wendy and Timothy when everything had calmed down. Their relationship now was such that it was better if they did not meet.
Wendy turned to look at Jill. Wendy tried her best to remain calm, but the anxiety was apparent under the calm fa.ade. Jill lowered her head slightly when she met Wendy’s gaze. It seemed she was avoiding Wendy’s eyes.
Wendy nodded. She did not insist that Jill stay on. "I will get someone to take you back."
"It’s okay, I’ll leave on my own," Jill replied quietly.
Wendy opened her mouth to object, but after thinking about it, decided not to argue with Jill. A brief silence followed before Wendy said, "Thank you for coming, Jill." fɾēewebnσveℓ.com
"I wasn’t of any help anyway. There’s no need to thank me." Jill waved her hand dismissively and then picked up her bag, heading for the door.
"That you are here is already very helpful," Wendy told Jill sincerely. "If you ever need help for anything, don’t hesitate to call me."
Wendy and Jill had always been close. Jill had rushed to Lake City to see if she would be a suitable donor once she received the call from Wendy.
This was a favor that Wendy would never forget. Besides, she should not blame Jill for Timothy’s mistakes.
Jill nodded in acknowledgement and gave a simple "okay" in response.
Before she left, she glanced at Mary. This was the first time she had seen Mary. Her face was not made up, and she looked pale and haggard. She must have been exhausted taking care of Leah recently. The skin on her face was loose and the wrinkles deep.
However, Jill could see that she had pretty features. Mary must have been a great beauty when she was young. Jill observed Mary for a moment more before turning to leave the room.
Wendy turned to look at Mary after Jill disappeared from sight. Mary probably knew who Jill was. Wendy had told her before. Wendy watched as her mother’s eyes became slightly more downcast. Mary neither said nor did anything else and Wendy felt her heart ache for her mother.
At a time like this, anything Wendy said would not be much of a consolation to Mary.So Wendy chose to remain silent.
Jill did not leave the hospital immediately after she left the ward. Instead, she went to the nurses’ station.
"Hello, I would like to know which room Timothy Woods is in?" she asked the nurse.
"Please hold on," answered the nurse politely.
Soon, she found what she was looking for. "He’s at level fifteen, bed number two."
"Thank you," replied Jill with a nod.
This was the sixteenth floor, which meant Timothy was downstairs. Jill saw Wendy speaking to Milo after Leah was pushed out of the operating theatre. Afterwards, Timothy’s bed was pushed towards a different direction.
...
Jill guessed that Wendy had asked for Timothy’s room to be moved further away from Leah’s. His room was next to Leah’s the day before. Jill had no right to judge Wendy for what she had done.
After all, Timothy was the one who had done wrong by Mary. Wendy had grown up in a single parent family without a father figure because of him. It was not unreasonable for Wendy and Mary to hate him.
Jill went to Timothy’s room alone. She did not tell anyone else. No matter how much she hated Timothy, he was her father. She had been the apple of his eye and he had always doted on her.
As usual, there were two police officers standing guard outside Timothy’s room. Jill approached them and said, "I am his daughter and I would like to visit him."
One of them recognized Jill and nodded, giving her permission to enter. Walking into the room, Jill stood silently in front of Timothy’s bed. She hated him, but when she saw him pale and unconscious on the bed, she could not help but feel teary.
Reaching up to wipe the tears that were rolling down her cheeks, she said as her voice choked with emotion, "Dad, you have always been a great father. You have always wanted me to study designing so that I could be like you. We’ve fought countless times because of that.
"You are a renowned designer. As your daughter, I was immensely proud of you. I’ve never expected that the one I respected the most, my own father, would commit a crime, much less do something so shameless in the past.
"You’ve loved my mother and I all these years. You’ve treated us well. Who would have thought that you actually had a wife and child before us?
Oh, no, wait. You didn’t actually marry my half-sister’s mother, so she can’t be considered your wife.
"Dad, I was once so proud of you. Now, I’m ashamed to be your daughter. Perhaps spending the rest of your life in jail is a fitting end for you."
Jill suddenly remembered how her father had looked when he was younger. He was confident and dashing. She was only ten then. She saw her father on stage accepting an award. Proud and happy, he raised the award high above his head.
Whenever he brought an award home, he would hand it to Rosa, saying she deserved half the credit for it. If he designed a piece of clothing meant for a woman, he would always make the first piece by hand and present it to Rosa. He would also make child size versions of those designs that were suited for children, and Jill would get those too.
He had been a loving father and husband. What had happened? Those happy days from the past were vividly etched in Jill’s mind. How had they suddenly become so hazy, so much so that they seemed like nothing more than a dream?
"Goodbye, Dad..." Jill choked as she bade her father farewell. Reaching out to wipe the tears off her face, she took a deep breath, turned and left his room. The rims of her eyes were red and her vision blurry.
Upon exiting the hospital, Jill tilted her head back and looked up at the sun in thsky. Her father was once like the sun, warm and bright. Sadly, everything had changed, and her son was no more.
...
After Jill left, Wendy turned to Isabel. Quietly, she said, "Isabel, you’re probably very busy. You don’t have to stay here with us. Leah will be fine with me and Michael here."
Leah was no longer in critical condition and Wendy did not want Isabel to neglect her work. It was not necessary for her to do so. Isabel was about to say something when her cellphone rang.
She glanced at the screen and saw that it was from her producer. Stepping aside, she took the call.
After a while, Jill returned and said somewhat apologetically, "I’m sorry, Wendy. I should stay and help take care of Leah for a few days at least, but the producer is asking for me to hurry back.."
"It’s okay, you should get back to work quickly," replied Wendy. "Thank you for coming."
"I’m her aunt and I should be here." Isabel smiled, "I’m glad she’s fine now."
Isabel glanced toward her grandmother and Michael. "Grandma, Michael, I’ll make a move."
"Go, go, you’re a busy person. Remember to visit me when you have the time," Mrs.
Lucas said. "I’m an old woman and I have no idea how much time I’ve left."
"Nonsense!" Isabel quickly said, "Grandma, you will live to a ripe old age!"
"You and your smart mouth. Go, get going," urged Mrs. Lucas.
After Isabel left, Wendy turned to look at Mary. Before Wendy could say anything, Mary quickly said, "It’s summer vacation. There’s nothing for me to do even if I were to return home."
Wendy had wanted to ask Mary to go home. But it was true that it’s the holidays now.
Wendy then turned her gaze onto Mrs. Lucas. Mrs. Lucas immediately said, "I have nothing else to do anyway. I want to stay and wait for Leah to regain consciousness."
Well, it seemed that everyone was worried about Leah. Wendy decided to stop trying to get them to leave.
Paul had said that Leah would wake up in about two hours. Everyone would be more at ease once she regained consciousness.
Before Leah woke up, Michael received a call. It was from Leah’s school.
Michael frowned. It was summer holidays. Why was the school calling?
Before taking the call, Michael informed Wendy softly, "It’s from the school." fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
"Hello, Mr. Lucas, I am Leah’s teacher," the caller introduced herself.
"Hello, yes?" replied Michael.
"Mark Jeffery’s parents called. May I ask if you know where Mark is?" asked the teacher. "Mark is not at home and his parents heard that Mark might have gone to play with your daughter, Leah."
Michael turned to regard the little boy who was sitting by Leah’s hospital bed. The boy was staring intently at Leah with a slight frown. "He’s here with me. Please inform his parents and tell them not to worry. I will take him home."
"All right. I will let his mother know," said the teacher.
After he ended the call, Michael glanced at Wendy, then walked to Mark. Squatting down, he asked the boy, "Mark, didn’t you tell your parents where you were going before you went out?"
At Michael’s question, Mark looked down guiltily and shook his head.
"Why didn’t you tell them? They’re looking for you and must be worried sick."
Michael questioned gently.
