Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele

Chapter 14Cordelia]

My body is shaking so I drive across town and I am etdin shock over my mother's words when I pull into the parking lot of the hospital.

A kind nurse shows me the way to my father's room. After thanking her, I stand outside his door, my hand above the handle at I try to calm my nerves

My father might be dying Hearing that from my mother hurt in ways I wasn't expecting, it is one thing to know it might happen someday and another to see it happen before your eyes

We've tried over the years to build a stronger relationship but there is something about the two of us that just doesn't mix. Even when I try to do my best to please him, it always comes across as a lack of effort on my part or some type of disobedience if I choose to do it my It has never been my intention to hurt him, but every time I try to be my own person, it seems to harm our relationship

As I take my last deep breath, the boisterous sound of my father's laughter rings out into the hall. confused. I enter the room, to see my father is still wiping my eyes, his face red as he recovers.

My mother seeing my confused face, immediately takes on the visage of someone much more reserved and mournful in the blink of an eye, she transforms from a happy wife to a grieving widow

1 thought you said he was dying "I point an accusatory finger at my father while glaring at my mother. That doesn't look like dying "

The laughter from a moment before eases out of their expressions as my mother takes on a more serious

tone

"Just because we find a moment of joy in a hard time does not mean we are not suffering," she admonishes the in hushed tones. "Your father had a close call with death, he needs all the joy he can find Ashamed of my accusation, i look down at my hands, not sure of what to say next.

How could you do it Cordelia my father coughed from the bed. Lying back against the pillows he looks a lot less jubilant than he did just a moment ago "Did you realize your actions would have consequences?

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am so sorry i never thought."amented thinking of all the ways thed to make things work between Atlas and mysed 11ned to make it work. I've done everything I can to serve this family. Please believe me I was not trying to hurt you, or our fatully What can do to

Ti think you have done quite enough my mother lookedly out the window, staring past me as if i am not really these your father needs some rest Now go would like some time alone." she announces, dismissing me with a wave of the hand

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I want to say more but stop my because no matter what I say of how I say it, the truth is that this really is all my fault Everything My sister, my maths mesa

Depressed and loader back out that my parent's harsh words sent me right back to that night 5 years ago when Angelica doappeared had faller use in her room, reading a book, and

woke find her mysteriously gone. Nobody saw her being taken away. It was like she had been a

I

up to ghost.

Ambling slowly towards the elevators, I don't notice I've run into him until I find myself hitting what feels. like a warm, nice-smelling, bolder.

"Excuse me," I mumble looking up at a handsome man with a warm smile and honey-colored eyes. His uniform tells me that he is a doctor, so I take a step back. "Sorry, Doctor...?"

"Davis. Dr. Jude Davis," His smile widens as he takes a step back to give me enough space. "And you are the Greyson daughter, yes?"

"Cordelia Stee..I mean Cordelia Greyson," I nod in greeting, hoping that he didn't notice the faux pas when I started to give the wrong name. "I was just visiting my dad," I sniffle as I sloppily wipe the tears from my face with the back of my sleeve. "He had a heart attack, and "About that," he opens his mouth, looks around, and then asks almost in a whisper. "Would you care to have a cup of coffee? I have a break coming up and I...

"I don't know if that is a good idea," and I don't. This man is a complete stranger and it has already been a hard morning, even though it has barely started. "I should probably stay close in case my father gets worse. 1

He laughs, but then becomes very sober when he sees that I am not laughing with him.

"About that," he begins, shaking his head. "Your father is lying. He didn't have a heart attack."