Chapter 61-70
hapter 61
The next day, Rosalie opened her eyes to find the room empty. Before falling asleep last night, she had still held onto a glimmer of hope that Theodore would stay with her. But he had left after all.
That man was really ridiculous. He had come to the hospital all angry and driven away her friend, only to leave in the end. But it made sense. She had asked him to leave, so he did. But why did she feel so aggrieved?
Just then, the bathroom door opened and Theodore emerged. Seeing the woman on the hospital bed awake, he approached.
“You’re awake.”
“Why are you still here?” asked a surprised Rosalie, who thought he
had left.
“I was going to leave last night. I planned to wait until you were asleep, but I got a bit tired and dozed off in the chair. When I woke up, it was already morning.”
“I see.”
After hearing his explanation, Rosalie felt a bit down. So, that’s what happened. He had only stayed because he had accidentally fallen. asleep.
Noting her husband’s pallor complexion, which made it clear that he hadn’t slept well last night, Rosalie said, “You should go home andThis is from NôvelDrama.Org.
rest now.”
Theodore looked at her, about to say something, when his phone rang.
“Hello.” His expression quickly turned annoyed. “How could that happen? How do you people operate? You can’t even take care of one
person properly. I’m coming over now!”
Theodore ended the call and said, “Rose, I have to leave. I’ve arranged for someone to take care of you, they’ll be here soon. Also, I’ll send you the divorce papers today. If you don’t see any issues, just sign them.”
Rosalie’s heart trembled. What was meant to happen would
eventually come to be. Even though this man sometimes treated her well, it was all just an illusion. The one he truly loved was Cynthia.
Theodore had just grabbed his coat to leave when Rosalie suddenly called out, “Theo.”
Theodore paused. “Is there anything else?”
“Are you going to see Cynthia?”
“Yes. She’s got a fever,” Theodore replied flatly.
“Oh, then go ahead.”
Rosalie’s voice was eerily calm. As his wife was lying on a hospital bed, he was rushing to leave because another woman had a fever. How nice. It was just a pity that Cynthia wasn’t his wife yet. If she was, everything he was doing would be reasonable.
With his back to her and without turning his head, Theodore said softly, “You said it yourself that you think of me as a brother. If that’s the case, then Cindy is your sister–in–law, isn’t she?”
Rosalie suddenly chuckled. She found it amusing that she wasn’t even angry hearing such words. She felt nothing but amusement. Being tormented by this man had forged her heart into one of steel.
Before Rosalie could respond, Theodore had already left, his footsteps fading into the distance.
from her mouth. Even a heart of steel could ache sometimes. Nothing was unbreakable.
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Theodore was on his way out of the hospital when he suddenly spotted a familiar figure in the distance. After confirming it multiple times, he recognized Stephanie, who was dressed in a nurse’s
uniform and going about her duties.
Frowning, he strode over and asked, “Stephanie, why are you here?”
Startled by the voice behind her, Stephanie turned around, forcing a stiff smile when she saw who it was.
“Mr. Spencer, I see you’re still here.”
“I have another question for you. Are you working here?”
He hadn’t known about this.
“I… yes. Is there a problem?” Stephanie replied nervously.
Theodore was about to ask why she hadn’t told him about this, but paused. Why was he even asking this? What did Stephanie working here have to do with him? But something didn’t feel right.
“What’s wrong? Is it a problem that I work here?”
Stephanie’s heart raced. Did Theodore suspect that she was up to something and was using her position to meddle and prevent him from knowing about Rosalie’s pregnancy?
Theodore’s expression darkened. He was unable to pinpoint what
was off, but right now he didn’t have time to figure it out, as he had to hurry to check on Cynthia. In the end, he turned and walked away, leaving Stephanie shivering.
When Theodore arrived at Cynthia’s place, she was lying in bed. Concerned, he immediately sat by her bedside.
“How are you feeling?”
Cynthia looked pale and was clearly very ill, even trembling when she breathed.
“Theo, you’re here. I told them not to call you. I know you’re busy. What’s wrong with them?”
A furious Cynthia tried to get out of bed.
“Don’t move.” Theodore immediately pressed Cynthia back onto the bed. “They were right to call me. How did you get this sick?”
Cynthia coughed a few times as she shook her head. “It’s all my fault. My body is too weak. I really hate myself. I might as well just die and end this suffering.”
“Stop that nonsense.”
Theodore frowned, his eyes filled with worry. He took a towel that a servant had brought and placed it on Cynthia’s forehead, patting it gently.
“Don’t worry, you’ll get better soon.”
”
“What’s the point of getting better? I’ll just keep getting sick. Theo, I don’t know how much longer I can endure this,” Cynthia said as she tightly held his hand. “Maybe it’s better to let me go.”
“Don’t say such things, or I’ll get angry,” said Theodore. He sounded stern, but his tone still carried indulgence and tenderness.
Seeing that Theodore seemed genuinely upset, Cynthia dared not say
more. He stayed with her all day. Only when it was dark outside did her fever gradually subside, returning her to a more lucid state.
Theodore glanced at the thermometer in relief. “Cindy, you’re fine now. The fever’s gone.”
“Theo, have you been here with me all day?” Cynthia asked.
“Yeah.” Theodore nodded. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
“With you here, I’ll definitely persevere,” Cynthia said with adoration in her eyes. “You’re my reason to live. As long as I have you, I can endure any hardship.”
As Theodore gazed at Cynthia’s sincere expression, he suddenly recalled what Rosalie had said about the crystal bracelet and how he had been abroad with Cynthia for two months under the pretext of a business trip.
Had Cynthia told Rosalie all that?
Seeing that she was much better now, Theodore said, “Cindy, I need to ask you something, and I want you to be honest with me.”
“What is it?” Cynthia asked, feeling uneasy.
“That day in the office, what did you tell Rose?”
Was Theodore questioning her?
“Theo, I… I did tell her some things.”
“Including that I sent you abroad and spent two months with you, right?”
During those two months, Cynthia’s health had deteriorated again. At one point, it seemed like she might not make it, so Theodore had stayed by her side, wanting to be there for her at the end of her life. However, Cindy had managed to pull through in the end.
“Yes, I told her that.”
“Cindy, why did you tell her those things?” Theodore’s expression turned cold. “She didn’t need to know.”
“What if I told you she did need to know?” Cynthia said with tears streaming down her face. “Are you angry with me? You think I shouldn’t have told her those things, but I had my reasons.”
“What reasons?”
“I wanted her to completely give up on you. It’s settled that you’ll divorce her, but I don’t want to see her heartbroken. So, I said those harsh things to make sure she would forget about you and have a better life.
“Even though it may seem selfish of me, that wasn’t my intention. I really just hoped she could move on from you and embrace a new life. Sometimes, being a good person is not easy. It often leads to misunderstandings.”
Cynthia turned away uncomfortably. “It’s okay if you blame me. I shouldn’t have said those things. I’m sorry. I can apologize to her.”
Theodore sighed. “Stop crying. I understand.”
Upon reflection, it wasn’t so bad that Rosalie knew those things. He also felt guilty for keeping them from her. Rosalie had the right to know.
What Cynthia said also made sense. Rosalie had to be thoroughly disappointed in him before she could embrace a new life. But the thought of her moving on made his heart ache. There would be no place for him in Rose’s new life.
Having thought of something else Theodore added “Dind..
“What is it?”
Why was he asking her all these questions today? Was he becoming suspicious of her? Or had Rosalie said something to him that made him doubt her?
“Why did Rose think you chose the crystal bracelet I gave her? Did you tell her that?”
Chapter 63
Theodore didn’t want to believe that Cynthia was capable of such things. He had even blamed Rosalie for what happened with the bracelet, but her demeanor at the time didn’t seem like she was lying either.
“That bracelet… Well… I told her it was very beautiful and perfect for her. Theo, don’t you remember? After you bought that bracelet, I accidentally saw it and thought it was for me.
“But then, you told me it was for Rosalie. I just praised how beautiful it was and said it was a perfect gift for her. Did she misunderstand? It’s my fault for not explaining properly. Should I go talk to her and clear things up?”
Cynthia looked anxious and ashamed.
It wouldn’t make a difference even if Theodore confronted the two women. There was no evidence only Cynthia and Rosalie knew what happened in the office. Cynthia could spin the story however she liked.
Theodore pondered momentarily before finally coldly saying, “Next time, don’t bring up such matters. It’s better not to say anything if you’re just going to leave things half–said and make people misunderstand.”
“I… Theo, you misunderstood. I really didn’t mean it that way. Maybe I misspoke, but I didn’t intend to do that. I can explain it to her,” said Cynthia, panicking.
“No need. I just hope this doesn’t happen again.”
Theodore was utterly exhausted.
“Your fever’s gone, so I’ll leave.”
As Theodore turned to leave, Cynthia grabbed his hand. “Theo, are you mad at me? I apologize for saying too much, but that’s not what I meant. Please, believe me, I’m begging you!”
Theodore turned his head and calmly replied, “I hope so. Get some rest, okay?”
Cynthia understood that she shouldn’t say anything more. The more she said, the worse it would get.
She obediently let go of his hand. “Then, you should go home and get some rest. Thanks for keeping me company today.”
Sitting in his car, Theodore gently massaged his temples, attempting to clear his mind. He took his phone out of his pocket, only to find it dead. Plugging it into the car’s charger port, he waited for his phone. to boot up, but ended up setting it aside and driving away before it fully powered up.
While driving, Theodore’s vision blurred as the neon lights outside. seemed to cause Rosalie’s face to flash continuously in his mind. He couldn’t tell if she was happy or in pain.
She only saw him as a brother. Her pain probably stemmed from her reliance on him, like a little sister’s dependence on her big brother. Now that he, that supposed big brother, was leaving, she might feel. some reluctance. But overall, she should be happy, right?
Suddenly, his phone rang.
Theodore answered, “Hello?”
It was Yuvan on the other end.
“Mr. Spencer, I’ve been trying to reach you. Your phone was off, I couldn’t get through.”
Yuvan had been worried, thinking something might have happened to Theodore.
“My phone ran out of battery. What’s the matter?” Theodore
responded coldly.
“Mr. Spencer, I took the revised divorce papers to the hospital today, and Mrs. Spencer has already signed them.”
Theodore’s grip on the phone tightened as he asked, “Was she eager to sign them?”
“Yes,” Yuvan replied. “Mrs. Spencer didn’t seem to care about the contents. She just immediately signed the papers and asked me to pass on a message to you.”
“What was it?”
“She said, “You are finally free to be with your beloved. Congratulations“.”
Theodore’s vision was becoming increasingly blurred, to the point he could barely see the road ahead. Red lights merged with green lights, and something in his mind seemed to explode in an instant.
Suddenly, his car swerved, causing the surrounding cars to hit their brakes to avoid him! Theodore’s car slammed into a lamppost and spun before careening into the grass next to the road.
The next morning, Theodore lay in a hospital bed. There were bruises. on his face and bandages on his forehead, but he looked alert.
Yuvan sat on a chair next to the bed, peeling an apple for him.
“Mr. Spencer, it was a really close call. The car was damaged, but you came out relatively unscathed. It’s a blessing in disguise. Please, never drive when you’re tired again.”
Last night, having heard a loud bang while on the phone with
Theodore, Yuvan had been scared out of his wits.
Theodore shot a cold glance at the apple in Yuvan’s hand, a trace of irritation in his eyes.
“Who told you to buy apples? Get rid of them!”
“Huh?” Yuvan paused in the midst of peeling an apple. “Then, what do you want to eat? I’ll go get it.”
Yuvan didn’t understand why Theodore was suddenly upset. What was wrong with the apples?
Theodore coldly gazed at Yuvan. “Do I need to explain myself to you?”
“Oh, no. Of course not,” Yuvan said, quickly picking up all the apples and taking them out of the room.
It was a pity to throw the apples away. Yuvan had purposely bought expensive, imported apples for Theodore, not daring to buy his boss substandard fruits. Yet, not only had Theodore not appreciated it, Yuvan had even gotten scolded. What a thankless task!
Feeling aggrieved, Yuvan took a bite of the apple he had peeled.
before giving the remaining ones to a passing nurse, asking them to
distribute the fruits to others, then returned to Theodore’s hospital
room.
“Mr. Spencer, I’ve thrown away the apples. What fruit would you like? I’ll go buy it for you.”
“No need. I don’t want anything,” Theodore replied.
He wasn’t really angry at Yuvan. Seeing the apples just reminded him of Sebastian feeding Rosalie, which made him instantly dislike the
fruit.
With his head down, Yuvan asked pitifully, “Mr. Spencer, what did I do wrong? Please, just tell me. Don’t keep it bottled up.”
He would rather Theodore scold him outright than keep quiet like this. He didn’t understand why his boss was so annoyed. After such a serious car accident, he was lucky to be alive and relatively uninjured.
Wasn’t that fortunate?
Seeing Yuvan’s pitiful appearance, Theodore realized that he had overreacted for no reason.
“How’s the aftermath of the accident?” Theodore asked, changing the subject.
“Don’t worry, Mr. Spencer. I’ve taken care of everything according to your instructions. I’ve covered up the news about it, and your family hasn’t been informed,” Yuvan replied.
“Oh, right,” Yuvan added, taking an envelope out of a drawer. “These are the divorce papers Mrs. Spencer signed.”
There was a tight knot in Theodore’s heart as he looked at the envelope in Yuvan’s hands.
“Was she happy when she signed it?” Theodore asked solemnly.
Yuvan thought for a moment before answering, “Not particularly
happy. She was just her usual self.”
Theodore grunted coldly. “Fine.”
Her usual demeanor probably meant she was happy.
Seeing Theodore’s dark expression, Yuvan couldn’t understand. Did Theodore really want a divorce? Yuyan couldn’t tell. Honestly, Yuvan felt that Cynthia, who always acted like she was a fragile, delicate flower, was not as good as Rosalie.
“You’re dismissed,” said Theodore, wanting some time alone.
“Yes, sir. I’ll be outside. Just call me if you need anything.”
After Yuvan left, Theodore took the divorce papers out of the envelope.
He looked at Rosalie’s signature. It was neat and decisive, signed without any hesitation. But the other signature, his own, was still missing. Theodore sighed deeply and tossed the documents aside, rubbing his temples wearily.
Just a few minutes later, the door suddenly swung open and Wesley
strode in.
“Theodore.”
Theodore turned, frowning when he saw his father entering. “Dad, why are you here?”
What was Yuvan doing?! Theodore’s family wasn’t supposed to know about his accident!
“You don’t want me here, right? Well, keeping this incident quiet was the right thing to do. We can’t let anyone find out that the CEO of SK Enterprise crashed his car into a lamppost like a fool.”
Wesley had been trying to reach Theodore due to some urgent matters, which is how he had found out about his son’s accident.
Theodore shrugged. “I didn’t crash on purpose.”
“I just checked your medical records that your own doing? Come on, what have you done now?”
fatigue while driving. Wasn’t
Theodore didn’t bother to explain further, simply saying, “It happened, I’m fine. Don’t tell Grandma and Rose about this.”
“Did you even consider how your grandma and your wife would feel if something happened to you? Is it because of that woman, Cynthia?”
Everything was fine before Cynthia appeared. It was only when she showed up that everything started going wrong.
Not wanting to deal with his father anymore, Theodore pulled his blanket over his head, like a sulky child.
“You… Theodore, someone needs to discipline you!” Wesley fumed as
+35 BONUS
he took his phone out of his pocket and dialed a number.
Theodore peeked out from under the blanket, frowning. “Are you going to tell Grandma? She’s your mother!”
“I won’t tell my mother. I’m telling someone else.”
Wesley wouldn’t dare anger his own mother.
“Are you going to tell Rose?” Theodore’s expression turned darker. Don’t tell her!”
Before Theodore could finish, the person on the other end of Wesley’s call had picked up.
“Hello, Sydney…”
Hearing that name, Theodore breathed a sigh of relief.
“Sydney, don’t hang up. I need to talk to you,” said Wesley urgently. Theo was involved in a car accident and was severely injured. He barely survived and is now bedridden. Come to the hospital to see him. I’ll send you the location.”
When Wesley turned around after ending the call and sending the location to Sydney, he saw Theodore’s disdainful expression.
“Dad, I’m neither bedridden nor severely injured. Didn’t you see my medical records?”
Wesley strode forward and tucked Theodore into bed, speaking with deep concern, “You’re injured. In your father’s eyes, your injuries are ten times more severe. A father’s heart goes out to his unfortunate child.”
Theodore’s face immediately darkened, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes. “I bet you’re secretly happy that I got into an accident, and were hoping that I was seriously hurt.”
“Don’t talk nonsense. When your mom comes later, don’t be so glib.
Since you were in an accident, you should be a good patient.” Theodore sighed helplessly. He had been in a car accident, was lying in a hospital bed, and was now being used as a tool by his own father to deceive his mother.
Suddenly, Wesley noticed some documents on the bedside table. He picked them up and flipped through, his face changing drastically when he saw that they were divorce papers, especially when he saw Rosalie’s signature.
Wesley held up the divorce papers. “Explain this.”
“There’s nothing to explain. It’s just as you see.”
“Have you lost your mind?! Didn’t you just promise Grandma not long ago? And now, you’re getting a divorce in the blink of an eye!”
“Didn’t you already know? What’s there to be surprised about?” Theodore replied.
“I’m not surprised. I just want to smack you!”
With a loud tear, Wesley ripped the divorce papers in half and slammed them on the bedside table.
“Did you think I’d just stand by and watch?”
hapter 66
Theodore looked at the torn divorce papers, suddenly realizing he
wasn’t as angry as he thought he would be; just a bit stunned. But as he slowly started to register that he shouldn’t have reacted that way, he looked coldly at Wesley.
“Is this amusing to you? Didn’t you see that Rose has already signed the papers?” he asked his father…
“So what if she signed? Getting a divorce was your idea, wasn’t it? Do you think I don’t know what you’re up to?”
Wesley’s blood flowed through Theodore’s veins. How could a father
not understand his son’s actions?
“Tearing them up won’t help, you’re just wasting paper. The divorce, papers can be printed again.”
Theodore was determined to get a divorce. And he hadn’t even told his father that Rosalie was even more eager to get a divorce than he
was.
Just looking at his son annoyed Wesley, so he left the hospital room and sat down in the waiting area, staring at the entrance. After checking the time on his watch several times and pondering for a while, he finally dialed a number on his phone.
“Rose, it’s me.”
“Dad, is something wrong?”
“Who told you to sign the divorce papers? Did you get approval from the family?”
“Dad, I…”
“You don’t have to explain to me. I know what happened. If he gives you divorce papers again, don’t sign them. Do you want to give Cynthia the advantage?”
“Dad, there’s no hope left for Theo and I. Dragging it out will only hurt both of us, so I…”
“Does your marriage still need saving? You two are fools,” Wesley interrupted her. “My mom isn’t well, but I’ll stop you. If I see you sign divorce papers again, don’t blame me for not holding back!”
With that, Wesley ended the call. Tightly grasping the phone in hist hand, scenes from the past flashed in his mind. He couldn’t let Rose leave the Spencer family, absolutely not! It was bad enough for him to have made mistakes he had to rectify; he couldn’t let his son repeat
them.
“Has Rosalie offended you?” a cold woman’s voice rang out.
As Wesley snapped out of it and looked up to see his wife, he quickly suppressed the despair he was feeling.
“Sydney, you’re here.”
“How’s Theo?” asked Sydney, having only come for her son’s sake.
“He’s in the ward. Let me take you there.”
Feeling a bit nervous at seeing his wife unexpectedly, Wesley walked ahead to lead the way for her.
Sydney followed behind him, speaking coldly, “So, you’re still a wicked old man.”
Wesley stopped in his tracks, turning around to protest, “It’s not what you think.”
Sydney smirked. “That’s what you always say. Aren’t you tired of saying the same thing?”
She didn’t even know how many times she had heard that same old
excuse.
Wesley stiffened.
Finally, he said, “It’s about Rose and Theo“, then proceeded to explain the whole situation to his wife.
When he was done, Sydney suddenly burst out laughing.
“What’s so funny?” asked a puzzled Wesley.
Her son was in such a messed up situation, yet as his mother, she wasn’t worried at all and was laughing instead.
“I’m laughing at how you and your son are no different. Both cut from the same cloth.”
Even when it came to her own son, Sydney was blunt. She judged actions, not people.
Wesley’s expression looked particularly unpleasant. “Sydney, let me explain…”
“That’s enough,” Sydney interrupted him. “I don’t want to hear it. Don’t waste time. Take me to see Theo.”
Wesley sighed and nodded. “Fine.”
There was no point trying to explain now, as the situation between Wesley and Sydney couldn’t be summed up in just a few words. But seeing his wife unconcerned about their son and daughter–in–law getting a divorce made him uneasy.
“Sydney, can you promise me that you won’t tell Mom about this? Her health isn’t good. She won’t be able to handle this news,” said Wesley.
“So, you’re telling me that the whole Spencer family knows except for
Mom?”
Wesley nodded. “Yeah, let’s not tell her for now. I’ll handle this as soon as possible.”
“You? Handle it?” Sydney laughed again. “You’ve messed up your own. life, and now you want to deal with your son, daughter–in–law, and the
mistress.”
Feeling a sharp pain in his heart at the woman’s disdainful tone, Wesley’s eyes flashed with determination.
“Just because I’ve messed up doesn’t mean I’ll allow my son and daughter–in–law to do the same. Why can’t you believe that I’m
different now?”
“You saying that is like a murderer telling a judge, ‘Why can’t you believe I’m different now? I won’t kill again. Please don’t sentence me
to death.“” Sydney retorted.
Feeling irritated, Wesley raised his voice, “Am I a murderer?! Even if I’ve committed a crime, there are degrees of severity, and many people have a chance for parole, right? Not all crimes warrant a death sentence. Not all mistakes are unforgivable!”
Sydney stared at him coldly, her gaze devoid of any emotion. “You’re right. You’re not a murderer, and not all mistakes are unforgivable.
“But don’t forget, not all mistakes can be forgiven either. Forgiveness depends on how the other person feels. I’m not a judge, I don’t need
to be fair. I can be biased and do things my own way. Mr. Spencer, don’t feel aggrieved. If not, we can get a divorce too.”
As soon as Sydney mentioned divorce, it felt like something had struck Wesley’s heart.
Sydney stepped forward, raising her hand to adjust Wesley’s tie in a seemingly affectionate gesture, but her voice was dripping with sarcasm as she continued, “What’s wrong? Don’t you want a divorce? Then, endure it. Let’s see which of the two of us breaks down first.
Wesley was speechless. Was she determined? Was there really not chance of reconciliation left?
Sydney added, “Which room is Theo in? If you don’t tell me, I’ll ask the
nurse.”
Wesley clenched his fist, feeling dizzy and like his mind had gone. blank.
He suppressed the raging emotions within him as he said, “Follow me.
The couple entered the hospital room, only to find Theodore wasn’t in
bed.
Sydney turned her head, giving Wesley a puzzled look. “Where is he?”
“He was here just now.
The bathroom door opened as soon as Wesley finished speaking, and Theodore walked out.
“Mom, you’re here.”
Sydney looked Theodore up and down, then her icy gaze fell on Wesley. “So, is this what you meant by Theo being unable to get out of bed after barely surviving?”
Wesley fell silent, feeling embarrassed. He hadn’t expected his wife to
discover his lie like this. He shot Theodore an angry look, as if blaming him for going to the bathroom. Theodore also felt helpless. Should he have just held it in and not gone to the bathroom?!
“It seems like you’re fine. From what your father said, I thought it was much more serious,” Sydney remarked.
“Mom.” Theodore stepped forward. “I really was in a dangerous situation last night. I thought I’d never see you guys again.”
Although his injuries weren’t severe, his survival was out of pure luck.
“I’m glad you’re okay,” Sydney said, reaching out to support her son’s arm. “Get back into bed and rest. Even though your injuries aren’t serious, you still need to be careful.”
After all, he was her son. While she had grievances against Wesley, she didn’t harbor the same resentment towards Theodore.
Seeing his wife help their son into be Wesley suddenly fate a twinge of jealousy that he wasn’t the one being helped. Would Sydney done same for him if he was the one who had gotten into an accident
“Mom, Dad thought I was seriously injured when he came to see MOR He didn’t deliberately deceive you. Don’t be mad sad theekrente didn’t want his parents relationship to deteriors further
Wesley’s anger towards Theodore finally diminished a be. This ind seemed reasonable and knew how to speak up for his father
“It’s okay, I’m used to it. He’s lied to me more than once, bythey said casually, but there were clearly hidden implications tehed ter words
A speechless Wesley felt like his hear had be we
“Where’s your wife? Sydney asked
“Pose has a stomach problem. She’s been admitted to the hosorall too, and needs to stay for a few days. So, don’t tell her about my accident, Theodore replied.
“What? She’s been hospitalized?” Wesley stepped forward “Why didn’t you tell me? Your grandmother would be worned sick if she
knew.”
“You didn’t ask me, Theodore replied coldy
“Which hospital is she in?” Sydney asked.
“Delta Hospital.”
“Oh.” Noticing the torn divorce papers on the bedside table, Sydney picked them up. “Are you really going to get a divorce?
“Mom, please don’t tell Grandma.”
“Your father has already told me what needs to be said.” Sydney put the divorce papers into an envelope. “I know your grandmother’s not in good health, so I won’t say anything reckless.
“But since these divorce papers have been torn in half and can’t be used, you’ll have to print new ones and sign them again.”
Wesley frowned. “Sydney, what are you saying?”
Sydney turned around. “Am I wrong?” She tucked her son in as she continued, “Theo, I’m relieved that you’re okay. I still have a lot of things to do, so I’ll leave now. I’ll come see you again after I’m done.”
Ever since her relationship with Wesley turned sour, Sydney, who was a financier and currently serving as the president of a bank, had been. busy with work, not even taking weekends off.
Theodore felt a little lost. He rarely saw his mother, but he was an adult now. He couldn’t cling to her and prevent her from leaving.
“Okay. You should go ahead and finish what you need to do,” Theodore said.
Sydney nodded and stood up, holding the envelope.
“Mom, why are you taking that?” Theodore asked.
“It’s torn, isn’t it? I’ll shred it for you so no one else sees it. It wouldn’t be good if your grandmother found out,” Sydney explained.
Theodore nodded. “Alright.”
Wesley followed his wife out of their son’s hospital room, protesting,” Sydney, why are you leaving so quickly? He’s your son. You may have issues with me, but you can’t-”
“Will his injuries heal faster if I’m with him?” Sydney interrupted. “He should be left alone right now. Besides, I’m really busy.”
“Sydney, do you really not care about Theo and Rose’s situation? He’s your son. Do you want to see him suffer after making a mistake?” Wesley asked.
“He’s already made a mistake.” Sydney’s expression turned cold. ” Weren’t you the same back then? It’s useless crying over spilled milk. What’s the point?”
“Even spilled milk can still be retrieved!” Wesley’s breath became slightly labored. “You can surely see they’re perfect for each other. Don’t let one mistake that shouldn’t have happened ruin them.”
Sydney fell silent for a moment, but eventually put the envelope into her purse and coldly declared, “They brought it upon themselves. I’m leaving!”
Having come in with a bunch of interns during her rounds, Rosalie’s attending physician was currently examining her. With so many people watching her examination, Rosalie was a bit nervous, but she knew this was part of the process of becoming a doctor.
Every doctor had to go through this. If patients refused to let interns. observe them, there wouldn’t be any doctors in the world. All Rosalie could do was endure the embarrassment until the examination was
over.
“You still need to be careful. For the next few days, don’t do anything. Just stay in bed and rest well. If there’s any more bleeding, we may not be able to save the baby,” said the attending physician.
Rosalie nodded. “I understand. Thank you, doctor.”
After the attending physician left with all the interns, Rosalie sighed in relief and gently touched her belly.
“Sweetie, Mommy will protect you. I won’t let you get hurt again.”
Suddenly, Rosalie heard a familiar voice saying, “You were admitted because of stomach problems, right? Why was the doctor talking about a baby?”
She turned her head and saw Sydney standing at the door. The older woman walked in and placed her purse on the bedside table, then pulled up a chair to sit by Rosalie’s bedside.
She gazed at her daughter–in–law’s belly and asked, “How far along are you?”
“Mom, I……”
A suddenly nervous Rosalie was tongue–tied, unable to utter a
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complete sentence.
“Why are you stuttering? How can you raise a child if you can’t speak properly? Do you want the child to stutter like you after they’re born?”
Sydney’s expression was serious, like a stern headmistress who had caught a disobedient student skipping classes. Rosalie was scared of her. She had thought she was quite afraid of her father–in–law, but now it seemed that her mother–in–law was even more intimidating.
Rosalie pushed through her discomfort and answered, “Over two
months.”
“The family doesn’t know yet, right? Including Theo?”
Rosalie nodded. “Yes, I haven’t told them. Mom, please, don’t tell anyone about this. It was hard, but I managed to keep it hidden.”
“Do you think Theo wouldn’t want this child?” Sydney asked.
Rosalie responded with a hesitant hum, then said, “Things between us
are-”
“I already know,” Sydney interrupted. “If you insist on keeping the child and still want a divorce, it’s better to make sure he doesn’t find out about your pregnancy. Otherwise, the situation will only get worse.”
Reassured by Sydney’s understanding words, Rosalie breathed a sight of relief. “Thank you.”
Her mother–in–law seemed a bit indifferent about Theodore and
Rosalie’s impending divorce. It was as if Sydney thought it was simply a natural course of action. She seemed rational and devoid of
any emotion.
Sydney was a very practical, decisive woman. For her to become a bank president naturally meant that she was not an ordinary person.
“Don’t mention it. Anyway, the child is yours, and your life is yours.
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You make your own choices, and whatever the consequences, you bear them yourself. No one else can be responsible for you,” said Sydney.
“Mom, you’re right, I’ll remember that. Thank you for coming to see
- me. By the way, how did you know I was here?” Rosalie asked.
“Theo told me. He was in a car accident last night and is in the
hospital.”
“What?” Rosalie immediately sat up in bed, shocked and anxious.” How is he? Is he seriously injured? What happened?!”
Seeing Rosalie’s nervousness and flurry of questions, Sydney raised. an eyebrow. “You’re so concerned about him, huh? Weren’t you quite decisive when you signed the divorce papers?”
“I…” Rosalie tightened her grip on the blanket. “After all, I’ve known. him for ten years. Even if we get divorced, I can’t completely erase my feelings. Mom, please tell me how he is.”
“That kid was quite lucky. The car was all smashed up, but he’s fine. Just a few days of rest, and he’ll be okay. Don’t worry,” Sydney
reassured Rosalie.
Rosalie breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s good. But how did he get into a car accident out of nowhere?”
“He passed out because he was tired. He hit a lamppost while driving last night.”
“What? How could this happen? Is it because of me?” asked Rosalie, growing more anxious as she thought about it.
“Because of you? What do you mean?” Sydney asked curiously.
“The night before last, he stayed with me all night and didn’t sleep. well.”
“When did he leave, then?” Sydney inquired.
“He left early yesterday morning. I thought he went back home to rest. If he drove while tired, it means he probably didn’t get any sleep during the day either. Couldn’t he have slept a few more hours? Why did he have to drive when he was tired?” said Rosalie, feeling extremely guilty.
“I’m sorry, Mom. It’s my fault. I should have urged him to go back to sleep,” she added.
“It might not be entirely your fault,” Sydney said calmly. “Even a three- year–old knows when they’re tired and need to sleep. Doesn’t he know
that?
“And if he knowingly drove while fatigued, then it’s his responsibility. Who knows what he did the whole day? Maybe he stayed up all night.
with you, then went to see that woman the next day.”
Hearing Sydney’s words, Rosalie felt like a needle had pricked her
heart. Was that really the case? Had he gone to see Cynthia during the day?
“Mom, how do you know he went to see Cynthia during the day? Are you just guessing?” Rosalie asked.
“Do I need to guess? Aren’t all men the same?” Sydney stood up and grabbed her bag. “Rest well. I have to go now.”
Just as she reached the door, Sydney turned back. “Oh, by the way, Theo asked me not to tell you about his car accident, so just pretend you don’t know.”
“He didn’t want you to tell me? Why?
“I don’t know. I didn’t bother asking.‘”
Sydney seemed indifferent. She was a decisive person, saying what needed to be said and then leaving without any unnecessary chatter.
Even after Sydney left, Rosalie kept worrying about Theodore. Later, when Stephanie came to see her, she told her everything.
“Steph, I want to go see him.”
“No, you can’t run around. You have to stay in bed. Remember what
the doctor said?”
‘But I’m really worried. I can’t rest easy without seeing him.”
Sydney had said that Theodore was fine. She was his mother, so she wouldn’t lie to Rosalie, right? Even so, Rosalie still couldn’t bring
herself to stay calm and do nothing.
“What’s there to worry about? You signed the divorce papers. You shouldn’t care whether he lives or dies.”
Stephanie was a great friend, but sometimes she could be too stubborn, especially when it came to matters of the heart.
Rosalie grasped Stephanie’s hand tightly. “Please, help me think of a way. I just want to see him once.”
Stephanie gave in, unable to reject her friend, especially since she had even falsified reports for her.
“I’ll go check on him after work.”
“That’s great. Thank you, Steph,” Rosalie said with a smile. “Just make sure to look carefully for me, okay?”
“So, you want me to stare at him when I’m there?”
“N–no! That’s not what I meant,” Rosalie said, embarrassed. “You can’t let him see you. Just take a quick peek.”
“You really bring trouble upon yourself,” Stephanie replied with a sigh.
Rosalie, blinded by love, seemed to have no common sense.
Stephanie hoped she herself wouldn’t be like this in the future after she found love.