The phone was rather hardy and survived that sudden bout of violence, clattering onto the floor with only a cracked screen.
Wordlessly, Anthony got up and retrieved the phone. He deftly extracted the memory card, then casually tossed the phone away.
Using his own phone, Anthony dialed Joseph. Joseph arrived in no time at all, bearing an entirely new phone.
I sat for a while longer, steadying my nerves.
Anthony handed the new phone to me, then gestured towards the door of the ER. “Are you tired?”
It was already one o’clock in the morning.
I shook my head resolutely. “I’m not tired.”
After another few moments of silence, Anthony tugged at my sleeve and said, “Promise me that you won’t let anyone get to you, OK?”
Don’t I already know that? I shouldn’t allow anyone to get to me, but…
“I can’t help myself! No matter how awful Hannah is, John was still the last one who had her. The child is his! Even now, he’s still messing around with another woman! I…”
I was mid-rant when Louis charged in. Seeing Anthony and I seated there with John nowhere in sight, he demanded, “Where’s your brother?”
“He must be dead!” I said scornfully.
It was the first time I had ever been rude to Louis. When I realized what I’d just said, I immediately froze.
I looked up at Louis. He was gazing back at me with an unreadable expression on his face.
My immediately assumed that he was about to reprimand me.
However, he suddenly chortled. “My dear, what in the world are you saying?”
I…
I took a deep breath and explained, “I don’t think John’s going to make it.”
Then I continued rather impulsively, saying, “Uncle Louis, Hannah’s still a part of the Stanhope family after all. John’s utterly irresponsible, but if this child is born, what will everyone else think of the Stanhope family?”
Louis was smart enough to understand what I was trying to say.
He sighed. “I’ve thought about it, but Hannah comes from a complicated family. Her parents were drug dealers, and she’s also an ex-convict. If she marries into our family, we’ll have to announce her identity to the public. I’ll lose my job and the Stanhope family’s reputation will be affected too.”
Previously, Hannah told me a bit of her past, but she didn’t go into the details. Indeed, compared to the Stanhope family’s future and Louis’ career, it was best if Hannah didn’t marry into the Stanhope family.
John knew everything all along. Why did he sleep with her in the first place?
Louis was getting old, so after staying up the entire night, he felt exhausted.
He arranged for someone to wait outside the ER and went back home.
Anthony had to work, but he insisted on staying here with me. Hence, I had to leave for him to leave too.
Luckily, John showed up half an hour later with Yvonne behind him.
Even a fool could see they were acting oddly.
“How is she?” John came to me and asked. As his forehead gleamed with a thin layer of perspiration, it was evident he had rushed here the minute he received the news.
I tamped down my irritation and the urge to slap him, but I refused to talk to him. Hence, I just glared at him before leaving with Anthony.
Outside the hospital, I was still simmering in fury. Anthony offered, “Why don’t you hit me to vent out your anger?”
I met his gaze as my anger faded away gradually. Reaching out, I smoothed his creased sleeve, which I was tugging on earlier.
“I’m alright now.”
He chuckled lightly and brought me to his car. When he was buckling me up, he pressed a kiss on my forehead. “You were adorable back there.”
Adorable?
I gaped, but nothing came out of my mouth. Is that correct?
As I had stayed up the whole night, I fell asleep on the way home.
The next day, I woke up in my bed.
Anthony was having breakfast in the dining room. Joseph was there with him. When the latter saw me coming down the stairs, he flashed me a smile and inclined his head as a greeting.
As Summer was nowhere to be seen, I froze in my tracks. “Is Summer still in bed?” She has to go to school soon! Don’t tell me she’s still sleeping?
“The driver sent her to school earlier,” replied Joseph.
As I wondered why she left home this early, Anthony gave me a bowl of soup. “Follow me to work today.”
I looked up in confusion. “I was planning to visit Hannah.”
Even though Louis had arranged for someone to take care of her and John also showed up last night, I had to go visit her.
He placed the papers down and spoke softly, “You might not be able to go.”
Puzzled, I met his calm gaze.
Joseph explained, “The hospital is crowded, so you might get hurt. You should stay with Mr. Featherstone for the time being.”
I frowned. “What happened?”
“It’s nothing much.”
As I was staring at him persistently, Anthony placed the papers down and returned my stare. “The weather forecast says it’s going to snow in K City soon. Put on more clothes before heading out later.”
I nodded. As he wasn’t about to allay my doubts, I didn’t press on.
I only found out what was happening when we arrived at the entrance of Featherstone Corporation. The reporters had barricaded the entrance.
Joseph alighted from the vehicle to make way for us while Anthony took my hand. “Don’t be afraid. I’ll handle their questions, alright?” he spoke gently.
Although I wasn’t entirely sure, I could guess what was going on. I nodded obediently.
After getting off the car, the reporters soon surrounded us. Luckily, the bodyguards were around to protect us.
They started hurling questions at Anthony, but the latter kept his mouth shut.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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