Chapter 511 Love At First Sight
Alicia’s gaze darted guiltily to me as she chastised Janette. I reassured her, “It’s fine. She’s still a kid. I’ll just let it go.” Indeed, I saw Janette as a kid though she was already in her twenties. It was difficult to see her as anyone other than a spoiled, immature princess.
Still, jealousy swelled in my chest when I thought of Alicia showering all her love on Janette. Nonetheless, I was not going to express my emotions.
Thank God Janette hates me, or I’d have to pretend to be some loving elder sister. I don’t think I could bring myself to perform such a pretentious act.
My attempt to brush off Janette’s impudence seemingly infuriated her. The younger girl strode toward me and shrieked indignantly, ”Who are you calling a kid? I’m twenty-two! Why must you speak so scornfully?”
I frowned deeply in the face of her screeching. Annoyance ballooned in my chest. Just how spoilt is this girl? I can’t believe she can behave so rudely to someone else!
Ronan seemed equally vexed by her prima donna behavior. He stepped forward and said sternly, “We’re in a hospital ward now, Ms. Campbell. Shouldn’t you watch your volume?”
Since we were in his hospital, his words held the most sway in this establishment.
Ronan speaking up to defend me must have been beyond everyone’s expectations. Janette fumed, whirling around in preparation to tell off whoever had dared to reprimand her. When she saw and recognized Ronan, however, she seemed to swallow the words on the tip of her tongue.
Her gaze flickered as she stared at Ronan’s handsome face. Then, she lowered her head peevishly and apologized, “I’m sorry. I lost control of my emotions.”
Janette’s apology sounded unnatural and stilted. I was surprised that she actually volunteered an apology. Did the Sun rise from the West today? Why is this spoiled princess apologizing to someone of her own accord?
I turned around and looked at Janette, noticing that her gaze darted to Ronan’s face from time to time. Suddenly, everything made sense. Is this what people call love at first sight?
A faint smirk curved Ronan’s lips as he uttered flatly, “The patient needs a quiet environment for optimal recovery. You should get a better grip on your emotions.”
While I appreciated Ronan’s gesture of speaking up for me, I dared not express my gratitude in front of Michael. Who knew what little thing would set off his jealousy at that time.
“I understand. I’ll watch my emotions from now on and refrain from speaking loudly.”
Janette continued to keep her head lowered, the perfect picture of an elegant lady in front of Ronan.
A woman’s intuition was rarely off-target, and I instinctively knew that Janette had a crush on Ronan. Unfortunately for my half-sister, Ronan stared at her as though she were a stranger.
Though Ronan seemed like an easy-going person, he did not fall in love easily. I wondered whether Janette, our resident spoiled princess, would be able to win him over.
Meanwhile, Ronan averted his gaze from Janette’s face and stared at me. With a faint smile on his face, he said, “I’m going off to attend to some other matters, Anna. I’ll drop by your house for dinner soon!”
“Sure. I’ll let my housekeeper know to prepare your favorite dishes when you come by.”
Ronan had been a great help to me over the years, and I was naturally thankful for our friendship.
“Well, I’m taking my leave. Call me if you need anything.”
He gestured a calling motion with his hand before turning and heading for the ward door.
“Bye, Michael!”
As Ronan walked past Michael, he clapped a hand over his older cousin’s shoulder. Then, he took his leave.
Janette watched Ronan’s departing figure with irritation. She appeared to be displeased about his hasty departure.
I could not help but sneer at her behavior. That was the extent of my interest in her romantic intentions. I did not particularly care if her crush on Ronan was the real deal.
Just then, Alicia directed her gaze toward me and asked gently, “Anna. Have you had lunch?”
I snapped out of my thoughts and returned Alicia’s stare. I replied, “No, I haven’t. I’ll cook a nourishing soup for you once I’m home. The doctor said that you’re suffering from mild malnutrition. You need to improve your nutrition.”
While I was no longer cold toward her like before, I was slowly warming up to the idea of accepting her as my mother. It was difficult for me to be affectionate with her, and I predicted that I would need some time to get over the emotional barrier in my heart.
Alicia shot me a fond gaze, yet she rejected my offer. “There’s no need for that. It’s too troublesome.”
“It’s not troublesome at all. Your health is the number one priority. You should get all the help you can to recover quickly.”
My face seemed impassive, but that did not diminish the genuine concern I held over her health. I merely found it awkward to act as though I was close to her.
“Thank you.”
Alicia continued to gaze at me tenderly as she clasped my hand in hers.
I asked Michael to return home without me because I wished to spend more time with Alicia in the hospital. I had been worried that unforeseen complications would arise during my absence, and Michael had dropped everything at the office to accompany me. Now that Alicia’s condition had stabilized, I was sufficiently relieved, and Michael was less concerned about leaving us alone at the hospital.
After Michael left, I chatted casually with my biological mother. Perhaps it was because we were not yet familiar with one another, but our conversations were short and brief. She no longer repeated her wish for my forgiveness, probably aware that bringing up the topic would only make our situation more awkward.
Just then, Janette approached me. She met my stare briefly before taking a seat beside me.
“Do you know that man who came into the ward earlier?” she asked stiffly. Then, she shot me an expectant gaze.
I knew she was talking about Ronan, and I was surprised that she was trying to ask me for information about him.
“Yes, I know him,” came my nonchalant reply.
I still reserved a modicum of courtesy for Janette as long as she did not behave outrageously toward me.
Janette’s gaze lit up at my reply. She pressed on, “What does he do for a living?”
“He owns hospitals. In fact, we’re standing in one of the hospitals that he owns.”
My expression remained as calm as before. Janette’s questions about Ronan confirmed my suspicions that she had begun nursing a crush on him.
“Wait. He owns this hospital?” Janette’s surprise was palpable, and her gaze appeared to brighten further.
“Yes.”
She immediately asked, “Do you have his contact information?”
