I knew it. Jennifer’s relatively pleasant behavior just now was too good to be true. “Ms. Larson, if you beg me, perhaps I’ll consider it.” Amelia gave her some attitude as well. Jennifer was momentarily dumbfounded, exclaiming in disbelief, “What did you say?” Amelia pointed to the ground and elaborated, “Ms. Larson. If you kneel and beg me, I’ll follow you to the hospital immediately. Otherwise, I’m sorry, but I’d rather go home and cook for my husband.” Jennifer took off her shades and glared vehemently at Amelia, her eyes seemingly calling the latter crazy. Amelia shrugged her shoulders and smiled nonchalantly.
“What? You don’t want to, Ms. Larson?” Without waiting for a response, she pushed back her chair. “In that case, I’m sorry. I have a lot of work to do, so I’ll get going first.” She spun on her heels and walked away, but she soon unexpectedly heard a soft thud behind her. Amelia turned around and was utterly shocked to see that Jennifer had actually dropped to her knees. Even the waiters in the café were stunned.
Amelia hurried over, wanting to reach out to help Jennifer up, but the latter stared at her with a resolute gaze and gritted out, “Now can you go to the hospital with me, Amelia?” Amelia flicked her eyes toward the waiters, who were rushing over, and said in exasperation, “Get up first. This is a public area. Everyone’s watching.” “Follow me to the hospital, then I’ll get up.” Amelia compromised, “Yes, yes. I’ll follow you! I was only joking. I didn’t expect that you’d take it so seriously.” With that, Jennifer got to her feet and returned to being her pompous self. Then, she explained to the waiters who had just reached them, “No big deal. I just twisted my ankle. All of you go back to work.”
Only then did the waiters retreat. Jennifer went ahead of Amelia to pay the bill. “Let’s go.” Amelia got into Jennifer’s car and called Molly after fastening her seatbelt. “Molly, just cook something simple and leave it on the table. I’ll go back and heat it up myself later.” Then, Molly said something over the phone that got Amelia saying, “Nothing. Something happened to a friend of mine, so I’m going to visit him at the hospital. I’ll be home once I’ve seen that he’s alright. I might not be able to cook for Oscar today. Call him for me, will you? Ask him if he’s eating.
If he is, cook another portion for him.” After Molly gave her reply over the phone, Amelia spoke again, “I’m hanging up now. If you have something to do, you may leave once you’re done cooking. You don’t have to come again in the evening. I can cook on my own. Alright, that’s all.” After ending the call, she turned to say to Jennifer, “Let’s go.” As Jennifer put the car in drive, she said with mild annoyance, “It’s not like she’s your mom. She’s only a maid. Why do you have to report everything to her? Don’t tell me you really take her as your mother?”
Amelia couldn’t be bothered to respond. Jennifer, too, felt that she was embarrassing herself. Hence, she merely kept her mouth zipped. She was speeding the entire journey and almost ran a red light. If Amelia hadn’t reminded her, Jennifer might have even floored the accelerator. They arrived at the hospital in twenty minutes. After Jennifer parked the car, Amelia’s face had already gone deathly pale. Amelia side-eyed the other woman and complained, “Ms. Larson, if you have suicidal tendencies, please don’t drag me down with you. I have my own family and will be having a baby soon.
I’m not a cat with nine lives, you know?” Jennifer opened the car door and got out without answering her. Upon seeing her act so nonchalant about it all, Amelia was bereft of speech. I guess there’s really no way to reason with an unreasonable person. She got out of the car with a shake of her head and took the elevator with Jennifer to the tenth floor. Coincidently, Cassie’s ward was on the same floor. Amelia’s expression froze for a split second upon exiting the elevator. It would have been fine if they were merely staying in the same hospital, but they were even on the same floor.
She had the sudden urge to turn tail and run. She trailed after Jennifer to Carter’s ward and looked up to see that his ward number was 1008, which meant that Cassie was only two rooms away. It was too much of a coincidence; she found it hard to believe. This doesn’t even happen in TV dramas and movies. Jennifer opened the door and urged, “Let’s go in.” Amelia shook her head inconspicuously to cast away the turmoil in her heart and followed her into the ward. There were six people in the ward. Apart from Carter’s parents, even his grandfather was present. As for the other three people, Amelia had never seen them before.
Everyone was astonished to see Amelia. Faye’s eyes widened to the size of soccer balls, and she snapped her head toward Jennifer with a puzzled expression. “You brought her here, Jennifer?” she demanded in a displeased tone. Jennifer glanced at the unconscious Carter on the bed and clarified, “Mrs. Scott, don’t be mad. I went to her as a last resort. Carter’s comatose state these past few days doesn’t make sense. Even the doctors can’t find the cause of it. Besides, he’s been constantly mumbling her name in his sleep, so I brought her here. Perhaps she can, to a certain extent, help him wake up.”
Faye fell silent for a while, and her expression soon eased. “Mr. Scott, it’s been a while. How are you doing?” Amelia greeted civilly. Abel briefly studied her. Even he had to admit that the woman looked more confident and feminine after five years. Compared to Jennifer’s pure appearance, Amelia’s mature and alluring vibe proved even more lethal to men. This was the exact reason why his grandson was still so obsessed with her after so many years. “Indeed, it’s been a while, Ms. Winters. You’re even more beautiful than before,” Abel praised. Amelia was taken aback for a moment before she put on a benevolent smile. “Thank you, Mr. Scott. You don’t look a day older than the last time I saw you.”
Before Abel could reply, Faye interrupted anxiously, “Amelia, thank you for coming to visit Carter today. Apart from having a gastric perforation, he developed a high fever during the night and was rescued by the doctors, but he then soon fell into a coma. Even in his state of unconsciousness, he’s still calling out your name. Save him. I beg you.” Amelia glanced at Faye with a complicated gaze and answered in a stand-offish tone, “Mrs. Scott, I’m not a doctor, so I may be of no help to Carter’s condition.” Faye suddenly grabbed her hand and cried out emotionally, “No. You must have a way. The doctors said Carter can’t wake up because subconsciously, he doesn’t want to.
But even then, he’s still calling out your name, which means that his subconscious mind is thinking about you. As long as you can wake him up, I promise to treat you like my own daughter.” Amelia instinctively took a step back, but Faye did not let go of her, pressing further, “Amelia, Carter’s life is in your hands. I know I’ve done some terrible things before, and I’m sorry. As long as you’re willing to save him, I’ll do anything you want. I’ll even grovel at your feet if that’s what you want.” Amelia was dumbstruck, to say the least. She never expected Faye to be such an emotional mess. “Don’t be like this, Mrs. Scott.” Amelia hastily stopped the woman from kneeling on the ground.
Jennifer came forward to support her as well before adding, “Calm down, Mrs. Scott. I believe Carter will be fine. He’s an outstanding man and an even more filial son. I know he wouldn’t be able to bear watching his mother cry.” Faye leaned against Jennifer and wept silently. Amelia took that opportunity to approach the bed. When she peered down at Carter, her eyes flickered with conflicting emotions. Except for his slightly pale complexion, there was nothing unusual about the man; he looked as though he was merely in a deep slumber. If she was being honest with herself, she would rather believe he was only sleeping than accept the hard truth.
For as long as she could remember, Carter was invincible, just like Oscar. That was why when he vanished during the lowest point in her life five years ago, she never once blamed him. She believed that he had his reasons for doing so and that the man she once loved wasn’t a coward. It was why she took the initiative to contact him after so many years. But currently, that brilliant, gentle, and masculine man that held a place in her heart was lying comatose on a hospital bed. The doctors even said he would fall into a vegetative state if he didn’t wake up within three days.
She would rather believe that this was some kind of cruel prank — once it was over, he would wake up. Or perhaps it would be like in fairytales where the prince waited for his princess to awaken him with a kiss. Indeed, he was a prince, but it was a shame that she was no princess. At most, she was Cinderella — a girl who married into a wealthy family but never received anyone’s recognition. Her heart broke for the man and also for the love they could have shared. She leaned down and spoke softly, “Hey Carter, I’m here to see you. Can you please wake up? I have to admit, you do look like a prince in your sleep, but I don’t want to be the fearless princess who has to go through all kinds of ordeals to be beside you.
It’s too exhausting, and I’m sure you won’t want me to suffer like that either, right? So wake up. As long as you wake up, we’ll still be good friends, or maybe… Well, it’s for me to know and for you to find out. I’m only giving you two days. If you’re not awake by then, I’ll take back my promise.” Strangely, after Amelia spoke, Carter’s brows furrowed imperceptibly. Both Faye and Jennifer, who were watching him like a hawk, looked at each other. Then, Faye exclaimed, “Jennifer, did you see that? Carter’s brows moved! Quick, call the doctor! Call the doctor now!” Jennifer still managed to maintain her cool when she advised, “Mrs. Scott, don’t get so worked up yet. Let’s wait for Amelia to finish speaking to him.
Calling the doctor too soon might only bring us back to square one.” Only then did Faye calm down. She touched her hair embarrassedly and said, “Sorry. My emotions got the best of me.” Amelia continued speaking without restraint, “Carter, to be honest, I didn’t plan on visiting you today. I’m married, and I have my own family. Not to mention that I’ll be having a baby soon. I’ve always wanted to keep a safe distance from you. So sometimes, I felt burdened by your love, but there were also times when my heart broke for you. If we never met, perhaps none of this would’ve happened.
I would’ve found an honest man to marry, and you would’ve met a lovely and thoughtful girlfriend, who’d then become your wife and the mother of your children.” Carter’s fingers visibly moved after she said this, but still, he remained unconscious. Amelia continued, “Carter, even though we can’t be lovers, I sincerely regard you as my friend and confidant. I’m also grateful for all the things you’ve done for me. Once my baby is born, you will be his godfather, and as his godfather, you need to protect him. Don’t you want to make sure I safely give birth to this child?”
