When Cristofer spoke, his voice was full of gentleness and excitement. Bending down slightly, he gazed at Estelle with pleading eyes.
At this moment, the setting sun shone through the window on him.
Hearing his voice and seeing his movement, Estelle couldn’t help thinking of Mr. Mysterious again.
“Estelle, you don’t know how long I’ve been waiting for this day.”
“Estelle, since you have promised me, then never go back on your words, okay?”
“Estelle, my hands are shaking in excitement…”
“Estelle…”
Mr. Mysterious’ voice rang in her ears. When he talked to her, his tone was as gentle as Cristofer’s at the moment. And he also subconsciously bent down slightly, wanting to pull her closer but still cautiously keeping a certain distance from her.
If it weren’t for the fact that Cristofer had a different voice from Mr. Mysterious, Estelle would mistake Cristofer for Mr. Mysterious again.
“Estelle?” Cristofer called her when he saw her looking blankly at him.
Estelle came back to her senses, and the expectations in her eyes faded away. She looked away from Cristofer and said, “Let’s go.”
Several nurses were in the CCU, and one was giving Old Mr. Hans an injection.
Noticing Estelle and Cristofer entering, a nurse spoke in a hushed tone, “Old Mr. Hans’ blood pressure remains slightly elevated at the moment, so he can’t be transferred in this condition. We’ll transfer him to the ward once his blood pressure stabilizes.”
“I don’t need to be hospitalized!” Old Mr. Hans shouted. “I’m fine!”
The nurses wanted to say something to persuade him, but Cristofer motioned them to go out first. Then, they left the CCU quickly.
“Grandpa, how are you feeling now?” Cristofer asked.
“I’m not feeling well!” Gary said with a snort and turned his face away. “Get out. I don’t want to see you. From now on, whichever woman you are with has nothing to do with me.”
Hearing this, Cristofer held Estelle’s soft hand tightly and said gently, “Your granddaughter-in-law is here to visit you.”
“I don’t want to see her!” Gary said.
“Really?”
“Don’t let me say it again.”
“Okay, then I’ll leave with Estelle right now,” Cristofer said with a faint smile.
Gary was stunned for a moment and then suddenly sat up. The moment he saw Estelle, he was surprised.
Then he saw Estelle and Cristofer holding each other’s hands, he quickly beamed joyfully, saying, “Estelle? You… You’re back!”
Pulling her hand from Cristofer’s palm, Estelle walked to the bedside and held Gary’s hand.
“Yes, Grandpa Gary. I’m back.”
“That’s great! Where are the kids?” Gary quickly asked.
“My mother is looking after them. Grandpa Gary, I hope you recover swiftly. Once you’re discharged from the hospital, I’ll bring the kids to visit you at the Hans’ Residence.”
Gary responded immediately, “I’m feeling fine. I can leave the hospital now. Cristofer, handle the discharge procedures for me right away! I want to go home!”
“Grandpa, it’s advisable to remain in the hospital for a few days for observation,” Cristofer advised.
“Follow my instructions. Stop wasting time!” Gary urged impatiently.
Cristofer then turned to Estelle with an expression of helplessness, asking her assistance to persuade Gary.
Taking the cue, Estelle spoke softly, “Grandpa Gary, your health is still a bit delicate at the moment. It’s best to remain here until you’re more stable. Besides, the kids have been returned. You can spend time with them whenever you like.”
Upon hearing Estelle’s words, Gary, who had been somewhat irate while conversing with Cristofer earlier, promptly agreed, his tone now gentler. “You’re absolutely right. Estelle, you’re so thoughtful, unlike him. He truly frustrated me!”
As he uttered those words, he directed an annoyed look towards Cristofer.
Standing near the bedside, Luke chimed in with a smile, “Mr. Hans, are you feeling better now?”
“Yes, I’m quite content now,” Gary replied. Yet, a moment later, a hint of worry surfaced on his face. He tightly clasped Estelle’s hand and inquired, “Estelle, now that you’ve returned, you won’t leave again, will you?”
Estelle’s expression momentarily froze before she responded, “I haven’t made a final decision yet. I returned because I have matters to address here. Once those are settled, I might head back to Europe.”
“Did you come back regarding company affairs?” Gary inquired, adding, “If you need help, just inform Cristofer. He’ll be at your disposal and ready to assist you in any way.”
Estelle offered an awkward smile but remained silent.
Observing Estelle’s reaction, Gary interpreted her silence as displeasure, prompting him to furrowed his brow at Cristofer. He then shifted his attention and questioned, “Who’s the woman you were seen with in the news today? Did the two of you attend a concert together? By the way, you mentioned that you’re planning to get married. Who’s the lucky bride?”
Aware that the situation was complex, Cristofer found himself at a loss on how to provide a clear explanation and inadvertently frowned.
As Cristofer began to speak, Estelle interjected, addressing Gary with a smile, “Grandpa, you’ve misunderstood Cristofer. He isn’t connected to that woman. I was the one who attended the concert with him.”
“Really? Estelle, don’t cover up for him. If he’s done anything to upset you, just let me know!” Gary responded, skepticism coloring his expression.
“I’m telling the truth, Grandpa,” Estelle assured, retrieving the concert ticket from her handbag and presenting it to him. “Here’s the ticket. You can take a look.”
Only then did Gary believe her words, exhaling a sigh of relief. He then admonished, “Ah, it was just a misunderstanding. But that woman sat awfully close to him. Cristofer, remember that you’re a husband and a father now. Maintain a respectable distance from other women!”
Cristofer smiled and nodded. “Okay. Got it.”
“It’s not enough to only know that. You should put it into practice. You broke Estelle’s heart before. Now that she has forgiven you, you should be thankful and be good to her in the future!”
“I will,” Cristofer agreed. He then shifted his attention to Estelle, his gaze firm, as he continued with a serious tone, “I promise.”
Overwhelmed with emotion, Gary addressed Estelle in a gentle tone, “Estelle, I understand it was challenging for you to forgive him, yet you managed to do so. I’m truly grateful.”
“Grandpa, I…” Estelle hesitated momentarily before asserting with conviction, “Regardless of the circumstances, I will remain your granddaughter-in-law for the rest of my life.”
Having recently been saved from a dangerous situation and still feeling frail, Gary grew drowsy. Following some more conversation, he began to settle down to rest.
After bidding him farewell with a wave, Cristofer and Estelle exited the room.
Trailing behind them until they reached the hospital’s entrance, Luke reassured them, “Mr. Hans, Estelle, I’ll ensure Old Mr. Hans is well taken care of. Don’t worry. You two haven’t had the chance to talk for quite some time. It might be beneficial if you engage in a heartfelt conversation. Also, visiting Old Mr. Hans every day would be highly appreciated.”