Looking at the cigarette ashes, Luke figured out what Cristofer had done the previous night and hurried to the terrace. Wearing a concerned expression, he said to Cristofer, “Mr. Hans, you really should go to the hospital.”
Cristofer tried to signal to Luke not to discuss this in front of Estelle, but Luke didn’t catch the hint.
“You should listen to Uncle Luke,” Estelle said in a gentle tone, nervously clasping her hands and gazing at Cristofer with worry. “Your health is the most important thing. Going to the hospital for a check-up won’t take much of your time.”
“I still have work to finish,” Cristofer replied. He then coaxed Yvonne to leave his lap and asked Luke to take the children downstairs.
Walking with weights the previous night had aggravated the injuries in his legs. After spending the night on his lap with Yvonne and Christina, his legs ached even more, worse than on rainy days. Sweat formed on his forehead due to the pain.
“Mr. Hans, you don’t look well. Going to the hospital will help you feel better,” Luke continued to persuade Cristofer. However, Cristofer remained stubborn.
Observing his stubbornness, Luke sighed and didn’t press the matter further. He decided to assist Cristofer downstairs first and then instruct a servant to bring the wheelchair back to the villa.
The three children thought Cristofer was going to fly downstairs, so they stared at him with wide eyes, filled with anticipation. Christina was about to say something but stopped when Yohan put a finger to his lips and hushed her.
“Uncle Luke,” Estelle walked up to Luke and said, “Let me help Cristofer downstairs. Please have the driver ready, and tell him we’ll head to the hospital right after breakfast.”
Cristofer frowned slightly upon hearing this and firmly stated to Estelle, “No. I won’t go.”
Luke, who was about to head downstairs, stopped and turned to Estelle. “Estelle, what do you think we should do now?”
“Uncle Luke, don’t worry. I have a plan,” Estelle replied confidently, wearing a reassuring smile.
“Great!” Luke responded with a smile, trusting that Estelle had a solution to deal with Cristofer. Without waiting for Cristofer to respond, he swiftly descended the stairs.
Watching Luke go downstairs, Cristofer kept looking at him worriedly, not taking his eyes off him until he disappeared from view. Then, he heard Estelle’s voice beside him.
“Let’s go. I’ll help you get downstairs first. Don’t worry about the children. Yohan will take care of the girls,” Estelle said. However, Cristofer didn’t respond and stood still, refusing to look at her or speak.
Faced with his silent resistance, Estelle sighed in frustration. “You want to make it clear that no matter what I say, you won’t go to the hospital, right? Fine. I won’t insist. I have another way to persuade you to go to the hospital,” she added before turning to walk to a nearby bench.
At that moment, the three children were sitting on the bench, happily discussing how Cristofer would fly with his wheelchair. They watched the interaction between Cristofer and Estelle with curiosity.
Approaching them, Estelle gently stroked each child’s head and whispered, “Kids, can I ask you for a favor?”
“Of course!” The three children responded in unison. Yohan, particularly enthusiastic, immediately asked, “Mom, you want us to convince Dad to go to the hospital, right?”
“Yes,” Estelle confirmed. “But it won’t be easy to persuade him, so you need to use an unusual approach. Act like spoiled children and don’t give up until he agrees to go to the hospital. Your Dad needs to go today, or he won’t be a superhero anymore.”
Upon hearing their mother’s words, the children understand the gravity of the situation. Without hesitation, they rushed over to Cristofer.
“Dad, please listen to Mom and go to the hospital,” Yvonne pleaded, gazing at Cristofer with teary eyes as though she would cry if he said no.
Cristofer couldn’t bear to see her upset. Just as he was about to console her, Christina tugged at his sleeve and added, “Dad, doctors are really nice people. They’re all very kind. Once you see a doctor, you won’t be in pain anymore.”
“Christina, I’m okay. I don’t need to go to the hospital,” Cristofer said with a wistful smile.
Yohan, feeling somewhat embarrassed to act spoiled, stood beside them with his hands behind his back and said earnestly, “Dad, superheroes are always healthy and strong. If you want to be a superhero in the future, then please listen to Mom.”
Cristofer intended to explain his condition to the children, but before he could say anything, Yvonne and Christina began tugging at his arms, persistently urging him to go to the hospital. After some hesitation, Cristofer finally gave in and reluctantly agreed, “Okay, okay, I’ll go to the hospital…”
Seeing his unwilling expression, Estelle reached out to assist him in standing up. She said, “Take it slow. Now that you’ve promised the children to go to the hospital, you should set a good example for them and keep your word.”
“I’ll definitely set a good example for them. You don’t need to remind me,” Cristofer retorted. With Estelle’s help, he managed to stand up, although his legs were in pain, causing him to wobble a bit before steadying himself.
Holding Cristofer’s arm, Estelle assisted him in walking downstairs, with the three children trailing behind. They moved together seamlessly, without needing to exchange words, understanding when to step forward or pause. Soon, they reached the second floor and took the elevator down to the first floor.
Upon arriving in the dining room, Estelle helped Cristofer settle into a chair, feeling relieved. She then instructed the three children to keep him company and told them to ask a servant to fetch the wheelchair. After completing these tasks, she felt tired but also satisfied that she could finally do something for Cristofer.
“Miss Hudson,” Cristofer suddenly called out. Trying to avoid looking at her, he appeared uneasy as he said, “Take a seat and rest. We’ll leave after breakfast.”
“Alright,” Estelle agreed and sat down at the table.
The children were delighted to see their parents’ relationship improving. Estelle remembered that they hadn’t washed up yet, so she guided them to the bathroom. When she stood up, she cast a deep glance at Cristofer as if wanting to say something but deciding against it.
In her view, their current situation was awkward. They had known each other for many years and used to be a couple. Given the circumstances, they couldn’t treat each other as strangers. Yet, they also couldn’t ignore what had happened and instantly reverted to being a loving couple again.