As soon as Yolanda thought about it, she stood up abruptly and said to Julio:
-Dad, I’m going to the hospital.
-Hey… -Julio hurried to call her, “The day after tomorrow is the day of Yoli’s novelty launch, aren’t you getting ready for it?
Yolanda didn’t even look back and answered:
-Everything is already prepared.
She soon left.
After seeing on the news which hospital Jaime had been taken to, Yolanda headed straight there and, asked for the room where Jaime was.
She stopped at the door and hesitated for a moment, but in the end she pushed it gently.
Just as she entered, she saw Jaime with his back to the door. He said in an angry voice:
-I said no one could come in!
-Jaime,” Yolanda called softly.
Jaime’s voice stopped abruptly and he turned to look at her.
This turn surprised Yolanda.
The expression on her face changed from its previous softness to terror.
-How did you find me? -he asked in a hoarse voice.
Yolanda slowly approached him and whispered:
-I saw the news of your injury and became worried?
-The news of my injury has been made public?
Jaime was surprised for a moment and his face became even more somber.
What he feared most now was that the news of his broken leg would come to light. He had originally already fallen into disgrace by apologizing to Umberto.
If people knew that he had become lame to stay in Sogen City and would not be able to heal for the rest of his life, he would definitely be laughed at by everyone.
-What did the news say?
Jaime almost pounced on Yolanda, grabbing her shoulders and questioning her.
Yolanda was so scared that her face turned pale. She had never seen Jaime so mad and hostile, with a completely different image from the one she used to have in front of her.
Almost trembling, she found the article she had seen before.
Jaime read it word for word and was slightly relieved to find no mention of any cripples.
But then her expression tightened.
“My doctor, the nurses, quite a few people know about my illness. In case it becomes known…”
When Jaime thought of this, he immediately pulled out his phone and called his family to have him discharged immediately.
Then he looked at Yolanda, with an icy stare:
-Get out!
Yolanda did not expect her concern to be met with his furious rebuke. Then she felt very aggrieved.
-Jaime, I was worried about you and came to see you. You even told me to get lost. Is it because Familia Carballal is no longer useful to you that you have that attitude?
Jaime stared at her, suddenly smiled strangely and got up from the bed.
Yolanda didn’t understand what he was going to do when she saw him take two steps towards her.
His walking posture was very strange, with a limp.
She looked at him dumbfounded, thinking only that he was temporarily injured:
-What are you doing?
-Have you seen my walking posture? -Jaime pointed to his foot. I’ve become a cripple, probably for the rest of my life.
Yolanda was filled with amazement and disbelief.
When Jaime saw the look on her face, he felt unusually uncomfortable:
-I am physically crippled and cannot do my daily business. To manage Grupo Seco, the least you need is a good body, but I can become a waste.
-Yolanda, will you still like me like this?
Yolanda opened her mouth, but she couldn’t say a single word. Her thoughts felt blocked.
Grupo Carballal was in crisis, and if she survived, she would still be Grupo Carballal’s rich daughter, so how could she choose to be an invalid?
If she could not get out of the crisis, to protect herself, she would definitely choose a powerful person to take refuge in so she could live a life the same as before.
Only at this point, Jaime, an invalid, did not fit in.
At that moment, Yolanda flinched a little, seeming nervous and stuttering as she spoke.
-No, it won’t be like that…
She didn’t want Jaime to see what she had in mind, after all, Alfredo didn’t say he would be disinherited. He could still inherit Grupo Seco in the future.
Jaime looked at her like that, sarcastically.
However, he didn’t feel so bad. After all, the two of them were only together for profit.
By this time, the Seco Family maid had already completed the discharge formalities and was ready to take Jaime home.
When he passed Yolanda, he ignored her directly.
Yolanda knew immediately that he was angry at her hesitation, so she rushed to him and shouted:
-Jaime, you’ve got it all wrong. I like you no matter what you become. Don’t be angry….
But before she could approach Jaime, she was stopped. He didn’t even look at her and left right away.
Yolanda had just made a lot of noise and was surrounded by people coming and going. She stared at Jaime’s back, her face full of sadness.
Why did I hesitate because of Jaime’s words? What if he was just testing the waters?
Yolanda felt anxious when she thought about her acquaintances ignoring Familia Carballal. Even if Jaime became an invalid, he was still Alfredo’s only grandson and he also had the support of Grupo Seco.
“I have to think about what to do to make amends and how I can get Jaime’s attitude to change.”
***
Jaime had just arrived home when Alfredo entered his room on crutches.
He pretended to smile and greeted with a pale face:
-Grandpa.
Alfredo nodded, sat on the edge of the bed and asked:
-The doctor says you have to be under observation. Why don’t you stay in the hospital?
Jaime lowered his head, with somber eyes:
-There were too many people in the hospital. I was worried that someone would talk about it and embarrass you.
Hearing this, Alfredo became angry:
-Who dares! If you have any complaints, tell me, and I will avenge you!
When Jaime saw that Alfredo still loved him as much as before, he felt much calmer, changing the subject:
-Grandfather, did Familia Santangel give you a hard time?
Now he was desperate to know if his wounds had given him the result he wanted.
Alfredo patted him on the arm and said:
-No. Stay in Sogen City to recover. The place mentioned before is not suitable for your wounds to heal….
When Jaime heard this, he relaxed even more.
“Luckily for me, this foot sacrifice ground is somewhat useful.”
As long as I can stay in Sogen City, I’m absolutely sure to get more benefits.
As a result, before he could begin to rejoice, he heard Alfred continue to say:
-That’s just enough time for you to recover in these two years. We have a villa on the outskirts of Sogen City especially suitable for convalescence, surrounded by pleasant scenery and good air quality….
-Wait, grandfather… -Jaime hastened to interrupt him, “My injury will heal soon. And I’ll still be able to return to the company to help you. There’s no need to go to the suburban village to heal.
Speaking here, Jaime was afraid that his ambition was too obvious, and disguised himself:
-Your health is already bad, how can I bear to see you so exhausted every day.
Alfredo was a little embarrassed at the thought of Umberto and Sergio. Finally, under Jaime’s inquisitive gaze, he spoke harshly:
-Familia Santangel has promised to let you recuperate in Sogen City, but he keeps insisting that you can’t be allowed to meddle in the company’s affairs.
He said and patted Jaime’s shoulder:
-You’ve hardly taken time off these past few years, so you can take the opportunity to rest more. You don’t have to worry about the company, as it is counting on Pedro.
“I’m just worried about Pedro!”
Jaime was very sad.
He tried to take advantage but ended up not only limping, but also losing his power to run the company. a double loss!