Watching William panting for breath, a trace of anger suddenly appeared in Carl’s solemn expression.
“What are you doing here at the hospital? Nana doesn’t want to see you right now.”
Carl was not polite in his attitude toward William, standing in the middle of the corridor, blocking the way to the ward.
“Furthermore, Janelle is my daughter, you don’t need to care about her!”
In Carl’s eyes, this man in front of him was nothing but hostility. After speaking, he brushed past William and entered the ward.
However, before Carl could push open the door, he noticed that William had shamelessly followed behind.
Instantly, Carl’s gaze bore into William, and he warned him word by word, “Have some dignity and stop pestering Nana. If you upset her, don’t blame me for getting physical with you!”
“Get out of my way, you mutt.”
William was not someone without temper. Seeing Carl blocking his path, he sneered and pushed him aside.
“You dare to force your way in? Get out!”
Carl turned around and grabbed William, who was attempting to enter the ward, forcefully pushing him back.
William didn’t back down either. Faced with Carl’s rough actions, he, like a football player, suddenly accelerated and collided with him.
The two of them wrestled together, but fortunately, nurses came out in time to break it up, preventing them from turning the corridor into a chaotic mess.
Since they were evenly matched, Carl and William didn’t physically fight anymore, but their gazes remained icy as they stared each other down.
With a fierce look in his eyes, Carl suppressed his anger and informed, “Nana’s parents just passed away, and she hasn’t recovered from the grief. Can you please not disturb her for now?”
William, with a fierce expression, confronted Carl and adjusted his collar, retorting, “Aren’t you also disturbing her? Why can’t I go in and comfort Nana?”
While they didn’t resort to physical violence, the verbal confrontation between the two remained at a stalemate. Nana heard their argument and wiped away the tears on her face as she came out of the ward.
“Stop arguing. I don’t need either of you to accompany me in the hospital. Just leave, both of you…”
Nana weakly expelled the two of them, wanting to hold her daughter and get through every minute and second after losing her parents.
Watching Nana turn and walk back into the ward, William let out a heavy sigh.
Carl wore a saddened expression. He knew that at this moment, no one could comfort Nana. She didn’t need those irrelevant words.
However, the tragedy of the fire couldn’t be changed, and the dead couldn’t be brought back to life.
At present, Carl could only hope that Nana would accept the reality and, after grieving, regain her spirits to face life again.
“We argue so fiercely, but it’s actually meaningless.”
Suddenly, William broke the silence in the hospital corridor.
His eyes weren’t as fierce as before; they calmly met Carl’s gaze as he proposed, “Although Nana said she doesn’t need us to accompany her, she shouldn’t be alone right now.”
They were love rivals, there was no denying that, but Carl didn’t refute William’s words.
He raised an eyebrow and disdainfully regarded William, asking, “What do you suggest?”
“Fair distribution!”
William shrugged and voiced his idea, “Since I can’t drive you away, and you can’t drive me away either, since we’re both here to take care of Nana, why not divide our time?”
Carl found this suggestion feasible.
He nodded and said to himself, “Then I’ll come earlier than you.”
The daytime was longer, and Carl believed this way he could take care of both Nana and their daughter, while also utilizing the evening time to work on a new script.
With Jerry and Tracy gone now, he had to take up the responsibility of caring for the mother and daughter.
“Alright, let’s settle it this way.”
William also agreed, as it worked out for him to be at work during the day and provide support in the evenings.
In this manner, two individuals who were love rivals unexpectedly reached an agreement.
Carl kept his word, he entered the ward, glanced at Nana and Janelle, then left the hospital with a cold expression.
The sound of footsteps in the corridor gradually receded, and when William saw that Carl had finally left, he hurriedly walked toward the ward.
“Nana, please accept my condolences.”
William couldn’t find the words to say. He approached Nana, wanting to hold her but restrained his emotions.
“Thank you. Please go back to your place and rest.”
Nana responded absentmindedly. Uttering those words exhausted all her rationality.
William didn’t leave. He asked if Nana needed any help and then sat on a bench in the corridor, waiting.
But Nana didn’t have the mental capacity to consider William’s presence. The sudden loss of her parents had left her in unbearable pain.
This night seemed longer than the first half of her life.
The next morning.
Before seven o’clock, Carl arrived at the hospital for his shift.
From that day on, he and William took turns taking care of Nana. They didn’t exchange many words whenever they met, but they silently followed the agreement.
Two days later, as Nana’s condition improved after inhaling the smoke, her shattered heart grew stronger.
Nana told herself that she still had a daughter to take care of and couldn’t collapse no matter what.
In the evening, Carl was feeding their daughter formula milk for Nana when he suddenly heard that William should be arriving soon.
“Nana, has William done anything to you these past two nights?” He asked worriedly.
At this moment, Nana leaned against the window, gazing at the setting sun in the west. Hearing Carl’s words tinged with jealousy, she smiled bitterly and retorted, “What do you think he would do to me?”
“Sorry, Nana. I’m just afraid he might upset you.”
Carl explained awkwardly, realizing he had been overly sensitive about William.
Besides, it wasn’t suitable to be jealous in this situation.
Janelle lay on the bed, kicking her legs after finishing her meal. She was carefree, completely unaware of the grief caused by the loss of her grandparents.
Carl looked at his daughter’s innocent appearance and suddenly thought of discussing the future with Nana.
But before Carl could speak, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the corridor.
After observing for these past few days, Carl had remembered this sound.
He knew it was William coming for his shift. Carl briefly held their daughter and then turned to open the door and enter the corridor.
Sure enough, it was William.
Carl watched his love rival from a distance and noticed that he was holding a bouquet of flowers in his arms today.
What kind of unnecessary romance was he trying to create?
Moreover, Nana didn’t need such unnecessary things now.
Out of his dislike for William, Carl sarcastically intercepted him, “Are you out of your mind, buying flowers at this time? Are you trying to confess or show affection to Nana?”
Faced with Carl’s mocking words, William felt an inexplicable anger rise within him.
“I just wanted to make Nana feel a little better,” he defended himself in a cold voice.
Carl, however, still sneered, raising an eyebrow and teasing, “I’m afraid Nana’s mood will worsen when she sees your flowers.”
As he spoke, Carl scrutinized the wrapping paper of the bouquet and the carnations and orchids inside, his expression becoming even more contemptuous.
“And another thing, if you’re poor, don’t pretend. Nana doesn’t like cheap, low-quality things. Flowers, like people, are also categorized into different levels.”
In fact, Carl wasn’t materialistic at all. He just wanted to provoke William with these words and make him realize it was futile.
It would be best if he didn’t come again tomorrow evening.
This time, William didn’t retort. He lowered his gaze, looking at the bouquet he had bought from a small flower shop, and suddenly felt a sense of inferiority.