“Sir?” a servant who was sitting on the couch, sighed.
After seeing Max’s nod, the young girl rushed out of the room. She knew that the man needed privacy with Herbert who was still lying on the hospital bed.
As the servant left, Max stared at his father in silence. The old man seemed to be sleeping soundly. However, when the son arrived at the bedside, those wrinkled eyes slowly opened.
“Max?” Herbert’s breath raised the dew on the mask covering his mouth. A second later, compassion began to cloud his vision.
“How are you, Dad? Is your body healthier?” Max asked, trying to curl his lips.
Unexpectedly, drops of sadness began to flow down the old man’s temples. With ragged breaths, he raised his hand, hoping to reach his son.
“Why did you give me your liver?” Herbert asked in a slightly indistinct voice. “I don’t deserve to be saved.”
Knowing the burden borne by the father, Max brought his face closer. Grasping Herbert’s hand, he raised an eyebrow. “Because I’m not a rebellious son. After all, you are still my father.”
Hearing such a sincere answer, the old man’s tears flowed harder. His chest tightened with regret. “I’m sorry, Max,” he sighed softly.
“Why do you keep apologizing? You already did it,” the son said in a thin voice.
“Because my mistakes as a father have crossed the line. Even a million apologies will not be enough to erase my sins. I’ve made my own son suffer,” Herbert lamented, succeeding in making Max’s bitter smile grow wider.
“If you regret it, would you like to promise not to do it again?”
Without thinking, the old man nodded in a limited angle. “Yes, of course. I will not torment my son again.”
After a while, Max heaved a sigh of relief. “If so, you must be able to maintain affection for Julian. I don’t want him to suffer as much as I once did.”
In just an instant, Herbert’s tears subsided. With eyes shaking, he stared questioningly.
“Why? Wouldn’t he have to suffer the consequences of his lies? He’s separated us, Max. He tricked me.”
With a sad smile, the man who was stroking the back of his father’s hand, shook his head.
“No, Dad. It wasn’t Julian that separated us, but your grudge against Mom. If only you didn’t mean to avenge her betrayal, none of this would have happened. If only you didn’t discriminate against the driver’s son and still loved him as your own son, there would never be any distance between us.”
After a moment of contemplation, the old man’s lips began to tremble. “So, this is all my fault?”
Max couldn’t bear to answer. He just stood there with a flat expression.
“So, this is all my fault?” Herbert repeated as he tightened the grip of his weak fingers.
“There’s no point in thinking about who’s at fault. We’d better talk about what we’re going to do next,” the son said slowly.
“Then what should I do? Should I admit his mistakes in front of everyone? Hand over the Quebracha to you? What, Max?”
Once again, the man on the edge of the bed shook his head. “How about making peace with Julian? That is the thing I want to see the most. I want us to have fun like we used to, without distance or burden.”
“Where is that coward? I don’t think he would dare appear before us. He doesn’t even want to see me,” Herbert said disdainfully.
After searching for the right answer, Max gulped. “No, Dad. Julian isn’t a coward anymore. A few days ago, the criminal that you hired, kidnapped Gabriella. It was Julian who saved my wife from danger. Now, I actually owe him a favor.”
Hearing that brief explanation, the old man’s eyes automatically widened. “No Name? Why did he kidnap your wife?”
Seeing his father’s astonishment, Max stopped blinking. His throat suddenly felt very dry.
“We don’t know the real reason yet. He insisted on saying that … you’re the one who gave him that order,” the man said with a bit of a stutter.
“I gave him order?” Herbert sighed, raising his eyebrows even more.
Without needing to think, the son nodded. “In several interrogations, he kept saying that you would pay him if he managed to make me suffer and kill Gabriella.”
“No,” Herbert shook quickly. “I never gave him that kind of order.”
Suddenly, silence filled the air. Max was busy contemplating his father’s honest statement.
“I’m not lying, Max. I never gave such an order. How could I dare to take someone’s life, let alone my own daughter-in-law, a woman like your wife. That’s very unlikely,” the old man denied with a resounding breath. He was so afraid if the son changed his attitude towards him.
Knowing his father’s concern, Max immediately forced his cheeks to pull back the corners of his lips.
“Calm down, Dad. Whatever his alibi, he would not be able to escape a prison sentence. Now, nothing can destroy the harmony of our family,” the son said in a wise tone.
In just an instant, the tension evaporated from the old man’s face.
“Thank you, Max. Thank you for trusting me. I promise not to cause any more trouble,” Herbert sighed in a thinning voice. “Now, where is Julian? Call him here. We can solve all the problems as quickly as possible.”
Hearing the expected question, Max spontaneously took a deep breath. His face had turned more serious.
“While rescuing Gabriella, Julian was forced to confront No Name. He received several stab wounds in the abdomen and was in critical condition. But you don’t need to worry. The operation went smoothly. He is currently recovering,” the man explained in a calm tone. He did not want to make his father depressed and affect his health.
“Julian was critical?” Herbert sighed with tears in his eyes.
“Yes. That’s why he hasn’t seen you yet. He is also being treated in this hospital.”
After a while, the old man’s sobs were heard. Regret had filled his heart again.
“I am indeed a useless father. Instead of protecting my children, I harmed them. What kind of father am I?” Herbert’s wailing turned the atmosphere back blue.
With sadness filled the air, Max’s chest tightened to breathe. However, as someone who also had regrets, he knew that consolation was not the answer. Taking responsibility was a better way to neutralize feelings.
“You may cry, Dad. Gather all the worries and sorrows. After all are shed through tears, start filling your heart with hope. There should be no mistakes and regrets tomorrow,” Max whispered, patting his father’s shoulder.
A second later, no more words came out of his mouth. He allowed the old man to reflect. Max knew that, after the crying was over, a new task awaited him. Bridging Julian with his father, as well as sending many invitations to the Little Prince.