“Explain what?”
“Of course, tell her that you had an important engagement today, but when you found out she was at Ahmad’s, you dropped everything and rushed over,” Kieran said excitedly. “I can see that you lost a lot tonight.”
Losing a project to Jaquan, a project that could have revived him, was indeed a significant loss.
But what did it matter? Nelson rubbed his temples. “She wouldn’t care; she’d just think I deserved it.”
Kieran couldn’t help but smile. “You really love her, don’t you?”
“Love?” Nelson muttered the word.
He didn’t stay at Paucaster Villa Complex tonight. Callie slept in the big, empty bed, waking up in the middle of the night. She reached out and felt the cold emptiness beside her. She sighed deeply in the dark. Just then, her phone rang on the bedside table.
She jumped, glanced at the caller ID, and saw it was Tobias. Her heart tightened as she sat up. “Tobias.”
There was rapid breathing on the other end, too excited to speak at first.
Callie clutched her chest, waiting until she heard him say, “Your father has woken up.”
In an instant, she felt a surge of heat through her body. She wanted to say something but couldn’t utter a word. She tilted her head back, tears streaming down her cheeks. Four long years of waiting had finally been redeemed.
She took a deep breath. “I’ll be right there.”
As she got out of bed, she found her legs weak and fell to the floor.
Yesterday, when she saw Ahmad, she envied Marilyn for having a supportive father while her own lay in the hospital, his fate uncertain. The contrast was stark.
But now it was different. Her father had woken up… she had a father too!
Callie stumbled downstairs, waking Nancy. Nancy came out wearing a coat. “Madam, what’s wrong?”
Callie didn’t have time to respond. She opened a drawer and grabbed a random car key from a pile. “I need to go out, right now!”
“Now? It’s too late. Let me get the driver to take you.”
But at this hour, it would take a while for the driver to arrive. Callie shook her head and walked quickly to the garage. “I can do it myself.”
The garage was filled with Nelson’s cars, most of which had barely been driven. Callie randomly chose one and drove away from Paucaster Villa Complex, Nancy’s worried figure growing smaller in the rearview mirror.
To keep herself awake, she drove with the window down, letting the cold wind blow in.
As long as her father was awake, she wouldn’t be at anyone’s mercy anymore.
The hospital was quiet in the dead of night. Callie ran all the way to the ward but hesitated at the door. Her heart raced as she tiptoed to look through the window. Reuben was still hooked up to tubes, half-reclining on the bed, talking to Tobias.
He looked much better.
He was really awake…
Callie pushed open the ward door and stared in disbelief at the scene.
“Dad…”
Both men turned to look at her.
Reuben scrutinized Callie, his eyes welling with tears that blurred his vision.
Callie stepped forward slowly. Tobias noticed she was in her pajamas and smiled. “Didn’t I tell you not to rush?”
She ignored him and walked to Reuben’s side, tears streaming uncontrollably. She lightly hit him and said in an aggrieved tone, “You old fool, you slept for so long!”
Reuben grabbed her hand as if he couldn’t believe it. “Are you… Callie?”
Callie cried even harder. “You can’t even recognize me!”