Donald’s indifferent attitude made Lara feel increasingly unbalanced, but she didn’t dare to show it openly. With Sylvia as a stark contrast, if she were really kicked out of the Fox family, she would have nothing left.
She couldn’t afford to leave.
Thinking of this, she patiently played the role of a dutiful and obedient daughter.
“Daddy, do you want some water? I can get you a glass.”
“No need, Lara, come here.” Donald beckoned her over. “Sit here.”
Is he going to talk about kicking me out? Lara felt uneasy. “Daddy, what’s the matter?”
Donald looked at her weakly and remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking. “I have something to say to you. Cough-cough-”
He suddenly started coughing violently. Lara quickly patted his back gently to soothe him. “Daddy, don’t rush… take your time.”
“You… you…” Donald had just started speaking when two figures burst into the room like a whirlwind. “Donald, how are you? We heard you’re very ill.”
“Donald, are you feeling any better now?”
Lara’s eyes widened as she saw the Bennett sisters rush into the hospital room.
For the first time, she felt their arrival was timely.
As expected, Donald was very displeased with the interruption. Despite his weakness, his sharp gaze fell on Dana and Marlie Bennett.
“Who let you in?” His voice carried a hint of authoritative pressure.
Dana looked at him tearfully. “Sir, although we are staying with the Fox family, we are still somewhat related. The news of your illness has spread at home, and the housekeeper even had some soup prepared…”
She opened the food container she was holding, and the aroma of millet porridge filled the room. “You should drink it while it’s hot.”
Actually, when the housekeeper was about to deliver the porridge, the Bennett sisters had just returned from work and intercepted it, deciding to bring it themselves to make their presence known.
“There are also some light side dishes that you usually like.” Marlie opened another container with side dishes and brought out some warm layered pancakes.
However, seeing their heavily made-up faces, Donald had no appetite.
“Thank you, but I’m not seriously ill. You should go back.”
“Sir, why don’t we stay and take care of you? Let Lara and Mr. Louis go back first. It would be less tiring if we take turns.” Dana’s seductive eyes stared at Donald. “Especially since Mr. Louis is a man; we women are more attentive.”
Marlie chimed in, “Lara is used to a pampered life and doesn’t know how to take care of others.”
“We’ve lived under others’ roofs since we were young and are very good at taking care of people.” Dana said as she scooped a bowl of millet porridge and brought it to Donald’s bedside. Marlie helped him sit up and placed a pillow behind his back.
Dana blew on the porridge carefully. “Sir, see if it’s too hot.”
Donald felt both annoyed and headache-stricken.
He took the bowl and sipped a little. “It’s fine.”
Lara was shocked by how the sisters were currying favor with her father. They were blatantly trying to make her look bad in front of him. Saying she couldn’t take care of people-infuriating!
So shameless.
She protested, “You two are outsiders; it’s not appropriate for outsiders to take care of my father. You’re guests in our home; otherwise, people might say we didn’t treat our guests well.”
This clearly asserted her position as the mistress of the house.
Seeing the Bennett sisters’ embarrassed expressions made Lara feel much better.
All her humiliation from Sylvia was transferred to them, giving her a sense of satisfaction.
Donald gave Lara an approving look before addressing the sisters. “Lara is right; you’re guests. It’s not proper for guests to take care of the sick. You should go back.”
Having said this much, insisting on staying would be inappropriate and might anger the Fox family men.
Dana didn’t show any displeasure but smiled charmingly at Donald. “Thank you for your consideration, sir. We’ll leave now.”
“Daddy, I’ll go too,” Lara said immediately. “I’ll visit you tomorrow.”
She grabbed her bag and left with the Bennett sisters.
Outside, she breathed a sigh of relief. She couldn’t give her father a chance to say anything about kicking her out.
She felt she had left wisely.
Watching her hurried departure, Donald sighed heavily. He had no appetite for food and only drank a little porridge to warm his stomach.
“Donald, what do you plan to do about Lara?” Louis now thoroughly disliked Lara, especially compared to Sylvia. Lara was simply disappointing.
It’s a pity… Sylvia has no connection to the Fox family.
Otherwise, they would have taken her in as an adopted daughter or something.
“Forget it; maybe she’s been through something recently. Perhaps it’s emotional distress since Franklin doesn’t accept her. He has a wife!” Donald felt pained mentioning this. “If only she were half as excellent and worry-free as Sylvia.”
“Donald… Sylvia is my disciple; I know her character well. Why don’t you consider adopting her?” Louis thought this idea was feasible.
It would teach Lara a lesson and give her a sense of crisis, which might help her grow.
Comparison can lead to improvement.
“Sylvia is great, but adopting another daughter might make Lara uncomfortable.” Although not his biological daughter and recently disappointing him greatly, he still had some feelings for her after raising her for so many years.
Donald hesitated.
“Think about my suggestion. I really like Sylvia,” Louis said cheerfully. “But she never takes me seriously even though I’m still young! Many women want to marry me. Otherwise, I’d adopt her myself. But we’re master and disciple… she wouldn’t want to be my daughter.”
Donald sighed again. Recently, he felt everything was going wrong. “I’ll consider it then. I’m just afraid Sylvia won’t want to acknowledge me either since her grandmother and uncle treat her well.”
“More connections mean more support. Sylvia is wise but who knows if she’ll agree.” Louis thought of Sylvia’s stubborn and cold face-she was truly endearing.
Meanwhile, Sylvia had left the hospital and was heading to the Hipps Family.
Finnegan’s wife unexpectedly went into labor early; she was supposed to be due in a month. Was it premature?
When she arrived at the Hipps Family home, the obstetrician from a nearby hospital was already there preparing for delivery.
“Ah! It hurts!”
“It hurts so much!”
Mariam’s heart-wrenching screams echoed from the delivery room.
Finnegan and his mother were pacing anxiously outside when Queena arrived and saw Finnegan sweating nervously.
“How did she go into labor early?” She asked as soon as she entered, looking puzzled at them. “Wasn’t she due next month?”
“She had an argument with my mom today and fell while leaving…” Finnegan explained truthfully.
“A pregnant woman with such a temper?” Queena sighed helplessly. “Let’s wait and see when she can deliver.”
She then realized something wasn’t right. “Why did you call the doctor here? You should have taken her to the hospital! What if something goes wrong? Can we bear that responsibility?”
She felt these two always acted without thinking things through.
It was worrisome.
“She was bleeding a lot and wouldn’t let me touch her. I had no choice but to call the doctor here,” Finnegan said gloomily. “It’s my first time being a father; I didn’t know what to do.”
“If he didn’t know, didn’t you?” Queena scolded Finnegan’s mother again. “Really!”
Just then, Sylvia returned with Maritza Hipps and Jaelynn Hipps.
Other relatives from the Hipps Family also arrived since premature birth wasn’t a small matter.
If something went wrong, it could be fatal for both mother and child.
“What’s the situation now?” Sylvia asked urgently as soon as she entered, grabbing a nurse who ran out from the delivery room. The nurse was sweating profusely. “It’s bad; the mother is hemorrhaging… I need to call an ambulance immediately.”
“Hemorrhaging?” Sylvia was stunned and quickly took off her coat, changing into sterile surgical clothes Queena had prepared for her before rushing in.