James Grant gazed at the little Sharon on the hospital bed, feeling a reluctance stronger than any feeling of coming home; he stood there for a long time without stepping forward.
He just used his eyes to trace the child’s features over and over; he hardly needed to remember anything to feel how much Sharon resembled his younger self.
But Sharon, even more so, seemed like a miniature version of Evelyn Clayton.
A delicate, fragile little angel, as if she had mistakenly wandered into the human world.
The more joy James Grant felt at that moment, the more pain accompanied it.
These intertwined feelings tore his emotions back and forth between heaven and hell.
After a long while, James Grant withdrew his gaze.
He turned his eyes to Evelyn Clayton, whose eyes were already bloodshot.
James Grant instinctively wanted to say thank you, but it felt inappropriate; he wanted to say sorry, but it seemed useless.
Evelyn Clayton saw the conflict and struggle in James Grant’s eyes, and the deep, profound bitterness, like a tightly woven net enclosing him entirely.
She couldn’t bear to watch any longer and shifted her gaze to Sharon.
Evelyn Clayton’s eyes softened and she said softly, "She’s very strong, always has been. Even when she falls and hurts herself, she doesn’t cry and instead comforts me... This time it was my fault, I didn’t take good care of her."
Having lived for most of his life, James Grant, for the first time, felt an urge to weep.
He forcibly held back the tears and said softly, "When will she wake up?"
Evelyn Clayton said, "The doctor said, probably tomorrow."
"I..." James Grant choked for a moment, swallowing back the tears, and said hoarsely, "Can I stay here with her?"
Seeing Evelyn Clayton’s brow furrow slightly, James Grant quickly added, "I can just wait outside until she wakes up. Once she’s better, I’ll come in to see her."
Evelyn Clayton lowered her gaze, "You should go back and rest. Don’t worry, I’ve promised you, I’ll let you both meet, and I won’t break my word."
James Grant still wanted to say something.
Evelyn Clayton repeated, "I’ve got everything covered here, go back."
She wouldn’t let James Grant stay here indefinitely; even if Shane Sinclair agreed, Evelyn Clayton would not relent.
Now was not the time.
James Grant glanced one last time at the little Sharon on the bed and eventually nodded.
Evelyn Clayton escorted him to the entrance of the inpatient ward and said, "I’ll see you off here, I’m heading back."
Evelyn Clayton paused her steps, turned around, and looked at him.
"If there’s anything I can do, contact me anytime." In the night, James Grant’s eyes deepened, "I’ll be around for a while."
After a moment, Evelyn Clayton nodded and turned to leave. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ novel~fire~net
When she returned to the ward, the doctor was changing Sharon’s IV, and Yara Reagan was adjusting the infusion speed while asking Evelyn Clayton, "Has he left?"
"Yeah, he’s gone." Evelyn Clayton replied, with a wry smile and a shake of her head, "I really didn’t expect us to be so calm when we met again."
Yara Reagan chuckled and shook her head, "That’s your calmness, not James Grant’s. I bet inside, James Grant has been playing out countless tragic dramas. Do you know how he reacted when you first left?"
Evelyn Clayton slightly raised an eyebrow, "You never mentioned it before."
"Back then, I didn’t say anything because I was afraid it would upset you, and you’d soften up and take him back." Yara Reagan looked at her with a smile, "But it seems like you probably won’t do that now."
Evelyn Clayton laughed, "So what did he do back then?"