At the hospital, Albert lay resting in his bed after completing all the required tests. Sephina was there, waiting anxiously for the results. Albert, though calm on the surface, was nervous inside, wondering if Justin had managed to follow through on what he had promised.
Natalie entered the room, having finished some important tasks. She had intentionally stayed away from her grandmother to avoid any potential conflicts that might upset her sick grandpa and add to his stress.
"Now you show up?" Sephina glared at Natalie. "He’s been staying with you, the least you could do is be here for his tests."
"I thought I was leaving him in the most capable hands—yours, Grandma—so I didn’t have to worry," Natalie replied calmly, offering her grandpa a reassuring smile, though she could see the worry in his eyes.
"Don’t worry, Grandpa. I’m sure your tests will come back fine, and you’ll be perfectly healthy," Natalie assured.
Albert gave her an awkward smile, his thoughts running in a different direction. Everything will be alright? That’s exactly what I’m most worried about.
The doctor entered the room with his assistant following in the toe. Albert, the first patient ever praying to the gods for reports to come out worse.
The doctor scanned the reports in his hand, pressing his lips into a thin line, his expression suggesting there was something to be concerned about.
"What’s in the report?" Sephina asked quickly, while Natalie looked on with growing worry.
"Mrs. Ford, we were hoping to discharge Mr. Ford today," the doctor began, "but it seems we’ll need to keep him here for another month."
Both Sephina and Natalie felt their concern deepen at the news, but there was one person in the room who was struggling to suppress a grin- Albert.
My grandson-in-law is truly capable, Albert thought gleefully. I’ll have to thank him properly later.
"What exactly is in the report?" Sephina asked, her voice raised.
"Nothing too serious or immediate life threatening," the doctor explained. "However, we still need to monitor his heart condition closely to ensure no complications arise. A few tests indicate minor concerns, which we can address while keeping him under observation for the next month. Only then can we make a more informed decision."
"You’re just keeping my husband here to milk more money from a VIP client, aren’t you?" Sephina shot back angrily.
"Absolutely not, Mrs. Ford. Mr. Ford has been our valued patient for years, and we genuinely care about his well-being," the doctor replied calmly. "In fact, Mr. Ford’s next month of treatment will be covered entirely by the hospital. There won’t be a single charge for anything from the patient and his family."
Sephina, unable to argue further with the doctor, turned her frustration to Natalie—the obvious target who had been a source of annoyance lately.
"Do you see what you’ve done?" she snapped. "Instead of keeping your grandpa safe in the hospital, you let him wander around. What was the point of taking him to your home when he’s unwell?"
Natalie could not refute her grandma’s claim, feeling guilty that it must have been caused by her carelessness. She looked at her grandpa with an apologetic gaze.
Albert’s heart sank, "Don’t blame her for this, Sephina. I was the one who chose to go to her home, and it has nothing to do with my condition. Stop accusing her without reason."
"You always defend her, no matter how careless she is," Sephina spat angrily.
"Mrs. Ford," the doctor interjected, "Mr. Ford leaving the hospital had no impact on his condition. In fact, being in a positive and happy environment is good for his stressed heart and mind. He can go out occasionally, as long as he returns here for regular check-ups."
Sephina turned to Albert, her eyes narrowing. "Even the doctors are in on this with you, huh? Just so you can do whatever you please."
Albert was momentarily taken aback, as though caught off guard, but quickly regained his composure. "What do you mean? Do you think I enjoy being sick? That I’d rather spend the last days of my life stuck in a hospital instead of living it? You think I’m choosing to be ill?" His voice cracked as he choked back tears, looking heartbroken and pitiful.
This is the only way that worked on his wife. He could not get caught or he could forget going to Natalie’s home ever again.
"Grandpa," Natalie said softly as she went to him. "Please don’t be sad. Grandma didn’t mean it like that."
Sephina sighed, casting a glance at the doctor, who nodded politely before leaving the room, clearly eager to distance himself from the family’s tension. He had already done what he was instructed to do by someone he couldn’t dare defy.
At that moment, Jay and Clara entered the hospital room. Sensing the heavy atmosphere and noticing his father wiping away tears, Jay asked, "What happened? Is everything okay with Father?" He walked over to Albert, his face etched with concern, before glaring at Natalie. "Move aside."
Natalie stood, but Albert held her hand. She reassured him quietly, "I’m right here."
Albert glared at his son. "There’s no need to be rude to her. She’s your daughter."
"And you’re my father. Is it wrong to be concerned about you?" Jay shot back, pointedly ignoring Natalie. He sat on the edge of the bed and turned to Sephina. "What did the report say?"
Sephina relayed what the doctor had said, then shot Natalie a sharp glare. "It’s her fault, though the doctor took her side. She must’ve told him something to make him agree with her. There’s nothing she can’t manipulate."
Natalie wanted to protest but somehow she blamed for being ignorant towards the old man. He should have stayed in the hospital.
Jay, already fuming for reasons of his own, stormed toward Natalie. "You... you killed your mother, and now you want to kill my father too, you cursed thing?"
"Jay!" Albert exclaimed, but his son didn’t listen.
Natalie stared at her father in disbelief. Killed her mother?
The accusation hit her like a punch. It was true she had been the one to insist her mother go on that yacht trip with her, hoping they could spend time together, but it ended up into her losing her mother.
The guilt she had buried deep in her heart was now dragged to the surface by her father’s words. Tears began to well up in her eyes.
"What are you staring at me for? So stubborn, huh?" Jay growled, raising his hand as if to strike her, failing to see the hurt in her eyes.
Natalie stood frozen, unable to move. She didn’t even try to dodge it.
But before Jay’s hand could make contact, it was stopped mid-air by a strong grip.
Jay turned, his fury unrelenting, but found himself unable to free his hand. He glared at the man towering in front of him, "You... who are you? How dare you meddle in our family’s business?"
"It seems to be my family matter as well when it involves my wife, who is being abused," the man’s cold, threatening voice echoed inside the room.
His deep gaze boring into Jay, the calmness in it masking his urge to tear apart this man right there and then for even wanting to hurt Natalie.