Hugo didn’t speak. As he saw the nurse insert the needle into his arm, he opened his mouth, but his constant high fever left it numb, and even his saliva seemed to have evaporated. His mouth felt as if it were filled with sand.
"Dad, have some water."
Marcus carefully brought over a glass of water, his eyes red as he spoke.
Hugo’s expression softened, and he bent his head to take a sip. His parched throat seemed to feel a little better.
He croaked out, slowly closing his eyes.
Evan saw his condition and was so angry that his nose twisted; he didn’t even know what to say.
Blame the other party for becoming because of a woman? But if that woman were Samantha, he would have reacted the same way.
So he said nothing, instead understanding him very much. For origınal chapters go to 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭·𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮·𝙣𝙚𝙩
"Now that you’re awake, have something to eat. Lan Yancy said you haven’t eaten for several days. If we hadn’t checked your room, you might have burned to death without anyone noticing."
Evan understood, but having his friend end up in this state was undeniably infuriating.
Hugo slowly propped himself up and took a spoonful of porridge from the bowl next to him, lowering his eyes slightly, showing an unwillingness to talk.
"Dad, eat a little more."
Marcus picked up some vegetables and placed them in his bowl, "Dad, I’m sorry. I must have upset you when I yelled at you that day. I’ll be good from now on. You still have me, Dad."
Hugo’s hand holding the spoon froze, his eyes grew warm, tears welled up but he forced them back.
He wasn’t used to shedding tears in front of his friends; it would seem so undignified.
Despite having a thousand words to say, he could only utter these two words at the moment.
The room quickly fell silent, and Marcus clutched his hand, falling asleep beside him.
He was so tired; he hadn’t slept for days.
"See what you’ve put Marcus through? This life isn’t just yours alone. If you die, Marcus will be an entirely unloved child."
Evan heartachingly placed Marcus on one side of the hospital bed, Marcus clinging to his sleeve, tears still visible at the corners of his eyes.
Evan stiffened all over, then sighed, pinching open the corner of the blanket to tuck the child in.
Hugo kept forcing himself to eat. It was only after he finished that he set the bowl aside.
"Hugo, we know you’re hurting, but you have to pull through."
Julian adjusted the blanket, "It wasn’t easy for Marcus to come out of autism. Can you bear to see him revert to being withdrawn? Back then, you sought medical help everywhere, but no one could cure him; it was pitiful for him and torturous for you. Now that he’s become so lively and understanding, it’s all thanks to Eleanor. Don’t let her last bit of effort in this world be in vain. Maybe she came into your world to bring Marcus light. You’ve come this far, many things should be let go."
Hugo’s hand clenched and then slowly released.
"I know, let me rest for a while."
He closed his eyes wearily, unwilling to speak further.
Evan and Julian exchanged a glance and then stood up to leave.
Jude, who hadn’t said a word, silently followed them. He was usually the loudest, but today, he was the quietest.
Outside the hospital, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"I was scared to death. I will never venture into love in my life, absolutely not."
He shook his head as he got into the car, his face pale.
Evan and Julian, being involved, understood Hugo’s current state very well, but Jude, who had never liked anyone, was so scared by Hugo’s demeanor that he couldn’t say a word.
Hugo stayed in the hospital for an entire week, during which Old Master Quinn wanted to visit but was stopped.
The day Hugo made it clear that he was severing all ties with the Quinton Family, now he is only Hugo, not the Quinton Family’s third young master.
Old Master Quinn fainted in anger after hearing the news from Lan Yancy.
He had thought that Hugo’s words were mere anger, that he might come around once he calmed down, but Hugo hadn’t considered visiting him since, as if he didn’t exist.
Simon Quinn kept sighing. Not only did he have to take care of the old man, but he also had to figure out how to win Jane Shaw back.
He went to find Jane, but she outright told the security guard she didn’t know him. He had been turned away several times, watching helplessly as Jane drove past.
Chloe didn’t even glance at him, which made him feel very uncomfortable.
The old man’s health had been deteriorating recently, and he was utterly exhausted.
"Third Young Master, go and get some rest. I’ll take care of the old master here."
The steward noted the dark circles under his eyes and spoke with compassion.
Simon slowly stood up, rubbing his temples.
"I’ll trouble you, Uncle Cameron. My eyelids are at war; I need to sleep."
Just as Simon descended the stairs, he spotted Jane coming to the hospital, his eyes lit up, and suddenly he wasn’t sleepy at all, rushing over immediately.
"You came to see me? Jane, I knew you couldn’t let go of me. Come on, come back with me. Where’s Chloe? Where did you leave Chloe?"
He looked around for Chloe, but saw Jane walking past him as if she didn’t know him.
Simon grabbed her wrist, a trace of weariness showing on his face.
"Stop being unreasonable, will you?"
Jane paused. So, for all these days, this man thought she was being unreasonable?
She turned mockingly, her gaze icy.
"You think I’m being unreasonable? Simon Quinn, the Quinton Family indeed has no conscience. Eleanor Hollis is dead, killed by all of you, yet you don’t feel any guilt, still have the face to jest with me here? I believe even if Eleanor came back as a vengeful spirit, she’d demand payback from you!"
"That was the old man’s order."
Simon had explained countless times, but she wouldn’t listen.
"You’re an accomplice, aren’t you? You’re also Hugo’s brother. How do you feel now seeing your brother in that state? Maybe I forgot; in big families like yours, there’s never genuine brotherly love. Perhaps you can’t wait for something to happen to your brother so you can take everything from the Quinton Family for yourself."
Hugo bellowed, a wave of helplessness rising within him. Why couldn’t things be peaceful; why was there always arguing?
"I’m very sorry about what happened; even if I feel guilty now, what can I fix? Eleanor is gone for good, and eventually, Hugo will forget her and wed someone else. A woman using her life to ensure a man’s devotion is utterly foolish."
In his view, Eleanor must have done this on purpose, leaving an indelible mark in Hugo’s heart, intent on having the Quinton Family bear this debt of sin.