fanqie novel
Chapter 296: She Would Not Have The Chance
Justin had already consumed a bowl of soup kept warm in a thermos by the time Meredith glanced over and spoke. “No need, I ate just before coming, and I’m not hungry yet.”
“You two can talk then, I’ll go do some laundry,” Fiona said, holding the clothes Justin had changed out of. The hospital provided a laundry room for the families of admitted patients.
After Fiona left, Meredith questioned Justin, “Did you notify her?”
“It so happened she called me, so I just told her,” Justin replied. “She took a week off work.”Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g
“That’s good, I feel reassured with her taking care of things at the hospital,” Meredith said. “Fiona has really changed a lot.” Since the incident involving Justin, Fiona had been at the forefront, shedding her previously timid and fearful demeanor.
As they were speaking, Meredith heard a familiar voice outside, “Is Justin Hann in this room, the one ahead is it not…?”
It was Mrs. Thatcher’s voice. Indeed, moments later, Mrs. Thatcher followed the voice into the room, swiftly walking over to Justin’s bedside after releasing Gemma’s hand. “Ainsley, my poor child, how could your father be so harsh to you, what did the doctor say, does it hurt much?”
“Uncle Ainsley, are you hurting?” asked Gemma, approaching Justin. Her little eyes instantly reddened, filled with sympathy for Uncle Ainsley. She no longer called him dad, as Tristan had instructed her not to call Justin ‘dad’ anymore.
Seeing Mrs. Thatcher was something Justin wished to avoid, but confronted by Gemma’s clear, innocent eyes, he couldn’t bring himself to be harsh or dismissive. “Gemma, I’m alright, it doesn’t hurt,” he said, smiling only at Gemma, ignoring Mrs. Thatcher.
Gemma reached out to touch the bandaged head of Justin, her eyes brimming with tears, “Uncle Ainsley, Gemma misses you, why don’t you want Gemma anymore?” Since their fallout, Justin had driven out Mr. Thatcher and his family, to avoid being soft-hearted. Yet now, facing Gemma’s childish innocence and heart-wrenching words, Justin felt a pang in his heart.
Meredith thought to herself that this was a disaster; Gemma’s words could unravel all their efforts. Although Justin could be stern with Mr. Thatcher and his brother, Gemma’s adorable and pitiful nature was something he couldn’t bear to be harsh towards. As expected, Justin gently patted Gemma’s head, reassuring, “Uncle Ainsley has been busy, how could I not want you? Uncle Ainsley loves you the most.”
Meredith sighed, signaling with her eyes before she left, unable to stand the situation if she stayed any longer. She couldn’t bear to see Justin’s soft-heartedness, yet she also sympathized with Gemma.
After Meredith left, Mrs. Thatcher, seizing the moment and both tearful and sniffling, said, “Ainsley, Gemma hasn’t been to school for several days. It’s been getting colder, and she’s had a fever, barely eating anything. She insisted on coming to see you today. She doesn’t want to go back home, Ainsley. Look at how young and pitiful Gemma is.”
With her sparkling large eyes on a sweet round face, who could bear to be harsh to such an innocently clear child? Justin remained silent as Mrs. Thatcher continued tearfully, “We were all doing well as a family before. It’s all your brother’s doing. He’s been making a fuss, and your father was influenced. He hurt you after being provoked. We think letting him spend a few days detained will teach him a lesson. After that, we can still be a family.”
Justin knew what Mrs. Thatcher meant but cut her off, “Mom, I can look after Gemma, but as for Tristan and Mr. Thatcher, I won’t intervene. If you continue, you might as well go back home. Don’t blame me if I turn my back, Gemma is still young, and I worry about her future otherwise.”
“Ah, Ainsley…” Mrs. Thatcher still wanted to appeal to familial affection.
Justin’s face hardened, “Say another word, and don’t come back.”
“Alright, I won’t say more, not a word,” Mrs. Thatcher said, her face a mix of grievance and fear of angering Justin. Meanwhile, Fiona, busy in the laundry room, received another call from Joy Chaucer, “Don’t worry, I’m at the hospital taking care of Justin. This is an opportunity. You have no idea how much Meredith cares about Justin. Only in this way she might lower her guard. Rest assured, she won’t have the chance to get her baby born…”