hapter 72
Chapter 72
Lewis saw right through Doris’s thoughts, so she didn’t bother hiding them anymore. They’re not friendly to me, let alone you. I just don’t want you to be treated poorly
“Treated poorly? They dare not.” Lewis reassured the anxious Doris. “Til go check out the supermarket
The hospital had a 24–hour mini–mart stocked with everything.
“Let’s go together then.” Doris couldn’t argue against Lewis.
In the mini–mart, Doris and Lewis picked out a basket of fruit and a carton of milk before heading to the inpatient ward.
When the elevator doors opened on the fifth floor, they saw Laura standing right outside, as if she had been waiting for them.
Laura’s eyes flickered when she saw Lewis–she hadn’t expected him to come so late at night. But in her eyes, Lewis was a responsible and decent person. It made sense to her that he would accompany Doris to the hospital.
She smiled warmly, “Lewis, you’re here.”
“Laura.” Lewis and Doris both greeted her.
“Where’s Mom?” Doris asked.
Laura noticed the things Lewis was carrying and maintained her politeness. “Follow me.”
Doris and Lewis walked past the nurses‘ station and down the corridor with Laura.
Since there weren’t any available beds in the wards, Peyton had to stay in an extra bed in the hallway.
Jimmy was standing nearby, his brows furrowed. The moment he saw Doris, his anger flared up. If they weren’t in a hospital, and if it weren’t the middle of the night, he would’ve already been pointing at her nose, yelling.
“I called you all day and you didn’t pick up. What are you even doing here now? And bringing someone who has nothing to do with this?” Jimmy snapped at Doris.
“He’s my
husband, not some outsider,” Doris stood her ground, protecting Lewis while lying smoothly. “Dad, we’re legally married. What’s the point of you making a fuss? You’d better just accept reality. I was busy earlier, and then my phone died.”
“You think I’ll believe that?” Jimmy snorted coldly.
“Believe it or not, I don’t care.” Doris didn’t want to argue with him.
“This is a hospital. Can you not make a scene?” Laura tried to calm Jimmy down.
Peyton had only just dozed off after struggling to sleep.
Doris looked at Peyton’s resting face and turned to Laura. “Sis, what did the doctor say? Does Mom have some kind of illness?”
“The doctor ran some tests and found a lump in her chest.” Laura’s face was full of worry. “They need to do further analysis to check if it’s malignant.”
Doris suddenly felt lightheaded.
Lewis caught her in time, noticing how pale she looked. “Are you okay?”
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Doris steadied herself and shook her head.
“Don’t scare yourself before the results come out.” Lewis’s voice was gentle but firm, bringing comfort to Doris.
“Yeah.” Doris nodded repeatedly. “Mom’s going to be fine
“Since you two are here to take care of your mom, I’ll head back Jimmy was exhausted and didn’t want to stay any longer.
“Dad, let me get you a cab. Laura offered.
“No need. He can take me home.” Jimmy looked at Lewis.
Laura and Doris widened their eyes in shock, staring at Jimmy in disbelief. They had no idea what he was up to, but one thing was certain–he wasn’t being kind.
Lewis, on the other hand, remained completely calm and unbothered.
“Dad. Lewis has work tomorrow. He needs to rest.” Doris didn’t want Lewis alone with Jimmy and quickly came up with an excuse. “Where’s Rupert? Let him take you home.”
“I didn’t tell Rupert about your mom’s illness. It’s already so late; why disturb him and Claudia? Even if he came, what could he do?” Jimmy said, still defending Rupert as always.
Doris was completely fed up. “Dad, Mom has always doted on Rupert. She’s always made sure he has his way. She even secretly gave him extra money.
“Now that Mom’s sick, he, as her son, doesn’t even bother showing his face? Does that make sense to you? She’s his mother, not some random stranger. How is it ‘disturbing‘ him?
“You and Mom have sacrificed so much for him, but do you really think he appreciates it? The more you spoil him, the more useless he becomes. Just wait and see.”
“You ungrateful brat. I won’t let you talk about your brother like that,” Jimmy roared. “Rupert already said that because we’ve treated him well, he’ll take care of us in the future.
“Are we supposed to count on you, the daughter who’s ‘married off and no longer part of this family?”
Jimmy refused to listen, convinced that Doris was just trying to stir up trouble. “No matter what you say, I won’t believe it. He is my son.*
“Then let your son take you home. Why are you dragging my husband into this?” Doris’s chest tightened with frustration. Jimmy always put Rupert first, only caring about Rupert’s interests and never considering how she or Laura felt.
Jimmy said, “Didn’t you tell me to get used to the fact that you’re married as soon as possible? So what if he gives me a ride? I’m his father–in–law already.
“Look at you, siding with an outsider as soon as you got married. You won’t even let your husband give me a ride. Can we really rely on you in the future?”
Jimmy made his argument sound so logical that Doris ended up looking like the unreasonable and unfilial one.
Doris was about to say something when Laura tugged at her arm. “Doris, this is a hospital. Mom needs to rest. Can you keep quiet for a while?”
Lewis stepped in at the right moment. “Laura is right. You stay here at the hospital. I’ll drive him home. No big deal.”
Jimmy had never accepted Lewis, and Lewis didn’t think much of Jimmy either.
“See? Even your man said he’d drive me home. What’s your problem now?” Jimmy smirked like a schemer who had gotten
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his way.
Doris looked at Lewis with concern. She knew better than anyone how selfish Jimmy was.
Though Lewis wasn’t someone who would let himself be taken advantage of, she believed there were still chances for Jimmy
to use Lewis.
Doris pulled Lewis aside and said anxiously, “Why are you trying to show off? If you don’t take him, he’ll just complain about me for a bit and that’s it.
“But if you’re alone with him, you know how nasty his words can get. I don’t want you to suffer because of me.”
Doris felt guilty, like she owed Lewis something.
“It’s fine. Let him say whatever he wants–I won’t respond. I’ll just act like I didn’t hear anything Lewis was completely unfazed. “No matter how fierce your dad is, he’s not going to bite me, is he? It’s just a ride home. Don’t worry, I can handle
it.”
Doris trusted both Lewis’s intelligence and his emotional control. “If my dad says anything awful or does anything out of line, you have to tell me. I’ll stand up for you.”
“Alright.” After finishing their conversation, Lewis walked over to Jimmy. “Let’s go.”
Lewis and Jimmy reached the parking lot. Lewis unlocked his black Passat, and its headlights blinked.
Jimmy looked at the car, which was worth just sixty–five thousand dollars, with obvious disdain. In his eyes, Lewis was nothing but a poor loser.
Once he got in, Lewis drove the car out of the hospital.
“Wake me up when we get to Maplewood Estates. I’m going to take a nap.” Jimmy yawned involuntarily.
After two hours of fussing around, the fifty–something–year–old Jimmy was getting tired. He leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes to rest.
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