Saved a Hundred Goodbyes

Just as the atmosphere between us grew increasingly tense, a doctor from the consultation room next door stepped out.

As he looked at Jennifer and Jordan, he criticized, "Parents nowadays are ridiculous. The child's skin wasn't even broken by the cut, yet you brought him to the hospital and even insisted on having him hospitalized for observation."

My lips twitched into a smirk as I took in Andrew's and Jennifer's awkward expressions.

I slipped a hand into my pocket and gripped the bottle Carl had given me. It was filled with all the candy wrappers he had collected.

Carl and I had given Andrew 100 chances altogether. This time, we would never forgive him.

I no longer wished to tell Andrew what I had originally planned to say.

Seeing that I was turning to leave, Andrew suddenly stopped me in my tracks. As if to warn me, he said, "Jordan is injured, so he really needs me for the next few days. Don't bother me again, got it?"

I nodded. "Okay."

Andrew continued, "Hurry up and head home if you and Carl are okay. Stop faking his illness. It's embarrassing."

My face paled as I bit down on my bottom lip tightly. Still, I nodded again. "Okay."

Maybe it was because I was too calm, for Andrew seemed somewhat surprised.

He frowned right away. "Nothing happened to Carl when you found him, right? Once I have more time, I'll come home to spend time with him."

Only now did he show some concern toward Carl when the latter was about to get discharged from the hospital.

Exasperated, I just hummed in response, pretending not to see the jealousy burning in Jennifer's gaze.

As I brushed past them, Jordan smugly lifted his wrist to flash his watch at me, as though he was showing it off.

I immediately recognized it as the smart watch Carl had been begging Andrew to buy for him for the past three years. The model, color, and style were exactly the same.

The day Carl went to seek out Andrew, he had noticed that this watch was in the car. He had been thrilled, thinking that Andrew had prepared it for him.

When he first woke up, he had even specifically asked me where the watch Andrew had gifted him was.

I clenched my hands into tight fists and forced my tears back. As it turned out, someone else had easily obtained everything that Carl and I had begged so desperately for.

…

I didn't bother informing Andrew about Carl's hospital discharge. Instead, I just took him home by myself.

Although Carl couldn't speak, his mood gradually improved with my company. I bought him the same smart watch and told him it was a reward to encourage him to battle his condition.

Overjoyed, he asked me several times whether it was the same one Andrew had gifted him. When I refused to answer, he stopped asking.

Looking over my shoulder at Carl, who was quietly playing with Lego bricks, I sniffled slightly and got ready to whip up his favourite food for dinner.

However, just as I stepped into the kitchen, the front door of the villa was abruptly opened. Carl and I were stunned to see Andrew stepping into the villa.

Nonetheless, Carl was delighted to see his father and rushed over to hug Andrew's legs. Yet, Andrew acted as though he hadn't noticed and deftly avoided the little boy.

He tossed several sets of dirty clothes at me before saying, "The doctor said that Jordan's injury isn't serious, but I don't feel at ease leaving the two of them alone at home. That's why I've come back to grab some daily necessities. I'm planning on spending a few more days with them."

Humming in acknowledgement of his words, I pulled Carl into an embrace. He wasn't able to utter a word, but his sadness was evident from his red-rimmed eyes.

I was just about to comfort Carl when Andrew suddenly spotted the smart watch box that had been left on the couch. Carl hadn't yet opened it.

"You bought a smart watch? This is perfect. Jordan's watch happened to break down earlier, so I'm taking this. You two can just buy another one."

In my arms, Carl's shoulders trembled violently as large beads of tears rolled down his cheeks. Unable to make a sound, he could only weep silently.

For a moment, I was shocked and could only stare at Andrew, who was reaching out for the box.

Then, I stopped him while crying out, "This is my gift to Carl! Can't you just buy another one for that boy? Why do you have to snatch ours?"

Andrew shoved me aside before retorting in an annoyed tone, "Natalia, how could you say that? What do you mean by 'snatch'? Jordan has been crying non-stop because his smart watch broke. He's still young, so can't you just let him have his way?"