Chapter 89
[ 485 words ]
Chapter 89:
No. I had to keep my head clear. We were on the verge of ending this, and Ivy was the one I had waited for all these years.
Just before dawn, a stabbing ache tore through my mind.
It was Ivy reaching out through the mind link. But I was too worn out, and I cut it off on instinct.
A second later, my phone started vibrating.
I answered with a frown, and Ivy’s uneasy voice came through at once. “Ethan, what happened? Why couldn’t I reach you through the mind link? I was terrified something had happened to you.”
“I’m fine,” I said, lowering my voice as I glanced at the still-sleeping Lianne in my arms.
“I dreamed last night that you’d left me,” Ivy said, her voice trembling and tear-filled. “Can you come be with me for a while? I’m really frightened.”
I looked at Lianne’s sleeping face and thought of Harold lying in the intensive care unit, and a deep tiredness washed over me.
“Ivy, my grandfather is sick. His condition hasn’t stabilized, and I need to stay at the hospital. I can’t come.”
ѕ𝘩a𝗿𝖾 𝘆𝗈ur 𝖿𝘢v𝘰𝗋і𝘵eѕ 𝗳𝗋o𝗆 𝘨𝘢𝗹𝗻о𝘃𝘦𝗅𝗌.𝖼𝗼𝗆
“Harold is sick?” Ivy went quiet for a brief moment, then asked carefully, “Is it serious? Should I go to the hospital and see him?”
I looked over at Lianne on the bed and blurted out, “There’s no need for that. He needs rest and isn’t in any state to see an outsider.”
Outsider.
The word came out on its own, and even I froze for a second.
“I probably won’t have time to see you over the next few days,” I went on, my voice turning distinctly colder.
“Ethan, you’ve changed. You never used to treat me this way,” Ivy said, hurt plain in her voice.
“If you’re that scared, then go see a psychologist,” I said, pressing my fingers to my temples, my tone hardening. “You know my grandfather needs me right now, and he comes first. Behave yourself, and stop making trouble.”
The other end of the call fell completely silent, and after a long pause, she finally hung up.
I took off my jacket and slept beside Lianne a little while longer.
Lianne woke when the morning sun spilled into the room. After washing up briefly, we went together to Harold’s room.
When we got to the door, we heard Rola talking inside with my brother’s wife, Evelyn Voss.
I turned to look at Lianne’s somewhat pale face and, on impulse, reached for her hand and held it tight.
Her palm was a little damp, and though she tried to pull free, I only tightened my grip.
We went in together and greeted them.
“Grandma, Evelyn,” I said, leading Lianne over to sit beside Rola.
Evelyn’s gaze dropped to our joined hands, and her eyes flashed with teasing amusement. “Well, would you look at the two of you, still so lovey-dovey even at the hospital. Your relationship just keeps getting better and better.”
I only smiled and said nothing, absentmindedly stroking Lianne’s fingers.
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