"| feel it, you know? Mr. Lopez and Ms. Sanchez are truly in love." Quincy was aware that affection could not vanquish the reality.
But their love was so fierce, and their willingness to sacrifice for each other was rare indeed. It moved even Quincy.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"Love's easy to claim, but it doesn't stand a chance against the unforeseeable life ahead!" Jonathan had more to say, but a glance at Quincy made him hold back. His stance, however, remained firm. "Anyway, | won't approve.” Dorothy returned from Karen's and was surprised to find Everett already propped up in his hospital bed! Her face lit up with joy. "Did Dr. Quincy take you off the monitors in advance? Does this mean you're recovering well?" Everett's handsome features tightened. He wanted to nod but didn't, and deftly changed the subject.
"| feel like | could get up and walk around.” "You can't do that! Not until Dr. Quincy says so." Dorothy approached Everett's bed to wipe him down with a towel. That was when she noticed something was wrong. "Your bandages - they look freshly changed. Are you bleeding again?" "Dr. Quincy changed them. Maybe it was needed after removing the equipment.” he said vaguely. Luckily Dorothy didn't dwell on the details as her thoughts preoccupied by his apparent improvement.
"Everett, just focus on healing. | can't bear feeling guilty about you anymore.” She was earnest, looking straight into Everett's eyes. His love was a burden she couldn't shake, weighing on her day and night.
"I don't want your guilt." Everett said with more severity and sincerity in his eyes. "You know what | want. Dorothy, you agreed to my father's terms, didn't you?" Stunned, Dorothy looked at him. "He told you?" "I knew it... | knew they'd bully you!" In his last conscious moments before succumbing to blood loss, Everett's mind was filled with the thought of what might happen to Dorothy if he died or remained comatose. The Lopezes would surely pressure her or even worse.
But ultimately, his body gave in, and he closed his eyes full of worry and unease.
"Calm down." Dorothy forced a smile on her face to spare him any self-reproach. "l agreed to their terms because, first, the Lopez family can provide a better future for the kids, and second, so that | could see you. It's a win-win, really." "I don't believe you'd give up the kids that easily.” Everett didn't believe a word she was saying.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmDorothy felt transparent and unable to hide anything in front of Everett.
"It's hard. But as parents, we should plan for the best future of our children. I'm thinking long-term." "Abigail and Langston may still have a good life with bright future without my dad! Their dad is not dead yet." As long as Everett was around, he wouldn't let his kids suffer.
"There you go, making a fuss over nothing." Dorothy tried to deflect, not daring to confront him further. "You rest a bit. I'll go see Dr. Quincy about getting some ointment for your leg." She left the room without waiting for Everett's consent.
Approaching Quincy's office in her wheelchair, she overheard a voice that sounded like Jonathan.
"Quincy, if you could just be our daughter-in-law..."