Chapter 18
He noticed my eyes flutter open and asked gently, “Do you ink I should call your brother?”
1 froze, unsure how to respond. A wave of bitterness surged in my chest.
Dolly said my brother hadn’t spoken to me in five years.
Miles studied my expression and spoke slowly. “Your situation doesn’t look good. I’ll call him in a bit anyway. He’s your brother–blood ties can’t be ignored, no matter what. When Joseph gets here, he’ll check you over. If it’s serious, you might need to stay in the hospital ton
He added, “I wasn’t stopping you from going earlier; I was just worried there’d be no one to look after you if you were admitted alone.”
I could hold back my tears when he mentioned my brother But when he said that last sentence, tears started streaming uncontrollably down my face.
Seeing me cry, Miles spoke gently, “Don’t cry. It’s going to be okay. You’ll be alright.”
He picked up his phone and stepped out to make a call.
I silently wept for a while.
When Miles returned to the room, I looked at him with hope.
His expression was complicated, but after a brief pause, he gave me a faint smile. “I called your brother. He’s overseas right now, but he said he’d come back in a couple of days to see you.”
My fragile hope crumbled.
ill be?”
I averted my gaze and let out a self–deprecating laugh. “He still won’t forgive me, will he?”
Miles stayed silent.
I sniffed and forced a smile. “It’s alright. I know he’s still angry.”
Even as I said it, overwhelming disappointment wrapped around me, pulling me under.
I started crying again.
The mattress dipped slightly beside me as Miles leaned closer, watching me. His presence made me feel self- conscious, so I hurriedly wiped away my tears.
“Feeling any better?”
I nodded absently, lost in thought.
Just as he was about to speak, the phone on the bed suddenly rang.
Miles‘ eyes brightened slightly as he picked it up in front of me.
A familiar voice came through the speaker. “Miles, how is she?”
I immediately recognized it.
“Brother-“I snatched the phone from him, my voice choked with sobs. “Brother, I miss
you.
There was silence on the other end, broken only by the sound of my continued sobbing.
After a long pause, I heard a weary sigh. “Eve, what’s wrong?”
12
1426 BONUS
Chapter 18
What was wrong with me? What wasn’t?
1 glanced at Miles, tears and snot streaming down my face. I’m scared, Brother. Come take me home. I want to go home!”
Before I could say more, Miles gently took the phone from my hand.
He walked out of the room to continue the call.
This time, he spoke to my brother for a long while.
By the time he came back, I was groggy and on the verge of falling asleep.
Miles seemed much more at ease now.
Not long after, the Joseph Watson he mentioned arrived, or rather, it was an entire medical team.
One doctor, two female nurses, and what seemed to be a pharmacist entered, carrying portable equipment.
They conducted a thorough examination, prepared medications, and quietly discussed my condition amongst themselves.
After a while, they set up an IV drip. The medication started to take effect, and I began to drift off.
I faintly heard Miles ask, “Does she need to be hospitalized?”
Joseph replied, “It isn’t too serious probably just lingering effects of a concussion. She needs complete bed rest for a couple of days… Avoid any strenuous activity or emotional stress…”
I wanted to listen further, but the medicine pulled me into a deep sleep before I could hear more.
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