Chapter 253 Rationality and Sensibility
In Eldoria, Leopold received a call from Erik, learning that a worker had been injured at the Solstice Mountain Hotel variety show filming location. Worried, he immediately contacted Maddox to ask about the situation.
Leopold asked, "How's the worker doing?"
"So you already know."
"Of course I know."
Maddox thought that made sense. After all, he managed the hotel, so if something happened, it would definitely have to be reported to him.
"Nothing too serious. Got a few stitches on his head and broke his arm. He's staying in the hospital now."
"The worker has insurance, right?"
"Yes." Then his tone shifted, "But the hospital fees need to be paid upfront. Reimbursement comes later."
Leopold asked, "How much did you pay?"
"Not much. The doctor asked for ten thousand dollars first."
Leopold said, "Does he need follow-up treatment?"
"There's a second surgery to remove the steel plate from his arm."
Leopold knew he didn't have much money on hand. "When Caroline gets off work, I'll have her bring you some money. Are you at the construction site or the hospital?"
Maddox smiled bitterly. During his toughest times, Leopold had never stood by and watched. This was why their brotherhood over the years was unbreakable.
"Leopold, I won't say much else. Thank you."
"Get the worker treated, comfort his family, and if you need anything else, contact me. I'm flying back Saturday, arriving Sunday."
Maddox asked, "Send me your flight number, I'll pick you up."
"No need, someone's picking me up. You've got to run between the construction site and the hospital anyway."
After hanging up, Maddox held his phone and let out a long sigh.
Erica, beside him, said, "If there's nothing else, I'm leaving."
"Don't go." Maddox gripped her hand tightly. "Erica, don't be mad at me. I'm pretty stressed right now too. With the worker injured, I have to keep running to the hospital."
Before he could finish, Erica's lips trembled with anger as she questioned him, "Maddox, you're stressed, but you're still only thinking about your own feelings. Can't you think about me for once? I've always understood you, supported you. Can't that earn me even one time where you consider me, where you give in for me?"
Erica opened her palm to reveal a bank card. "I know you don't have much money left, and you're worried about paying the hospital bills. I brought this card specifically to help you out."
Seeing the bank card, Maddox felt even more guilty and couldn't lift his head. "Erica, I was wrong. It's all my fault."
Erica said, "Your apology sounds very insincere. I have things to do. I'm leaving."
"Erica," Maddox held her and wouldn't let go. "I know nothing I say now will help. I promise, I'll never ignore you again. Give me a chance to make it up to you, okay?"
Erica said, "I've given you many chances. You didn't take them."
"It's my fault," Maddox vaguely sensed that Erica was serious this time. "I realize how serious this is now. Tomorrow, no, I'll go see your parents with gifts right away."
Erica said, "Too late. The bad impression is already made."
Meaning when she wanted him to meet them, he didn't go. The bad impression was already left. Going now wouldn't help.
"Then I should go even more. This time I'll apologize to them properly and make amends." Maddox's tone was sincere.
She could tell he was being genuine, but if only this sincerity had come earlier. Now everything was only because she was pregnant that he was willing to make these decisions. This hurdle in her heart, Erica couldn't get over it so quickly.
Erica said, "Don't go. My parents aren't in Seaside City. They went traveling."
Maddox asked, "When are they coming back?"
Erica said, "Don't know. They're going wherever they feel like. They didn't set a specific date."
This was difficult. Without meeting Erica's parents, how could they settle the marriage?
Maddox became even more worried. He couldn't call her parents to introduce himself, as that would seem too informal.
His tone carried a pleading note. "When your parents come back, I'll go see them right away."
Erica didn't answer, making Maddox feel even more uncertain.
"Erica," he gently nudged her. "You have to tell me when they come back."
Erica kept her eyes down, expressionless.
Maddox suddenly remembered to ask, "By the way, are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere right now?"
Finally, he remembered to care about her health. Erica said, "I'm not feeling uncomfortable anywhere; I don't feel anything."
"How did you find out?" Maddox asked.
Erica said, "Company health checkup."
"Do your coworkers all know?"
Erica shook her head. "Nobody knows. The checkup results are confidential."
Maddox nodded. He carefully observed Erica's expression. "What are you thinking?"
Erica's eyes shot toward him, clearly angry again.
"What do you mean?"
"Don't misunderstand. I just want to ask you: if you want to have the baby, we need to get married quickly; if you don't want to, I'll go with you and take responsibility for taking care of you."
Rationally, she chose not to keep it, but emotionally, she hesitated.
Erica had to face the fact that a life was growing inside her body. To keep it or not, this was a cruel question.
Her phone rang. Erica glanced at the number. "My director's calling. I'm leaving."
"Take this." In his urgency, Maddox stuffed the engagement ring into her hand. Erica looked down at it, her expression getting worse and worse. She put the ring back in his hand. "Maddox, you never stop."
With that, Erica left in a huff.
Maddox scratched his head in frustration. Just as he was about to get out of the car, he saw the bank card on the seat.
Erica was tough on the outside but soft inside, and especially good to him. Thinking about his stupid behavior just now, he wanted to slap himself.
Following Leopold's instructions, Caroline took fifty thousand dollars from the safe at home and delivered it to Maddox.
That afternoon, he found a caregiver. The patient's family had also arrived. He set up a special account for paying care expenses, but made it clear that there was a fixed daily meal allowance. He would cover medical costs directly, but for any other extra expenses, he required the care company to keep all receipts and details so he could check the accounts.
He still had to go to the Solstice Mountain construction site that evening. Maddox waited for Caroline in the hospital parking lot.
Seeing her car pull in, Maddox got out and walked toward her.
After he got in the car, Caroline handed him the money. "If it's not enough, contact me again."
Maddox nodded. "Okay, thanks."
"How did it go with Erica?" Caroline was still worried about their situation.
Maddox let out a long sigh. "I messed it up."
Caroline asked, "Didn't go well? You made her angry again?"
Maddox replied helplessly, "Yeah."
Caroline was completely puzzled. "What happened? Didn't we talk it through nicely? How could she get angry again?"
Maddox explained everything from start to finish. When she heard that, as Erica was leaving, he had forced the ring into her hand, Caroline immediately put her hand to her forehead and shook her head, saying in frustration, "Maddox, I really don't know what to do with you. That's no way to propose."
Maddox pleaded, "Caroline, I have too much going on right now, and my mind's a mess. Can you help me out and talk to Erica?"
They did have feelings for each other. They were just having some problems lately. If Erica had no feelings for Maddox, she wouldn't have worried enough to give him her bank card for emergencies. She still couldn't bear to let him go, but she'd always been strong-willed, and she hadn't gotten over that hurdle in her heart.
Caroline agreed. "Alright, I'll try again."