The two were whispering, but Carol still woke up. Upon opening her eyes, she saw Stuart first, standing at the foot of the bed, making him hard to miss. While Elbert was sitting right by her side. Carol's eyes moved past Stuart and landed on Elbert, staying there.
Stuart noticed that his usually stern and distant mom had a twinkle in her eyes when she saw Elbert.
She didn't say anything, not even a smile, but Stuart could see the happiness in her eyes.
How sweet. Stuart felt like a third wheel standing there.
Honestly, his parents were true love; he was just a happy accident.
But deep down, Stuart was actually pretty happy. He didn't mind if his parents ignored him, as long as they were good. He had outgrown the need for their affection. He just wanted them to be happy.
As for himself, he'd find his own happiness.
Elbert saw Carol looking at him and immediately took her hand again, "Carol, how are you feeling? Does your head hurt? Are you thirsty or hungry? Any discomfort?"
There was finally a hint of a smile in Carol's eyes. She said, "You're asking so many questions, how am I supposed to answer?"
Elbert, in his fifties, had a bit of a boyish shyness on his face. He let go of Carol's hand, "I'll go get some water. You drink some water first, then freshen up."
Elbert went to get water, helped Carol drink some, and then went to the bathroom to get a basin and towel.
Stuart knew that when Elbert was young, he was a privileged guy who didn't have to lift a finger. He had never done any chores. But after being with Carol, he learned a lot of things.
Andrew had mentioned all of this to Stuart before, but Stuart had forgotten about it until now, when he saw Elbert preoccupied.
Elbert occasionally came home over the years, and he didn't do much either. Unexpectedly, he was quite good at taking care of people. And Carol didn't seem uncomfortable at all, clearly used to his care.
Stuart stood aside, once again feeling like a third wheel.
They hadn't dared to tell Andrew about Carol's injury yet. But seeing this, the two of them must have reconciled.
Stuart spoke up, "Dad, Mom, there's something I want to discuss with you." Only then did the two look over.
Stuart said, "The doctor said that Mom needs to rest for a while even after going home. So, Mom, how about going back to Haustia Manor after being discharged? It would be easier for me to take care of you."
Elbert gazed at Carol with hopeful eyes, resembling a pitiful little puppy, without uttering a word.
Stuart glanced at him and felt he couldn't bear to look. In his fifties, and still acting like this?
'I have never looked at Josephine like that... Wait! I could!' Stuart thought.
Stuart secretly observed from the side, deciding to learn a few of Elbert's tricks.
Carol lowered her eyes. She still looked young, with a cool and elegant demeanor. Even in a hospital gown, she exuded an innate nobility.
Elbert spoke cautiously, "Carol, let's go back. Our room... No! You can have it! I'll stay in another room. Dad has always hoped you would come back all these years."
In Stuart's impression, Elbert was not a spoiled or stubborn person. But as the only heir of the Haustia Family, he had some pride. But now, he was so humble. Stuart couldn't bear it and spoke up. "Mom, let's go back. I haven't lived with both of you for so many years."
Elbert gave Stuart a grateful look. Carol listened to Stuart, then looked up at him, her eyes moist.
Elbert immediately panicked, "If you don't want to go, then forget it."
Carol spoke, "The curtains in the room shouldn't be dark blue."
Elbert was stunned. It was Stuart who reacted first, "Okay, I'll have them changed right away."
Elbert was overjoyed, "Carol, you agreed to go back? Really?"
Stuart felt Elbert's brain wasn't working well. He said, "Dad, stop asking, or Mom might change her mind."
Actually, Stuart didn't know that sometimes, in such matters, only those not involved could see clearly.
Elbert was now anxious and uncertain. Originally, he had been wronged for so many years, and he could have complained or even gotten angry at Carol. But he didn't. It was clear that he was full of joy at having her back.
After crying, his eyes were full of Carol—how he took care of her, pampered her, and made her happy.
Elbert indeed didn't dare to ask anymore, his expectant eyes carrying a bit of timidity, making him look quite pitiful.
With his parents' ambiguous looks, it wasn't appropriate for him to stay there any longer.
Stuart had to speak up, "You guys have breakfast first, I'll go back and tidy up the room."
He couldn't ask if Carol was willing to share a room with Elbert. Anyway, Carol going back was already a big step forward. He would set up another room for Elbert first, and the possibility of sharing a room would hinge on Elbert's efforts.
Speaking of which, he didn't know when he could share a room with Josephine. Thinking about it, he and his dad were really in the same boat.
Stuart first went back to Haustia Manor and told Andrew about the past few days. He still didn't dare to mention Carol's injury, only saying she had a cold and would be back in a few days. Then Stuart had someone tidy up the room.
He also went back to his and Josephine's room. Since Josephine left, the room's arrangement hadn't changed at all.
But actually, this was very painful for Stuart. Seeing the house where he and Josephine had lived together every day, many memories would uncontrollably come to mind, which led to Stuart missing her even more.
In such a cycle, the result was that Stuart often didn't dare to go home and stayed in the company's lounge instead.
Now, this situation had finally improved a bit. Looking at the room's arrangement again, Stuart no longer felt the same pain as before. He even had a faint sense of anticipation in his heart.
Maybe in the near future, Josephine would also appear here. But he didn't expect that this day would come so soon.
In the afternoon, Josephine came over with Jeffery.
Obviously, Josephine didn't expect Stuart to be there either.
"Aren't you supposed to be at the hospital?" she asked.
Stuart felt like he was dreaming, "Josephine? Why are you here?"
Andrew looked at him disdainfully, "What kind of question is that! Don't you want Josephine to come?"
That wasn't what Stuart meant. He hadn't had time to say more when Andrew clapped his hands, "Jeffery, come here!"