Chapter 165 To Give the Child a Healthy Family
Janet's face stiffened. She bit her lip tightly and looked at Alaric with an aggrieved expression.
"Alaric, I know you still resent me for taking Mrs. Hughes's money and leaving you back then, but at that time..."
Alaric walked past them with a cold face.
Julian raised his eyebrows slightly. Seeing the elevator door about to close, he reached out to block it. The door automatically opened and he walked in.
"Coming or not?"
Seeing Janet frozen in place, he asked.
Janet took a deep breath. Though unwilling, she had no choice but to leave. With a sullen face, she walked into the elevator and stood beside Julian.
The elevator door closed. Julian casually played with the ring on his finger.
Janet saw his relaxed manner and frowned tightly.
"Julian, don't you like Dr. Stone? Why don't I see you making any effort?"
Julian raised his eyebrows and lifted his eyelids slightly, glancing at Janet.
"What's your brilliant idea?"
Janet saw the mockery and amusement in his attractive eyes. In the end, she pressed her lips together and said nothing.
"No brilliant idea. I'm just surprised you can hold back so much. Your crush is right in front of you and you don't even try."
Julian calmly withdrew his gaze from Janet. His hand playing with the ring paused for a moment, then he remained silent without a word.
Cordelia had a brief exchange with Ruth's attending physician and learned about Ruth's current condition. Her mood grew heavy.
When Alaric arrived, she quietly excused herself from the attending physician.
The two passed each other.
Alaric didn't glance at Cordelia, and Cordelia didn't spare any extra attention for Alaric. It was as if they were strangers.
Robert, who had been standing beside Cordelia just moments ago, was stunned by this scene.
The two had been fine last night, but today they'd become strangers. He really didn't know what conflict had occurred between Cordelia and Alaric this time.
The following days were the same.
Cordelia would visit Ruth in the ICU every day, always arriving a few minutes before Alaric.
As soon as Alaric arrived, she would find an excuse to leave.
Neither of them took the initiative to speak to the other.
It was like they were having a standoff.
After Ruth's vital signs stabilized, she was transferred to a VIP ward.
After several days of adjustment, she finally had to accept the fact that she'd lost her ability to speak.
Cordelia would spend part of her time after work each day keeping Ruth company.
Every time Cordelia came, Ruth would grip Cordelia's hand tightly, listening to Cordelia chat about work-related matters.
Ruth would often open her mouth, then fall silent.
Whenever Cordelia saw Ruth like this, her heart ached.
In her youth, Ruth had held up the entire Hughes family and raised Alaric to be so outstanding.
Someone like her would rather die peacefully than live in such a miserable state.
Cordelia understood Ruth's thoughts. Although nothing she said would get any response, she still came to keep Ruth company every day without complaint.
Marigold soon learned about Ruth's stroke.
When Kenna and Terry came to visit Ruth, Kenna didn't come along because she and Terry had a conflict over Thomas.
Marigold walked into Ruth's hospital room and saw Cordelia holding Ruth's hand and chatting with her. Her expression darkened slightly, then she shifted her gaze from Cordelia to Ruth.
"Ruth, I came to see you."
Ruth smiled when she saw Marigold, nodded, and gestured for Marigold to come to her side.
Marigold walked to Ruth's side with her cane and stood in front of Cordelia.
Cordelia immediately understood Marigold's meaning. She got up from the sofa and moved to the side.
Ruth took Marigold's hand and patted it, making a few unclear sounds from her throat.
Seeing Ruth's current state, Marigold couldn't help but look up at Cordelia.
Cordelia composed herself and said quietly.
"Mrs. Hughes had complications after her stroke. She's lost her ability to speak."
In front of Marigold, Ruth finally showed some vulnerability. Her eyes reddened.
Marigold looked at Ruth sideways, her expression somewhat subtle.
She took a breath, then said to Cordelia and Terry.
"You two go out. I want to talk to Ruth alone."
Ruth nodded.
Only then did Cordelia turn and leave the room.
Terry followed behind Cordelia.
That day at The Thompson Manor, Marigold had said some harsh things, so Terry felt quite ashamed when he saw Cordelia.
Seeing Cordelia about to return to her office, Terry immediately called out to her.
"Cordelia, that day at my house, my mother did say some harsh things, but Thomas explained everything afterward, and I criticized her too."
"I hope you won't take it to heart."
Cordelia's expression was calm as she said evenly.
"Thomas already apologized to me."
Terry had been paying attention to the relationship between Thomas and Cordelia during this time. He noticed that Cordelia truly had never contacted Thomas.
And Thomas hadn't reached out either, which showed there wasn't much feeling between them.
Moreover, although the Stone family had suffered a major blow three years ago, Evelyn had now revived it.
The Stone family's status in Shadowpine was much higher than the Thompson family's.
Cordelia was also aware of Thomas's habits. If she really got serious about it, she might not necessarily marry into the Thompson family.
"Cordelia, you and Thomas have a child together after all."
"Although the child was just an accident, since you chose to give birth to this child, you should be responsible for the child's life."
"Why don't you marry Thomas, form a proper family, and give the child a complete home."
When Terry said these words, he looked like he was seeking Cordelia's opinion.
Cordelia frowned slightly. Just as she was about to respond, she saw Alaric walking out from around the corner with a cold face.
His features were stern, and a sharp aura emanated from him.
Terry's expression changed when he saw Alaric. Gathering his courage, he took the initiative to greet Alaric.
"Alaric, are you here to keep your grandmother company?"
Alaric didn't answer Terry's question. With a cold face, he walked past them, pushed open Ruth's hospital room door, and went in.
Terry's face turned pale when he saw Alaric completely ignore him.
Clearly Alaric had heard what he'd just said.
Although Cordelia and Alaric were divorced, they had been husband and wife after all.
If Cordelia remarried, marrying Alaric's cousin would indeed be hard to accept.
Terry's heart filled with worry.
If the marriage arrangement with the Stone family fell through, and he'd also offended Alaric, then the Thompson family would have no one to rely on in Shadowpine in the future.
Terry felt extremely regretful at this moment, thinking he shouldn't have been so rash in saying those things to Cordelia.