Chapter 115
"I'll need to trouble you to look after Jessica these next few days. I'll call her kindergarten teacher to ask for some time off for her."
I rubbed my temples wearily.
Ever since Cora came, I felt like I hadn't had a moment's peace.
"Is something wrong on your end? Are you okay?" Grandma Cooper's voice was filled with genuine concern. "If anything is going on, please tell us. We'll help however we can."
I could tell that Grandma Cooper truly saw me as family.
A warmth spread through my heart, easing much of my exhaustion and frustration.
There was no need to hide what was happening at home - it would probably put Grandma Cooper more at ease if I just told her straight.
So I said directly, "Something seems to have happened with my older brother. I need to go to the hospital to look after my mom right now."
"Okay, no problem. Don't worry at all. Jessica will be fine with us. You don't need to worry about a thing!"
"Thanks so much."
After hanging up, I didn't rush to the hospital right away. Instead, I stayed at my desk to finish my work.
I only left the office when it was time to get out.
Sitting in the car, I tried calling Luke again.
As expected, his phone was still off.
I slowly pulled at the corner of my mouth, my expression mocking.
This was Luke taking responsibility?
What a joke.
I drove to the hospital and had just pushed open the door to the room when I was met with Cora's disgusted, irritated gaze.
"What are you doing here? Didn't you say you wouldn't take care of me? Get out! I don't need you looking after me!"
Cora sneered, her voice full of resentment.
It was as if I wasn't her daughter, but her mortal enemy.
I gave her a cold glance and answered calmly, "You think I want to deal with you? If Luke hadn't disappeared, I wouldn't be here."
At that, Cora turned her head, looking around. "Where's my son?"
"Mr. Luke disappeared around noon," the caregiver explained quietly from the side.
Cora froze for a moment, instinctively protesting, "That's impossible. How could he just disappear? Did he go out to eat?"
"Does eating take all afternoon?" I said coldly.
The caregiver glanced at me before speaking to Cora. "Luke said he was going downstairs to grab lunch at noon, and then he never came back."
"Well, call him then!" Cora frowned.
The caregiver's voice was helpless and frustrated. "I already tried earlier, but his phone was off. I still haven't been able to reach him."
"What?!" Cora's voice shot up immediately. She pounded the bed frantically, extremely agitated. "Then call the police!"
Seeing that neither of us moved, Cora's tone grew urgent and angry. "Luke is a good boy. He's been by my side, taking care of me this whole time. If he suddenly disappeared and we can't reach him, something must have happened! Call the police! Do it right now!"
Hearing Cora's words, the caregiver looked at me with a helpless expression.
I was really angry.
I was already exhausted from a full day of work, and now I had to listen to Cora losing it.
"Shut up! He's an adult - what could happen to him? If we can't reach him now, obviously, he's sick of you and hiding somewhere. What else could it be?" I sneered, looking mockingly at Cora as she sat anxiously in bed.
"Impossible! He's so devoted. You think everyone's an ungrateful brat like you?" Cora glared at me with disgust.
"Don't judge me by your own nasty standards!" I crossed my arms and leaned against the doorframe. "Your son is so devoted - then why isn't he here taking care of you? Doesn't he know that patients who just had surgery need the most care?"
Seeing Cora getting furious, I added, "The doctor said your condition requires emotional stability. If you keep getting angry, you'll just have to spend more money. Let's see how much Luke has to spend on you."
Cora could only glare at me with hatred.
But I didn't care.
I was all too familiar with that kind of look.
"You stay here and look after her. I'm going to the cafeteria to get food," I told the caregiver and strode out of the room.
I bought a meal for Cora and brought one back for the caregiver, too.
I didn't want to sit in the hospital room, so I went to sit in the hallway and look at my phone.
After a short while, a figure suddenly appeared in front of me.
My eyes shifted slightly. I looked up from the legs and met Jason's concerned gaze.
"Have you eaten?" Jason asked gently.
"I have," I nodded.
"Hospital food?"
"Yeah."
"That stuff is edible?"
Still, I felt it was probably a bit better than Jason's cooking.
I couldn't help but ask quietly, "You didn't cook yourself today, did you?"
Jason raised an eyebrow, his look questioning.
I spoke earnestly, "People aren't good at everything. Everyone has things they're not good at."
Clearly, Jason's weakness was cooking.
Jason looked at me with hurt in his eyes and said pitifully, "I just wanted to make something for you..."
"I'm not blaming you. It's just that since you're not good at it, there's no need to force yourself," I explained helplessly.
Jason avoided my gaze, clearly sulking.
I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Thinking he meant well, I was about to say something when I noticed a strange woman standing behind Jason.
"She is..."
"A new caregiver. Grandma told me everything. Right now, you have to work and take care of a patient at the hospital - your body can't handle it," Jason explained calmly. "If things here affect your work and you lose pay, wouldn't that be counterproductive?"
What he said made sense.
But looking at the new caregiver, I still shook my head. "Better not. Two caregivers are too expensive. I can't afford it."
"Make Luke pay half," Jason said without hesitation. "He ran off when he should have been taking care of the patient. The caregiver is doing his share, so he should pay."
I nodded.
Before I could speak, Jason continued, "You've been working all day, and you're tired. Now that a caregiver is watching, there's nothing to worry about. Go home and rest."
Since the caregiver was already here, there was no need for me to keep wasting time.
Besides, Cora didn't want to see me anyway. Being together just made both of us unhappy.
After briefly explaining things to the caregiver, I left the hospital.