Chapter 54 The Unknown Number
“He told me he’s genuinely worried about you and he begged me to tell you to pick up his calls or respond to his messages,” he said.
“Oh okay. Thank you,” I replied, avoiding his gaze.
He went silent for a while, then spoke.
“I know this isn’t in my place to say, but I think you should hear him out. He seemed really worried about you,” Dave added, his expression neutral.
“I…”
Just as I was about to talk, the doctor started walking toward us.
Lena was the first to stand up, then I quickly followed.
“Hello, doctor. Please, can we give him something to eat? Maybe something light,” Lena asked while I nodded in agreement.
“Not yet. He’s still on IV fluids, but we will start him on clear liquids once his bowel function returns,” the doctor replied.
“His stomach needs to heal before we introduce food,” he added.
“Okay,” Lena muttered, her voice low.
We both thanked him and went back to our seats, our feet dragging on the floor.
We had barely sat down when Dave turned slightly toward me.
“Joan… is it okay if my sister comes by?” he asked.
I looked at him, my brows slightly pulled together.
“She has been disturbing me for the hospital address since I told her that I was with you here… she said she wants to check up on you,” he quickly explained when he noticed the expression on my face.
“Oh that’s absolutely fine,” I said with a soft smile.
He nodded and stood almost immediately.
“I will make the call outside,” he said and turned to leave.
I watched him walk down the corridor until he disappeared through the exit.
As if Lena had been waiting for that moment, she hurriedly tapped me lightly.
“He’s so kind. He paid the bill and he’s been here the whole time,” she whispered.
I knew what she meant but I didn’t know what to say.
About an hour later, Jane arrived.
She was carrying gift bags in one hand and a bouquet of fresh flowers in the other, and in between the flowers, there was a card that read “Get Well Soon.”
That sight alone made my heart warm.
When she laid her eyes on me, she hurried over, her heels clicking against the tiled floor.
“Joan!” she said, her eyebrows drawn together.
Before I could even stand properly, she dropped everything she was holding on Dave’s thighs and pulled me into her arms.
“I’m so sorry about your brother,” she said, her voice filled with concern.
“Dave told me everything and I’ve been so worried since then,” she added.
“Why is she worried? We aren’t even close?” I thought to myself.
I wouldn’t lie, her sincerity made me feel better.
Then I hugged her back gently.
“Thank you for coming,” I muttered softly.
She pulled back from me slightly but still held my hands.
“You don’t need to thank me. And I’m so glad he’s responding to treatment,” she added.
“That’s the important part.”
All those while, Lena just sat on her chair, watching us and clearly amused.
“Yes, it is,” I nodded, almost feeling emotional.
“These are for him,” she said, reaching for the flowers and gifts.
“I didn’t know what he would like, so I got a bit of everything,” she added, handing them to me.
“Oh,” I smiled.
I remembered the time Dave sent me gifts too… that was the same thing he said.
It’s like that was their favorite sentence.
“He will definitely love it. Thank you,” I replied.
Jane’s gaze shifted to Lena after handing the gifts to me. She looked at her as if she was trying to place a face she hadn’t seen before.
Lena, who had been watching silently, straightened herself under her gaze.
“Oh… this is Lena… my best friend,” I said, breaking the silence.
Jane’s face became soft immediately.
“Oh! So, you are Lena. I’ve heard about you,” she said, moving closer to her.
“You have?” Lena asked, her brows raised.
“Yes,” Jane nodded.
“Dave talked about how you’ve been so supportive to Joan and her brother. Thank you… really,” she added, extending a hand to Lena.
Lena, who was clearly stunned that a person dressed as if she owned half of the city would thank her, shook her hand.
“It’s nothing. We are practically family,” she said politely.
“Family… that’s beautiful,” Jane smiled.
There was silence for a moment, then Jane looked toward the ward.
“So… is he awake?” she asked.
“Just briefly earlier,” I replied.
“But he’s resting again.”
“Oh… I would have loved to see him, even if it’s for a minute,” she said, pouting.
“You can. I will take you to his ward,” I replied.
As we walked toward Theo’s ward, Jane slowed down slightly beside me, then she turned her face slightly towards me.
“You are stronger than you look, Joan,” she said, lowering her voice so that only I would hear.
“Not many people could handle all this and still stand like this… I would have broken down if it was me,” she stated.
I didn’t know how to respond, I just gave her a small smile.
Because the truth was that i was barely holding myself together. I felt like I could fall apart anytime from that moment.
I didn’t even have the luxury to fall apart.
Lena followed closely and quietly behind us, but I could feel her eyes on Jane.
She was studying and measuring her, trying to figure out where exactly she fit in my complicated life.
ALEX HART’S POV
I was so pissed at myself.
Because earlier that day, I had called Dave. I told him Joan wasn’t picking my calls or replying to my messages, and asked him if he could help me talk to her.
That was a lie, I just wanted to confirm if she was with him.
He went silent at first, then he responded with okay and hung up.
Just like that.
And that made my stomach churn.
I scoffed quietly to myself.
It wasn’t his fault. It was my fault for falling for my mother’s silly trick.
I ran my fingers through my hair in frustration, then my mind replayed that moment.
The moment when Joan drove off with Dave in his car, the look Dave gave me before getting into the car.
I closed my eyes, trying to drive away the thoughts, but it only came back clearer.
The worst part was I didn’t even know where Joan was, but I hoped desperately that she wasn’t with Dave.
Sometimes, my mind would picture her in Dave’s arms and sometimes it would picture them locking lips.
My chest tightened because of those stupid thoughts.
Then I leaned forward, with my elbows on my knees as I stared at my phone.
I tossed my phone angrily to my side and laid my back down on the bed.
Just then, my phone beeped.
I sprang up and hurriedly picked up my phone to check it the message was from Joan.
But it wasn’t.
It was from an unknown number and what I saw made my stomach drop.
“What… what does this mean?” I muttered to myself, my voice shaking as I stared at my phone’s screen.