After spending the past few months together, I was serious about my relationship with Christopher. Nonetheless, the thought of his family members driving us apart once they figured out our relationship had stopped me from seeking their acknowledgment.
I might not get to join the Lane family as a household member even if I was the heiress of the Tanner family. To make things worse, I was just a pathetic woman whose husband had an affair with another woman.
On top of that, only a mere few were made aware of our actual relationship. As a result, my mind went completely blank when Darius showed up out of nowhere.
Similarly, Darius seemed to be shocked by my presence. He sized me up while standing at the entrance.
It would be fine if I was seated next to Christopher. At least I could make something up and tell Darius I was just here to visit his brother. Unfortunately, I was next to Christopher on the bed, nestling against one another.
Darius wasn’t the mayor for no reason. He could carry himself as though it wasn’t a big deal and made his way into the ward once he closed the door.
Shortly after he nodded with a smile, he took a seat on the chair next to the bed and started perusing the medical record that was placed nearby.
“What’s wrong with both of you? Can’t you guys take good care of yourself and stop giving me the shock of my life?” Darius raised his volume once he finished perusing the medical record.
“Darius, I guess I can’t keep anything from you when you’re the mayor of Avenport, huh? It has only been a few days since my return, yet you manage to figure out I have been rushed to the hospital.” Christopher held my hand, indicating it would be fine.
Instead of just lying around, I felt the urge to greet Darius. Thus, I blurted out the things I had in mind, “Hey, Darius—”
I couldn’t even finish my sentence when I recalled I had addressed him as though we were affiliated with one another. It was so embarrassing I couldn’t wait to get out of the ward.
“How are you feeling? Has the doctor mentioned anything else?” Darius did a great job keeping his emotions to himself. Instead of chasing the married woman next to his brother, he expressed concerns over my condition.
It turned into a question-and-answer session since I had run out of ideas to get myself out of the ward.
Shortly after he expressed concerns over my condition, Darius started reprimanding Christopher. Although he made it sound as though it was an ordinary conversation, it was evident he was irked.
“Chris, don’t you think you’re too reckless? I can’t believe you have initiated the mission to exterminate John and his party when not even the special force can take them out! Have you thought things through? What are we supposed to do if anything happens to you?”
Christopher glanced at me and answered in a serious tone, “I could’ve taken them out two years ago if I hadn’t been dispatched elsewhere prior to the commencement of the mission! Aren’t you aware of the number of lives that were involved back then? If I don’t take John and his party out prior to my retirement, who knows what’s going to happen to Zachary and my comrades?”
Darius yelled, “Oh! It turns out you’re still aware you’re going to retire soon, huh? Dad has always regretted his decision to send you to the army. Mom has picked on him for the precise reason more than once. You need to stop exposing yourself to unnecessary risk in the future.”
“Alright, I’m going to retire very soon. In fact, the memo has been delivered. In other words, I won’t get to interfere with their decision in the future. Is that enough to please my dearest brother? It’s time for me to take a nap. Why don’t you return to your office and tend to the things on your plate?”
Christopher sat upright and yawned over and over again. It was evident he couldn’t wait to chase his brother away.
Darius raised his hand and flicked Christopher’s forehead. When he was about to leave, Christopher stopped him and said, “Darius, please keep Dad and Mom in the dark about my condition. Otherwise, they’re going to pick on one another again.”
“If you’re conscious they’re going to be worried about you, why don’t you mind your behavior in the future? If it weren’t because I had sent Monica to Coldbridge to deceive them, they would have long made their ways over.”
