Chapter 234
Chapter 234
Chapter 234 Out of Sight, Out of Mind
Being bashful, Lucia had to evade Paul's gaze, "Thank you so much, Paul..."
"Don't mention it.Should there be anything I could be of use to you and your mother, just let me know." Paul replied.
Their chatting afterwards livened up the room a lot, and Bill Mitchell even joined them after greeting one another when he woke up before long.
Lucia was gratified to see her father conversing so blissfully with Paul, since that was the first time Bill smiled during these days.
The nurse came for a regular check of Bill's health condition after more than one hour.
Glancing at his watch, Paul said softly, "It's getting late and I guess we should leave now.We will visit you soon, Mr.and Mrs Mitchell."
Paula really wanted to stay there longer with Lucia, yet she had to obey her brother's suggestion, only blowing a kiss to Lucia wistfully.
Lucia rose to her feet to see them off, and didn't return until she was sure they had entered the lift.
When Lucia was returning to the ward, she ran into her mother, who was going out as though with a deliberate question.
"Lucia, don't lie to me: Are you in a relationship with Paul?" she asked in a low voice.
Being surprised at such a judgment of her mother, Lucia denied immediately, "What are you talking about, Mom!"
That was the most absurd guessing she'd ever heard, Lucia thought.
"You think I'm blind? Everyone can see that Paul just couldn't remove his eyes from you, whilst you acted so bashfully." Elisa said with a ghost of smile, "But I do think Paul a sensible young man, who is so soft and considerate"
Lucia was so weary of her mother's endless and unreasonable chatter that she decided to bring it to an end.
"Mom, enough! We are only friends and I didn't act bashfully!"
"Ok, only friends now."
Elisa went on, "But I figure you could be something more than friends as time goes by.
Paul is a nice young man and I just like him so much, whether when he helped you with the luggage last time or lays the bed this time..."
Lucia could do nothing but smile a wry smile with resignation.
She of course knew her mother's behavior was due to the fact that parents tended to worry about children's happiness.
Yet you just couldn't do it hastily, or things would end up otherwise.
The relationship between August and her was a very example of such failure.
Lucia's heart suddenly did a flop when she brought the name of August to her mind, as an unintelligible sense of sorrow welled up.
After a moment's silence, she shook her head to stop her mind from wandering along that direction.
Meanwhile, August was busy with his work in the CEO's office of the Lion Group when Burton entered with a knock at the door.
"Mr.Adams, you've been invited to a business dinner tonight, where Mr.West will show up.Shall we decline it?" suggested Burton.
August didn't even raise his eyes, only replying coldly, "No need.I'll attend it as usual.Why should we shun him?"
He shuffled through the contract and threw it aside, "Return it to the law department for the amendment in details."
Burton took the contrast, yet didn't seem to intend to leave.
August looked up at Burton casually, "Anything else?"
Burton answered with some hesitation, "It's about the matters in the hospital."
August frowned spontaneously.
After thinking for a second, he eventually asked despite himself, "What's going on there?"
"According to the staff we've sent to the hospital for the safety of the Mitchells, Paul and Paula had paid a visit there.Paul Thomas even got someone to provide them with a folding bed.It's said he's trying to transfer Bill Mitchell to higher-class wards, though he didn't make it because the hospital has run out of it now.But he made a reservation, probably for the Mitchells."
Burton's report had August's face darken.
"Got it." August answered after being silent for some seconds.
Getting no further instruction, Burton paused before he finally ventured, "Any order there?"
August raised his eyebrows with a hint of impatience as he stared at Burton, "What order are you expecting?"
Burton grasped the undertone of his boss instantly and replied, lowering his head, "Nothing."
"You can leave now." August then ordered coldly.
Yet the moment Burton closed the door behind him, August began to feel fretful somehow.
As he lifted his hand to loosen his tie, the face of Lucia came sweeping back to his mind.
He then reminded himself that she had severed their connection and he shouldn't meddle with anything of hers.
Out of sight, out of mind, he told himself, though still feeling rather gloomy.
During the business dinner that night, August still appeared rather apathetic.
He would drink off the wine silently when others drank a toast to him.
Having noticed August's low spirits, Rockwall Slinger asked with hesitation, "Something ails you, Mr.Adams?"
His question attracted the attention of other people at the table, who all cast a questioning look at August.
August put a civil smile on his face while replying steadily, "How could a businessman be free from problems that ail him? You guys know that better than me."
He was the youngest one among the veterans present that night, who were all in their middle age.
Praising August's smart response, they began toasting again.
August just joined them without hesitation.
The dinner didn't finish until late night, and the group of businessmen didn't leave until they all got drunk to their heart's content.
August got in his car and lolled on the back seat.
He seemed to have a little headache.
Noticing that, Burton turned on the music and kept the car moving more steadily.
He thought he was to head for the villa when August's low voice came from behind, instructing him to go to the hospital. Property © NôvelDrama.Org.
Burton paused a little and quickly understood which hospital his boss was getting at.
Where else could it be except the one Lucia was staying at now? August wasn't really drunk though he had taken a lot wine.
Blaming Lucia for his upset which had assailed him from the afternoon to the night, August thought he ought to have a check what a hopeless mess she was having now.
As the popular saying goes, I hate you so much that I'll rejoice to see your miserable state.
The midnight hospital was a deserted and subdued place.
August made a turn after getting out of the lift, just to find a woman fallen into exhausted slumber on a bench in the passage outside the ward.
How come she still slept outside when it was said Paul had got her a bed? August sped up to approach her involuntarily, frowning.
He couldn't help appreciating her delicate face with the beautifully-shaped chin and exquisite nose on it even when she appeared a bit pale without any makeup.
His eyes sweeping over the surroundings, August found that quite unsuitable.
How could she be so careless when she might even be totally unaware of any molesting should there be any vicious man passing by! August then went closer to the ward and looked into it through the glass on the door.
There was a folding bed beside the bed for the patient.
So small the folding bed was that it could only hold one person on it, and that person was Mrs.Mitchell, who was sleeping soundly there.
No wonder Lucia had to sleep outside.
She must have offered the bed to her mother.
August now felt a mixture of sophisticated emotions when he looked at Lucia again.
Though he had planned to tease her about her plight, he now just couldn't help feeling anxious and upset.