Chapter 376 Choosing Dad or Mom
When Sam returned, he still looked exhausted. Sophia placed him on the bed, letting him sleep a bit more, while Ethan and Emma stayed by his side, offering comfort.
After Sophia left, Emma gently touched Sam's pale forehead.
"Does it hurt?"
Sam replied, "No, it doesn't."
Ethan said, "A fever doesn't hurt; it just makes you feel awful."
Sam added, "I don't feel awful either."
"Be good, Sam. Ethan and I are here," Emma said softly.
Sam remained silent.
Sam was the oldest brother, but now it felt like he was the younger one.
It was already late in the morning, so Sophia decided not to go to work and instead stayed home to cook something delicious for the kids.
Gabriel, however, had to go to the office.
Colin responded and initiated a video call with Gabriel.
Gabriel had just arrived at his office.
It was already late at night for Colin, but he had just finished his work and returned home. Seeing Gabriel's message, he responded immediately.
"Mr. Lancaster, could you please tell me more about the first time Sam showed signs of autism?"
Gabriel paused for two seconds and then slowly said, "Sam ran away from the office that day for about an hour. We found him near a nearly completed shopping mall. It was pouring rain, and he was soaked. That night, he developed a high fever."
"What was his reaction when he had the fever?"
"He was unconscious."
Colin pondered for a moment.
"Where did he go, and what did he do during that hour he was missing?"
"After Sam woke up, he refused to speak. No matter what we asked, he wouldn't say anything. At that time, due to construction, the nearby surveillance cameras had been temporarily removed, and because of the heavy rain, the construction crew wasn't working."
As he spoke, something suddenly flashed through Gabriel's mind.
Colin added, "I suspect that during that hour, someone might have threatened Sam, possibly related to the elevator."
This time, Sam was so scared by the elevator malfunction that he developed a fever, which was quite unusual.
Gabriel's face turned very grim. He had once suspected that someone might have threatened Sam during that hour, causing him to shut himself off.
However, due to various adverse conditions, he couldn't find anything.
Sam had always been closed off. Even now, though he was somewhat better, he still hadn't fully opened up about those events.
"Sam doesn't want to face that past, so no matter how you ask, he won't answer. He's selectively forgetting."
Listening to Colin's words, Gabriel felt a heavy weight in his heart.
Colin confronted, "We have made some progress. At least, now we know that Sam's condition is related to the elevator. Take it slow; Sam will get better."
"Thank you."
Colin ended the video call but still felt uneasy, so he sent a voice message to Sophia.
Nicholas stayed in the lab until eleven o'clock today.
Josie had already gone to bed. Nicholas habitually checked on Josie before returning to his room.
"Nicholas."
Gummidge was waiting for Nicholas at the top of the stairs.
She was wearing a white silk nightgown, her hair down. The years of hard work had added many wrinkles to her face, and her hair had turned quite gray.
"What is it?" Nicholas' icy demeanor softened slightly when he faced Gummidge, and his expression relaxed a bit.
"Charles, you can go back now. I'll take it from here," Gummidge said gently to Charles.
Charles hesitated and looked at Nicholas. After receiving a nod from Nicholas, he nodded to Gummidge and left.
Gummidge pushed Nicholas back to his room.
"Since your father fell ill, I've been taking care of him and neglecting you. I'm sorry."
Nicholas moved his hand on the armrest.
"You did nothing wrong. No need to apologize."
He didn't get along with Aragorn, but Gummidge was a good mother. She was just a bit too gentle and overly dependent on Aragorn.
"You and your father are too alike. When something happens, neither of you will back down or admit defeat."
"You're wrong. For your sake, I've already backed down enough."
Whenever he and Aragorn argued, Gummidge was always caught in the middle, feeling torn. Nicholas felt sorry for her, so he often ended up compromising.
"I know." Tears welled up in Gummidge's eyes, and she quickly wiped them away.
Nicholas' gaze softened slightly.
"Your father has a deep grudge against Caroline, so he doesn't like Josie either. But Josie is still your daughter and my granddaughter," Gummidge said with a suppressed sob, "I care about her, too. I was afraid she wouldn't have a mother to take care of her, so I supported Daisy staying with the Watson Manor."
"Over the years, Daisy has raised Josie well. For your sake and Josie's, she even gave up her reputation and the right to be a mother. Nicholas, it's been over six years. You should give Daisy an answer."
Nicholas' eyes turned cold, and he was about to retort when Gummidge's next words hit his weak spot.
"Do it for Josie. Give her a complete family."
The room fell silent. Gummidge looked at his cold, expressionless face, unable to read his thoughts.
"I'll help you get ready for bed."
"No need. You should rest early." Nicholas operated the remote control himself and wheeled into the bathroom.
Gummidge stood there, watching his back, her heart aching.
Her son was tall, with long, straight legs. Nicholas always attracted a lot of attention from women wherever he went. He exercised regularly and was in great shape.
But now, Nicholas couldn't walk or run and was confined to a wheelchair, making everything inconvenient.
Even his personality had changed significantly because of it.
Tears fell again as Gummidge lowered her head and wiped them away before leaving.
The atmosphere at the Watson family had been somber these past few days. Aragorn's birthday celebration had been far from enjoyable.
When Gummidge returned, Aragorn immediately asked, "Did you talk to him?"
Gummidge replied, "Let him think about it."
Aragorn snorted and lay back on the bed.
The next day, Nicholas had breakfast with Josie, and the members of the Watson family was also present.
Aragorn brought up Paul again.
"Paul has been back in the country for so long, and you still haven't found him?"
He was starting to suspect that Paul might have already colluded with Nicholas.
Nicholas replied, "I found him."
"Where is he? Why haven't you brought him back?"
Nicholas replied calmly, "He doesn't want to come back."
"If he doesn't want to come back, you won't bring him back? Tell me where he is, and I'll go get him."
"City S."
Aragorn fell silent.
Nicholas' indifferent attitude was infuriating him.
"Josie, I'll take you to preschool today," Nicholas said, his tone much gentler when he looked at Josie.
Aragorn was even more annoyed.
Josie was delighted. She quickly finished her last sip of milk, grabbed her backpack, and followed Nicholas out the door.
In the car, Nicholas patted Josie's head and casually asked, "Josie, do you want Daddy more or Mommy more?"
Josie looked at Nicholas in confusion and thought, 'Why does Daddy ask such a strange question?'
'Could it be Daddy was going to separate from Mommy?'
'Will I have to choose between Daddy and Mommy?'
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