Chapter 212: Jerry, You Seem Like a Good Person Today
As I held my phone, my thoughts drifted inexplicably back to a distant past, where strange yet familiar fragments rushed into my memory.
"Jerry Hammer! You said you'd come to my house for breakfast today, and you overslept again!"
"Jerry Hammer, it hurts! Carry me!"
"Jerry Hammer, they all say we have an engagement. What is an engagement?"
"Jerry Hammer, pick that one, the big orange!"
"Jerry Hammer..."
"Are you serious? Arriving just on time still counts as being late?"
"Who told you to run so fast? Get on."
"It means I will marry you."
"Got it, got it, Bella."
"Bella Harris! Do you have any manners? Call me Jerry!"
In my memory, I cried loudly, "Jerry, I don't have a grandpa anymore. Claire said everyone will leave, and no one can stay with me forever."
He had patiently comforted me, "I will, Bella. I will stay with you forever."
Childhood memories, recent events, and the news of Jerry's death all intertwined in my mind. I pressed my hand against my chest, but my face remained dry.
Cecil was stunned and quickly comforted me, "Hope. The deceased are gone. Acting like this will only harm your own body."
I was silent for a long time before murmuring, "I remember now." But it only made the news of his death harder for me to accept.
Cecil asked, "What do you mean?"
I looked at him. "Cecil, I remember a lot of things."
Hearing this, Cecil quickly called the doctor in. After some inquiries, the initial diagnosis suggested that the recent accident had stimulated my nervous system, sparking my memory to return.
Noting the doctor's accent, I realized something. "Cecil, we're not in the country anymore, are we?"
Cecil explained, "Yes, we're in Fantasia Federation. Christopher's influence is too pervasive back home Once your condition stabilized after I brought you to the hospital, I brought you here. I wanted you to have the freedom to decide your next steps once you woke."
"Thank you." I said, genuinely grateful for Cecil's foresight and care.
Returning to the chaos Christopher caused was the last thing I wanted. The memories of that turbulent past would only haunt me endlessly.
A few days later, the Hammer family held a grand funeral for Jerry. Cecil asked if I wanted to return to attend. I declined. Jerry couldn't be dead; he had never once broken a promise to me.
That day, the doctor informed me that I was nearly recovered and could be discharged anytime. When Cecil returned after finalizing the discharge procedures, I hesitated before speaking. "Cecil, I think I'll stay here in Fantasia Federation for a while."
I didn't want anyone to control my freedom anymore.
Let them think I was already dead.
Cecil looked at me, surprisingly unperturbed. "There's actually something I've been hesitant to tell you."
I nodded, urging him to continue.
Cecil poured me a glass of water, saying, "There might be more to Jerry's death than we know. On the night of the explosion, someone requested a flight route from Maple Valley to Fantasia Federation."
"You mean..."I looked at him, hope flickering. "Jerry might have come here?"
"It's a possibility if he's still alive," Cecil confirmed.
I pursed my lips thoughtfully. "I can look for clues about his whereabouts here."
Cecil handed me the water. "Exactly. And, Hope, I respect all your choices. In fact, I support your decision to stay in Fantasia Federation."
I looked at him, curious. "Why?"
Cecil elaborated, "I have a friend here who is a top-notch psychologist. Hope, she can definitely help you with your depression."
I shook my head, "Cecil, I told you, that medicine was Elissa's."
Cecil touched the newly healed scar on my wrist, his voice a gentle whisper. "First you cut your wrist, then you rushed into the lake. It's clear you don't value your life and lack the will to live. Do you really think you can keep hiding this from me?"
"I...I don't know what's going on either," I admitted, staring out the window.
My thoughts and even my own body seemed beyond my control. In fact, it had been this way for a long time. But after returning to Jacquar from Maple Valley, it became more pronounced. It was Elissa who had first noticed my unusual behavior and dragged me to the hospital, where I was diagnosed with severe depression.
On the day I cut my wrist, had I not needed to go to Maple Valley to verify Jerry's status, I might not have bothered to bandage the wound.
"It's okay." Cecil creassured me, leaning down to meet my gaze. "You're just sick, Hope. Everyone gets sick in this world, right? Some with physical illnesses, others with mental ones. After you're discharged, I'll take you to see my friend. I've already discussed your case with her, and she's very optimistic about your treatment."
I managed a small smile. "Okay."
Cecil looked pensive for a moment and then asked, "Do you remember the professor wanted you to go abroad with me back in college?"
I nodded. "Yes."
At that time, the professor had high hopes for my talent, but financial constraints made studying abroad impossible. Even without tuition and other expenses, the daily costs were prohibitively high.
I smiled. "Do you want me, at this age, to study with those college students now?"
Cecil laughed, "No. A genius designer wants to take you as a protégé. He saw your work and said that if you weren't constrained by the market, you would probably create even more amazing designs."
Cecil had orchestrated everything for me, be it treatment or career opportunities. I looked at him gratefully and said, "Cecil, you've thought of everything so thoroughly. I don't know how to repay you."
"This is enough." He pointed to the bracelet on his wrist.
I felt a pang of embarrassment as I remembered the circumstances of that bracelet. When I found out about Cecil's birthday, it was too late to get him anything special. So, I had taken the bracelet from my cat's neck at home, asked my mom to restring it, and gave it to him as a birthday gift.
"It's not worth much," I admitted honestly.
Cecil chuckled, "Do you think I care about that?"
"Well," I said, a sudden memory surfacing. "Cecil, after you saved me a few days ago, did you see a necklace? Mine is missing."
"Necklace?" Cecil seemed momentarily puzzled. "I don't recall seeing one. Could it have been left at the Valence Manor?"
I shook my head. "No."
Ever since I knew it was something my mother had left for me, I had always worn it close to me and never took it off.
Cecil frowned. "Then it might have fallen into the lake. I'll contact the police in Jacquar and see if they found it."
"Okay." I nodded, though I knew it was unlikely. The best the police had managed to retrieve was the car. If the necklace had gotten lost in the process, finding it would be like searching for a needle in a haystack.
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