Chapter 324 It Was Already a Blessing
At the suburban nursing home, the docs said Austin wasn't in any life-threatening danger, but he'd be stuck in bed for the rest of his life.
But if he got his butt in gear with rehab, there was still a shot at moving around on his own.
Jerry just dumped Austin at the nursing home, skipped the rehab, and shelled out big bucks to have someone look after him forever.
Austin couldn't talk right anymore, his mouth was all crooked, and his eyes were wonky. Every time he opened his mouth, drool would just spill out.
The caregiver next to him slapped a bib on him, like the kind one use for babies.
Austin had never been this humiliated in his life, and he was kicking himself, thinking he shouldn't have lost his cool back then.
Jerry looked at Austin glaring at him, a smirk playing on his lips.
He sneered, "You should be grateful you got a good wife. Otherwise, I wouldn't let you live this comfy. Weren't you always trying to boss me around? Now, keep your eyes peeled and watch me take over the Hammer Group."
Back at Tranquil Haven, Madison said she wanted to cook herself.
I was pretty shocked, always figured a big star like Madison would maybe bake a cake but wouldn't mess with greasy cooking.
But then I thought, maybe I was being too narrow-minded. Anyway, it turned out to be a total disaster.
"Oh no, this pot is toast." Madison almost blew up the kitchen, and Ellen rushed in to help her.
I went over to check it out, only to see Ellen holding a pot that was blackened inside with some unidentifiable gunk.
The kitchen was filled with smoke, making it hard to breathe.
"Don't come in." Madison covered her mouth, coughing, and reached out to stop me from entering.
I saw Ellen looking at the pot, her face a mix of helplessness and heartache, like she wanted to say something but held back.
Then I looked at Madison, who was in a total panic.
I handed her a wet wipe to clean the grease off her hands, and when our eyes met, we both couldn't help but laugh.
"Oh man, I overestimated myself," Madison said, grabbing the wet wipe from my hand and cleaning herself. "I thought cooking would be as easy as baking, but I was so wrong."
I used to crave motherly love, always wondering for the past twenty years if I had caused my parents' death. When I found out the truth and had my mom back, I felt so happy.
I hugged Madison. "Mom, it's so good to have you."
Madison patted my back. "It's also good to have you back by my side."
After dinner, Madison made a work call, and I got a call from Jerry.
He teased, "I heard you went home and almost blew up the house?"
It must have been Ellen who told him.
Jerry, with his flashy and wild personality, never had anything nice to say and could piss people off in no time.
I asked, "Would you dare say that in front of my mom?"
"Of course not."
I snorted, "Yeah, you just like to tattle to my mom."
Jerry chuckled, "How else can I win over your mother and marry you?"
I touched my nose and changed the subject. "Are the people around Claire trustworthy?"
Jerry didn't call me out on changing the subject. "Of course, you don't need to worry."
"Take care of yourself. When Claire recognizes you, she'll be happy to see you well. Don't let her wake up to find you sick or in trouble. It would upset her, and me too."
I leaned back on the sofa, looking down at my flat stomach, and asked, "How's your work going? Are you taking care of yourself with good meals?"
"Yes. The Hammer Group has been dealt with, and next is the Harris Group. I was worried that someone might get desperate and do something bad. Stay inside Tranquil Haven as much as possible," replied Jerry.
I teased him, "If I don't go out, how will I get my prenatal check-ups? What if something happens to your child?"
Jerry's voice softened. "I'll make time to go with you. I remember all the dates for the check-ups."
Hearing that, my heart felt all warm and fuzzy.
I didn't say anything, so he asked, "What's up? Don't want me tagging along?"
I chuckled, "Take a wild guess."
Jerry clicked his tongue. "You're being cheeky 'cause I can't reach you, huh?"
"Who's being cheeky?" I shot back, but I couldn't stop worrying about Claire. "What if Claire never recognizes me?"
I had already braced myself for the chance that Claire might never recognize me, but in front of my closest person, I still felt a bit down.
Jerry tried to cheer me up. "Claire loves you so much; she won't always not recognize you. She's just sick, and with treatment, she'll get better."
"Hope, what are you doing?" Madison called me, and after a few more words with Jerry, reminding him to take care of himself, I hung up the phone.
I walked out of the bedroom, and Madison smiled and asked, "Did I interrupt your call?"
"Not at all, we were just wrapping up."
"Then let's watch a movie." Madison suggested, "I see there's a projector here."
"Sure." I linked my arm with Madison's. "I always dreamed of watching a movie with my mom."
Madison smiled. "I'll get some fruit, and you pick a movie."
"Let's watch one of your movies," I suggested.
Madison was startled and quickly declined, "You can watch it alone. I can't watch my own love scenes with my daughter."
I couldn't help but laugh.
In the end, we picked a comedy.
By chance, one of the lead actors happened to be represented by Madison's studio, and she spilled some juicy gossip about him to me.
Suddenly, the movie lost its appeal to me.
I was shocked. "Seriously? He has a kid with his manager? But he's such a big star. Isn't he supposed to avoid dating so early in his career? If this news leaks, a lot of fans are gonna be heartbroken, aren't they?"
I remembered Elissa used to be his fan. His acting was pretty solid.
Madison fed me a piece of fruit and said, "There are many who secretly marry and have kids. When love hits, it can't be stopped."
She added, "As long as it doesn't get out, they can keep up the single image and keep raking in the cash."
I took a bite of the fruit and couldn't help but keep gossiping, "With his status, the paparazzi must be on him 24/7, right?"
"Of course, and the paparazzi make a lot of money too."
I was shocked. "The paparazzi already caught him?"
Madison poked my forehead and laughed, "I didn't know you were so gossipy."
That night, I crashed with Madison. I dreamed that I never left Madison as a kid, that she took me to film sets and showed me the world.
On the day of the prenatal check-up, Jerry came back to Tranquil Haven to pick me up.
Noticing his tired eyes, I frowned and said, "You should head upstairs and get some rest. I can go to the hospital on my own."
After all, it was the Hammer family's hospital, and with bodyguards with me, nothing would happen in such a short time.
"You don't get to decide." Jerry helped me into the car and then bent down to sit inside. "Madison has a shoot she can't miss. If I don't go, who will accompany you?"
I blinked. "Elissa, she's at the hospital anyway, recovering well. After today's check-up, she can be discharged."
Jerry leaned back in the seat, his long legs sprawled out, and glanced at me. "So your friend is more important than me?"
"Of course not." I looked at the dark circles under Jerry's eyes with concern. "I just want you to get some rest, Jerry. I don't want you to be so tired."
Jerry asked, "Hope, you don't know what real exhaustion is."
I didn't get it and looked at him, puzzled. "Huh?"
"Real exhaustion is not knowing when I would find you," said Jerry.
He pulled me into his arms, his big hand gently rubbing my head. "And not knowing if you were still alive during those days and nights."
He whispered, "Now, this kind of life is already a blessing for me. As long as you're by my side, I only feel happy, not tired."
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