Chapter 385 The Fainting Old Man
Ramon and Madeline had really warmed up to Samuel over the past few days. The guy was enthusiastic, knew how to handle himself, and most importantly, he treated Juniper well. Ramon's attitude had softened a lot, and he even invited Samuel to play chess with him pretty often.
Their initial worries about Juniper's relationship with Samuel had mostly faded, though they still felt a bit uneasy about her leaving.
"You're leaving already?" Madeline asked, clearly concerned.
Juniper had just come back, and Madeline hadn't had enough time with her yet.
"Work's crazy, you know," Juniper replied, playfully pouting at Madeline.
Ramon put down his knife and fork, trying to comfort her. "The kids are grown now; they've got their own stuff to deal with. And Samuel's a celebrity, so he's bound to be busy. It's okay, really."
"Yeah, Mrs. Hayes, Juniper and I will come back to visit whenever we can," Samuel added, his voice warm and reassuring.
Madeline nodded, feeling a bit better. Ramon thought for a moment and then turned to Juniper. "Juniper, Samuel's been here for days and has spent all his time with us. You two haven't had a chance to go out and explore. Since Samuel's here for the first time, why don't you take him around Phoenix City after dinner? Show him the sights so he doesn't think there's nothing to see here."
Samuel quickly waved his hands, his sweet words flowing effortlessly. "Oh, Mr. Hayes, I'd love to play a few more games of chess with you. And honestly, just being with Juniper every day is more than enough for me."
Juniper saw the looks from Ramon and Madeline and smiled in agreement, though her mind was elsewhere. She just wanted to go back and see Alden.
After dinner, Madeline practically pushed Samuel and Juniper out the door, insisting that Juniper show Samuel around the local attractions.
Phoenix City was just as bustling as Ravenford, but its scenery was even more charming. As they left the house, Juniper seemed disinterested, while Samuel was excitedly taking in the surroundings.
"Juniper, I haven't really seen Phoenix City's sights before. It's so much nicer than Ravenford. The air even feels fresher," Samuel said cheerfully.
They soon reached a forest park on the outskirts, lush and green, with a few people exercising. Samuel kept talking, but to Juniper, his words were like a wind-up toy, making her increasingly agitated.
"Enough," Juniper finally interrupted, turning halfway to face Samuel with a look of exasperation. "If you want to explore, go ahead. If you get lost, call me. I need some time alone. Sorry."
She walked away, sitting on a rock and staring into the distance, looking tired and helpless.
Samuel felt a pang of disappointment seeing her like this, but he had no choice. He stopped talking and headed towards a nearby hill.
In Ramon and Madeline's eyes, he was Juniper's boyfriend, but they both knew their relationship wasn't defined.
Oh well, might as well go for a hike.
Samuel started climbing the hill, his right foot pushing against the slope as he slowly made his way up, lips tightly pressed together.
By the time he reached halfway up, he was sweating. Just as he was about to straighten up and catch his breath, he noticed a figure in the distance. Hesitantly, he approached and found an elderly woman who had fainted. He quickly knelt down, shaking her arm.
"Ma'am, wake up."
But she was unresponsive.
With few people around, Samuel had no idea how long she had been unconscious. He decided to turn around, squat down, and hoist her arms over his shoulders. Balancing her weight, he carefully made his way down the hill, moving much slower than usual.
His phone buzzed repeatedly in his pocket, but Samuel, biting his lip and gripping the woman's wrist, couldn't answer.
"Why isn't he picking up?" Juniper muttered, lowering her phone and looking around anxiously. Samuel was new to Phoenix City, and while the forest park wasn't huge, it was easy to get lost. He had been gone for nearly an hour.
Juniper got up and headed in the direction Samuel had gone, occasionally jogging and considering calling his name but stopping herself.
Finally, she reached the hill and saw Samuel struggling to descend, carrying the unconscious woman. His steps were unsteady, and he looked about to collapse.
"Samuel!" Juniper ran over, helping him steady himself and guiding him down. After hearing what had happened, she decided they should take the woman to the hospital.
"Good thing you brought her in time. Who knows what could have happened otherwise. We've contacted her family; they'll be here soon. You two can rest on the chairs over there," the doctor said, patting Samuel's shoulder approvingly before heading back to check on the patient.
Samuel smiled sheepishly. "I'm just glad she's okay."
Juniper couldn't help but smile back. She had always seen Samuel as carefree, but he had shown he was kind and attentive, even sneaking away from work to come to Phoenix City.
Suddenly, a commotion echoed down the hallway. A young man, sweating and out of breath, rushed over with a well-dressed woman, likely his wife.
"Nurse, how's my mom? Is she okay?" he asked, grabbing the nurse's wrist.
"She's fine now, just resting. This gentleman found her and brought her here in time," the nurse said, pointing to Samuel. "Please keep your voices down."
The man sighed in relief and turned to Samuel, shaking his hand vigorously. "I know you! You're that famous actor! Thank you so much for bringing my mom to the hospital. I don't know how to thank you enough."
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