Chapter 234
"Mommy, why does your voice sound so strange?"
"I just had something spicy. My throat's a bit dry. I'll call you back later, okay?"
"Okay, Mommy."
Haley collapsed onto the couch after she hung up. The taste of blood spread through her mouth as she felt the sting where she had bitten her tongue.
Ivan glanced at her through the rearview mirror and felt an unexpected pang in his chest, pain.
His heart ached slightly.
He didn't know if he sympathized with her or if it was his compassion firing up.
He drove in silence, pushing the car to its limit.
Ten minutes later, they arrived at the emergency entrance of the hospital. By then, Haley had lost consciousness, a thin trickle of blood running from her lips. She was already beautiful, but the sight of blood added to her allure.
Ivan was bewitched.
As he leaned down to pick her up, his lips accidentally brushed against hers. The taste of her blood was both sweet and metallic, sparking a tumult within him. The weeds in the recesses of his heart grew into towering trees instantaneously.
Haley was rushed into the ER to have her stomach pumped.
Ivan stood in the corridor, deep in thought.
Over the past two decades, he had never cared for anyone. The only people he cared about were his two children, who had unexpectedly become part of his life.
But those kids were his blood. Caring for them was expected. He didn't understand why he felt pulled to Haley.
It wasn’t just out of interest, nor was it mere impulse. He didn't understand where these intense feelings came from and why they were overpowering.
Ivan waited outside the emergency room for half an hour before Haley was brought out.
The nurse pushed Haley into a room to start her IV and administer an injection and then instructed, "When she wakes up, she can only have water. After twelve hours, you can give her something light like oatmeal."
Ivan nodded. "Does she need to stay overnight?"
"Due to the overdose, she'll need IV throughout the night, but she should be able to leave in the morning."
"Understood, thank you."
After the doctor left, the room fell quiet, save for the steady drip of the IV.
Ivan sat by the bed, tucking Haley in before picking up her phone.
He dialed Todd's number directly.
"Hello, Mommy, are you back?" came Todd's obedient voice on the other end.
"It's me," Ivan replied briefly, sensing a brief pause in Todd's breathing.
Without mincing words, he continued, "Your mom won't come home tonight. I've arranged for Alfred to take care of you and Angela."
He had thought a simple injection could have sent Haley home.
However, after a gastric lavage, she needed IV fluids, and she was still unconscious.
Todd was bound to call sooner or later. It was better to be upfront.
The kid was smart, undoubtedly on par with Keith. There was no need for Ivan to beat around the bush.
In a calm voice, Ivan said, "Something happened to your mother, so she's in the hospital right now. Don't worry, and don't tell Angela."
"What happened?" Todd asked.
Todd's voice grew steadier, more relaxed. Ivan found himself increasingly impressed with the boy. Most other kids would burst into tears knowing something had happened to their mother. But Todd was different. He was composed in a way that belied his four years.
“She had a drink and needed her stomach to be pumped," Ivan relayed truthfully. “It’s all just a big misunderstanding. I’ll make sure your mother is returned to you safely and sound by tomorrow morning.”
Todd’s little hand clenched. He glanced at Angela, who was yawning non-stop on the couch. With a serious tone, he said, “Thanks, Mr. Ivan. No need to bother Alfred. I can look after my sister.”
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