Chapter 1589 He Doesn't Want to Care
After the lawyer left, Ann stared blankly out the window for a while before suddenly remembering Tan at home. She always made sure to leave plenty of food when she went out, but she'd been in the hospital for four days now.
Panic seized her as she tried to get up, desperate to discharge herself and check on Tan. But the moment her feet touched the floor, the room spun violently around her.
Left with no choice, she called Ronald. "Could you check on Tan for me? There should be enough food, but I haven't been home in days."
"I'll go right now," he replied without hesitation.
Ann's heart softened. "Could you bring him this afternoon? I'd love to see him."
"Of course."
Only then did her anxiety finally settle.
That afternoon, Ronald arrived with Tan as promised. The little dog was barely the size of a forearm, small enough to cradle in one's arms. Ann's complexion brightened the moment she saw him.
"Thank you." She took Tan from Ronald's arms. The gray puppy remained perfectly still, as if sensing Ann's condition, content to be held without squirming.
Ann gently stroked his head, then nuzzled against him. "Is there still food at home?"
Ronald set down a fruit basket and settled into the chair beside her bed. "Yes, I refilled his bowl."
"Thank you." Ann leaned back against the headboard, holding Tan close. His tail wagged frantically while his body stayed obediently still, occasionally letting out soft, sweet whimpers that lifted her spirits instantly.
The healing effect was immediate.
Though Tan had received all his vaccinations and wouldn't catch anything, Ann still worried about the hospital environment affecting him.
"When can I be discharged? I feel fine now. I'd rather recover at home where I can take care of Tan—it's so boring here," she asked.
Ronald's brow furrowed. "You need more rest."
"I can rest just as well at home. I'm not comfortable here."
Seeing he couldn't dissuade her, Ronald consulted with the doctor, who reluctantly agreed and provided Ann with crutches.
Ronald carried Tan while Ann maneuvered her crutches as they entered the elevator together. When the doors opened on the ground floor, Ann froze—Paul and Elara stood waiting outside.
Elara was there for a follow-up appointment and hadn't expected to encounter Ann, who struggled with her crutches, clearly having difficulty walking. Ann avoided looking at Paul, laboriously exiting the elevator and staying close to Ronald.
Paul had learned from his lawyer that she was hospitalized, assuming it was just a common cold. But seeing her condition now, it appeared far more serious than he'd imagined.
As he stepped into the elevator, he couldn't help but glance back at her retreating figure. She limped slowly, pausing every few steps to rest, clearly in pain.
Elara immediately grabbed his arm. "Paul, what are you looking at?"
Paul withdrew his gaze and calmly pressed the elevator button.
Elara's expression darkened, though she forced a smile. "That looked like Ms. White. How did she get injured? And who was that man with her? They seemed quite... close." Her voice carried an undertone of venom, her free hand slowly clenching into a fist.
"Anyway, my doctor should be ready now. The checkup will only take about ten minutes—you can wait in the hallway."
Paul nodded, instinctively reaching for his cigarettes.
After exiting the elevator, he headed to the designated smoking area, which had windows overlooking the street below. By some twist of fate, Ann appeared directly beneath his window at that moment.
She moved with painstaking slowness while the man carrying her dog patiently waited, occasionally asking her something with obvious concern. She looked up to respond, then reached up to pet Tan's head.
He remembered now—the dog was called Tan, and they had adopted him together. The emotion that stirred within him was unsettling, like watching their child accept another man as father.
He flicked ash from his cigarette and watched Ann hand her crutches to the man, who carefully helped her into the car. The little dog nestled quietly in her arms, licking her hand and making her smile with genuine warmth.
He tried to look away, but his gaze seemed magnetized to the scene below. By the time he snapped back to awareness, the car had already disappeared from view.
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