Chapter 69 Let Her Decide for Herself
After finishing breakfast, Alexander returned to Sinclair Villa alone. When Oscar came out of Lillian's room, he had already left. Oscar was very considerate. Instead of deciding on his own, he asked Kelly for Alexander's phone number and called to ask for his opinion.
During the call, Oscar explained the situation and then asked for Alexander's thoughts.
"Did Lillian ask you to come and ask me?" Alexander asked after listening.
"No, Lillian said she didn't want to go, but I have a good relationship with Leo. He has taken care of both me and Lillian before, so I think we should go celebrate his birthday," Oscar explained.
"It's up to Lillian," Alexander said and hung up the phone.
Oscar could tell from the way Alexander hung up that he probably didn't agree. He returned to Lillian's room and told her, "Lillian, Alexander wants you to decide for yourself."
He tentatively asked again, "Lillian, are you going?"
After thinking for a moment, Lillian lowered her head and said, "Alexander didn't say yes, so he probably doesn't want me to go. I won't go. You go and celebrate Leo's birthday."
Oscar leaned back in disappointment and said, "What's the point if you don't go? We used to celebrate together every year. I don't think Alexander doesn't want you to go. He probably respects you and wants to give you freedom, so he doesn't want to interfere."
'Oscar is mistaken,' Lillian thought to herself.
"Fine. Even if Alexander really thinks that way, I still won't go," Lillian reluctantly said.
"Why not? What's wrong between you and Leo?" Oscar sensed something was off and asked.
"Nothing, it's my problem. I feel like since I'm already married, I shouldn't always be attending these kinds of events," Lillian said against her will.
Observing Lillian's firm attitude, Oscar, although unhappy, didn't continue persuading her. He helplessly said, "Alright, if you don't want to go, I'll celebrate Leo's birthday tonight."
After Oscar left, Lillian felt a bit sad. After all, they used to celebrate birthdays together every year. She felt somewhat sorry for Leo.
She took out her phone and found Leo on WhatsApp, sending him birthday wishes. "Leo, happy birthday."
In the afternoon, Oscar got ready to leave. Lillian saw him off at the community gate and instructed him, "Come back early. Be careful on the way. Don't drink."
"Lillian, whenever I go out with Leo, he never lets me drink," Oscar said helplessly.
"If you stay out late, take a taxi back," Lillian tapped his shoulder and said, "Alright, I won't nag anymore. Go ahead."
Oscar turned around and joked, "You know you're a loquacious person."
Leo had reserved a table at a barbecue restaurant and arrived early. When he saw Oscar alone, he felt a bit disappointed. He had naively thought that Lillian would come together.
"Leo, happy birthday!" Oscar happily said, placing the birthday cake on the table.
Leo smiled and said, "Thank you, Oscar."
The food they ordered arrived quickly. Leo poured himself a glass of wine and said to Oscar, "Cheers, Oscar. Thank you for celebrating my birthday with me."
"Leo, Lillian didn't come today, but I'll say happy birthday to you on her behalf!" Oscar raised his drink and clinked glasses with him.
Leo drank the entire glass and sadly said, "Lillian sent me birthday wishes on WhatsApp."
"Leo, even though Lillian didn't come, don't be mad at her," Oscar said.
Leo smiled bitterly and said, "How could I be angry with Lillian? How is Lillian doing lately?"
"Lillian is doing great. She gets along well with Alexander, too," Oscar said as he ate something.
Leo knew that Oscar knew about her situation. Hearing him mention Alexander, Leo felt a little sad. He could tell that Oscar and Alexander also got along well. Feeling upset, Leo kept drinking one glass after another. He always missed Lillian, reminiscing about their annual birthday parties.
"Leo, what's wrong with you? Are you in a bad mood?" Oscar grabbed his arm and worriedly said, "Drinking like this is not good for your health."
Leo's face turned red. He looked at Oscar and asked sadly, "Oscar, what do you think of me? Why doesn't Lillian like me?"
Oscar froze and asked, in a daze, "Leo, do you like Lillian?"
"Have I not made it clear enough? You didn't see it, and neither did Lillian. But I feel like Lillian is pretending not to know," Leo said, opening another bottle of alcohol.
"I didn't expect that. I thought you always regarded me and Lillian as your younger siblings," Oscar realized everything at that moment. He understood why Lillian didn't come today and why Leo was so upset.
Leo laughed at himself and said, "So it turns out that you all just see me as a big brother!"
Many people were dining that day, and the noisy voices in the restaurant drowned out their conversations.
At night, after finishing dinner, Lillian planned to play with Luke for a while. Suddenly, her phone rang.
"Hello, Oscar. Have you finished eating?" Lillian asked.
Oscar's anxious voice came from the other end of the phone. "Lillian, come quickly. Leo is having a gastric bleed, and he's at the hospital now."
"How did this happen? How did he have a gastric bleed?" Lillian asked in a panic.
Oscar said, "Lillian, please come over first. We're at Gracemist Hospital, and I don't have enough money."
"Alright, I'll come right now. Don't worry," Lillian said and hung up the phone. Lillian returned to her room. She called a car while changing her clothes. After she changed, she told Kelly what had happened and prepared to leave.
"Lillian, do you have enough money? Wait, I'll get you some," Kelly said as she walked towards the room.
"No need, Kelly. I have enough money, don't worry," Lillian grabbed Kelly's arm and left in a hurry.
After arriving at Gracemist Hospital, Lillian went straight to the emergency room, where she saw Leo. His face was pale, his eyes tightly closed, and he had an IV drip.
"How is he?" Lillian asked.
Oscar replied, "The doctor said he needs to be hospitalized. It's quite serious."
"How much did he drink?" Lillian whispered.
Oscar shook his head and said, "I didn't pay attention. Leo has been drinking all night."
On the bed, Leo slowly opened his eyes. When he saw Lillian standing beside him, he thought he was hallucinating.
"It's me," Lillian pressed down his arm with the IV drip and reproachfully said, "Don't you know your stomach is not good? Why did you drink so much?"
Leo forced a smile and said, "I know. I didn't expect you to come. As long as you're here, it's worth even if I get sick."
"Your condition is quite serious," Lillian couldn't stand his intense gaze and got up and left the emergency room.
A nurse came over and said to her, "The patient needs to be hospitalized. You should go through the admission procedures."
"Okay, thank you," Lillian followed the signs and walked towards the payment window.
Leo was arranged in a hospital room. Lillian went to a supermarket to buy some daily necessities for him.
"This hospital allows you to order meals on your phone. I bought you toiletries and some essential items," Lillian put the items one by one into the cabinet and asked, "Are you really not going to tell your mother?"
