Chapter 685 Gratitude
Chapter 685 Gratitude
As the man saw her gesture of touching her stomach, he asked anxiously, "What's wrong? Is your
stomach uncomfortable?"
Annabelle shook her head, "I simply felt fearful. Now that I think of it, if anything were to happen to the
child, there was just nothing I could do to make amends!"
When Alistair heard that, he smiled heartily, "Now that you know it, I can be more restful!"
Annabelle looked at him, "It was an emergency that time and I didn't even have the chance to think
straight. I hadn't expected Antonio Lu to go that far!"
"No matter what, please promise me that you will always protect yourself and prioritize your own
safety!" He said solemnly.
Annabelle nodded meekly, "Okay!"
The couple continued to talk for a while. As it was getting late, Alistair looked at her and said, "Okay, it's
getting late now. Do rest earlier. You still need to do a checkup tomorrow!"
Annabelle didn't say anything. She nodded and lied down.
Alistair helped to tuck her in and walked to the couch at the side.
When Annabelle lied down and saw his tall figure curling up uncomfortably on the couch, she felt edgy
just by looking at him.
"Why not you lie down here with me?" Annabelle offered.
Alistair looked at her.
The woman moved aside to give him space. As she gestured Alistair to come over, he did not decline
and got up to walk over to her bed.
Fortunately, the bed wasn't small and it was spacious enough for the two of them. However, Alistair
made sure to rest as close to the corner as possible. He was afraid that he might press on Annabelle's
wound.
"I'm fine, it's quite spacious!" Annabelle said.
Alistair moved closer and kissed her forehead, "Okay, rest earlier. Good night!"
"Good night!"
After saying that, the two of them closed their eyes and went to sleep. Alistair had been careful with his
position and he was afraid to press on Annabelle or touch her wound. Therefore, he didn't even dare to
move a muscle.
Nancy stood outside their door for a long, long while. She wanted to knock on the door but she just
couldn't muster the courage to do that. After a long while, she left and went back to her room.
The next day, Alistair woke up during the dusk. He was afraid that Annabelle might not be able to sleep
comfortably so he woke up early. When he saw that she was still sleeping, he went to buy her
breakfast.
Not long after he left, Annabelle woke up.
At that time, her door was knocked.
"Come in!" She said.
And the door was pushed open lightly.
The moment Annabelle saw who came in, she was stunned.
Nancy raised her gaze and looked at Annabelle, "I wish to talk to you!"
"Have a seat!"
Nancy walked over and sat by Annabelle bed side, "I want to thank you!" Although she was unwilling to
give up, she came to a realization.
Now that she thanked Annabelle so wholeheartedly, the woman was just not used to it. She stared at
Nancy and didn't say anything. Nancy looked back at her and said, "I hadn't expected you to sacrifice
yourself to save me!"
"You don't have to thank me. Because I didn't do it for you. Now I just want to know that after you ran
out, did you get Alistair to save me?"
Nancy was shocked to hear that and she looked her in the eyes, "Of course! Although I didn't like you, I
wasn't such a bad person!" Nancy said.
When Annabelle saw how anxious she was, she knew she wasn't lying. Annabelle smiled gently, "That
is enough!"
Nancy frowned and she found it difficult to believe, "You don't blame me?"
"Why should I blame you?"
"I ditched you and ran away myself…" Although Nancy knew she did wrong, she was willing to own up.
She spoke in soft voice due to embarrassment.
"It is only normal for anyone to run away. Moreover, if you didn't, I wouldn't be here now. Probably the
both of us would get into trouble!" Annabelle said softly.
Nancy looked at Annabelle intently. At that moment, she understood something.
She stared at Annabelle for a long while and didn't know what to say.
After that, she smiled, "I think I am beginning to understand why Alistair likes you!"
Annabelle didn't understand her and she raised an eyebrow, "Why?"
"It's nothing." Nancy said. After that, she looked at Annabelle with clear eyes, "I will be responsible for
what I did!"
Annabelle frowned as she looked at her, "What do you want to do?"
Nancy smiled, "Don't worry. I will not be doing anything!"
Annabelle was just perturbed by her actions. When Annabelle still wanted to say something, the door
was opened suddenly and Alistair walked inside.
When he saw Nancy sitting on Annabelle's bedside, he showed no expression.
Nancy stood up immediately and looked at him, "Alistair!"
"What are you doing here?" Alistair walked over and put the breakfast on the table.
Although he didn't scold Nancy, his cold attitude was even more hurtful to Nancy.
"Nothing at all. Sister Annabelle, I shall go back first!" After saying that, she turned around and left the
room.
When Annabelle looked at Nancy, she felt piteous.
She was like a child that made a mistake but too afraid to speak up.
After Nancy walked out, Annabelle looked at Alistair and asked, "What's gotten into you?"
"What you mean by that?" Alistair was asking the obvious.
"Are you blaming Nancy?"
"No." He said indifferently but he didn't make eye contact.
But his cold attitude gave him away.
"Now that I think of it, Nancy is just like a child!" Annabelle said.
After Alistair was done preparing breakfast, he brought it over to Annabelle. Annabelle took it over and
wanted to eat her porridge. However, she noticed that she was unable to raise one of her hand.
Alistair had neglected that.
"Let me!" He took the bowl from Annabelle's hand carefully. After that, he blew it gently to cool it down
and fed Annabelle.
Annabelle was enjoying that kind of pamper. She simply needed to open her mouth.
"What did she tell you?"
"She came to thank me!"
Annabelle noticed a surprised look on Alistair's face. But both of them didn't say anything after that.
Since Alistair was reluctant to say anything, Annabelle simply let the topic slide.
After the breakfast, Teneria and Waynie dropped by. After that, the grandmother and madam Mu. And
finally, Covi and Dorie. In the end, the ward was lively like the market.
Dorie managed to make time in her busy schedule.
"Annabelle, why are you admitted again?"
Annabelle simply smiled helplessly, "Just my luck this year!"
"What about my nephew?" Dorie asked.
Annabelle broke into a laughter. Her child just got another random relative…
"He is fine!" Annabelle said.
Dorie was relieved after hearing that, "Let's go to the temple after you are discharged!"
Annabelle laughed, "Since when are you a believer?"
"I have no choice. Try and count it yourself, how many times have you got admitted this year?"
Annabelle had lost count already…
"Aren't you busy? How can you sneak out at such a time?"
"When Su and I heard that you got into trouble, we wanted to come. However, he is currently in a tight
training schedule and he couldn't make it. Therefore, I'm here as representative!" Dorie said.
"It seems like Su will be appearing in TV in no time!"
The moment she mentioned Su, Dorie couldn't help but blush. Now that the man had professional
make-up artist and designer brushing him up, he looked even more dashing now.
The woman simply smiled and didn't continue the topic, "He will come and visit you after he is done
with his training!"
Annabelle nodded with a smile.
At that time, Dorie looked towards Alistair, "Mr. Mu, I thought you promised to protect my Annabelle?"
"I am the one to blame this time!"
"What about the wedding ceremony next month?" Dorie asked.
When they heard that, the couple looked at each other. They had completely forgotten about this.
However, Annabelle cheered, "We will do it as per schedule!"
"What about your wound!?"
"It shouldn't be much of a problem. My bones aren't injured and it will heal in no time!"
"Will it leave a scar?" Dorie asked.
That seemed to be a question of concern!
After hearing that, Covi hurriedly added, "It shouldn't be. It will definitely heal!"
They thought Annabelle would be troubled. However, the woman simply chuckled, "Just let it be then.
There is nothing I can do. Since it's not on the face, it wouldn't affect the wedding!"
Dorie's jaw dropped. Annabelle was truly a different breed of woman!
If she hadn't known her for so long and so well, she might even suspect Annabelle was a man in
woman's body!
It was truly intriguing to understand such a manly woman.
However, that was definitely for the best. If she were to be troubled and sad because of that, it would
be conflicting to her personality.
At that time, Alistair walked over and said gently, "Even if it leaves a scar, you will be the most beautiful
bride in the world!"
"Mr. Mu, you are so sweet!" Annabelle chuckled.
When Dorie saw how loving they were, she didn't know what to say. The friend was just envious. After
all, she had accompanied Annabelle for a long time and she knew her history.
She had always known Annabelle as a rational woman. Although she was emotional at times, she
wouldn't let go of her pride in her relationship.
As long as she was being taken care of properly, Dorie could rest her heart.
After staying there for about an hour, she was summoned by work call.
After she left, Covi left as well.
Annabelle went to do a checkup and the result came back fine. She simply needed to stay another day
for further observation before getting discharged.
Luckily, the stab wound wasn't deep and her injury wasn't serious.
……
Kaleb Hua was eating while Hua watched him from the side, "Brother Kaleb, how do you feel? Do you
want to see a doctor?"
Kaleb Hua shook his head. Even after one day, his face was still pale.
If it wasn't for his health issue, he wouldn't have retired from the mobs. The man had been taking care
of his body all these years. Since the volunteers for the blood transfusion hadn't showed up, he
demanded the nurses to take more of his blood. He even stubbornly stopped the nurses from
unplucking the needle to keep transfusing.
Had the nurses not stop him in time, he might even get into a serious health issue!
"I'm fine!"
At that time, his chef walked out from inside and brought a bowl of soup. Hua had specifically hired a
nutritionist for Kaleb Hua, taking care of his daily food intake and nutrition.
"This is to replenish your loss of blood. Mr. Kaleb, you should drink more!" The chef said.
Kaleb Hua nodded and lifted the bowl to take his sup. The man knew the importance of taking care of
his own body. He would do everything he can to make the people around him worry less.
Hua watched from the side and he felt a complicated feeling within.
After Kaleb Hua was done, he lowered his bowl and looked at Hua, "By the way, how is Annabelle?"
"She is fine now. Her bones and tendons were uninjured. She would be able to get discharged
tomorrow!" Hua said.
Kaleb Hua nodded his head restfully, "What about that guy?" This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.
He was referring to Antonio Lu and Hua understood him.
"Alistair had submitted all of his criminal evidences. He will definitely get jail time!"
When Kaleb Hua heard that, he was restful.
"Go and check what other family members he has!"
Hua nodded, "I will!"
The man was experienced in this kind of matter. He was afraid that Antonio Lu's family would cause
trouble for Annabelle. Therefore, Kaleb Hua did everything he could for Annabelle's best interest.
Now that he knew Annabelle was fine, he could be restful and he gained more appetite.
"Brother Kaleb, should I send something over?"
When Kaleb Hua heard that, his gesture of eating paused. As he recalled what he said in the hospital
that day, he knew he was being suspected.
After all, Alistair was sensitive and a sharp minded man.
And Kaleb Hua shouldn't risk doing anything to cause further suspicion.
"There is no need for that!" Kaleb Hua said, "I think Alistair is suspicious already. Let's wait a little
longer!"
Hua nodded, "Got it!"
As for the blood transfusion incident…
The Xia husband and wife, as well as Zen was most surprised.
The Xia husband and wife didn't know the relationship between Kaleb Hua and Annabelle. But Zen
knew quite a bit.
The man was like a bystander and witnessed everything that happened. However, there were blanks in
his guess. Now that he saw Kaleb Hua's sudden appearance in the hospital and how keen he was in
giving his blood, he just couldn't stop thinking about it.
When madam Mu saw that Zen was troubled after coming back from the hospital, she couldn't help but
asked, "What's gotten into you? You have been acting weird ever since coming back from the hospital!"
When Zen heard Roline's voice, he came back to his senses, "It's nothing. I simply recalled something
troubling!"
According to the wife's understanding towards him, she knew that it wasn't as simple as that, "Ever
since you saw that Kaleb Hua from the hospital, you have been acting this way. Do you know him?"
The man was surprised that Roline was so observant. However, it made sense as well. The wife had
always been thoughtful and cared for him meticulously. It was only obvious that she realized something
was troubling him.
"We have been together for so long. Do you not trust me?" Madam Mu asked. Although they had been
together for forty over years, the husband would always keep things to himself. No matter how
observant or how sensitive she was, she needed his trust.
When Zen looked into Roline's eyes, he knew that he had caused unnecessary misunderstandings due
to his personality. Now that he thought of it, he had wronged her but she had never complained. It
wasn't because he didn't trust her but he didn't want her to worry.
Now that she requested, Zen decided not to hide from her.
"Do you really want to know?"
Roline nodded.
Zen contemplated for a while and his eyes were flickering. After that, he spoke, "Kaleb Hua might be
Annabelle's father!"
That made Madam Mu stupefied.
"Are you saying…" Her eyes were wide opened and she found it hard to believe.
After that, Zen told her everything.
Madam Mu heard carefully while digesting that information.
"Therefore, the reason you insisted Alistair to marry Annabelle was to compensate her?"
Zen nodded, "That was an important contributing factor!"
It started off that way. However, he took a liking to Annabelle and made his decision.
"According to what you say, yes it might really be Kaleb Hua's daughter!"
Zen nodded, "Now I am just worried that Kaleb Hua might have found out already!" Kaleb Hua had
been a mobster. The man was even willing to ditch Dawson Xiao to get a higher position. There was
nothing he wouldn't do.
In Zen's memory, Kaleb Hua was a cunning and wicked person that would do anything to reach his
objectives.
If he were to find out, Zen was afraid that the truth would be unveiled…
Madam Mu bit her lips and she was in a deep thought. After sometime, she said, "Even if he finds out, I
don't think he dares to say anything!"
"Why?"
"We don't know if he really knows. However, let's assume that he does and it was also true that he
dumped Dawson Xiao due to selfish reasons. Don't you think he would be afraid that Annabelle might
find out and hate him?"
"If he didn't care about Annabelle, he wouldn't volunteer to transfuse his blood for her. Therefore, it
doesn't matter if he knows or not, his hands are tied!" Madam Mu analyzed.
After hearing her, Zen nodded agreeably, "You are right. I was so worried that he had found out but I
didn't consider about other factors. What you said made sense!"
"Just try to think in his position. If Kaleb Hua really wants to get Annabelle to accept him, it is only
reasonable for him to think like that!"
"I promised Dawson Xiao that I will not let him find her. However, it happened in the end…"
"Maybe Dawson Xiao didn't hate him and she changed her mind after that!" Madam Mu said.
Zen looked at Madam Mu. The man couldn't understand a woman's thought. He simply knew that he
must honor his promises. With how things turned out, he was powerless to stop them already. Not only
that, the more he attempted to hide, the more he would rouse suspicion and cause the truth to be
revealed.
Finally, Zen nodded, "You are right!"
Madam Mu simply smiled, "Let's just go with the flow. Although this is quite the shocking news, it
wouldn't change anything. You promised Dawson Xiao but that was because Annabelle was still a little
girl. Now that she is an adult, she has her own thoughts and decision. All in all, she should be the one
that makes the choice!"
"You are completely right!" Zen exclaimed. The man had been troubled by this for far too long. Now his
wife released the burden on him with just a few simple words.
Madam Mu smiled and didn't say anything more.
At that time, Zen stretched out his hand and held hers, "Roline, I had been hiding this from you for so
long, not because I didn't trust you. But I didn't want you to misunderstand and didn't want you to feel
troubled.
Madam Mu nodded, "I understand!"
"Are you angry with me?"
Madam Mu smiled, "We are husband and wife. We should shoulder everything together!" The woman
showed her conviction.
Zen pondered her words for a while, "You are right. I was selfish and foolish. But I promise you that I
will never hide things from you anymore!"
"Really?"
Zen raised his hand, "I swear!"
Madam Mu smiled. She leaned on Zen's shoulder. At that moment, all of her burden was lifted.
"All these years, I had been dubious and resentful. If I had known about this earlier, I wouldn't feel so
troubled!"
"I had been foolish and self-centered. But you don't have to worry anymore. I will never hide anything
from you again!" After saying that, he held Madam Mu's hand tightly.
The wife smiled but her eyes were misty…
……
The Xia family.
The husband and wife were troubled by the same thing.
When Teneria and Waynie saw the ring some time ago, they were suspicious. Now that Kaleb Hua
appeared suddenly to offer his blood, they just felt unease. This could still remember vividly when the
nurse asked about the blood type. They couldn't say anything and they felt dejected by the
helplessness.
Finally, Waynie couldn't suppress her anxiousness anymore and she looked at Teneria, "Do you think
that Kaleb Hua could be Annabelle's father?"
Teneria sighed and he didn't know what to say. All those things that happened couldn't be mere
coincidence.
"I don't know either!" Teneria said. Everything seemed to be moving forward in momentum. Kaleb
Hua's sudden appearance in the hospital was no coincidence.
He must have eyes following Annabelle all the time…
When Teneria thought about that, his heart skipped a beat.
"If it's real, do you think he has already found out about that?" Waynie asked.
"Let's calm down first. Maybe we are just overthinking!" Teneria said. He didn't know if he was trying to
convince Waynie or himself.
"It might be a coincident for the first time. But not the second time! Annabelle is my daughter that I
brought up since she was little. Although she isn't related to us by blood, I had always treated her like
my own. That Kaleb Hua was a mobster! How could I not worry?" Waynie said.
"There is no point in speculating…" Teneria said in a low voice. His gaze was focused and determined,
"I'll go have a talk with him tomorrow…"