CHAPTER 50: CHAPTER 50: TEMPORARY DEPARTURE

As dawn broke, Sienna Thornton got up to use the bathroom, and coincidentally, a message came through on her phone, which she opened and read.

It was from Simon Forrester: I’m almost at the hospital, waiting for you at the room entrance.

She quickly threw on a coat and went out.

The inpatient department of the old county hospital was dim and outdated, with cold winds howling through the stairwell. Sienna Thornton hunched her shoulders against the cold, waiting outside the room for Simon Forrester.

After a moment, a tall figure came striding from the stairwell.

It was Simon Forrester, dressed in clean clothes.

He wore a white cashmere crew-neck sweater and a khaki wool coat, approaching from afar with a clean and handsome demeanor.

He stopped in front of Sienna Thornton, quietly looking at her for a few seconds, and then softly said, "I’m heading back."

Sienna Thornton moved her lips, wanting to say something but leaving the words unspoken. She just gave a faint smile, with a courteous attitude, "Safe travels back, thank you for everything these past days."

Their eyes met, neither looking away.

After a silent moment, Simon Forrester pulled out his wallet from his coat pocket, took out a card, and handed it to Sienna Thornton, "The place doesn’t accept mobile payments, there’s some money on this card for emergencies."

"No, I can’t." Sienna Thornton instinctively declined, pushing the card back into Simon Forrester’s hand. Fearing he would try to give it to her again, she wrapped her small hand tightly around his large one.

They both noticed the clasped hands, almost burning with heat.

Finally, Simon Forrester withdrew his hand first, leaving the card in Sienna Thornton’s hand.

He said, "Keep the card for now, you can pay me back along with the thirty thousand from yesterday when you get back."

Referring to the thirty thousand dollars Simon Forrester had helped Melinda Linton prepay for medical expenses the day before, Sienna Thornton thought, since the money had to be repaid eventually, she might as well accept the card. It would indeed be inconvenient to return home with Melinda Linton without any money in a few days.

"Alright, I’ll accept it, and repay you when we get back."

Simon Forrester sighed with relief, "I’ll send you the password later. Take care."

He gave Sienna Thornton one last deep look and quickly left the gloomy, cold corridor that reeked of disinfectant.

Sienna Thornton watched him leave, and upon turning back to return to the room, a deep sense of helplessness swept over her.

She had lied to Simon Forrester, saying her uncle would support her to make him leave earlier. In reality, she had no such uncle; Melinda Linton’s family disowned her twenty-eight years ago when Melinda decided to have her out of wedlock, and there had been no contact since.

If there really was an uncle to back her up, Melinda wouldn’t have been bullied by Felix Raines to the point of having a heart attack.

...

Melinda Linton observed in the hospital for three days, felt her health had improved, and insisted on discharging, perhaps worried about being unable to afford the medical expenses.

To avoid stressing her body, Sienna Thornton could only let her go ahead.

On the day of discharge, the Raines father and son, who hadn’t been seen since Melinda Linton first regained consciousness, both showed up, which led Sienna Thornton to suspect they had come for the prepaid medical expenses.

Sure enough, as Sienna Thornton was about to take Melinda Linton out of the room, Felix Raines spoke up, "Melinda, I heard you saved up thirty thousand dollars for your medical expenses!"

Melinda Linton glanced at Sienna Thornton in surprise, not daring to say anything.

"Tell me! Where did this thirty thousand yuan come from?" Felix Raines plopped down on the hospital bed, "Were you cheating on me outside, or did you turn into a thief? Unless you explain yourself today, don’t bother coming back to the Raines household!"

He kicked the wooden stool by the hospital bed into the corner; his brute force was pathetic in its attempt to exhibit authority.

Standing aside, Jared Raines yelled, "Mom, you’re too much! I was broke when I wanted to marry my wife, and here you are with hidden savings for your treatment!"

Melinda Linton looked at Sienna Thornton with reddened eyes.

Sienna Thornton had been mentally prepared, shielding her behind, and raised her chin to face the Raines father and son, "I was the one who put the money there, so what?"