CHAPTER 284: CHAPTER 284: DAD LOOKS A LITTLE PITIFUL...

Declan Pierce looked at her for a long time, his bloodless lips slowly pulling out a pale smile.

He said, "Okay."

Clearly such a handsome and powerful man, life and death seemingly within his control. Watching Tanya look at Declan Pierce, she felt uncomfortable inside.

How could he be so pitiful?

How could one live so lonely and pitifully?

She actually wanted to ask Declan Pierce how he had managed to survive from childhood till now, but looking at him, she felt so uncomfortable that she couldn’t bring herself to ask.

He won’t call out in pain...

Walking out the front door, she saw Zion Monroe leaning against a flashy red sports car waiting for her.

He very gentlemanly opened the car door for her.

"Ms. Tanya, where are we going?"

Tanya Sinclair thought for a moment, then gave the address of the hospital, as Caden would be coming tomorrow.

Before getting in the car, Tanya Sinclair looked back. Under the night sky, Phoenix Court seemed endless yet completely dark. The buildings outside the main house were hidden except for a sharp outline, like a lurking beast.

Zion Monroe raised the car’s roof. As he drove, he suddenly let out a quiet laugh: "Today is certainly the quietest night I’ve had coming to Brother Pierce’s place."

Tanya looked over, puzzled.

Zion Monroe, one hand on the steering wheel, sighed lightly: "Brother Pierce suffers from severe insomnia, but strangely, the more lively the place, the better he sleeps. So I often bring in a group to throw parties, we do our thing, and he sits in a corner, hat over his face, able to catch a nap."

Tanya slightly furrowed her brows: "...When did his insomnia start?"

Zion Monroe shrugged: "I met Brother Pierce abroad four years ago, he was already taking medication to sleep back then. The dosage kept increasing, building up resistance, the threshold rising, the medication gradually became ineffective."

Tanya: "..."

Even with such terrible long-term sleep, he still has to act as Zeke Pierce’s blood reservoir... the fact that Declan Pierce is alive today is a stroke of fate.

"Ms. Tanya, do you know why this place is called Phoenix Court?" Zion Monroe brought it up with some indignation. "It was named by that bastard Zeke Pierce, saying something about a phoenix resting on a paulownia tree. He deliberately made Brother Pierce live here to mock his status as an illegitimate child, to remind everyone that the one living in Phoenix Court is a fake phoenix..."

The car stopped along the road outside the hospital.

As Tanya Sinclair got out, she heard Zion Monroe’s voice behind her, softly imploring: "Ms. Tanya, please be kind to Brother Pierce... he is very pitiful."

Tanya looked up at the sky.

The wind rustled past the treetops, the shadows swaying in the moonlight.

The same moonlight enveloped the silent Phoenix Court.

Declan Pierce twisted open a medicine bottle, poured out a handful, remembered Tanya Sinclair’s previous words, and returned a few back.

He must live...

His life now mattered to someone.

After taking the medication, Declan Pierce received a call from the sanatorium.

It was Uncle Vance, who took care of Horace Sinclair.

Uncle Vance spoke with great respect.

"Mr. Pierce, our old master has just awakened, though we’re unsure how long he will stay conscious this time. He wishes to see you."

Declan Pierce was not surprised at the call.

"Have him hold on a little longer, I’ll be there in an hour."

Declan Pierce hung up the phone and called Janne Hayes.

"Wait for me at the secret exit."

Then, Declan Pierce entered the cloakroom, removed his jacket, the wound ruptured, blood staining the gauze, and the inside of his shirt was also bloodstained. He changed into a black one, layered with another jacket.

He walked out, casually opened a secret door on the wall; inside was another door, which slowly opened only after scanning and verifying Declan Pierce’s identity. Once he stepped inside, the two doors immediately closed, restoring to their original appearance...

...

That night Tanya Sinclair tossed and turned for a long time before falling asleep.

Her mind was filled with Declan Pierce’s chaotic pulse, pondering how to help him recover...

Declan Pierce’s body hadn’t reached the point of total depletion; if nursing started now, he should be able to recover.

If only grandpa were awake. Her medical skills were taught by Horace Sinclair, who read extensively on ancient medical books. Perhaps he’d have a remedy.

Tanya Sinclair gradually drifted off to sleep.

By eight the next morning, Aunt Tawny arrived at the hospital, with a large bag on her back, breakfast in one hand, and holding Caden with the other.

Behind them, a familiar white sedan drove over.

Caden rubbed his eyes: "Aunt Tawny, I think I see Dad’s car."

Aunt Tawny, taller than Caden, could see further. She had spotted Vincent Hawthorne’s white Bentley before Caden did.

Aunt Tawny subtly moved to the other side, blocking Caden’s view.

"You’ve mistaken, darling. At this hour, your dad must be with his fiancée Ms. Lynn at home. Why would he come here?"

"..." Caden scratched his head, thinking Aunt Tawny’s words made sense.

Dad wouldn’t come to the hospital this early to see Mom, would he?

If he cared that much about Mom, they wouldn’t have divorced!

It must just be that the car looked similar.

"Come on, Caden, Mom’s waiting for you." Aunt Tawny led Caden onwards.

She just wanted to move quickly, silently praying Vincent Hawthorne wouldn’t follow!

But what you fear always comes to pass, just as Aunt Tawny reached the elevator, she heard Vincent Hawthorne’s persistent voice from behind.

"Aunt Tawny, Caden."

Caden heard the familiar voice, turned to see Vincent Hawthorne walking briskly, eyes widening in surprise, his small hand in Aunt Tawny’s gave a little shake.

"Aunt Tawny, it’s really Dad!"

Aunt Tawny: "..."

Though Caden hadn’t seen his dad in a few days, he was still a child and delightedly ran over to hold Vincent Hawthorne tight.

"Dad, did you come to see Mom? Why haven’t you shaved or worn nicer clothes?" Caden noticed a dried red mark on Vincent Hawthorne’s cuff, "Dad, are you hurt?"

Caden was a bit worried.

Vincent Hawthorne glanced at the bloodstain on his cuff, from carrying Cindy Lynn into the car last night.

"No, it’s nothing. Dad isn’t hurt. It’s just some paint I accidentally brushed against." He reassured his son, then looked at Aunt Tawny.

Aunt Tawny had a long face and reluctantly called, "Mr. Hawthorne."

Vincent Hawthorne didn’t mind Aunt Tawny’s coldness. He held a delicate thermos and a bouquet of yellow roses.

"I drove an hour to the college town’s bakery and queued up for this. Tanya loves their soup dumplings. And this bouquet, they’re her favorite yellow roses." Vincent Hawthorne spoke in a low voice, "Could you please give them to her for me?"

Aunt Tawny looked at the man before her with complex emotions.

Vincent Hawthorne’s face looked terrible, dark circles under his eyes indicating he’d been up all night.

Aunt Tawny wanted to say something unpleasant, but mindful of Caden’s presence, she swallowed the words.

Suppressing her temper, Aunt Tawny delicately said, "Mr. Hawthorne, you are divorced, you got your wish being engaged to Cindy Lynn. What’s the point of this?"

"Just a little thought from me," Vincent Hawthorne said hoarsely, "Even after a divorce, Tanya and I have fifteen years of history and two children. We’ll never be completely separate in this lifetime. I just wish to show some care, even if it’s as the father of the children."

When words fail, laughter sometimes remains.

Aunt Tawny was so exasperated she laughed.

Regardless, Vincent Hawthorne shoved the bouquet into Aunt Tawny’s hands, ignoring her expression, bent down, and handed the thermos to Caden.

"Caden, these are soup dumplings that Daddy bought for you and Mom. Could you take them up and have them with Mom?"

Caden asked, "Dad, aren’t you going up?"

"No," Vincent Hawthorne gave a bitter smile, "Your mom won’t want to see me. If she does, let me know, okay?"

Aunt Tawny: "..."

Shameless!

Using the child to play the emotional card!

The elevator arrived.

Aunt Tawny entered, "Caden, let’s go."

Caden waved to Vincent Hawthorne.

"Dad, I’ll go see Mom first."

"Okay."

Caden entered the elevator, standing next to Aunt Tawny.

The elevator door gently closed, with Vincent Hawthorne standing outside, not leaving, simply smiling and waving at Caden inside.

Caden pressed his little lips together.

He thought Dad looked a little pitiful...