Chapter 1798
Ida returned McNeil’s smile and took a seat on the chair that Byran pulled out for her. Sadly, she had no idea what to say.
What was there to say?
What on earth did Bryan bring her here for?
The awkward silence was broken when Bryan pulled up a chair next to her.
“Dad! Guess where we went just now?”
McNeil let out a gentle chuckle and shook his head. “Where did you go?”
Bryan grinned proudly at his dad. “We just went out to eat with Ellinor!”
McNeil looked surprised, and an envious gleam appeared in his eyes. “Is that so? What did you have? Did she enjoy it?”
Bryan shrugged. “We had sushi. It was okay, I guess.”
The light in McNeil’s eyes softened further. “What does she usually like to eat? Does she still have a sweet tooth like when she was a kid?”
He directed the question at Ida. He knew from Bryan that Ida had known Ellinor for many years, and they were very close friends.
Ida shook her head. “We couldn’t afford sweets often when we were kids. She doesn’t care for them much now.”
After hearing Ida say that they couldn’t even afford small treats when they were kids, a wave of guilt hit McNeil hard. “It’s all my fault…”
Ida said nothing more. She knew how to be polite, but she couldn’t bring herself to lie.
Indeed, it was all his fault.
He hadn’t been a good father.
Noticing that his dad’s mood had dropped, Bryan quickly changed the topic. “Dad! You’ve finished your IV and medication. You’re looking good! How about Ida and I take you out to the garden for some fresh air?”
Ida objected. “It’s almost dark. What are you going to show Mr. Howard?”
McNeil chuckled. “It’s fine. I’ve been cooped up in the hospital for days, so I could use some fresh air.”
Since the Howard men agreed, Ida didn’t say anything more. She was an outsider, so what business was it of hers?
So, Bryan excitedly got a wheelchair from the head nurse.
McNeil looked a bit helpless. “Bryan, my legs are fine. I don’t need a wheelchair. I can walk with you guys.”
But Bryan insisted. “No! No matter what, you’re still a patient. Saving your strength will help you recover faster.”
In the end, McNeil gave in to his son’s persistence and reluctantly sat in the wheelchair.
Together, Byran and Ida pushed McNeil out of the ward.
As the three headed towards the elevator, Bryan suddenly leaned in to whisper something in Ida’s ear. “Ida, you called my dad Mr. Howard just now. Good girl.”
Ida looked surprised, then gave him a disdainful glance, whispering back, “Just being polite.”
Bryan grinned like a dog. “No matter why, it still makes me happy.”
Ida adjusted her gold-rimmed glasses, choosing to ignore him.
Just then, they passed a few nurses pushing a bed.
A woman lay on the bed, still hooked up to an IV, but her head was bowed, so they couldn’t see her face.
Ida only glanced at her casually. She was not really paying attention, but when she saw Bertha and Lea trailing behind the bed, her expression changed.
Was that Thaddeus’ wife and daughter? What were they doing here?
DING!
“Ida, what are you daydreaming about? The elevator’s here.”
