Chapter 25: Hope or Despair

This was too sudden. I had never considered the possibility that Duncan might have feelings for me beyond friendship. Even if Lily had joked about it, I dared to believe that she had never imagined this situation either.

I was even somewhat grateful for Duncan's damned thoughtfulness. If I met him at the restaurant on Sunday night with a foolish and ignorant mindset, and he suddenly said such a thing, what would I do?

'God, I don't even want to think about that possibility!' I wondered.

Just as I was trying to deal with the chaotic emotions, a call from the hospital ruined everything.

"Hailey, we need to talk to you about Mr. Edward's latest condition." Ryan's voice was unusually heavy on the other end of the phone.

"I'll be at the hospital right away," I replied briefly, and after hanging up, a sense of foreboding washed over me.

At the hospital, Ryan was already waiting for me in his office. I sat down, and he handed me a medical record, speaking in a very serious tone, "Mr. Ed