“Look how protective you are. Your thinking is still a little too conservative.” “What is wrong with being conservative? You are not married and have children. You will know when you do. Whether it is a boy or a girl, they must receive proper teaching of conduct.” Immediately afterwards, those men at the table started to discuss parenting. Summer was genuinely impressed. They knew not only how to solve crimes but also a thing or two about parenting, and they all talked like experts. Charlotte poked out her little pink tongue to lick the strawberry cake in front of her, while her two little hands were busily unpacking the present box. There were so many presents, all for Uncle Dean. Well, Uncle Dean said, as long as those presents were his, they were all Charlotte’s. But when Charlotte finished unpacking them, she looked at those leather shoes, ties, belt, and wallet in disappointment. There was not a single piece of candy. They ate and chatted for a long time. At the end
But she did not find Charlotte, nor heard her answering. Dean was calm. He asked around if anybody had seen a four-year-old in a pettiskirt with a strawberry cake box in her hand. At last, one person responded. “I saw a little girl you just described. She ran out of the supermarket seconds ago.” Dean chased out at once, while Summer was on his heels. Men run faster than women. Dean had his heart in his mouth when he found Charlotte standing in the middle of the road, picking up a kite in the traffic. He quickened his pace and ran as fast as he could while calling out to Charlotte. “Stand there, Charlotte! Don’t move!” Charlotte heard Dean’s voice and turned around, happily raising the kite in her hand to show Dean. “A kite, Uncle Dean!” Just when Dean was two steps away from Charlotte, a car suddenly came to a couple of meters away from Charlotte. The driver of the car did not see this coming and panicked, mistakenly stepping on the gas instead of the brake pedal. The c
In the apartment. While preparing dinner, Maria could not help sighing when she saw the quiet living room. When Charlotte and her mom were here, the place was always full of life and laughter and the child’s innocent voice. But now… She could see that although Charlotte’s mom and Mark were constantly giving each other cold shoulder, they had feelings for each other. Mark was unsmiling and had an intimidating, stony face. But since Charlotte and Charlotte’s mom came along, things had been different. Maria could see a smile always hanging on Mark’s lips, his expression never this soft. They had been getting along like a happy family for the past few days. But now, alas! Mark walked in just then, and the first thing he did was ask, “Are they back?” Maria shook her head. “I called Ms. Hart last night, and she agreed to come. But she hasn’t come back yet.” Mark’s brows were raised slightly. He spun his tall body around and walked out of the house. Maria quickly asked, “W
“In the hospital.” Mark’s handsome brows were raised again, and his charming face darkened. “What happens?” “Charlotte… Charlotte met with an accident. She is in the emergency room right now.” Mark pursed his lips, his face crashing. A dark and gloomy cloud shrouded his eyes, with cold light flickering inside. His shapely hands clenched the phone in his hand. His usual calmness had left him. His heart was racing, as if someone was crushing it. “Which hospital?” “The General Hospital.” Mark ran out of the hotel in a whirlwind as the line went dead. The ladies at the reception were still in a daze. They had never seen Mark Valentine from such a close distance, his charm completely bewitching them. Summer’s lips were quivering after she hung up the phone. Mark was Charlotte’s biological father, and he had every right to know what happened. She just wanted Charlotte to stand in front of her, being naughty. She could not believe that a moment ago, Charlotte was still stand
The blood type of both of them was type-A. The nurse planned to draw 400ml, but Mark wanted the nurse to draw 1,000ml from him. The nurse refused, saying that the maximum permissible amount of blood a person could donate was 800 ml. Mark narrowed his eyes and said sternly, “Don’t make me repeat myself. If anything happens to them, I will hold you responsible.” The nurse trembled and was too afraid to say otherwise. She lowered her head and drew 1,000ml of blood from Mark. There was little change in Mark’s expression. He rolled down the sleeve of his black shirt and looked at the nurse. “Save Dean. Let me know if you need anything. Inform me if anything happens.” Mark never liked owing someone else’s favors. Especially when it was from Dean, who was injured from saving Charlotte. He would do his best to save him. When Mark came out, Summer stood up by using the seat as support. She appeared pale but calm. “Do they need another blood transfusion? I am type-A blood, too.”
A long time had passed before the doors of the operating theater finally swung open. Summer jumped out of Mark’s arms at once, ran up there and grabbed the doctor’s arm. Anxiety and fear filled her. She was afraid to hear the outcome she dreaded to hear. She was scared to hear the worst news. Mark watched and took her fears and hesitations all in. He stood up, strode forward, and put his arm around her and drew her into his embrace. Just when he was about to speak, Summer spoke with a somewhat trembling voice. “How is my daughter, doctor?” She looked calm on the outside, but the tremble coming from her body gave her emotion away. So he held her tightly and supported her silently. The warmth of his embrace calmed her. She was less anxious. At least her legs had stopped shaking. The doctor then looked at the man beside Summer. “Mr. Valentine—” “Just tell me.” Mark interrupted the doctor, his voice low and cold. His shapely hand involuntarily tightened the grip on Summer’s sh
Summer sat quietly at the bedside, waiting for Dean to come out of his coma. She sat there for over five hours, but Dean was still sleeping. There was no telling when he would wake up. It was at this moment that the attending doctor was doing his ward round. Summer asked with concern. “Doctor, why hasn’t the patient woken up yet?”“The cerebral hemorrhage has not pressed against the nerves of the brain. So don’t worry, the patient will probably wake up in a day or two.” The attending doctor said to Summer and asked the nurse behind him to take notes while observing the patient’s condition. She felt a great sense of relief upon hearing what the doctor said. Her cell phone vibrated. She went out of the ward before picking it up. “Hello?” “Has he regained consciousness?” Mark’s deep voice came through the phone. “Not yet.” “Then come back first. Charlotte is awake,” he said in a gentle voice. Summer briefly talked to the two nurses who took care of Dean in the room before
Mark turned around, walked back to the couch, and put her down, then took out a quilt and put it on her. Never had once Summer been awakened. She seemed to be really sleepy. Mark ran his shapely hand over her tear-stained face, his thin lips twitching. “This is really ugly.” As far as he could recall, he had never seen Summer cry. This was the only and first time she did. Charlotte was also sound asleep on the hospital bed. Just that the white gauze on his little head was hard to ignore. Mark, again, stroked her little face with his finger as he sat down at the bedside. The next morning. Summer opened her eyes and found herself on the couch. Her mind was drifting for a while before she snapped back. She then got up and saw two nurses in the ward, busying back and forth, but they made little noises. Whisking away the quilt, Summer walked to the bedside. “Is there anything wrong?” “No, Charlotte recovered fast. She didn’t hurt any important part of her body, so she will b