Day Fifty-One…
~~*****~~
Aiden didn't know what to do. He kept pacing back and forth outside Abigail's VIP ward. Nathan kicked him out of the room, not allowing him to enter. He wanted to be alone.
It did not take long before Stephen came back to the hospital. He saw Aiden in front of the VIP ward.
"Stephen!" Aiden called his name. "What happened to you?" he asked when he noticed that Stephen's clothes were messy and he had some bruises on his face. Aside from Nathan, someone definitely punched him.
"Where's Nate? I need to talk to him," Stephen said with urgency.
"He is inside. He kicked me out and locked the door. He is furious. Why did you do that Steph? You should have been honest with him. He is our best friend!" Aiden started to reprimand Stephen.
Bam! Bam!
Stephen pounded the door so hard using his fist. "Nate! Open this door. We need to talk!"
Nathan only responded with silence. He didn't say a word. It seemed like Nathan was ignoring Stephen.
Aiden held Stephen's shoulders while shaking his head. "Nate is in a bad mood. You know him. He is stubborn. If he is mad, it will be hard to talk or negotiate with him. He won't listen."
Stephen exhaled sharply. He was worried about Jane's safety. He wanted to beg Nathan. In Stephen's point of view, he could see Jane as the vulnerable woman he met in Country Z six years ago, not Phantomflake, the assassin.
"Nate. As your best friend… I'm begging you. Please open the door. I won't leave. If I have to kneel, I'll do it." Stephen continued convincing Nathan. Without a second thought, Stephen dropped to his knees, kneeling in front of Nathan's ward.
"Hey! Hey! Stop it! Stand up, Steph. Don't create a scene here. The doctors and nurses will see you." Aiden reacted right away upon seeing his best friend, kneeling on the floor while facing the closed door. His voice was loud enough for Nathan to hear.
It did not take long before the door slid open and Nathan stood in front of them, holding crutches to support him. He was expressionless as he stared at Stephen and Aiden.
"Why are you trying to protect, Phantomflake?" Nathan questioned Stephen, feeling disappointed. "Since when did you start caring about your patient so much that you are even willing to kneel and beg me… that you even betrayed me?"
Stephen glanced at Nathan apologetically. "I didn't betray you, Nate. It's just that… you are already stressed by the things happening around you. I don't want to trigger your negative emotions because I know how much you hate her."
"You tend to hurt people and commit mistakes whenever you make decisions out of rage." Stephen tried to explain his side.
"I planned to tell you that she already regained consciousness if this incident was fixed and the situation had calmed down," he added further.
For the first time, Aiden just shut his mouth, not spouting anything as he darted his gaze back and forth between Nathan and Stephen. He kept quiet as the two were having a serious conversation.
"What is she to you?" Nathan asked Stephen directly.
Stephen gazed up, looking at Nathan's eyes. "I think… She holds a special place in my heart…" Stephen confessed.
Aiden just watched Stephen in disbelief while Nathan frowned with a look of dismay. Of all the women there, why did it have to be her? Stephen could like other women!
"Stephen… let me remind you. That woman… kills your godson's mother… your best friend's woman! She killed Monica! The mother of my son… my woman." Nathan mumbled through his gritted teeth, his eyes set ablaze with rage.
"If you were in my position… and I killed your beloved woman… Do you think you can let it slide as if nothing happened? Are you going to forgive the killer… just because she's important to your friend?"
Stephen fell silent when he heard that question. He lowered his head, looking at the floor while clenching his fists. He couldn't refute that. He knew where Nathan was coming from. He could understand his feelings.
'Am I so selfish to ask Nathan to forgive Jane? Am I so unfair to Nathan?'
Stephen thought that just like Nathan he would do anything just to punish the person who would hurt his beloved… his loved ones.
They were still in that awkward silence when Ethan and Old Man Xu arrived. The two were surprised to see Stephen kneeling in front of Abigail's VIP ward.
"Dad? Uncle Steph? Uncle Aiden?" Little Ethan's voice caught their attention.
"What is happening here?" Old Man Xu also asked the three men.
On the other hand, Aiden felt like his angel just arrived to save him from this difficult situation. He didn't know how he would deal with them. This was the first time Nathan and Stephen argued and fought like this.
Aiden always annoyed Nathan, but at this moment, Stephen angered Nathan to the core.
Aiden immediately dragged Stephen up. He didn't want Ethan to misunderstand. The way he looked at them seemed like Stephen was being bullied by the two men because he was the only guy on his knees.
"It's nothing serious, Ethan… Uncle Xu… Stephen just slipped accidentally," Aiden lied while laughing sheepishly.
Old Man Xu raised his eyebrow, not believing his words. He shifted his gaze to his son, giving him a questioning look. He could tell that something was going on there. Both Nathan and Stephen had serious looks on their faces, and Nathan was surrounded by a dark aura.
'Did they fight? Misunderstanding perhaps? But why does Stephen kneel in front of Nathan?' Old Man Xu wondered to himself.
Little Ethan also had the same reaction. He looked at the three men suspiciously. Something fishy was going on here.
"Dad, Uncle Steph… Did the two of you fight? Are my Dad and Uncle Aiden bullying you?"
"Huh? Eh? Why me?! Why did I get involved suddenly here?!" Aiden complained exasperatedly.
"Because you just watched them argue!" Ethan spat back at him. "You should advise them to reconcile."
"Eh??! Little Young Master… you're hurting my feelings. I'm neutral! I'm trying my best to be a mediator of peace between them, but it's so hard. Why don't you talk to them, my dear godson? Who knows these two adults might listen to you?" Aiden finally found the chance to escape and let Ethan and Old Man Xu handle this situation.
"Nate, Stephen… speak up now. What is this all about?" Old Man Xu could no longer hold his curiosity. It was so rare to see Stephen and Nathan arguing.
Little Ethan bobbed his head in support of his grandpa's words. He was also in a sullen mood right now. He was sad for not seeing Phantomflake's soul inside Abigail's body.
"Hmmm. I think Ethan we should go and visit your Miss Abi. Let adults solve their own issues." Aiden grabbed Ethan's small hand, inviting him to get inside Abigail's ward.
When Ethan heard that, he reached out, tugging the hem of his father's patient clothes. "Dad! Listen to me. Mom is missing. She is not the woman lying on that sick bed. Let's search for her. Let's go back to where you were rescued."
Everyone was rendered speechless when they heard Ethan's last remarks.
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