Anabel didn't see that coming. She wasn't expecting him. Yes, the nurse said Desmond, but why would it be the Desmond she knew?" The Desmond she had tried so hard to forget?
There he stood, tall and composed, his dark eyes scanning the room with quiet intensity. He still carried that commanding presence, that confidence that seemed so effortless.
Her fingers curled into fists. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Her mind reeled, struggling to make sense of this cruel coincidence.
Then, suddenly, she noticed something. Desmond had frozen. For the first time since he entered the room, his steady composure was interrupted. He was staring at her and her mom, even at Jethro and Sylvester. It was clear he wasn't expecting to meet all of them in the same room. He hadn’t seen this coming either. His lips parted as if he wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words.
She could see it in him. The tension. The uncertainty. He hadn't expected to see all of them. Not there. Not like that.
Anabel swallowed hard, trying to control her anger as she turned to the nurse with a sharp and defensive voice. “Wait.... I want to get something clear here. He’s the Desmond you were talking about? I mean... this is the Desmond you called?” She asked, pointing at Desmond.
The nurse hesitated before nodding. “Yes. He’s the one. Is there any problem?”
“Yes, I have problems with it,” she replied firmly. “This man is not treating my father. He’s not touching my father. Never.”
Desmond's brows furrowed in confusion. His lips parted slightly, but no words came at first. He had never expected to hear Anabel call someone her father.
He had only known about her mother. She never told him or his family that she has a father. She only introduced her mother, and in a discreet way, as if she had wanted to keep her family as far away from him as possible. He had never known her father existed.
Now, here he was, standing in front of all of them. He cleared his throat, trying to gather himself before speaking. “Anabel… you never told me you have a father."
"Well, now you do,” she coldly replied. “And you are not touching him.”
"Anabel, why are you saying that?” The nurse asked, and Anabel didn’t hesitate before answering. “Because I don’t want anything to do with him. This man won’t touch my father.”
Desmond glanced toward Lady Orton, his chest tightening with guilt. He knew he had to apologize. Lazy Orton doesn't even have the strength to confront Desmond. All she wanted at that moment was for her husband to get well.
“I.....” He hesitated before exhaling sharply. “Ma’am, please, I'm sorry for everything. Yes, I was foolish. I treated your daughter poorly. I was wrong. I was blinded by my mother’s and sister’s influence. I let them poison my mind. I let them ruin something that mattered.” He inhaled, stepping forward slightly. “I am not that man anymore.”
"Young man. All these don't matter now. All I care about at this moment is for my husband to get better. Keep your apologies to yourself." Lady Orton replied, and Anabel let out a bitter laugh. “Begging won’t change anything, Desmond,” she said, shaking her head. “You should leave this place.”
Desmond’s face fell, but he didn’t stop. “Anabel, please,” he murmured persistently. “I know I hurt you. I know I failed you. But right now, this isn’t about us. This is about your father. Let me help him.”
"No. I don't need your help. You are not touching him. I never knew it was you the nurse was talking about. I'd rather wait for the specialist than let you touch my father."