She had once thought that Matthew was cold and unfeeling, incapable of emotions, not knowing how to love others. Only now did she realize that he truly was a wonderful father, always caring for his children, loving them more than anyone else.
She suddenly felt like she was not a worthy mother, at least in terms of Paul's health issues, she had not noticed the abnormalities in the past. Compared to Matthew who was always with the child, she felt guilty towards her baby.
But her child was very well-behaved, complaining only a couple of times before changing the subject: "Mom, let me tell you about the everyday stories dad tells me! He tells me stories every day, even jokes, they're hilarious! Oh right, dad knows wood carving! He knows I miss you, so he carved many small wooden statues that look like you, let me show you!"
Like sharing a treasure with her most loved one, Paul leaned over, opened the drawer of the bedside table, and took out a small wooden box. His tiny, practiced hands unlocked the box. Inside, just as he had said, were many small wooden statues, all carved beautifully and resembling Flora.
"They look so much like mom! The more I look, the more they resemble!" Paul took out the wooden statues to admire, holding them up to compare with his mother's appearance: "Dad would tell me stories while carving these little statues. He said by doing so, I would feel like mom was always with us, and I wouldn't feel lonely... Oh, there's also a box of wooden statues of Charlie. From now on, wherever I go, I'll bring the wooden statues of everyone with me, it's like everyone's with me."
Dad had told him a lot of things, but his small head couldn't remember much, only remembering that dad had said, as long as our hearts are together, wherever we go, we're still a family, still loving each other as when we're together.
Flora held a tiny wooden statue in her hand, squeezing it tightly. Her lips curved into a smile, but tears streamed down her cheeks. She admitted, she had been moved to tears by these small wooden statues.
Paul blinked, looking at his mother who was both smiling and crying, he chuckled: "Is mom crying? You're very moved, aren't you? Dad loves mom a lot!"
"You little thing, you're still laughing at mom..." Flora lovingly scolded her daughter. But the child shook his head, his tone serious: "No, I'm not laughing at mom, I just admire mom. My dad is a wonderful person. When I grow up, I'll definitely find a boyfriend as wonderful as dad!" In the child's eyes, his father was the most wonderful man in the world.
Just then, the door to the hospital room opened again. Mimi poked her head in, hastily speaking to Flora: "Aunt, Uncle Patrick wants to see you, it seems like something's up." She looked rather urgent.
"Paul, you rest. I'll go see Uncle Patrick." Flora stood up, before leaving, she stroked her daughter's head: "Lie down and rest, if you need anything, ask the nurses for help."
Since Patrick came here, he has been busy monitoring Winky and hasn't had a chance to see Flora. He had a vague feeling that she was avoiding him, but he wasn't sure if it was true or not.
Through the child Mimi, he conveyed his longing message, his heart brimming with trepidation and worry, fearing she wouldn't want to meet.
When he finally spotted the familiar, delicate silhouette slowly emerging from the house, a sigh of relief escaped his lips.
Many thoughts tumbled in his mind, things he wanted to say to her, but when he saw her, he blurted out: "You've... lost weight..."
"Every time we meet, you say that." Flora managed a smile, dodging the slightly intense gaze of the man before her.
Patrick shook his head, opting not to pursue the topic of malnutrition.
He knew she didn't want to engage in small talk, so he steered the conversation towards the main issue: "I noticed Winky following you here. I should've informed you or Matthew then, but I feared you wouldn't pick up my call, and Matthew..." They were friends, but hadn't been in touch for a while. Deep down, he didn't want to contact him either.
"I never expected Winky to harm Charlie." His gaze upon Flora was filled with regret and sorrow: "I apologize, it was my mistake..."
"It's not your fault. You also didn't anticipate he would hurt Charlie, right? Or that he would steal the stem cells..." Flora shook her head: "Blaming yourself won't help. The most important thing now is to find our boy." Her thoughts were clear, she wasn't blindly blaming others.
Patrick nodded firmly: "You're right, I'll help you..."
"Patrick, I want to ask you something." Flora suddenly cut him off: "There's really nothing between you and Layla, is there? We three practically grew up together. If you and I are childhood sweethearts, then you and she are too. Before I came back, you were with her. Have you... never had any feelings for her?"
Seeing Patrick's "hard-to-put-into-words" expression, she sighed: "I'm asking this, not because I'm jealous, but... I know, if someone willingly sacrifices everything for you, even disregarding the most basic human principles and morals, it's clear they love you. She's willing to sacrifice everything for you. I just hope you will appreciate others, understand your own feelings, and not live with regret later."
She believed that Patrick no longer loved her, his feelings for her were merely an obsession with their unresolved past. Humans always cling to what they cannot attain. Patrick was like this, so was she, and so was Layla.
However, she was luckier than them, having attained what she longed for and found her own happiness.
Having said everything she needed to Patrick, Flora left him alone with his thoughts and turned back towards Paul's sickroom.
"Aunt." Mimi appeared right then, patting her shoulder: "Uncle called for you." It was Flora's phone, she had left it inside when she went out to meet Patrick. Surprisingly, Matthew called at this exact moment.
Taking the phone from Mimi, Flora pressed it against her ear: "Hello..." There were so many things she wanted to say, but didn't know where to start. After a long pause, she finally asked hesitantly: "Is everything... alright?"
Earlier, she had only heard a summary from Mimi, that Matthew and his people had found evidence suggesting all three who fell off the cliff were still alive. But she had no idea about the specifics.
"The kid is safe now, don't worry." It was the same three words "don't worry." lately everyone had been saying these words to Flora: "Our son has always been very smart. I found a lot of signs he deliberately left along the way, we're following." Then, as if reassuring the woman he loved and also himself, he added: "We'll have a result soon."
Finally, Flora got to hear some genuinely good news. She exhaled in relief: "That's great!"
Matthew also felt relieved. From his voice, she could sense that.
"Listen... Matthew... I'm sorry, about what I said up on the mountain. I was just too overwhelmed, too worried about our son, so... But I don't regret meeting you again, nor being with you..."
She was speaking too fast, causing Matthew to interject, comforting her: "It's okay, I understand, I get your state of mind back then." No mother could remain calm when witnessing her child fall off a cliff: "Things will pass. In the future, I won't let you suffer anymore, we, you and our kids, will have a good future together."
"I'm sorry..."
"Don't keep apologizing like this. If you really feel guilty towards me, then once our son is back, you can prove it with your actions." Matthew suddenly joked: "Apologies... can't just be words, you know."
"Stop talking nonsense!" Flora blushed, hastily interrupting him.
Immediately, he switched back to a serious tone, as if the mischievous joker from before wasn't him at all: "Flora, I'm very happy, really. Our son will be back soon, our daughter will be saved. From now on, we will always be together, never to part again." Wherever they would be, he would surely be by her and their children's side.
Flora pursed her lips, holding back a sob that nearly escaped.
She felt unusually sensitive that day, having been on the verge of tears over a few tiny wood carvings earlier.
Now, his words stirred her emotions again, bringing her close to tears.
She changed the subject: "Andrey said he will perform surgery on Paul tomorrow, will you be able to make it back?"
"I... cannot make promises." Matthew sighed: "If there's any news about Charlie tomorrow, I'll have to leave immediately.
Don't worry, I think Paul will be alright with you by his side.
As long as you stay calm, keep your spirits up with him, our daughter will have an endless source of strength to fight her illness.
Both are our children, I can't abandon Charlie to be with Paul, no matter what, nothing can happen to either."
"Alright, I will stay with our daughter.
Paul and I will wait for both of you to return."
Flora tried to suppress her anxiety, promising Matthew she would stand strong with Paul, waiting for his return.
She sensitively noticed something seemed hidden in this conversation, as if he were concealing something.
However, if he wanted to keep it secret, she could not stubbornly question, only pretending to not notice anything.
Soon, a new day arrived.
This was an important day because Paul was scheduled for her second stem cell transplant.
"Don't be scared, my Paul, you are the bravest, most obedient child! I'll be here cheering for you!" Flora bent down a little, speaking to the child laying on the stretcher, ready to be taken to the operating room.
Paul's face was pale, she looked at her mother blinking: "But mommy, why aren't daddy and Charlie back yet?"
"Daddy and Charlie..." Flora hesitated, uncertain of how to respond.
Her mother, who was by her side, furrowed her brows: "Really... Call Matthew and tell him to get here immediately! In a big event like our daughter's surgery, how can a father be absent?" She grunted: "So irresponsible!"
"Mother, I think if I'm here, then he..."
"Can you be both mother and father? Can you replace him? Did you give birth alone? If that child calls him dad, then he has the responsibility of being a father!" Her mother, who had never liked Matthew, was even more upset upon finding him absent on the day of their daughter's surgery.