"What happened?" Leo asked as he entered the room with hurried footsteps. Earlier, he received a call from his mother in law that Luke was taken to the hospital, so he informed his grandpa about the matter and he allowed him to leave the meeting. He was so anxious on his way to the hospital, but he entered the room, Luke was already conscious and even looked at him weirdly when he came in panting!
"Oh... Luke had a bit of a fever. He's getting better now after getting some rest." Charmaine answered. That, and thanks to the infusion given to him by the doctor. She was actually very much frightened too. She regretted giving too much focus on work all of a sudden and neglecting the little boy for several days.
Leo took a seat, leaned on the backrest of the chair and held his forehead. "You scared me, buddy!" he exclaimed before turning to Charmaine. "What's the doctor's findings? Was something wrong with him? It's just a simple fever, right?", he asked. He didn't have a child he has to worry about before so it was his first time experiencing this kind of panic when told his son was sick. Since the day Charmaine was sent to the hospital after her car accident, the mention of the word 'hospital' had always brought him a bad feeling.
Feeling a pang of guilt, Charmaine lowered her head. "The doctor said he's becoming malnourished. He was depressed and mom said he didn't have a good appetite lately and that he ate very little." she replied. "It's my fault. I'm sorry."
Little Luke turned to his mommy and seeing her sad expression, he pursed his lips and raised his hand. "Mommy. It's Luke's fault. Not mommy's fault at all." he mumbled.
Charmaine reached for his hand and held it. She remembered the scene she saw this morning, with Luke hugging an old photo of her and Leo under a wisteria tree; a picture taken before she left for the US. How could it be someone else's fault? She knew Luke has separation anxiety. She should have known better! "Luke was a good boy. I promise you, mommy will take better care of you from now on." she assured him. She touched his cheek and kissed his forehead.
From the side, Leo watched as Charmaine worriedly stayed with Luke. He found it amazing... how Charmaine stayed with Luke and took care of him even though she thinks of him as her sister's son. He didn't know of it before, but it looked like the reason why Charmaine stopped working; stopped living her colorful life was to stay with their son. It's amazing how much love a mother can give to her child even if she wasn't aware that he was hers.
"Right." Charmaine exclaimed when she suddenly remembered something. She turned to Leo who was quietly sitting on a chair on her left. "What happened to Jun? I've heard he was in a car accident." she asked him.
"Who did you hear it from?", That was fast, he thought. He has only been notified about it through a phone call when he was on his way to the hospital!
"Coincidentally, he was taken to this hospital less than an hour ago. Mom saw him being rushed to the ER." she replied.
Leo averted his eyes. He didn't want to tell her what he has done. What would she think of him once she found out that he tried to ruin his own brother? Well, he's not a biological brother but still.... with Charmaine treasuring Jienna even though they weren't real sisters, wouldn't she think he was too cruel?
Leo lowered his head and held his forehead. The truth was... he wasn't really going to put Jun Ji in jail. Leo was just trying to scare him. He just wanted to vent his anger; make him sleep in prison for a couple of nights and that was it. But while Jun Ji was being escorted outside the building ready to be transported, the man resisted the security officers and fled the scene using his car. By the time it was reported to him that Jun Ji had escaped, he didn't order to give chase. He just learned later that while trying to flee from non-existent cops, Jun Ji had a car accident. In a way, it's his fault, wasn't it? Would Charmaine blame him?
"Why are you suddenly frowning?" Charmaine asked when she noticed Leo becoming silent. He seemed to be contemplating about something.
"What if I tell you, I think he deserves it?",Leo uttered before turning to Charmaine to see her reaction. "Would you think I'm too ruthless?"
Charmaine raised her brows. Does her opinion matter? In any case, she of all people knew how menacing Leo could be when he's angry. It wouldn't surprise her if he really thinks Jun Ji deserves to perish. She was well aware of what he's capable of. Besides, that drugging incident last night, she was thinking maybe Jun Ji was the one responsible for that. If Chanel Aikens was the one who planned for it, she wouldn't need to drug herself that much! Leo and Chanel Aikens were both heavily drugged and even the air in the suite itself was toxic as a few aphrodisiac incense was found in the room. With that knowledge, how could she judge Leo's discernment so easily?
"Well, maybe you could check on him and see if he's alright." she suggested. She doesn't think it's too much. They were brothers afterall.... or so she thought.
Leo thought for a while and then without anything, he stood up and walked towards the door. It's just checking up on him to see how he is. It's nothing big! He decided he would do as Charmaine said but when be opened the door, Leo suddenly froze when he saw two women standing there. "Mom!" she exclaimed.
Charmaine stood up to see who came and was also surprised when she saw Leo's mother standing in the doorway. Why are they suddenly coming for a visit?
"I heard you're here." Leo's mother stated. "We arrived this morning and I called your grandfather early but I can't reach him. It was only after a few hours after we checked in to a hotel did we hear from him. He said you're here. Are you unwell?" Leo stepped back to make way for them but it was a wrong move. The girl behind his mom pounced at him and having nowhere to run as there was only wall behind him, Leo wasn't able to dodge as the girl's arms hugged his neck.
"Leo! I missed you!" the girl exclaimed.
"Adele... " Charmaine murmured. Leo glanced at her when he heard her utter his step sister's name. He believe he has yet to mention Adele to Charmaine. How did she know her?
Charmaine averted her eyes. Soon. It's too soon. She hasn't fully captured Leo's heart yet, but Adele abruptly came to take away her happiness...
Adele... that's her name. The woman who's now in his husband's arms. The woman Leo loved in her other life. The reason why Leo divorced her. His one true love...