"You should call me 'father'," Mr. Zhao said, correcting Nick with a weak smile, his voice soft but filled with genuine happiness. He glanced at Nick and then back at Amelia. "Finally, you man up and get her back, son!" His grin, though faint, showed how pleased he was. "Amelia, come closer."
Amelia hesitated for a moment before stepping closer to the bed. Mr. Zhao's eyes softened as he looked up at her, his frail hand reaching out. "Amelia," he said in a raspy voice, "I'm sorry for anything Nick did to drive you away. I know my son can be... stubborn."
Amelia managed a small smile, unsure of how to respond.
Mr. Zhao continued, his voice weak but sincere. "I hope in the future, he learns from his mistakes. No more running off, no more pushing you away." He paused to catch his breath. "But if he does act up again, you come straight to me, okay? I'll straighten him out."
Amelia chuckled softly, her tension easing a bit. "Thank you, but... Nick and I, we've had our issues. We'll figure it out."
Mr. Zhao smiled faintly, his gaze shifting to Nick, who stood quietly beside the bed. "You better, son. Don't make her regret coming back. I raised you better than that."
Amelia couldn't help but laugh. She shook her head and replied, "Every marriage has its tough beginnings, you know? It's never easy bringing two minds together. In the future, I'll talk to Nick if there are any problems. I realize running away wasn't the mature thing to do."
Nick watched her carefully, taking in every word. It wasn't just that she was a great mom and student—Amelia had become a master at keeping things cool under pressure. He marveled at how she played the role of the understanding wife so well, especially considering how she used to threaten to go back to Massachusetts whenever they fought and he didn't give in to her demands.
Just as Amelia was about to say goodbye, Mr. Zhao suddenly asked, "Where are my grandchildren?"
Amelia's heart nearly stopped. What? How does he know about the kids? Her face drained of color, leaving her pale and frozen.
"Oh, I forgot," Mr. Zhao chuckled weakly. "You two have only been married for a month, and Amelia's still in school. Forgive this old man. I shouldn't have asked."
Cold sweat gathered on the back of Amelia's neck as she forced herself to breathe. She felt a strange mix of relief and shock. Nick, sensing her panic, reached out and squeezed her hand. His grip was firm, reassuring her that everything was okay, or at least it would be.
Outside the hospital room, Amelia finally gathered her thoughts enough to speak. "Your dad really has amnesia?" she asked Nick, her tone sharp.
Nick raised an eyebrow. "That's what the doctor said. Why?"
Amelia shook her head, trying to push down the anxiety bubbling up inside her. "It's just... I don't know. The way he asked about the twins, it felt... I don't know, like he knew."
Nick shrugged. "He said 'grandkids,' not 'the twins.' It was just a coincidence, Amy. He corrected himself right after. Why are you getting so paranoid?"
Amelia bit her lip, trying to shake off the unease. Maybe Nick was right, and she was just overthinking it. She was about to say something when Nick playfully nudged her, a grin tugging at the corner of his lips.
"And by the way, you were real mature back there, talking to my dad like that. 'In the future, if we argue, we'll sit down and work it out like adults,' huh?"
Amelia's cheeks flushed red as she shot him a look. "Nick... honestly, I—"
Before she could finish, a familiar, icy voice cut through the air. "Well, well, look who decided to show up."
Amelia froze. She'd know that voice anywhere. Slowly, she turned around to see Mrs. Zhao standing there, her eyes narrowed, lips curled in that sneer she always wore when addressing Amelia. "I thought you had some decency. After everything you pulled, I didn't think you'd have the nerve to show your face around here."
Amelia's heart pounded in her chest. She had expected something like this, but facing Mrs. Zhao's venomous words head-on took more strength than she had anticipated.
"You little gold digger," Mrs. Zhao spat, crossing her arms as she looked Amelia up and down with disdain. "How much money did you ask my son for this time, huh?"