When the Payne family father and son returned to the hospital room, Mario Payne was still very emotional, struggling to contain himself as he walked over to Zoe Bell, crouched down beside her, and gently stroked her hand…
His eyes were red, his body bent, his fingers uncontrollably trembling.
"My child, I, I..." he stammered, unable to control his hoarse voice, his voice trembling as he said, "something happened at home, and I have to go back."
Zoe Bell was stunned.
She had not yet recovered from the shock, already feeling it was unreal when she heard he had to leave right then.
"Don't be afraid, Daddy doesn't want to abandon you, it's just that..."
Mario Payne couldn't bring himself to tell her about his wife's situation.
He couldn't tell her:
Your mother, missing you too much, fell into depression and eventually committed suicide.
Zoe Bell had just had surgery and wasn't fit for travel, so he couldn't take his daughter back to her mother's side just yet.
