Chapter 43
Joshua couldn’t get through to Chester’s phone, so he could only call Alexander. “Did Mr. Whitmore call you?” he asked when Alexander picked up.
“He’s at the hospital,” Alexander replied. “Angelina just had the baby.”
“When did that happen?”
“Last night.”
“Oh, no wonder he’s not picking up my calls. We were supposed to run a test on the new software today,” Joshua explained.
“Postpone it. Chester hasn’t been answering my calls either. When are you free?” Alexander
asked.
Joshua smirked. “What, are you inviting me for a meal?”
“Don’t flatter yourself, dickwad,” Alexander cursed.
“Hey, that’s uncalled for!” Joshua protested.
Alexander replied, “We’ll go see Chester at the hospital when you’re free. I’ve already given Ryan a heads–up.”
“You got it.”
Emily burst into the hospital ward. Her eyes glittered when she registered the baby in Chester’s arms. “The baby…”
“Shh.” Chester was bottle–feeding the baby.
Emily teared up as she nodded. “As long as the baby is safe and healthy.” She then glanced at Angelina, whose countenance was drawn and pale. She gasped. “What in the-”
Angelina looked drained and haggard, as if giving birth had taken years off her life. The tears that Emily tried to hold back finally spilled over.
Isadora sighed. “Mom, why are you crying again? We’re supposed to be celebrating.”
“How did this happen? Oh, can you imagine how she suffered?” Emily muttered sorrowfully.
“There were some slight complications, but she’s pulled through and is no longer in critical condition,” Chester explained.
“Critical condition? What is that supposed to mean?” Emily demanded, her eyes wide.
Isadora winced and prompted Chester, “Go ahead and tell her, Ches. Better you than me.”
Chapter 43
The next second, a black–clad figure hurtled through the door. As it turned out, Louis had taken a red–eye flight to Brookhaven, during which he dreamed of beating Chester into a pulp.
Chester couldn’t defend himself while carrying a baby and had to put up with Louis‘ hard punch.
“I’ll kill you! Angie-” Louis‘ expression was grim as he stormed away from Chester and hurried over to Angelina’s bedside, lowering himself to kiss her. “Angie…”
Isadora pulled him by his arm. “What are you doing, Louis?”
Chester reached out with his free hand and hauled Louis away from Angelina’s bed.
Emily blanched, tears staining her cheeks as she quickly took the baby from Chester.
“Let go of me!” Louis growled in warning as he fixed a deadly look at Chester. “Let me go or I’ll beat you-”
Chester dragged him by the collar toward the ward entrance, whereupon he landed a punch on Louis‘ face.
Taken aback, Louis hissed, “How dare you, Chester?”
Chester countered gravely, “I overlooked your behavior in the past because we were friends, Louis. You had a thing for Angelina, and I’m sorry for how things panned out between me and her after that. Regardless of whether I was at fault, I won’t make excuses for myself. But my tolerance has its limits, Louis, and I won’t stand for you continuing to push them like this.”
“You-” Louis raised his fist to hurl another punch, but Chester blocked it deftly with his large palm.
Chester said, “Angelina and I are married now despite what happened in the past. You were my friend, and I’m sorry for hurting you the way I did. But it makes me sick that you’re still pining after my wife.
“I might have failed in all other aspects, but Angelina is still mine. As for your generous act of offering her three million dollars, you pretend it’s for her upkeep, but we both know it’s your way of humiliating me when I’m already down.
“My wife only just gave birth to our daughter, and it took you almost no time to hear about it. The fact that you’re keeping such close tabs on her just rubs me the wrong way.”
