Chapter Thirteen

"Thank you for the opportunity, Stephen. I'll study hard." Leah was beaming with pride. She could get anything she wanted. "Well, then I'll go first. Ariel is still in the hospital." Then he stood up.

"Who's Ariel?" Jack asked curiously. 'Am I supposed to know Ariel? Why does he mention that name?' he wondered.

"You don't remember Ariel?" Stephen couldn't believe his ears. It felt like he'd been slapped. Jack didn't remember Ariel! How did the man not remember his own grandson? Jack's confusion stunned Stephen.

"No, I don't. Is it someone I should know?" Jack was more confused. Leah looked at Stephen with a puzzled expression as well. It was like he said something they couldn't understand. Was there something wrong? Jack never mentioned Brielle at all. He thought it was because Jack knew Brielle was off at training, so he didn't mention it. But it seemed different now. Jack should at least know basic things. Stephen felt like things were spiraling out of control.

Stephen tried his best to recover. "Got you!" he said. "I was joking." Since the old man seemed genuinely confused, Stephen had to figure out why. But now was not the time to get into it.

Initially caught off guard, Jack visibly relaxed. "I wondered if I'd forgotten. I'm not getting any younger, and my mind is not what it used to be. Just a joke, then?" Jack was fairly sure that Stephen wasn't joking. But who was Ariel? And why can't he remember him? He needed to figure that out.

Stephen turned to leave. "Thank you for your hospitality, Mr. Yang. See you later." He paused. 'It was a fantastic meal, really! And he even wanted to give his other daughter to me.' Stephen thought.

"I understand, Boss Chu. You are busy. Be seeing you." Jack said with a smile. "Goodbye, Mr. yang." Stephen didn't say a word to Leah, not even goodbye. Indeed, he didn't acknowledge her at all.

Leah was embarrassed. 'Stephen,' she thought, 'I will make you fall in love with me. Just wait and see! You'll be begging for my love!'

But how could Leah be so confident? She was as beautiful as Stephen was handsome. He was the dream lover of every woman, and there was no beauty that Stephen had not seen. He wasn't interested in Leah at all!

Stephen drove quietly, but there was a bee in his bonnet. The luxury car sped by and captivated everyone. The paint shone and chrome glittered. The driver must be an extraordinary man since few people could afford such an expensive car.

Why did jack now know Ariel? Was it because Brielle didn't tell him, or some other reason? This whole thing was strange, almost as if Jack were rejecting him as a son-in-law. And what did that mean for him and Brielle? why did he introduce Leah Yang to him?

As he pulled into the parking garage, he put all that out of his mind. The ward was quiet. When he saw the little figure asleep on the bed, he breathed a sigh of relief. he looked around. Where were Scott and Alex? The flush of a toilet gave him his answer. Scott burst out of the bathroom.

"That was quick!" No one knew how long Stephen would be. He was gone less than two hours. "Scott, I came back as soon as I could." He walked over to the bed and gently touched the forehead of Ariel. Much better. His fever had broken.

"Don't worry, I talked to the doctors. They're keeping him overnight. If he feels better tomorrow, we can discharge him from the hospital." Scott was really good at dealing with these kinds of things.

"Great! Thanks, Scott." Scott strode quickly to his side and put his hand on Stephen's forehead. Stephen took a step back, "What are you doing?" He looked at Scott as if he were a fool.

"Checking for a fever!" Stephen never thanked him before! But he suddenly thanked him today. That was unlike the proud man that he knew. "Very funny," said Stephen. Stephen knew exactly what he was thinking. They knew each other too well. "Alex went back to the office. The S Group is giving us fits. She's demanding new terms." Scott smiled. That gal was tough. She could make Stephen so angry, and Scott never failed to find it amusing.

"Again?" Stephen's brow wrinkled. 'Why is this woman so difficult to get along with?' "I don't know. When Alex comes back, we'll know more. Are you sure she's not one of your exes?" Scott got that look in his eyes. He wanted Stephen to the dish.

"Her? She's way too crazy for me." Stephen had suffered a lot because of that woman. He tried to push the hurt down inside him. "Stephen, could it be that she's mad at you for dumping her?" It was entirely possible.

"Come on. Do you think I'm you? DO you have to work at not thinking, Scott, or does it come naturally?" Stephen glared at him coldly. "Alright, Stephen! You made your point!" Stephen made him look like a fool again! He'd never won when they argued. Why couldn't he be shameless as Stephen?

"It's possible, I guess. You can't remember everyone you've been with." Scott added. He hoped that Stephen could suddenly recall something. "Don't you go home now?" Stephen just ignores him and changed the subject.

"I need to prepare something for Ariel to eat. He didn't eat much just now. He'll probably be hungry when he wakes up." Stephen had called Mrs. Pei before he met with Jack. she agreed to prepare some food, so he felt, worried about one less thing.

"Didn't he eat anything?" Stephen's handsome eyebrows were knitted with worry. "Only a few bites. He didn't feel good." Scott was anxious. He wanted to prepare some food for Ariel. It was easier to recuperate with food in his belly.

"I'll call Mrs. Pei, she'll cook up some supper. And then you can go to bring it here." He reached into his pocket and pulled out his mobile phone. he did so organically; it was a seamless, smooth maneuver.

"You can go back and get food," Scott said. "I think you have time to take a bath. Ariel will probably be asleep for a while." He knew that Stephen did not like being hot and sweaty. It was very uncomfortable for him.

Stephen had planned to ask Mrs. Pei to arrange clothes for him and have Scott bring them to him. If he just went there himself, he wouldn't need to ask Scott. he could also catch a shower while he was there.

"I'm headed back. Call me if something happens." He bent down to kiss Ariel's forehead, then he was gone. "Go!" said Scott. "You've wasted enough time!" Scott was confused. Why didn't he know that his boss was so long-winded?

When Stephen arrived, he saw that Mrs. Pei had made porridge and appetizers. he also got the chance to shower, and felt much fresher afterward. After he toweled himself dry, it suddenly struck him that Ariel was whispering something when he had a high fever. He then went to Ariel's room to get his phone. Ariel could get through to his mother now.

He took the phone and unlocked the screen to check the battery life. He found several missed calls. He clicked one and screen displayed "Mommy". There was also a text message waiting for the phone's owner.

Stephen looked at the message and hesitated. Finally, he decided to click it. It showed "Ariel, what's the matter with you? Why didn't you answer? Didn't you see the message I sent to you last night? I'm really worried about you. Call me back when you see this message." What he read was warm, like a tender spring breeze on his face. It was in direct contrast to the coldness she showed when last they were together.

Stephen took the phone and went down the stairs. Fan called to him when Stephen was about to take the food. "Sir, let me take it!" Fan took the supper and put them into the car. Stephen knew that Fan would worry about his safety and follow him as it was late. He said nothing but follow Fan.

"Fan, why are you doing this?" Stephen was confused by Fan's behavior. "Sir, let me drive you tonight!" Fan opened the car door grimly, deliberately.

Stephen looked at Fan's face and understood that he was being helpful, as always. Trying to anticipate Stephen's needs. Fan needed to learn to relax. He took his orders very seriously. Stephen was merely a little tired today, Fan even didn't allow him to drive.

Fan drove the car smoothly. But his cold face always had Stephen doubting whether Fan was truly Thomas's brother. Why were both of them so stone cold?

Stephen looked through the car window, watching the rush of light and color that heralded the city's nightlife. His chiseled face showed he was early and jaded, yet he didn't understand why.

Watching lovers on the street, their hands clasped and faces smiling, he couldn't help but sigh. He hoped and dreamed he could also love someone deeply, hold her hands, age with her, smiling the whole time.

Fan observed Stephen quietly, seeing his desolation, and felt sorry from him. Only Fan knew how lonely Stephen was. Stephen had been sent away from his parents to study abroad since childhood. Upon his return, his parents traveled the world.

Despite his riches, he lived alone in the large villa. It was really lonely. So he dated different women in the past years. Once his son came here, he came home on time dutifully after work, eschewing the nightlife, not flirting with other women. He didn't even make headlines in the Entertainment section anymore. Fan was happy to see his style down but didn't know why he was so lonely tonight.

Brielle Yang called Ariel many times, but there was no answer. She worried a lot, trying to call him again even though it was so late. She wouldn't be able to sleep until she talked to him.

Stephen entered the ward, and he heard the military song that served as the phone's ringtone. "Why is it so loud?" he wondered. He recalled the ringtone being more mellow.

Stephen looked at the phone and saw the screen showed "mommy". Without a second thought, he answered, and heard the cold voice on the other end. "Ariel, why didn't you answer my call? Do you know how worried I am?" Brielle was rushed, immediately starting to chatter when Stephen picked up.

"Hello?" The masculine voice shocked Brielle. She almost dropped the phone. Things were tense, the atmosphere oppressive.

Taking a deep breath, patting her own beautiful face, she started to say "hello! Can you tell me where Ariel is, please!" Her tone was cold and distant, which matched her appearance.

Hold on a sec," Stephen replied. he stepped into the ward quickly, passing the mobile phone to Ariel, who was talking and laughing with Scott. It's for you."

Ariel was confused to see his phone, the one he left at home. he smiled sweetly since only his mother could call this phone. "Hi, Mommy! I miss you a lot. When are you coming back?" He said. His voice went soft and high. it was obvious he was emotional.

"Oh, Mommy misses you a lot too. Why didn't you answer, though? Anything wrong?" She was still worried, though hearing Ariel's voice helped a little. "No, I just forgot my phone when I went out with Daddy." He lied. Ariel didn't want Brielle to know he was ill.