Chapter 6 Father's Love

"Who?"

Nathalie couldn't believe her ears. Nurse Lyla from Angel Wing hospital called and told her that a woman came to her father and after the woman left, her father's condition deteriorated again.

"I don't know who she is, ma'am, but as far as I remember, she was also waiting for someone who was being treated on the sixth floor, obstetrics and gynecology section," Nurse Lyla answered anxiously.

"I'll be right there," Nathalie said angrily.

No need to think too hard, the woman that Nurse Lyla was referring to must be Kelly, or maybe Gina's mother. Both women had evil hearts.

Gina was also being treated in the same hospital as her father, because Charles' health insurance referred to Angel Wing hospital as a partner.

Now, after all the medical expenses and care were taken over by Nicholas, her father should be able to be transferred to The Grand Care Hospital. That would be safer and more secure, and also make Nathalie calm. She would talk to Nicholas about it.

Nathalie slipped out of her room and hailed a taxi in front of the hospital to take her to Angel Wing Hospital.

Nurse Lyla was waiting for Nathalie when she arrived.

"Your father is stable now, ma'am. He is sleeping and I asked a friend of mine to keep an eye on him so that no one tries to disturb him again," Nurse Lyla said.

Nathalie took Nurse Lyla to sit on one of the benches in the lobby. She had to know what was happening.

"What happened, nurse? My father was stable when I called two days ago," Nathalie said angrily.

"I was taking your father for a walk in the park to get some fresh air, when the woman suddenly approached your father and started ranting," Nurse Lyla said. "I tried to get her to move away, but she just got bolder. So I called security to chase her away."

"What did she say?" Nathalie asked curiously.

"Here," Nurse Lyla handed Nathalie her phone. "A colleague of mine who was there recorded the incident, so you can see for yourself."

===

Hardy Adams felt better and wanted to get some fresh air.

"I'll take you to the park for a walk before the doctor's visit, Mr. Adams," Nurse Lyla said. "You need some sunlight to feel fresher."

Nurse Lyla was adjusting the blanket at Hardy's feet, when a middle-aged woman with heavy makeup approached them.

"You must be the father of that stubborn woman?" the woman asked, with both hands on her fat waist.

Hardy looked up. "Who do you mean and who are you?" Hardy asked confusedly. He had never seen the woman in front of him, let alone know her.

Nurse Lyla stood up and held the wheelchair where Hardy was sitting tightly. "Ma'am, who are you?"

"Just shut up, nurse," the woman snapped fiercely. "I have business with this man. He needs to give his shameless daughter a better education so she doesn't get in the way of my daughter!"

Hardy's brow furrowed. "What are you talking about?"

"Oh, so you don't know? Oh, of course she won't tell you," said Marla Trenton, Gina's mother.

She was looking for information on where Nathalie's father, was being treated. She had to get rid of that woman so Charles could marry Gina. She had a lot of needs that needed to be met immediately and if Gina married Charles, her life would be a lot easier.

"Listen, old man," said Marla. "Your daughter made my daughter fall and she had to be hospitalized for a month so the baby would be safe!"

Nurse Lyla tried to stop Marla. "Ma'am, you're disturbing my patient. You have to leave or--"

"Oh, shut up, nurse," interrupted Marla fiercely. "This old man's daughter molested my daughter and my future grandson. I won't let her do anything again!"

"What?" asked Hardy confused. He was starting to realize that Marla was probably talking about Nathalie. But what does that have to do with her daughter and her grandson?

"Why are you accusing my daughter of doing something like that? My daughter is a woman who--"

"Your daughter is an ungrateful woman!" Marla interrupted in a harsh tone. "She is sterile, she can't give her husband a child, but she tries to hinder my daughter! Do you know that your daughter has been divorced by her husband and her husband will soon be my son-in-law?"

Hardy's hands were shaking and Nurse Lyla saw that. She became furious. "Ma'am, if you don't move, I will call security!"

Marla smiled sarcastically. She didn't care and pushed harder towards the pale Hardy.

"C-charles and N-nathalie... Divorced?" Hardy muttered.

"Yes! Charles divorced your daughter because she was infertile. My daughter is now pregnant with Charles' child, and your daughter tried to harm her because of jealousy!"

"B-but-- That's impossible!"

"Why don't you call and ask your shameless daughter yourself? Her husband has dumped her because she is useless, but she instead degrades herself, begging for attention from Charles and venting her anger on my daughter and her innocent baby!"

The security guard ran over and grabbed Marla's hand to get her away from Hardy. Marla screamed and cursed at Hardy.

Nurse Lyla panicked, when she saw Hardy fall unconscious.

===

"Bastard," Nathalie growled. "I will make her regret what she did. Just look at what--"

"Ah, that's her, Ma'am," said Nurse Lyla, pointing at a middle-aged woman who had just gotten out of the elevator.

Nathalie stared at the woman Nurse Lyla pointed at and quickly stood up, approaching the woman.

"What did you do to my father?" Nathalie snapped, blocking Marla.

Marla was shocked, but when she saw who had yelled at her, she put her hands on her hips and raised her chin high.

"So you, the woman who has abused my daughter and her baby?" Marla snapped. "Shameless! You should look in the mirror. You have a fatal flaw that makes your husband turn to my daughter, instead of taking out your anger on her!"

"Be careful what you say," Nathalie hissed angrily. "Your daughter is not a good woman and I think now I know where she got her bad behavior from."

"You're rude! My daughter is a kind and gentle woman, she wouldn't--"

"How can a good woman open her legs for a man who already has a wife and is pregnant before marriage? Are you teaching your daughter to be a whore?"

Nathalie's words, which she said calmly, made Marla's heart boil. She raised her hand.

When Marla's hand was about to land on Nathalie's cheek, a hand stopped it firmly.

"Stop, ma'am, or you'll regret it," Nicholas said calmly. He slapped Marla's hand away and turned to Nathalie. "Are you okay?"

Nathalie shook her head, surprised that Nicholas suddenly came.

Marla glared at Nicholas angrily. "Stay out of it! I need to teach this shameless woman a lesson!"

Nicholas gestured to the two security guards behind him.

"You must take her to the police station. This woman has harmed a sick man and is now trying to attack my friend," Nicholas said calmly. "My assistant will take care of the report."

The two security guards saluted Nicholas, then locked Marla's hands behind her back so that she could not move, then took her away. She shouted curses at Nathalie and Nicholas all the way.

Nicholas turned to a man beside him. "Take care of her. The evidence is clear, it's on Nurse Lyla's phone and the CCTV footage."

"Yes, boss, I'll take care of it," the man nodded respectfully, then left after the security guards who took Marla.

Nicholas accompanied Nathalie to her father's room after that. He patted Nathalie's shoulder gently in the elevator, giving her wordless support.

Hardy opened his eyes when he heard the door open, and he smiled when he saw Nathalie and a man behind her enter.

Half running, Nathalie approached her father and hugged him tightly. She fought back her tears. She didn't want her father to see her cry.

"Dad, how are you?" Nathalie asked as she checked her father. "How are you feeling?"

Hardy stroked Nathalie's hair. "I'm fine, honey. But, what really happened? A woman said bad things about you and it confused me."

Nathalie swallowed. "That... Don't mind her, Dad, she just--"

"Did she hurt you? What about Charles, what did he do to you?" Hardy asked worriedly.

Nicholas stood beside Nathalie. "Don't worry, Mr. Adams. I will take care of you and protect you and Nathalie. I will never let Natalie get hurt again, and neither will you."

Hardy looked at Nathalie in confusion. "Honey? Can you explain to me what really happened? And who... is this man?"

Natalie looked at Nicholas with pleading eyes. "Nicholas, can I have some time alone with my father, to explain everything?"

Nicholas smiled and nodded. "Sure. Take your time. I'll take care of everything. You can call me when you're done or need anything."

Hardy watched Nicholas walk out. He reached for Nathalie's hand.

"Honey, who is he?" Hardy asked in a demanding tone. "Please, explain everything to me!"

Nathalie sat down in a chair by the bed and took a deep breath before telling him. It was about time her father knew what happened.

"The man's name is Nicholas Grand," Nathalie began.

"Grand?" her father asked in surprise. "That Grand?"

"Yes, that Grand," Nathalie responded. "He helped me, when Charles divorced and kicked me out because his mistress was pregnant and tried to frame me. She fell and accused me of pushing her."

"WHAT? CHARLES DID THAT TO YOU? HE WAS CHEATING ON YOU? HOW DARE!"

Hardy woke up and sat on the bed with anger burning in him. He clenched his fists tightly.

Nathalie reached for Hardy's hand and held it to calm her father's anger.

"Not only that," Nathalie continued. "They, along with Kelly, made me lose... My baby. He was only four, or five months old, but he couldn't survive."

Hardy gasped. He looked at Nathalie and slowly his eyes became blurry with tears.

"You were pregnant? And Charles killed his own baby because of his mistress?"

He listened to Nathalie's next story with wet eyes, feeling guilty because he couldn't protect his only daughter whom he loved so much.

".... to be his wife."

Nathalie's last words stunned Hardy. "What? Is he playing with you or what?"

"I asked that too, but he gave me a serious answer. He really wanted me to be his wife," Nathalie answered.

Hardy understood the situation, but, still, he couldn't let Nathalie sacrifice herself for him.

"Nathalie, no! Don't accept his proposal! I don't agree. You don't have to do it!" Hardy said firmly.

Nathalie looked at him, confused.