Chapter 718 - 706: Marrying a Rich Man (9)

Chapter 718: Chapter 706: Marrying a Rich Man (9)

In the hospital corridor, Shirley Lockwood watched her dad sitting and staring into space. She furrowed her delicate brows and scooted closer to him. "Dad..."

"..."

When he didn’t respond, Shirley Lockwood had no choice but to reach out and gently shake Archie Lockwood’s arm. "Dad, what’s wrong?" ’This is the first time I’ve ever seen him so spaced out.’

"Hm?" Archie Lockwood snapped out of it, raising an eyebrow in confusion as he looked at Shirley Lockwood.

Shirley Lockwood pouted. "Dad, what is wrong with you? You’ve been totally out of it. I was talking to you, and you just ignored me."

"I’m fine."

"Dad, do you know the pretty lady?" Shirley Lockwood kept her eyes glued to her father’s face as she asked.

Hearing this, Archie Lockwood realized he had lost his composure. He immediately reverted to his usual expression, his voice low as he said, "Impossible. How could I possibly know a woman like that? You’re overthinking things. When Howard and the others get back, you can go home with them."

"What about you, Dad?"

Archie Lockwood’s gaze drifted nonchalantly toward a nearby hospital room. "I have something to take care of."

"Oh..." Seeing him like this, she instantly knew he wanted to stay and take care of the pretty lady. ’But,’ she thought, ’the pretty lady is sick and needs someone to look after her.’ So, she decided not to call him out on his little plan.

’As for whether he knows her or not... judging by how anxious he’s been today, it’d be a miracle if he didn’t!’

Less than half an hour later, Howard Rhodes and Louise Jordan arrived at the hospital to take Shirley Lockwood home.

Archie Lockwood stared toward the hospital room, a complex look in his eyes.

’He didn’t understand what was wrong with himself today. She was the one person he never wanted to see again for the rest of his life. Yet, when he saw her collapse and bleed, a profound fear had seized him—the fear that Eleanor Bishop might actually die.’

’And ever since he got to the hospital, he’d been wondering if he should tell Rory that Eleanor Bishop was her birth mother.’

’If Rory found out that the mother she had spent so long looking for had been right in front of her, would she blame him? Would she hate him?’

’His thoughts were a complete mess.’

’For the first time in his life, he had no idea what to do.’

Inside the hospital room, Eleanor Bishop stared blankly at the ceiling. She had heard the entire conversation between Archie Lockwood and Rory.

’If I’m right,’ she thought, ’Archie Lockwood will be here any minute to demand that I leave him and his daughter alone and never show my face to them again.’

’Honestly, just being able to see Rory with my own eyes while I’m still alive... that’s enough for me. It’s more than enough.’

’I never imagined I’d get to see Rory again in this lifetime.’

Archie Lockwood re-entered the room, followed by a nurse.

The nurse removed the IV needle, gave some instructions, and handed the bill to Archie Lockwood before she left.

Archie Lockwood watched as Eleanor Bishop climbed out of bed and put on her shoes. Only then did he say coldly, "Let’s go."

Eleanor Bishop walked up to Archie Lockwood and lowered her head apologetically. "Um, thank you for today. Just give me the bill. I can go pay it myself."

"Oh." ’Since she’s offering to pay, I’m certainly not going to refuse.’ So, with a grim face, Archie Lockwood gave a curt nod and handed the bill to Eleanor Bishop.

Eleanor Bishop took the bill. When she saw the total, all the color drained from her face.

The amount wasn’t actually that high—a little over four hundred. But at the moment, she had, at most, a little over two hundred on her...