Chapter 88: I Want Her to See Me

"Boss, you’re back." Rocco rushed to greet him.

"What’s going on?" Samuel Ford asked in a low voice.

Rocco didn’t dare to delay and quickly explained, "The Young Master is throwing a tantrum. He hasn’t eaten all day, then he suddenly threw up tonight and is refusing to see a doctor."

Since he hadn’t eaten, he was just throwing up stomach acid. It was a heartbreaking sight.

Samuel Ford walked quickly upstairs and tried the door, but it was locked. The butler immediately handed him the spare key, and he opened it and went inside.

Felix Ford heard the noise and weakly opened his eyes. He managed to say, "Get out," but his voice was as faint as a kitten’s meow, completely lacking any force. Knowing he couldn’t make him leave, Felix turned over, his back to him, and shut his eyes, refusing to spare him a single glance.

Samuel Ford drew closer. The boy was already fair-skinned, and now he looked even more pale and sickly.

’I need to get to the root of the problem,’ he thought, remembering Amanda Vance’s advice. He pursed his lips and said, "I have news about your mother. Do you want to hear it?"

Felix Ford’s eyelids twitched. Afraid it was a trick, he remained still, but his ears perked up.

Seeing this, Samuel Ford continued, "The truth is, I’ve been looking for her too. I just got a little piece of information a couple of days ago, but it’s not much. I’m still investigating. Once I find her, I’ll bring her back. But tell me, when she sees you like this, do you think she’ll want to stay?"

At these words, Felix Ford shot up in bed. He clenched his small fists and glared fiercely at his father. Even though he was so weak he had hardly any strength, he still shouted in the loudest voice he could muster, "Mommy will love me!"

"Oh, really?" Samuel Ford shot him a look. "I don’t know if she’ll love you, but if you don’t eat, who’s to say you’ll even be around to see her return."

"Who says I’m not eating? I’ll eat."

’Silly boy.’

Samuel Ford ignored his outburst and had someone bring in a meal.

"Eat up. You’ll need your strength if you want to keep fighting with me."

’He’s the one making a fuss.’

Felix Ford shot him another glare, had the food placed on his little desk, and slid off the bed to eat. ’I have to eat properly, eat a lot, and grow up fast. If Dad can’t find Mom, then I’ll go find her myself.’

’I knew I couldn’t count on him.’

Huffing angrily, he began to stuff one mouthful of food after another into his mouth. Samuel Ford frowned. "Slow down, you’ll cho—"

Before he could finish, Felix’s head suddenly jerked to the side, and he threw everything up with a SPLASH.

The food had only just reached his stomach and hadn’t begun to digest, so it didn’t smell bad.

Samuel Ford wasn’t concerned about that. He lifted the boy into his arms. "Doctor!"

Seeing this, Rocco quickly ushered in the doctor waiting outside with his medical bag.

Felix Ford’s stomach was empty. After vomiting up the food, he started heaving stomach acid until there was nothing left. Unable to stand, he leaned limply against Samuel Ford. When he saw the doctor approaching, he hid his hands behind his back. "No."

"Don’t be difficult," Samuel Ford chided, holding a glass of water for him to rinse his mouth. "Let the doctor examine you."

"No." Felix Ford turned his head away, his voice soft but firm. "I don’t want him."

Samuel Ford suppressed his anger. "Then who do you want to examine you?"

"Mommy," Felix Ford mumbled.

"What?"

"I want the doctor who treated Grandpa."

’He missed his mommy so much.’

As he spoke, tears began to stream down his face. "I want her to treat me," he cried out, "I want her..."

Finally, he didn’t even have the strength to speak anymore.

’He wants Amanda Vance?’

Samuel Ford looked at his son. He remembered that Felix knew Amanda Vance’s son and that they seemed to get along well.

Without giving it another thought, he said, "Alright. First, rinse your mouth and change your clothes. I’ll take you to her."

Hearing this, Felix Ford was finally willing to cooperate. He obediently drank some water, swished it around, and spat it out.

"Rinse one more time."

Felix Ford did so.

The water itself was tasteless, but his upset stomach made even that feel unpleasant. Once the foul taste in his mouth was gone, he turned his head away, refusing to drink more.

Samuel Ford didn’t press the issue. He found a clean set of clothes, changed him, and then carried him out.

Rocco, having heard they were going to the hospital, had already gone to get the car ready.

On the way, Felix Ford lay limply in Samuel Ford’s arms. The car’s ride was smooth, without a single jolt. With one arm around the boy, Samuel Ford used his free hand to pull out his phone and dial Amanda Vance’s number.

"Hello, Dr. Vance. It’s Samuel Ford."

Hearing that, Felix Ford forced his eyes open. His lips moved slightly, forming the word "Mommy."

He only mouthed the word, making no sound, and Samuel Ford, busy with the call, didn’t notice.

"Sorry to bother you, Dr. Vance. My son hasn’t eaten all day, and now he’s throwing up anything he tries to eat. I was wondering if it would be too much trouble for you to take a look at him."

Amanda Vance had just finished dinner. She stood up at once. "Of course, no problem. I’ll wait for you at the hospital."

"Alright. Thank you, Dr. Vance."

"Don’t mention it."

Jean Vance was sitting on the sofa. He hadn’t heard the other side of the conversation, only that his mother was leaving. He could no longer focus on his book and asked, "Are you going to the hospital, Mom?"

"Mm-hm. A little boy is sick, and I have to go check on him. Jean, you..."

Looking at her son, Amanda Vance hesitated. ’It’s fine during the day when he’s at school and people are around, but will he be scared at home all by himself right now?’

As if reading her mind, Jean Vance smiled. "Go ahead, Mom. I’ll be fine on my own. I won’t open the door for any strangers. I’ll wait for you to get back."

"Okay." She stroked his cheek. "Mommy will be back very soon."

’This is a high-end complex with excellent security,’ she reassured herself. ’You need a key card for access, so it’s hard for strangers to get in. He should be perfectly safe.’

Jean Vance nodded, watched her leave, then sat back down with his book.

Suddenly, he recalled the faint voice he’d overheard from the phone call. ’Why did that sound a little familiar?’

「At the hospital entrance.」

Samuel Ford was about to get out of the car, still carrying Felix, when the boy suddenly said, "Wait a second."

Then, he pulled a crumpled mask from his pocket and put it on his face.

"What’s that for?" Samuel Ford asked, confused.

Felix Ford mumbled for a moment before spitting out a single word. "Ugly."

Samuel Ford was speechless. "..."

The corner of his mouth twitched. He frowned. "Dr. Vance practices Traditional Chinese Medicine. Diagnosis involves observation—she needs to be able to see you."

Felix Ford shook his head. "She can’t."

’If she sees me, she’ll recognize me.’

Unable to change his mind, Samuel Ford had no choice but to take him inside as he was.

Amanda Vance was waiting for them near the entrance by the registration desk.

She immediately spotted a tall man walking in with a child in his arms. The boy was slumped over the man’s shoulder, his face hidden. A small hand rested limply on the man’s neck, a clear sign of his weakness.

Sensing her gaze, Felix Ford looked up. His eyes brightened the moment he saw her. He opened his mouth to call out but swallowed the words instead.

’Right. She’s not my mommy.’

’And I’m not her son.’

A wave of sadness washed over Felix Ford, and he slumped back down. Under the mask, his small mouth trembled. He buried his face against Samuel Ford’s shoulder, nuzzling into it as he fought back tears.

"Dr. Vance."

Samuel Ford saw her as well and strode over. He gave her a nod. "Sorry to trouble you this late."

"It’s no trouble. Let me have a look at the boy."

"Mm."

Seeing that the boy remained buried in his father’s embrace, Amanda Vance said softly, "Hey, sweetie. Can you let me take a look at you? After I’m done, your tummy won’t hurt anymore."

Samuel Ford’s eyes twitched slightly. Her voice was incredibly gentle, and the usual detached calm had melted from her face. As she softly coaxed the child, she seemed to be surrounded by a gentle halo.

’So this is another side of her,’ Samuel Ford thought.