"This is..."
Mabel hesitated, clearly at a loss.
But Henry's face was set in a stubborn frown, his eyes shimmering with hurt. It tugged at her heartstrings—he was probably just craving his mother's home cooking.
"Alright, I'll call Mrs. Lawson."
She dialed Jessica's number, but the phone was switched off.
Lowering her voice, Mabel said gently, "Mrs. Lawson's phone is off, Master Henry. Why don't you eat a little something for now? When she returns, I promise I'll persuade her to cook something special for you, okay?"
Henry's disappointment only deepened.
Whenever he was sick before, his mom would be at his side day and night. Now, he hadn't even been discharged, and she hadn't come to the hospital, hadn't made him anything to eat—and now her phone was off, too.
What kind of mother was she being?
Unwilling to give up, Henry used his smartwatch to call Jessica himself. When all he got was the automated message that the phone was off, his tears spilled over.
"Master Henry, please don't cry. I'll send someone right away to look for Mrs. Lawson," Mabel said, her voice growing frantic. After all, this was the cherished young master of the Lawson family—if he cried like this, she'd have a lot to answer for.
She set down the lunchbox and hurried outside to call Secretary Allen.
Meanwhile, Henry tried calling Sheila.
Sheila answered, only to hear Henry's sobs on the other end. Alarmed and worried, she asked, "Henry, sweetheart, what's wrong? Why are you crying like this? Did something happen?"
"M-Miss Sheila…" Henry hiccuped between tears. "My mom… she hasn't come to see me at the hospital. And… and her phone is off…"
His words dissolved into broken sobs.
"Henry, darling, don't cry. Maybe your mom just forgot to charge her phone. Is there anyone with you at the hospital?"
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