Reborn, Reawakened, Rekindled novel Chapter 594

I turned around, and there was Neil, standing a short distance away with a cold expression on his face.

Why was he also at the hospital? Logically, with Hiram undergoing the transplant, Neil didn't need to stick around; he could've been off handling his myriad of responsibilities.

Cooper looked a tad uncomfortable, probably feeling like his bubbling enthusiasm had just hit a brick wall. He had wanted to lighten Neil's emotional load, but clearly, Neil wasn’t having any of it.

"Neil, what brings you here today? I've got everything under control at the hospital!" Cooper, always the loyal friend, said. "You've got enough on your plate, haven't you?"

Between family dramas, the company's affairs, an ex like Karina, and a son not his by blood, Neil's plate was indeed overflowing.

I thought so too. These past few days, Russel had gone back to Rosemont, apparently tied up with something, and yet Neil had stayed put. Wasn't he worried something else might pop up?

"Hey there!"

Just as Cooper finished speaking, I heard Faith's voice.

I looked up, somewhat taken aback, to see Faith and Ryan approaching. What brought them here today?

Cooper hurriedly greeted them, "Hey, good to see you!"

Ryan and Faith offered a smile and a nod before turning to me. Faith was the first to reach out and take my hand, her voice laced with urgency, "Irene, why didn't you tell us your dad was sick? If an old friend hadn't mentioned it in passing during a call yesterday, we'd have been none the wiser!"

I glanced at Neil; he averted his gaze, leaving me with a view of his sharply defined profile.

Sometimes, he seemed to get me. Knowing I hadn't told his parents about my dad's condition meant I probably had my reasons. After all, it was awkward given our families' history.

Keeping it under wraps was fine by me.

But in a community where news travels fast, it was only a matter of time before Ryan and Faith heard.

"Faith, my dad's doing alright. It's early days, and with surgery and treatment, he'll be fine," I replied calmly, making no move to pull my hand away.

"We should've been told, we wanted to come by. And I heard from Neil about Hiram..." Faith trailed off, a hint of concern in her voice.

"What about Hiram?" I felt a pang of worry. Hiram was in the transplant unit where visits were restricted, but any significant updates would certainly be relayed to the family.

Neil's voice was chilly, "He's not cooperating with the treatment, probably scared being all by himself in there."

I remembered Hiram's bravery before entering the unit; was he regretting it now? After all, he was just a kid, alone among strangers in a clinical setting, undergoing all sorts of procedures. It was natural for him to feel overwhelmed.

Faith's voice softened with empathy, "We came first to see how your father was, and also to offer Hiram some comfort. He's a good kid, and it breaks my heart to see him go through all this..."

Her eyes welled up with tears.

Ryan sighed deeply, a man typically more reserved with his emotions, especially since Hiram wasn't his biological grandson. But his presence here spoke volumes of his concern.

The Whitmores, despite their lack of blood relation to Hiram, showed immense kindness and care towards the younger generation.

At times like these, my thoughts drifted to my little Serena and Brandon. If only they could feel their grandparents' love, their lives would be so much richer.

But...

"Dad, some people are coming to visit you," I replied, a hint of resignation in my voice.

"Who?" Dad was curious.

He hadn't told anyone about his illness, yet somehow word had gotten out, leading to visits from colleagues, friends, and even business associates.

"Neil's parents," I said, and immediately, Dad's face turned the color of liver. His disdain for Neil extended to Ryan and Faith, though they'd always been decent to me.

Dad waved dismissively, "Tell them not to bother. I'm fine. Just say I'm asleep."

"They came all the way from Springvale," I said, feeling a twinge of guilt for Ryan and Faith.

My dad paused for a moment, his voice taking on a serious tone, "Even if they were on a quest from the West, it wouldn't matter."

No sooner had he finished his sentence than the trio he referred to as "the quest from the West" appeared at the hospital room door.

A flash of embarrassment crossed Ryan's face, but he quickly masked it with a smile, "Hey, Mr. Davis."

My dad, too, turned a shade of red, evidently embarrassed by his earlier comment. His previously downturned mouth quickly turned into a welcoming smile, "Ah, Mr. Whitmore, what brings you here? And Mrs. Whitmore, and—"

His gaze landed on Neil, and his smile froze, turning his face as quickly as flipping a page in a book.

Neil, accustomed to such receptions, simply stood at the doorway without moving, while Ryan and Faith walked in. I moved a couple of chairs for them and poured two glasses of water.

"Thank you," Faith said to me with a gentle smile.