Christina almost fainted. Fortunately, this time there were nurses close by to steady her and prevent her from falling. She cried out loud and hurried towards her husband.
Emma also cried, “Dad… Dad… ” As she runs toward his bedside.
Charles and Sarah followed them quietly. All four were standing around Mr. Thomas’s bed, looking at him and crying. He was wearing an oxygen mask and an IV drip on his right hand, his eyes closed, and his face was pale as if he was already gone.
Together, they managed to wake him up with some effort. He opened his eyes slightly and glanced at them, slowly moving his eyes from one to another. From his expression, it seemed that his eyes were blurred and that he couldn't see them clearly.
Sarah couldn't contain herself and started to cry out loud, hardly able to keep standing still. Charles had to hold her to prevent her from falling. She remembered when her father had died back when she was only 13, and she and her sister had been standing at his bedside, just like they were now, and watched as her father passed away.
No matter how hard she had shouted, her father hadn't responded and left them alone. Sarah didn’t know how to express her feelings at this moment. Overcome from sadness, she was unwilling to see the second man who had loved her as a father die. Death was so cruel, and no matter how much money a person has, no one can escape its claws.
She had no choice but to watch her second father die too.
Christina and Emma were also sad. Despite their flaws, they both treated Mr. Thomas sincerely. Seeing how he was slowly nearing his last breath, they were very sad and wept. Christina cried until she couldn't stand but crouched on the floor and kept calling her husband's name, holding his hand in hers.
Mr. Thomas slowly raised his hand and pointed toward Sarah, looking longingly at her as if he still had a lot to say to her.
Sarah was surprised and hesitated for a moment. She looked at Charles for reassurance, but then she saw Christina and Emma also looking at her, and Christina said in a cold and dry tone. “Come here quickly, he’s calling you!”
Sarah was sure Mr. Thomas was pointing at her, so she went closer and took his hand. Crying, she said. “Dad… dad… I’m here. Do you want to say something?”
Mr. Thomas responded through the oxygen mask, his speech was slurred and weak. Sarah could barely hear him and bent down closer to him. He still seemed to want to say something, but all Sarah could understand was. “I… don’t blame you… your baby… it's not your fault…! With Charles… be … happy.”
Sarah burst into tears. When her father died, he also told her, “Take care of your sister… be happy,” Just like Mr. Thomas was telling her now. She felt as if the string in her heart was cut, and she couldn't speak. She hardly managed to say in an unsteady voice, “Dad… dad… I promise… I'll stay with Charles… I will try my best…”
Mr. Thomas nodded slightly, then looked at Charles. Charles walked over to him, and his dad also told him something no one else was able to understand except his last sentence, “I… I’m so sorry!”
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