Spencer hung his dim ink eyes, his fingers twisted the sheets into wrinkles, and his cold pale complexion looked extremely gloomy.
The ward was quiet for a while.
After a long silence, Spencer finally spoke up, "I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't have done that and it's not fair to Alistair. Yesterday's incident may leave an indelible shadow and nightmare on him who's so young."
"But Dad, I have also suffered for eleven years because of Anthony. The S404 biochemical virus is an indelible shadow and nightmare for me as well. I am just... passing on the pain he brought to me, making his son suffer once. I..."
As he spoke, his voice grew quieter and he gradually lost his confidence. He was completely oppressed by the pressure brought on by Malcolm, feeling as if he was being suffocated.
Malcolm was shocked.
His son had been pampered by his side for eleven years, but he only realized today that he had never truly understood his son's thoughts.
He used to think that his son was just a bit aloof, but he forgot that he was too intelligent. At the age of five, he could solve high school level math problems and had won various academic competitions every year. He had always been interested in reading adult materials such as psychology, criminology and economics since he was young.
This time what he did was the craziest, risking even his own life and Alistair's as a bet.
"Spencer, your irrationality and scheming make me feel very unfamiliar."
Spencer's heart skipped a beat. He bit his lip for a while before asking with teary eyes, "Yes, I was wrong. I had already noticed that those people were secretly following and monitoring us, yet I still led Alistair into the fire pit. So... will you take action against me?"
Malcolm choked and stopped speaking.
"Did I violate your principles this time?"
He lowered his eyes, his lips pursed and turning white. His fingers twisted the sheets incessantly, concealing his unease.
"Take me to the ancestral hall. I accept any punishment."
To be that place meant to be punished by the family law, which was too vicious. With Spencer's physical condition, it was estimated that he could not endure five strokes, and his life would be finished.
Malcolm had always taken pity on his infirm health, and had taken care of him for a long time when he was a child, not to mention whipping or slapping.
Moreover, Malcolm never even considered laying a hand on him.
"Spencer, you're much more mature than Momo. Your mom and I don't need to worry so much about you, so I have never cared about the grievances between you and Anthony. I give you 100% trust and let you decide it yourself."
Spencer had a docile face, lowered his head and listened carefully.
"But Spencer, your behavior yesterday disappointed me. I'm very angry that you risked your life and Alistair's life to play this game, especially since you are very aware of your physical condition, but you still want to play so hard and crazy."
"Those are scumbags who specialize in shady activities. A group of desperadoes with weapons and guns in their hands. They are uncontrollable and quite dangerous."
"But you still use them to toss your body at will, and you don't have awe for life. You never thought about how your mom and I would feel if you made any mistakes? How sad would Momo be?"
"If Alistair really died in this kidnapping case, will there be troubles in the Callahan family? You can really get Anthony involved, but Alistair is also involved. Can you really feel at ease? Have you considered these things?"
Spencer was red-eyed by the words, and nodded in a very understanding way, "I know I was wrong."
"You will never, ever be allowed to take your own and other people's lives insignificantly again. Can you do it?"
"Yes, there will be no next time."
The worry between Malcolm's eyebrows eased a little, "I believe you this time. If you can't do it in the future, I won't tolerate you anymore, and I will really take you to the ancestral hall. Do you hear me clearly?"
He nodded again, "Understood, I dare not."
Malcolm sighed, and his face softened a lot, "Although the final result of this incident is good, you almost made a big mistake that cannot be made up, and you still have to be punished."
Spencer didn't have time to relax.
Malcolm looked at him, thought for a while, and then said in a stern tone, "Before tonight, write me a 2, 000-word self-criticism. Also, when Alistair is better, find time to apologize sincerely to him and calm him down."
This was already the most acceptable punishment for his weak body, and he couldn't refuse it, "Understood, I will honestly review my mistakes."
...
Alistair was having another nightmare.
As long as he closed his eyes, the feeling of weightlessness followed him everywhere, and his whole little heart was so frightened that it almost stopped suddenly.
Now, he dreamed that he was floating in the air, watching Anthony take care of Spencer meticulously.
In the ward, Anthony was feeding Spencer, patiently blowing it cool spoon by spoon.
He sighed and said, "Spencer, you're such an excellent and well-behaved child. Why aren't you my biological son?"
In his dream, Spencer asked back, "Don't you like Alistair?"
Anthony shook his head. "He's foolish, clumsy and playful. He doesn't deserve to be my son."
Alistair floated in the air silently listening and watching with a heart so broken it felt like suffocating.
Tears flowed down his cheeks like a stream that couldn't be stopped no matter how hard he tried to wipe them away with his small hands.
His eyes were swollen from crying as he desperately approached Anthony and hugged his legs begging him, "Daddy, please don't abandon me. I'll be good. I'll listen to you from now on."
"Daddy please..."
Anthony frowned in disgust as he kicked him away.
Alistair was tossed around like an abandoned ball rolling several times on the ground before finally hitting the corner of the wall.
The misty fog blurred his vision but he could still see clearly Anthony's cold expression of indifference.
"I have chosen Spencer. Whether you live or die has nothing to do with me. Get lost!"
Waaah!
Alistair hugged himself tightly while trembling in despair at the corner of the wall.
The nightmare was too scary that it woke him up crying out loud,
"No! Please don't!"
Tears streamed down his face as he helplessly grabbed onto the bedding while kicking uncontrollably with short legs.
Anthony sat beside Alistair's bed looking startled by sudden awakening of this son who had been having a nightmare. He quickly leaned over rubbing Alistair's little head asking,
"Alistair, did you have a bad dream?"
Alistair's little hand wiped off tears haphazardly while he was blinking wet eyelashes trying to focus on Anthony's face.
Realizing it was Anthony who stood before him made him scream out fearfully, then he curled up into a ball under covers covering himself entirely,
"Don't kick me! Daddy no more please… scared waaaah…"
His voice muffled due to sobbing too much, making words unclear for Anthony.
Not hearing clearly what Alistair's problem was caused concern for Anthony, so he carefully pulled back covers only finding curled-up body shivering uncontrollably accompanied by faint cries.
Seeing how emotional his son had become prompted Anthony press call button located near bedside table, which summoned doctor within two minutes time.
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