Chapter 51
Tabitha looked at the bare white ceiling above her and tried her hardest to recall what had happened before she passed out. At some point, she was convinced that she had merely imagined Malcolm’s presence around her.
Suddenly, she heard a voice saying. “You’re awake.”
Tabitha’s heart skipped a beat. She turned around and saw Chadwick’s clean and gentle face. “How are you feeling? Are you hurting anywhere?” he asked.
Ah, so it’s not Malcolm after all. As the realization dawned upon Tabitha, a self–deprecating smile curled on her lips.
She knew Malcolm did not care for her, and she should have known better than to hope otherwise.
When Chadwick saw the despondent look in Tabitha’s eyes, he caressed her hair gently and said, “I was on the phone with Colette just now, and she told me that you’ve been going around investigating that incident from years ago.”
Chadwick’s words brought Tabitha back to reality.
She was suddenly reminded of her parents‘ unjust deaths and her desire to avenge them. She did not have time to lie here and mope over Malcolm’s absence.
Chadwick noticed how her gaze had gone from unfocused to determined and pointed out sympathetically, Tabby, we know you’ve been trying to find witnesses, but you can’t rush these things. Besides, Trevor and Colette are doing everything they can to help you, too. You have to take care of yourself, for the sake of your baby.”
Tears pricked Tabitha’s eyes when she heard this. She unclenched her fists. and her hand fluttered to her lower abdomen. It was as if she had suddenly
13
Chapter 51
M
ANNO
3x
1457
regained her strength.
She found herself thinking, ‘I still want you, baby, even if that man doesn’t.
According to the doctor’s orders, Tabitha was to remain at the hospital for further observation.
Tabitha did not want anything happening to the baby, either, so she
eagerly followed the doctor’s instructions. She stayed in bed when she was asked to and went nowhere.
She even stopped contacting Trevor so frequently and only told him to call her if there was any important development in their investigation.
She was being so obedient for the sake of her baby that it was hard to
watch.
‘How unfortunate… Chadwick’s gaze darkened as his thoughts trailed off.
It wasn’t long before Alaric showed up at the hospital to visit Tabitha as well.
When Alaric saw another man in the hospital room with Tabitha, he did not grow angry and instead greeted Chadwick amicably.
After they had introduced themselves to each other, Alaric said graciously, “Thank you for taking care of Tabby.”
He had already asked one of his men to look into Chadwick’s background. He knew Chadwick and Tabitha were only close friends, and there was nothing he had to worry about.
Chadwick nodded with a smile. “Don’t mention it. Tabby and I are close
friends.”
Meanwhile, Malcolm was getting ready to leave on his business trip, but he could not stop thinking about what Chadwick said about Tabitha’s child.
2/5
Questions kept popping up in his mind. Why was Chadwick so sure that Tabuba’s child was mine?
Later in the car, Saul noticed how glum Malcolm was and could not help asking. “Mr. Sinclair, is there something you have yet to take care of in
Malcolm came back to his senses. Given how many questions he had, he figurest he might as well find the answers on his own.
With this in mind, Malcolm said to Saul. “Have someone look into the places Tabitha went before she discovered she was pregnant?”
Saul was a little taken aback by Malcolm’s instruction. Why does Mr. Sinclair want to know where Mrs. Sinclair had been all of a sudden?”
However, he dared not question Malcolm and agreed to do as he was told.
Malcolm added. “I want to know who she was in contact with, and if she spent more than half an hour in any location, I want to know as well.”
“Yes, sir.” Saul replied dutifully.
Six hours later, Saul pulled up outside a hotel in Ackleton.
The weather in Ackleton was much colder than it was in Nosa.
This city was in a comparatively more remote locality as well, and it was far from being considered urbanized. Building a new road here was, indeed, a quick way to develop the city as a whole.
Malcolm got out of the car. He looked tall and well–built in his long. smoky–gray windbreaker. When he walked, the hem of his windbreaker flapped in the cold breeze.
It was rare to see someone as imposing and elegant as Malcolm in a place like Ackleton. He was also more handsome than any male celebrity, and the hotel staff at the front desk could not help but stare at him with their
23
MPP D
ANNO 1
vn 14.58
Chapter 51
jaws open.
Saul had already booked hotel rooms in advance. After they walked in and stated their business and identities to the receptionists, they were ushered
to their rooms.
After being shown his suite, Malcolm washed up and lied down on the bed. He was suddenly seized by the image of Tabitha lying on the hospital bed, her face looking paler than the sheets that covered her.
‘What’s wrong with me?‘ he asked himself when he tossed and turned in bed, unable to go to sleep.
At last, he took his phone and gave Alaric a call.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Chasing His Runaway Wife by Jamie Stones (Tabitha Jarvis)