Thea soon woke up in her ward after being put on a drip and found Caroline gazing at her with tear-filled eyes of distress.
“I’ve been so worried for you, Thea!”
Thea was still a little weak. Her eyelids fluttered open further at the sound of her mother’s voice. “I seemed to have heard Kenneth’s voice when I was still unconscious, Mom.”
Caroline appeared a little unhappy at the mention of Kenneth. “That man doesn’t love you at all, Thea.”
As soon as she said that, a drop of tear rolled down the corner of Thea’s eye.
Caroline’s heart immediately softened. “Don’t cry, Thea. There are plenty of men in the world. Kenneth is not the only one.”
“I don’t care how many men there are in the world,” Thea protested weakly. “He is the only one I want.”
Caroline frowned in consternation. She was not ignorant of her daughter’s stubbornness. There was no chance of Thea changing her mind once she had set her sights.
“I don’t know what to do without Kenneth, Mom. I can’t imagine a world without him. What should I do?” Thea’s tears soon turned into streams as her voice rose in pitch.
Caroline felt distressed looking at her daughter “All right, my dear. Hush now.”
“I miss him so much, Mom!” The more Thea spoke, the more aggrieved she became.
“Good girl. He’s outside right now.” Caroline told the truth, unable to hold back any longer.
Stunned by the news, Thea looked at Caroline in disbelief. “Really?”
Caroline nodded. “Yes. He was the one who sent you to the hospital.”
A glimmer of hope rose from her heart just when she had given up hope. “I knew it was him. I heard his voice. He still cares about me!”
Caroline could not bear to burst her daughter’s bubble at the sight of the latter’s infatuation.
“I want to see him, Mom. Could you take me out to meet him?” Thea wanted to get up, but as she had not eaten for an entire day and night, coupled with the debilitating effects of low sugar level in her blood, a wave of dizziness overcame her before she could even stand up.
Caroline caught her swaying daughter. “What are you doing trying to get up on your own?” she reprimanded severely. “I’ll get him. Go lie down!”
Thea lay back on the bed and nodded meekly.
Caroline cast one last glance at her before rising and walking out the door.
Kenneth was on the phone in the corridor outside. The door opened to reveal Caroline peering at him just as he hung up. “Thea is awake, and she wants to see you.”
Though a hint of hesitation flashed across his handsome features, Kenneth nodded and walked toward the ward.
Thea was lying on the hospital bed. She tried to sit up upon seeing Kenneth.
Kenneth stopped her. “The doctor said you need to rest. Don’t get up.”
Thea felt a warmth in her heart at his words. He still cares about me!
Her eyes turned red instantly. “Oh, Kenneth…”
Caroline chose that moment to cough pointedly and drew Thea’s attention to her.
“I’m going out to buy something. I’ll be back soon.” Without another word, Caroline strode out.
Thea and Kenneth were left alone in the ward after the door clicked shut.
Thea’s tender eyes appeared so misty that tears were at risk of falling as she gazed at him. “Did you send me to the hospital, Kenneth?” she asked.
He nodded.
“I knew that you wouldn’t leave me.” Thea forced a weak smile.
After carefully considering the best way to approach the subject, Kenneth raised his beady eyes to meet hers. “There are some things I need to clarify with you, Thea.”
Thea’s smile stiffened. “What do you want to say?”
Kenneth’s eyes dimmed. “I haven’t forgotten that you have been by my side since I took over the company. You have been a tremendous asset to the company and me. Though I am grateful to you, I only think of you as a friend and co-worker. I apologize if I have done anything to make you misunderstand.”
Thea’s tears fell immediately at his words. “Don’t you have even a bit of affection for me?”
Kenneth did not deny it. “Yes, I did. Though it’s not so much as falling for you as you being a good fit for me. You have so much to offer, and you wouldn’t ask a lot of me. I merely entertained the notion of us being together.”
“I can still be everything you want me to be.”
“It was only a fleeting thought I had from years ago,” Kenneth insisted.
Thea gazed at him with hopeless despair.
“I’m sorry for having such thoughts of you.” Kenneth’s apology was sincere and solemn. “If you need to vent your hatred of me or have any requests, please tell me. I will do what I can to make you happy.”
“I don’t want anything else, Kenneth,” Thea cried and pleaded with all her might. “I still am the same girl who you thought was a good match for you all those years ago. I can still be the woman of your dreams.”
“We are not young anymore, Thea. We should be a little more responsible in our relationships. If I still have such thoughts or act on my impulses, what kind of a man am I then?”
“I do not mind!”
“I do,” Kenneth said firmly. “I was young, frivolous, and arrogant, but I know better now.” His gaze upon Thea was unwavering.
Thea met his eyes as tears flowed down her cheeks.
Kenneth did not look away. “That’s all I have to say. You have a good rest. I will respect your decision if you want to return to the country with your parents after you get well.” With a final nod, he turned to leave the ward.
“Is this because of Natasha?” Thea asked suddenly.
Kenneth froze in his tracks.
“You told me all these not because you don’t love me but because you can’t let her go. That doesn’t matter to me. I will wait.” Thea gazed tearfully at his back. “I will wait for you forever as long as you say the word.”
Kenneth turned around wearily. “I won’t deny that Natasha has left an indelible mark on my heart, but my not loving you has nothing to do with her. Please don’t put your hopes on me anymore. Find someone more worthy.” He turned and walked out without giving her the opportunity to say anything else.
Despite clenching her fists to fight the urge to cry, Thea failed to hold back her tears.
Caroline was waiting in the corridor outside. Upon seeing Kenneth leave, she returned to the ward at once and hastened over at the sight of her weeping daughter. “Thea, Thea.”
“What should I do, Mom? He doesn’t want me anymore.”
“Silly girl,” Caroline soothed. “We’ll find someone better than him!”
“No! He’s the only one I want,” Thea cried bitterly. “Help me, Mom. I can’t live without him!”
Caroline watched her sadly. “My girl, there is no such thing as an irreparable heart. Time heals all wounds. You can’t let go now because you just landed in this situation. Give it time and you’ll find the strength to get over it eventually.”
Thea shook her head and screamed in despair. “I can’t, Mom! I’m losing my mind. I don’t know what I will be without him.”
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