Forced Marriage: My Wife, My Redemption novel Chapter 413

Chapter 413: Josh Anderson arrives

Elder Allen’s brow furrowed at the sight of Davis’ arm swathed in fresh bandages.

"Hurt?" he asked, his voice low but edged with worry.

"A scratch," Davis clipped, brushing it off as though it were nothing. He had no intention of making the old man anxious.

But Elder Allen’s sharp eyes narrowed, lingering on Davis long enough to show he didn’t believe a word of it.

The silence between them was telling. He knew it wasn’t a scratch. Still, he let it slide, knowing Davis would never willingly explain how he got injured or where he had been.

"Grandpa, you don’t have to worry," Davis said firmly, trying to ease him. "Why are you still awake?" he added, hoping to deflect.

Elder Allen shrugged. "Just waiting for you

Davis sat up properly. "Is there any problem?" he asked warily.

"Just a little problem," Old Man Allen answered.

Davis paused slightly, his gaze trained on the Old Man as though his eyes could perform a clear diagnosis on him. "Are you sick again? Are you weak? I think I should call the doctor over."

Elder Allen sat down on Davis’ chair, his arm resting on the table while he lifted his hand to carefully massage his brow. "I don’t mean that...I am strong as I should be," he said, a glint of pain flashing past his eyes.

Ethan gave them a curt nod and left the study, shutting the door behind him, and the study descended into silence.

Davis studied the Old Man briefly, the tension on his shoulder and his tight jaw, his eyes narrowed. "Grandpa, are you burdened?" he asked; that could be the only reason why he came to meet him at the moment.

Old Man Allen averted his gaze with a deep exhale. Who wouldn’t be burdened with his great-grandchildren in NICU and their mother sleeping in the ICU for the past two weeks with no consciousness and more painful, with no clear explanation of when she would be waking up?

"Yes, I am burdened," Elder Allen admitted, his voice weighted with sorrow. "And I just hope we can iron out a few things."

The admission made Davis’ chest tighten. He straightened, gaze steady.

His grandfather had been in and out of the hospital the most times of the whole farce, partly for his security and another for his failing health. Age and the heavy burden over the years had taken its toll on him.

But with this new burden, he really hoped there would be a way to make things much easier.

"Okay," Davis clipped as he sat upright on the couch, his gaze unreadable when he continued, "What is the problem keeping you awake?" he asked with worry.

"What are your thoughts about her?" Elder Allen asked.

Davis swallowed hard, his expression tensed with worry. "I have requested for a few doctors, and they should be arriving in a few days."

Davis paused briefly. "Maybe when they arrive and diagnosis carried out, we can plan."

Old Man Allen sighed. "Julian dropped a message when he couldn’t reach you?" Elder Allen said.

Davis paused slightly. "What did he say?"

For Julian to drop a message with the Old Man when he couldn’t reach him meant there is something else.

"His father, your in-law, is coming in to Country Y today," Elder Allen said.

Davis’ hand paused briefly, his heart skipping a beat before it began thumping hard, his expression flustered. "Impossible," he muttered.

"I guess it won’t be long, and he will be in the country," Elder Allen explained.

"Didn’t you say he dropped a message when he wasn’t able to reach me?" he asked.

Elder Allen nodded. "That’s right. But Julian mentioned his father usually travels with his plane, and as at the time of his call, he was thinking he might be boarding."

Davis felt his head spinning from the news, while his heart thumped hard in his chest just thinking about it.

For Josh to arrive Country Y in search of his daughter wasn’t what he had thought of.

And to think of that daughter lying in the ICU from a scheme of his enemies, he would never exonerate himself from the blame.

More painful was the pain of this man over the years. Davis felt his blood going cold. He didn’t know what he could worry about at the moment.

Several questions tore through his heart. Yet he couldn’t find any answer to them.

"With so many years of separation, he might insist on taking her back to Country Z."

Elder Allen paused briefly, taking in the look on Davis’ face, but seeing his expression blank, he sighed in relief.

"If he makes such proposition, don’t be unreasonable but give him the chance to return her to Country Z."

Davis’ head snapped towards him, his brow furrowed, his heart racing hard in his chest. "No," he said.

Elder Allen shook his head. "With her in an unconscious state for the past two weeks isn’t an easy task for his father who had just discovered her and yet never had the opportunity of meeting her before the accident."

Davis’ eyes sharpened. "What happened?"

"Lady Margaret has gone to the press. She’s claiming the second branch is being treated unjustly and sidelined from family affairs."

A cold smile touched Davis’ lips. "Not a problem. Just like Desmond, she had a hand in much of our misfortune. I was only being patient."

He rose, strode to the desk, and pulled open a drawer. From it, he retrieved a thick, sealed file and handed it to Ethan.

"Here," Davis smirked, handing the file to Ethan.

He sighed and continued, "Every action of hers over the years had been gathered, and each is more interesting than the other."

Ethan took the file, his surprise evident. He didn’t expect Davis to have already kept track of her.

"What to do?" he asked.

"Release to the press, press charges, and arrest for her to answer the charges."

"But..." Ethan wanted to ask further, but on a second thought decided against it.

~Mid day~

Following his discussion with the Old Man in the early hours of the morning and Ethan handling the issues of the second branch, Davis had the driver bring him over to the hospital.

On his way, he had called Julian and was informed that his father’s arrival in a few hours. Davis sighed with relief.

At the NICU, Davis stood silently by the glass, watching his fragile children breathe beneath tubes and machines.

Then he returned to Jessica’s ward, the ache in his chest sharp as ever.

Staring at the face of the lady who had drawn him out of his abyss, his eyes stung, but unlike other days, he schooled himself to calmness.

After a while, he rose to see the doctor. Hand on the doorknob, he pulled it open. But the moment his eyes landed on the figure outside, his breath caught.

His body went rigid, lips parting but no sound escaping.

"Dave," the man said.