Xavier looked at Winnie’s retreating figure, and his heart clenched.
He tried to say something, but the pain in his chest was so great that he could not make a sound.
He stumbled backward and knocked into the fruit platter on the bedside table.
The sound of the platter and the fruits falling made Winnie turn around.
Her eyes were still red when she looked at Xavier.
Seeing that he was fine, she said, “Be careful. I’ll get someone to clean this up. Xavier, you have to cooperate with the doctor and Professor White for your treatment.”
Xavier felt much better after the pain subsided, and he finally found his voice again.
“You”—he stared at Winnie with furrowed brows, his dark eyes glistening—“don’t want me anymore. Is that it?”
“Why would you think that?” Winnie curled her lips to form a faint smile. “Didn’t I say I’m going to Yartran to deal with some family matters? I’m only leaving for a short while. Take care of yourself. I’ll be back soon.”
Right as Winnie said that, Xavier asked, “How soon is soon?”
Winnie paused for a few seconds before answering, “It’s been a while since I went back. It might take a few days or it might take a few months. It wholly depends on the situation back at home. Anyway, I’ll try to be back as quickly as possible.”
“I’ll wait for you, then,” Xavier said softly as he looked at her. “I believe everything you say. If you say you’re coming back as quickly as you can, then I’ll wait for you.”
Winnie gazed at Xavier silently. She could see the worry and fear in his eyes as if he was afraid that she would never return.
But how was that possible?
Winnie gave Xavier a smile. “Don’t overthink it. I still love you, Xavier. I will come back.”
Winnie’s abrupt declaration of love washed away the anxiety in Xavier’s heart.
He looked into her eyes and said, “I love you too, Winnie. I’ll wait for you to come back no matter how long you take.”
Winnie parted her lips, but she did not know what to say to him.
His words reminded her of the way she had told him to wait for her to return and send him to the hospital back in the forest.
Back then, he was about to give up, but to calm her down, he still promised to wait until she returned.
Later on, she did return with Yulissa’s car, but what happened after that was something he did not wish for.
Winnie wanted to hug Xavier one more time, but the thought of Christopher stopped her from doing that.
Instead, she smiled at him and said, “Okay. I’ll be on my way now, then.”
With that, she averted her gaze from Xavier.
When she stepped out of the ward, she was startled by the person sitting outside.
However, upon realizing that the person was none other than Josiah, she let out a sigh of relief.
They took one look at each other, and she asked, “You were outside the entire time?”
“Yeah,” Josiah said with a slight frown. “I was worried that the two of you would get into a fight, so I stuck around for a little longer. Since you’re both all right, I’ll make a move first.”
With that, Josiah wheeled himself toward the other end of the corridor.
“Wait!” Winnie hastily caught up to Josiah. “Where are you going? I’ll take you there.”
Josiah was still angry with Winnie after the argument, but amusement took over that anger when Winnie suddenly came over and offered to push his wheelchair.
“Forget it. Why don’t you look at what state you’re in right now? You’re partially incapacitated too, you know? Take a look at your hand. How are you going to bring me around?”
By then, the anger in Josiah had fully dissipated as a touch of laughter laced his voice.
Winnie chuckled. “The pot’s calling the kettle black. Look at your leg. You’re in a wheelchair, but you’re saying that I’m partially incapacitated?”
“All right.” Josiah lifted his head to glance at her. “Let’s stop taking jabs at each other.”
“Okay, let’s not,” Winnie agreed before coming to a stop in front of Josiah.
Josiah looked up at her. “What’s the matter?”
Winnie pressed her lips tightly together before uttering sincerely, “I was too harsh with my words back at the ward. I hope you won’t take it to heart. We’re friends, and I know that I have a deeply flawed character. I hope you’ll forgive me for my mistakes.”
Truth be told, Josiah had already forgotten about it after the laugh earlier.
“You don’t need to apologize to me, Winnie. If I look at this from a different angle, I’d be happy if you were to stand up for me when someone says something bad about me.”
Winnie nodded. “Let’s go, then. Where do you want to go?”
Josiah hummed in agreement before wheeling himself toward the elevator. “I’ll be going to the office. What about you?”
Winnie replied without missing a beat, “I’ll be leaving the hospital.”
Josiah froze. “No, wait. Are you really going back to Yartran? I heard a little when I was outside, but I didn’t hear everything.”
“Oh.” Winnie’s forehead creased. “Yes. I have something to settle, so I have to take a trip back. By the way, do you have your phone with you?”
“I do. Do you need to use it?”
“No, it’s fine. It’ll be the same if it’s you who contacts Louis. Get him to clean up the ward.”
“All right.” Josiah then fished out his phone and typed a message to Louis.
As he tapped away on the screen, he asked Winnie, “When will you come back?”
This time, Winnie gave a vague answer. “I’m not sure yet. We’ll see after I go back.”
Josiah inclined his head. “Maybe you can’t see him the way you used to before everything happened, but Winnie, remember this: no matter what happened, he didn’t mean it.”
“I know.”
“It’s good that you’re going back for a while too. Time is the best medicine for everything; it’ll wash away all the pain.”
Right as Josiah said that, Louis responded.
Josiah waved his phone in front of Winnie. “Remember to call us when you’re there. I know you’re feeling terrible right now, but Xavier’s feeling bad too.”
“I know, so I’ll be counting on you to watch over Xavier.”
Josiah glanced at Winnie. “Do I need you to remind me that?”
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