Chapter 36
His words struck a nerve with Elizabeth.
She meekly dipped her head, mumbling. “You can leave once you’re done. Il get a nurse to take out the IV, and 111 head back on my own.
What she dreaded most was Franklin dragging her back to the Jones residence.
As if sensing her thoughts, Franklin looked down at the crown of Elizabeth’s head. Her hair was abundant. It would fluff up after being washed, and she was also losing her hair, leaving strands on his clothes. It carried a natural, faint scent.
But that was all ancient history.
“Take it easy. Once the transfusion is over. I’ll drop you back at the Taylor residence. If you want to stay there, go ahead,” Franklin said.
Noticing Elizabeth clutching the blanket’s edge, he added, “My sister’s condition is ongoing. She needs a steady blood supply. I thought you could handle it, but since you’re not well now, you’re off the hook.”
No matter how many cold nights she’d weathered or how many times she’d felt the void of giving blood, this declaration felt like closure to Elizabeth. She felt even with Franklin. All debes were paid.
As Elizabeth opened her mouth to speak, Franklin suddenly leaned closer, his eyes locked on her face and his breath lightly brushing her skin, but all he did was reach out and remove an eyelash from her cheek.
With a teasing tone, Franklin said, “Falling eyelash. Guess you really aren’t well.”
Elizabeth was speechless.
Franklin turned away. “Test. I’ll be here to take out the IV when it’s time.”
He was unlike himself tonight. Now, he was soft–spoken and calm. His words were gende
But Elizabeth knew this tenderness stemmed only from her donating blood to the point of fainting for his sister. He just felt pity for her.
The door closed softly behind Franklin. He walked along the hospital’s main building, stepped into the elevator, pressed the button for the office Boor, and returned to the dimly lit pristine white room. He shrugged off his coat and tossed it onto the table.
As he sat down, the fatigue that had been damming up all day broke through. He pressed his fingers to his temples, frowned, and dialed Jerry’s number
The phone only rang a few times before Jerry picked up, his voice full of cheer. “Frank, I’m downstairs at the hospital. Come on down.”
Franklin, not getting the reason for Jerry’s good mood, responded, “Bring the keys up here and then take a cab back home.”
“Huh, why?” Jerry asked, his voice conveying his confusion.
“No more questions. Just bring the keys up, Franklin said, his tone leaving no room for argument
He was always like that–terse and to the point
Jerry had no choice but to follow Franklin’s order, strolling up the stairs, knocking on the door, and with a smirk, placing the keys on the desk. “Frank, the keys”
- d. his face palle as a ghost.
As he was about to leave, he took another look at Franklin, who was leaning on his forehead,
Concerned and curious, Jerry asked, “Bro, what’s up with you? Are you feeling okay?”
Hearing this, Franklin arched an eyebrow, his eyes ey and his voice rough and low, etched with fatigue. “Jerry, find someone to match blood with Yvonne and do it before the month is out
Jerry was sure he’d heard right. Franklin’s words left him standing there, stunned for a moment. “Blood matching! Isn’t Ms. Taylor doing that?” “Almost drained her dry. How can we keep taking?” Franklin’s voice was decidedly cold.
Understanding it was for Yvonne and not for Elizabeth, Jerry got the picture. “Alright, I’ll get on it as soon as I can, but it’ll definitely cost a pretty penny. You know Ms. Yvonne Jones’s blood type is a tough match.”
Elizabeth was just plain unlucky. Out of a thousand people, she just happened to be the match for Yvonne’s blood type.
Franklin knew Yvonne’s blood type was a rare find. “Spend whatever it takes. I just need it done quickly.”
Jerry wasn’t sure what had changed between them, but he sensed this situation was different from the past
With a cautious nod, he agreed, “Alright, I see to it in the next day or two?
11:59 AM c d
Chapter 36
“Get going,” Franklin said.
“You should head home early, too. When you didn’t come back the other night, Ms. Yvonne Jones mentioned it,” Jerry added.
Franklin didn’t want to probe, but Jerry’s words hinted at something more. “What exactly did she say?”
After a pause, Jerry said slowly, “She mentioned that with an impoverished family like the Taylor family, you should stay away. Let Ms. Taylor do as she pleases. If you split, she’s the one who’ll lose out”
Yvonne had always been against Elizabeth.
Years went by, and her opinion never wavered. No matter how hard Elizabeth tried, she couldn’t budge the set mindset of the Jones family
Franklin disliked being in the middle of women’s quarrels. He avoided such entanglements whenever possible. “Alright, I get it. You can go now.”
About twenty minutes had passed. The night had darkened further, neon lights blinked, and the steady stream of traffic on the nearby highways created a vibrant nighttime scene.
After switching off the office lights, Franklin deliberately picked up a man’s coat to take downstairs. It was late autumn, and Elizabeth, dressed as lightly as she was, must have been cold.
Downstairs, he noticed lights were still on in some rooms. He was sure he’d turned off the light in Elizabeth’s room before leaving, but now light shone under the door, and through it, he could hear her talking.
Her voice was languid, not serious. It was casual as if she was chatting with a close friend.
Franklin halted and stood outside the door. Neither knocking nor leaving, he quietly tuned in to Elizabeth’s conversation.
“The family’s given the green light. The divorce is happening soon. It’s been in the works for a while. No use changing plans now, Elizabeth said. her tone a blend of determination and exhaustion.
“Going soft?” she asked with a thin, mocking smile, “What right do I have to go soft on him?”
Franklin recognized each word Elizabeth said, but when pieced together, they formed a puzzle he couldn’t solve. Just as he was about to knock, he caught more of her words.
“I took off for a bit to visit Eternal Haven Memorial Park and pay my respects at Mr. Evans’s grave. It was his anniversary. I couldn’t just let it pass
without a visit.
Franklin understood this part. The time she’d gone missing when Lawson took her away for those two weeks–did align with that person’s anniversary.
Three years ago, on that very day, Franklin had his sight restored, but at the same time, Elizabeth’s love fell gravely ill and died, having signed up for organ donation before his passing
Those memories always brought Franklin a pang of sadness. He couldn’t listen anymore and knocked sharply on the door. Inside, Elizabeth quickly hung up the phone and hid her head under the covers.
The room flooded with light.
Through a gap in the covers, Elizabeth saw Franklin approach, standing by the bedside, his anger seeming to fizzle out the moment he met her
eyes.
“Get up,” Franklin said, extending his hand under the bright light, his knuckles prominent.
ine her
Feeling an unseen force, Elizabeth placed her hand on his. As soon as her hand touched the cold of his palm. Franklin gripped it firmly, pulling into his arms and draping his coat over her.
The warmth had barely wrapped around her when his icy words stabbed at Elizabeth’s heart.
“Take care of yourself. You still need to donate blood to my sister. You can’t die. Franklin said, his words a mix of care and harshness
Elizabeth’s heart melted a little, and she held onto Franklin’s hand. “I’m divorcing you. Why should I still donate blood to your sister? Besides, you. just said you didn’t need me anymore. She was puzzled.
Franklin, still helping her dress, spoke with an emptiness in his voice. “I’ve decided. Divorce is fine, but the blood donations keep up. After all, that’s
