Chapter 431
Chapter 431
Chapter 431
"Where's your father?"
Scott remained silent for a while before saying, "Mr. Dylan, are you looking for my father because you can't outwit me?"
"Are you the one who gets to decide where you're going to stay?"
Scott clammed up at once. No, he couldn't decide at all. He had to get his father's permission.
He passed the phone to his father with great reluctance and stared up at his father with wide, pleading eyes.
Eric took the phone and instructed the nanny, "Take Scott back to his room."
"Dad!" Scott's eyes reddened as if he had been dealt with the greatest injustice in the world.
Eric forced himself not to look at his son as he knew the sight would weaken his resolve.
The nanny noticed and quickly hoisted Scott up before taking him back to his room.
Eric addressed Dylan on the phone. "Sorry about that, President Coleman. Scott is still young and immature. Do accept my apology for the disruption he has caused to the both of you."
"I understand, but Kendall really can't find the time to visit Scott right now."
"I heard about what happened with Mr. Woods."
As the Fords' current head of household, Eric had easy access to all the latest happenings. Scott adored Kendall, so Eric kept an eye out for news related to her and thus instantly knew about anything that involved her. He even knew things that Dylan didn't.
Naturally, Eric was not about to share said information with Dylan or anyone else. He merely wanted to know what Kendall was doing at any given time to field his son's questions and comfort the little boy. He wasn't going to get involved in the couple's matters if they didn't ask for his help.
"You're keeping an eye on my wife?"
"I am," Eric admitted openly.
Dylan's expression darkened. How he wished he could give Eric a sound beating through the phone.
"I don't mean anything by it, President Coleman. It's just that Scott frequently asks what your wife is up to, so I would look into it sometimes."
Fearing that he would enrage Dylan, Eric didn't dare to say that he was keeping an eye on Kendall. He only admitted to checking in now and then.
"From now onward, you're not allowed to look into my wife's private business, along with her whereabouts! You can keep yourself informed with anything she announces to the public."
Eric was fully aware of just how disrespectful his actions would seem. Although Dylan was a little
harsh, Eric wasn't upset by it. In fact, he even exhaled in relief and apologized once more. "I will talk to Scott about this."
"You shouldn't spoil him. Too much pampering will ruin a child."
After a moment of silence, Eric responded gravely, "I don't know if my wife will ever wake up again. If she doesn't, then Scott is all I have left of her. I am willing to let Scott do whatever he wants, as long as it's not anything illegal or immoral and as long as it makes him happy."
Dylan didn't know what to say.
Eventually, he said, "I'm sure your wife will wake up one day. Kendall did promise Scott that she would visit him when she has time on the weekends. Once Nell wakes up, I'll make the arrangements, and we'll pay a visit to your house."
Eric remained quiet for a very long time—so long that Dylan was starting to think he wasn't there anymore. Dylan even pulled the phone away to check if the call was still ongoing.
"Thank you, President Coleman! I will arrange for my plane to be on standby at all times, so you two can come over anytime."
"You and I are a lot alike," Dylan declared before ending the call.
Eric knew what he meant. They were both cold and stern men who saved all their gentleness for their wives, whom they loved deeply.
Eric pocketed his phone and headed upstairs. He didn't check on Scott right away. Instead, he entered
a different room that was decked out like a hospital ward.
A young woman was lying on the bed—his beloved wife. She remained motionless as if she were merely asleep. Every day, she had to be fed a nutrient solution through a nasogastric tube. Even so, she was extremely well taken care of.
There was a chair by the bed. Eric would sit in it twice each day. He took light, careful steps over to the bed and sat down. His eyes were soft as he stared at his sleeping wife, but his heart ached. He took her hand and gripped it tightly as he moved it to his lips and peppered it with kisses.
"Sweetheart, when are you going to wake up? Don't you want to see our son? Scott's three now. You haven't seen him at all.
"Did you know that Scott fell sick again? He felt a sense of motherly affection from a stranger and became very fond of her. To force my hand so that I'll allow him to see her, he purposely took a cold shower and spent the night directly under the air-conditioning so that he would get sick. Wake up as soon as you can, sweetheart. Once you wake up, Scott won't try to receive motherly affection from someone else.
"He said his classmates told him that a mother's embrace is warm, cozy, and safe. Sweetheart, doesn't your heart ache when you hear what Scott said? You risked your life to give birth to him. Don't you want to hold him and hear him calling you 'Mommy?' He always calls for Mommy when he talks in his sleep."
By the time Eric finished letting it all out, his eyes were bloodshot, and tears were trickling down from the corner of his eyes. Drop by drop, the tears fell onto the pale hand he was holding onto.
If his wife were to wake up now and see him crying, she would surely gape in disbelief. To her, he was
a tough man who could carry the weight of the world on his shoulders. He wasn't someone who'd get emotional about anything.
In reality, he had a vulnerable side to him. She was the one who made him vulnerable.
"Sweetheart, when your parents came to visit you and Scott, they even hinted that they would be fine if I had someone else I like since you're not showing any signs of waking up. They said that I'm the head of the Ford Family, so I need a woman by my side. They felt bad that I am still waiting for you.
My parents also said that even if I found someone else, they would still take care of you and wouldn't give up on you. I rejected them, though. We made a vow on our wedding day. We vowed to stay together in sickness and in health till death do us part. I only want you as my wife. Only you and no one else. I won't let anyone take your place.
Please wake up, sweetheart. Please hurry up and wake up. Please wake up and be Mrs. Ford again."
The woman on the bed showed no sign of movement still.
Eric vented his heart out and shed all the tears he could, but he couldn't wake his wife up from her prolonged slumber.
After a long while, he reluctantly released her hand and got up. He moved closer to her face and kissed her face over and over again.
"Sweetheart, I have to go and comfort our son. That little guy… Perhaps I've been indulgent with him."
Eric gave his wife one final kiss before straightening up again. He stared at her for a little longer before
turning to leave.
The next thing on his agenda was to placate his son!