Have I Told You Lately

"Mr. Edward, how's my father's case?" Rachel couldn't wait to ask as soon as she sat down.

The lawyer smiled slightly. He took a glance at Theresa and said, "I just asked Mrs. Lewis about some details. Your father has a serious disease. I'll try my best to help you apply for the out-of-prison treatment." Theresa immediately kept thanking him excitedly. "Thank you... Mr. Edward."

Rachel had been calm. She frowned and asked, "If we failed, is there any other solution?"

Her father was already aged. Besides, he was mentally tortured during this period. Nobody comforted him. He didn't eat or drink. Hence, he suddenly got a stroke. He hadn't woken up yet. The doctor said that his situation was quite dangerous.

"Well..." The lawyer thought for a moment. He looked up at her and said solemnly, "He's kind of a felon and he was just put in jail not long ago. He hadn't obtained any good performance record. If we apply for the special accommodation for him, it would be quite difficult. Besides, it would depend on his recovery after he wakes up. If he couldn't take care of himself, we can apply for the medical parole for him."

Pursing her lips, Rachel kept silent for a moment.

Of course, she hoped that her father would wake up safe and sound.

Although he deserved it, he was still her father after all. She couldn't stand and watch him suffer without doing anything.

Rachel asked the lawyer for some other information. Mr. Edward promised her that he would try all possible means to help her. After thanking him, she took Theresa to the ward.

She hadn't seen her father for almost two months. Chapman was too bony that she could hardly recognize him as if he was a totally different person comparing to the man she met last time. All his hair went gray and his face was full of winkles, looking aged and pitiful. Rachel's eyes reddened instantly after she caught the first glimpse of him. However, thinking about Theresa's mood, she tried her best to suppress her feelings.

Theresa was already whimpering. She bent over on the bedside and observed him.

Rachel felt a terrible pang in her heart. Covering her face, she looked away. Seeing a doctor come in, she sniffed and walked to him immediately. She whispered to ask, "Doc, how's my father doing?"

"He's situation was not good. But we'll know better after he wakes up," answered the doctor seriously.

"Could he recover through the surgery?" Her face was gloomy and her voice was hoarse.

She didn't wish that he could be extremely healthy. As long as he could eat, drink, and walk, he could hang on in the prison. After he came out, she would be willing to support him. But if he was paralyzed in bed now, even she could take care of him every day, she didn't want to see that.

"There's a huge possibility for him to recover after a surgery. Please rest assured." The doctor heaved a sigh after checking him up.

"Really?" Rachel's eyes lit up slightly.

The doctor nodded. "However, it all depends on the judicial procedure. You may start preparing ahead."

"I see. OK. Thank you, Doc." Rachel's delighted voice was a bit trembling. She turned to look at the old man on the sickbed, a touch of hope lighting up in her eyes.

After the doctor left, Rachel kept accompanying Theresa in the ward. The atmosphere in the quiet room was quite stressful.

Next to the bedside, Theresa fell asleep while holding Chapman's hand after she became tired of crying. Rachel covered a coat on her gently. Then she walked out and answered a phone call.

"Hello, Rach. Where are you now? I heard what happened to Uncle Chapman right after I came back from my business trip. I'll be there right away."

It was Osmond's voice, which was full of worry.

Rachel leaned against the wall, her fair face full of solemnness. After keeping silent for a few seconds, she said in a low, soft, and calm tone, "I'm already in the hospital, and so is my Mom. He hasn't wakened up yet. You should be quite tired after a business trip. Please don't worry about me. You don't need to come over."

Osmond said in a deep voice, "How could it be possible? I'm not tired. Besides, your father got sick and the judicial procedure should be changed. I could resolve some problems for you. Besides, you are pregnant now. If you got sick, it would get worse."

"Osmond, I'm really fine. I've asked my lawyer to resolve the relevant problems. Now there's no result yet. I just need to wait for my father to wake up. There's nothing else to do. If you come over, you would be just waiting as well. Please have a rest at home and take care of Monica. I do need your help shortly."

In the quiet corridor, Rachel's gentle but firm voice echoed. Her tone was steady and clear.

Her words sounded quite polite, but she knew it clearly that she was refusing Osmond.

On the one hand, no matter who helped her on her father's matter, she would owe that person a favor. She had already asked Osmond to lend her five million. She could return the money but it would be difficult for her to return the favor.

On the other hand, she agreed with Kenneth on what he had said. She just came out from a difficulty, why would she step into another one? The kind of marriage just because they fit each other wouldn't last time anyway.

Since she had understood now, she should refuse him decisively.

Maybe he understood the implication in her words, Osmond quieted down for a few seconds on the other end of the line. Then he said gently, "All right. I'll keep my phone on all the time. Please do call me if you need any help. Inform me when Uncle Chapman wakes up. As for the judicial procedure, I'll look it up for you first. I'll go find you later." Rachel felt a bit relieved in her heart. She smiled. "OK. Thank you, Osmond. Please take a rest. Bye."

"OK. Bye!"

Rachel locked her phone, looking up, exhaling.

She was afraid that he would be stubborn just now. In that case, she really couldn't do anything to refuse him. Fortunately, he didn't ask her where she found the lawyer.

Rubbing between her eyebrows to release her tiredness, she stayed a bit longer outside the ward before returning.

In the evening, Chapman finally woke up. However, his condition was not good. He was still dizzy, and he couldn't speak at all. Theresa almost fainted, crying hard while holding Rachel.

Rachel suppressed her sadness and comforted her mother. "Mom, didn't the doctor say that he could recover after the surgery? Don't worry, please. I'll contact the best hospital. As soon as Mr. Edward has got the procedure done, we'll take him out for surgery." Theresa was so sad while crying. Regretful, she choked between sobs, "It's all my fault... If I could stop him in the past, he wouldn't have done so many awful things... It's all my fault..."

Rachel's expression changed. With a heave nasal sound, she said, "Mom, it has nothing to do with you. Those are just bygones. Stop thinking about them, OK?"

"It's my fault..." Theresa kept murmuring while looking at the man wearing the oxygen mask as if she didn't hear what her daughter said.

Rachel frowned. She felt sorry for her mother but she could only hold Theresa tightly. With low whimpers, she said, "Please don't blame yourself..."

Misfortune never came alone. Real-life was much more difficult than she had imagined. However, those were both people that she loved the most. She had to pull herself together and face the difficulties strongly. When they were still immersed in sadness, there was a light knock on the door.

Rachel was in a daze. She wiped her tears with the sleeve, let go of Theresa, and walked to open the door.

"Hi, Miss Lewis. Someone wants to see you outside," said the prison guard.

""To see me?"

The prison guard turned around and left.

Rachel felt strange. She followed him.

Outside the iron gate, she saw a man. With a slight frown, she asked, "Who are you?"

It was a young man in his 20s. He looked neat and clean, wearing a suit, with a certain charisma.

The young man reached out his hand respectfully. "Good day, Miss Lewis. My name is Maurice Louis. Mr. Shawn sent me over."

Upon hearing that, Rachel paused while offering her hand. "Mr. Shawn? Why did he send you here?"

Didn't Kenneth already hire a lawyer for her?☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐