Chapter 90
As if drawn by an invisible thread, Anthony stirred from his sleep and opened his eyes to find Calista standing in the doorway.
She had been about to leave but froze when their eyes met.
“Why don’t you come in?”
Calista hesitated for a moment, then stepped into the ward. Spotting him still in his gown, she quickly crossed the room to help him sit up.
She asked, “Anthony, did I wake you?”
“No. The weather’s nice today.”
Calista gave a small nod. “Let me help you go for a walk.”
“Alright.”
The hospital’s inpatient ward had a grassy courtyard that was perfect for a stroll.
The sky was clear and cloudless, with sunlight that felt warm and gentle on their skin. It was
neither too hot nor too cold.
Out of the blue, Anthony said, “I’m being discharged next week.”
Calista blinked in surprise. She quickly did the math. “But didn’t they say you wouldn’t be discharged until the end of the month?”
Anthony shrugged lightly. “You know how strong I am. And honestly, staying at Dorcan is too expensive. I can’t afford much of this. Once I’m back in Brego, I’ve got a few things I need to take
care of. But Calista… You’re the one I worry about most.”
A lump rose in Calista’s throat. “I’ll take good care of myself here, Anthony. You don’t have to worry about me.”
After a beat, she added, “What are you planning to do about the factory?”
“What else can I do? I’ll start by selling off the large equipment. At the very least, I need to pay the villagers their wages.”
Anthony was going to sell everything? How could that be possible?
If everything was sold, wouldn’t that mean he’d have to start from scratch?
Calista quickly cut in, saying, “Anthony, Lucien can help you with this. You don’t have to do it
alone!”
Anthony shook his head. “Lucien offered me some money, but I returned it. This mess is mine to fix. I don’t need him getting involved.”
“If
you sell off all the factory equipment, how are we supposed to restart operations later? Anthony, you’re sacrificing the future just to survive the present.”
There was a quiet sorrow behind his words, and Calista frowned, unsure how to respond.
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