Chapter 310
Chapter 310
At Russell Manor, after Theodore parked the car, he turned to Barbara and said, “All right, get out. I still need to go to the hospital to stay w Eliana.”
Hardly had he finished speaking when he saw Samuel’s car coming from far away. ‘Didn’t I tell Samuel to stay with Ellie at the hospital? be thought.
As he wondered, Eliana got out of Samuel’s car. Barbara, delighted, said, “Oh, Eliana, you’re out of the hospital?”
Theodore quickly got out of the car, walked over to Eliana and Samuel, and asked Samuel unhappily, “How dare you take her back without asking me?”
Samuel rubbed his nose. “I was planning to talk to you about picking Mrs. Russell up from the hospital once you got back, but I waited and waited, and you never showed up. So I took the liberty of deciding.”
Afraid Theodore might scold him, Samuel added, “Mr. Russell, I’m a doctor. If Mrs. Russell has any after–effects, I’ll take responsibility.
“What responsibility do you need to take for her?” Theodore shot him a glance, then lifted Eliana into his arms in a princess carry.
By then, Barbara had also gotten out of the car and came over, calling out brightly, “Eliana.”
Eliana looked at her and quickly noticed her injuries. “Barbie, Theodore said he was going to pick you up from school. Tell me the truth, were those boys from other schools bothering you again? Why else would you be all banged up?”
Barbara thought of what Theodore had said in the car and held back. “It was just a little accident. Theodore already sorted it out. No need to
worry.”
Theodore spoke up then. “Samuel, go help Barbie with the cuts on her face and neck.”
Samuel had nothing against Barbara, so he replied, “Got it.”
“Well, Theodore, Eliana, I’ll head to my room first. You two take your time hugging.” Barbara, being playful for once, said this and left with
Samuel.
Eliana blushed at the tease and couldn’t help pushing gently at Theodore’s chest. “Theodore, my head doesn’t hurt anymore. Put me down,
please.”
Theodore frowned. “No. Who gave you the right to be so reckless, sneaking out of the hospital without telling me?”
Eliana blinked. “I just felt bad seeing you stay with me at the hospital day and night, that’s all.”
“Don’t think batting your eyelashes will make me cave.” Theodore’s tone held a hint of something more. “I’ll deal with you once we’re back in
the room.”
Meanwhile, after Barbara got to her room, she let Samuel put medicine on her wounds and tried to bring up the topic casually. “Dr. Wilson, you and Theodore have been good friends for years, right?”
Samuel glanced at her when he had a second, his voice flat. “Just ask what you want. No need to dance around it.
Barbara decided to just come out with it. “I want to know if you know a guy around Theodore? His last name’s Black, and he owns a casino.”
“His last name’s Black, and he owns a casino?” Samuel mumbled, then said, “You must mean Julian. He’s not Mr. Russell’s friend, though.”
“Really?” Barbara thought, ‘No wonder I felt a faint sense of tension between Theodore and him.
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Chapter 310
“Julian’s been trying to one–up Mr. Russell all these years.” Samuel paused, then added, “Plus, Julian’s mixed up in the lob Her the tr kind of person Mr. Russell would ever want to associate with.”
Barbara froze, thinking, ‘Dad had gone to jail because of mob ties, so Theodore could never be friends with Julian. But today. Theodoro aside his feelings to ask Julian for help, just to save me.
‘Theodore’s actually tough on the outside but soft underneath. He always does so much for the family quietly, never letting on.
‘I used to wonder when Theodore would ever see me as family. Now it seems I was too small–minded.
Lost in thought, she heard Samuel say, “All done. I’ve put the medicine on. Try not to get the wounds wet, and they’ll be fine in a couple of
days.”
Barbara thanked him, then said, “Dr. Wilson, please don’t tell Theodore about what I asked you today.”
Samuel nodded and left.
At dinner, Lainey saw Eliana was home from the hospital. After faking some concern, she turned to Barbara. “Why were you so late getting back from school today?”
“The school held us over,” Barbara replied.
“Well, why are you keeping your collar up so high? Aren’t you hot?” Lainey asked.
Barbara touched the collar she’d pulled up to hide the marks on her neck, then said softly, “I’ve got a cold. My throat’s not right, and I don’t want to get winded.”
Lainey’s face fell. “This can’t wait. I’ll call the family doctor right now.”
“No need, Mom. I already took some cold medicine,” Barbara said.
“Then, what’s up with your face?” Lainey asked.
“Just a little allergy. I scratched it myself,” Barbara replied.
“How’d you manage to get both a cold and an allergy?” Lainey fretted. “Tell you what, skip school tomorrow. Stay home till you’re better.”
Just then, Anthony hurried over. “Mom, Theodore, sorry, I’m late. Work stuff kept me at the company.”
He paused, then noticed Eliana, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. “Eliana, you’re out of the hospital?”
‘That was fast,‘ he thought.
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