Chapter 6
Before passing out completely, I caught sight of Colonel Lewell’s worried face and Regina’s panicked expression upon hearing
him call out my name.
When I next regained consciousness, I was in the hospital.
Mom immediately cried emotional tears upon seeing me wake up. “It’s great that you’re awake, Linny.”
Dad, in contrast to his usual dignified attitude, also asked in concern, “How are you feeling? Are you hungry? If there’s anything
you want to eat, I’ll go buy it for you.”
Mom stopped him before he could go any further. “What are you in such a hurry for? Linny just woke up.”
“Why are you two here, Mom and Dad? Where’s Jasper? How’s Jasper doing right now?”
At the mention of Jasper’s name, Mom and Dad glanced at each other with stiff smiles. They avoided answering my question
about Jasper and instead explained how they came to be here.
Adrian had once fought alongside Dad. They were sworn brothers who’d worked together before Dad left the base.
When he heard me bring up Dad’s name, he’d guessed that I might be the daughter Dad used to talk about all day long on base.
His suspicion was confirmed when I’d accurately told him my name, and he’d called Dad that day.
My parents were beside themselves in anxiety when they found out about the situation, and they rushed over that same day.
They’d had to go through several train transfers along the way, so they’d arrived at my hospital ward just as I woke up.
Mom’s face was filled with pity and affection, but all I could think of was Jasper.
If I myself had been unconscious in the hospital for so many days, I feared that Jasper was in even worse condition.
A doctor came in for a routine check–up at precisely that moment.
My head was smashed so hard I had a concussion, two of my ribs were broken, and I had bruises all over my body.
In fact, several clumps of my shiny hair had been torn out during the beating, exposing bald patches of skin.
The doctor instructed me to focus on recuperating for some time.
I nodded before hurriedly asking about Jasper. “What about my son, doctor? How’s my son doing right now? Which ward is he in, and can I visit him?”
The doctor was confused by my question. “What child are you talking about? You’re the only patient who’s been hospitalized here recently.”
Now, I was the one who was surprised. If Jasper wasn’t in the same hospital as me, then where was he?
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Chapter 6
I grabbed Mom’s hand and asked her about it.
Mom cried at the anxious and distressed look on my face, but she hemmed and hawed, unable to get a word out.
Seeing as she refused to answer, I pulled the IV tubing out of my hand and attempted to run out of the ward.
If she and Dad wouldn’t tell me about Jasper, I’d search ward to ward for him. I’d definitely find him eventually.
In the end, Dad sighed lengthily and said, “You have to be mentally prepared, Linny.”
+25 Bonus
As far as I could recall, Dad had only ever been this solemn back when I refused to listen to his advice and insisted on marrying
James following the common–law marriage system.
My heart skipped a beat, and an inconceivable thought formed in my mind.
Dad lowered his head, afraid to look me in the eyes. In a voice so soft I could barely hear it, he murmured, “Jasper is… Jasper is…”
I kneeled in front of him with tears streaming down my face. “What happened to Jasper? Please tell me! Do you want me to die of
anxiety?”
“Jasper’s gone.”
The moment the words left his mouth, I crumpled to the floor while Mom sobbed quietly behind me.
Not interesting at all
