Chris was stunned. His instincts as a special forces soldier kicked in, keeping him on high alert as a stranger
approached. Instinctively, he pulled Lena back.
The moment his gaze locked onto Zachary, the piercing intensity of their eye contact sent a jolt through Zachary's
heart.
"May I know who this is?" Zachary asked.
Lena introduced them with a warm smile, "He's my boyfriend, sir. Chris, this is the man I ran into the other day."
Zachary spoke with a friendly smile before Chris could respond. "Your boyfriend is quite good-looking, miss. You two
make a great couple."
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtChris, ever the gentleman, inquired, "Can we help you, sir?"
Zachary hesitated for a moment before replying, "Oh... Young man, c-could you help me carry my bags upstairs?"
Lena nodded in agreement with Zachary's request. Being a soldier trained in proper manners, Chris couldn't refuse
a request from an elderly man. "Sure, sir. Where are your bags?"
Zachary pointed to the trunk of a taxi nearby, which held only a single large box that Chris easily retrieved.
"Young men are strong, indeed!" Zachary chuckled. "You walk quickly. How about helping me take my bags upstairs
first? My ward is on the 10th floor, No. 1005. Thank you!"
Chris agreed and began carrying the bags upstairs while Lena stayed behind to assist Zachary. She offered a kind
reminder for him to be cautious while walking.
As Zachary observed Lena, he couldn't help but have mixed emotions.
"Are you checking into the hospital alone, sir?" Lena asked. "Where is your family?"
Zachary forced a smile. "I... I have a daughter, but it's been years since we last saw each other."
Lena pressed on, "Why is that?"
With feigned sadness, Zachary continued. "It's embarrassing, but my wife and I divorced a long time ago. Our
daughter has been living with her, and she has forbidden us from seeing each other..."
He was a skilled actor, feigning tears as he spoke. "I know I was a terrible husband and father when I was younger. I
neglected my family, breaking my wife and daughter's hearts. I deserve their rejection... But I genuinely regret it
now. If I could see my daughter one more time, I'd be willing to live ten years less! Cough."
Lena, filled with compassion, comforted him as she held him gently.
"Calm down, sir," she reassured him. "Let's not dwell on this right now. Your priority is to focus on healing."
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"My daughter... She's the same age as you," he mumbled sadly.
"Sir..."
"Okay, let's not talk about it!" Zachary sniffled and mustered a smile. "By the way, this elevator only goes up to the
eighth floor!"
Lena looked up, confirming that the inpatient building's elevator only reached the eighth floor. They would need to
traverse a dimly lit corridor and take another elevator to reach the 10th floor.
Zachary glanced upward at the corridor—he had arranged for the surveillance cameras there to be tampered with.
It was a blind spot, ensuring that no one would witness his actions.
Lena continued to support Zachary with all her heart, even slowing her pace to ensure he wouldn't hurt himself by
walking too quickly. Although resistance crossed Zachary's mind briefly, it ultimately faded away.