Cynthia’s eyes welled up with tears as she thought about it. She couldn’t even begin to imagine how much suffering this child had endured her whole life.
“If she ever joins our Hudson family, we absolutely must not let her suffer.”
Stephan gave a soft “Mm-hmm. Mom, if you have things to do, you should go home first. I’ll stay with her from here on out.”
Cynthia felt her son had grown into a responsible young man; after everything they’d been through, he had matured and become much stronger.
Deeply moved, she nodded. “All right. Thank you for your efforts. This is the most painful and difficult time for Lana, she needs someone by her side more than ever. She doesn’t have parents, but she has you as her boyfriend. You must stay by her side and be her rock!”
Stephan nodded. “Alright.”
Cynthia patted Stephan on the shoulder.
“Alright, I’ll be going now. I have a surgery to perform in a little while. I’ll come visit again next time.” Cynthia withdrew her hand and was about to leave.
Stephan suddenly said, “Mom, thank you.”
Cynthia turned back and looked at him in confusion. “What are you thanking me for?”
Stephan’s eyes brightened. “Thank you for being understanding toward her.”
Cynthia realized what he meant and couldn’t help but laugh in exasperation. “You little rascal, speaking in code to your own family? Watch out, or I’ll smack you!”
Stephan curved his lips into a smile.
Cynthia said a quick hello to Alana and left.
Alana tugged at Stephan’s sleeve. “What did you and your mom talk about just now?”
“She told me to take good care of you.”
Alana blinked. “That’s it?”
Stephan smiled and pinched her cheek. “What else?”
“It seemed like you two were talking for quite a while.”
“Yeah, we talked about exactly how to take care of you.”
Alana blinked.
Guessing he didn’t want to talk about it, she didn’t press him.
She wasn’t the type to be so dramatic that she had to pry for every last detail.
Alana suddenly asked, “Stephan, a man like you must have plenty of women confessing their feelings to you, right?”
Stephan raised an eyebrow at her. “Why are you asking that all of a sudden?”
Alana gazed at his chiseled, handsome face... his striking eyes and sharp, well-defined features etched themselves clearly and deeply into her memory.
“I just felt like asking. Can’t you answer?”
“Yes, and quite a few, actually.”
“Exactly how many?”
“Quite a few... too many to count. It started back in my school days.”
Back in school, his desk drawer was stuffed with love letters and all kinds of gifts every single day.
Alana nodded. “Oh, I see. After all, you’re so outstanding.”
Stephan looked at her with a smile. “Are you jealous?”
“Don’t worry, I’m not interested in any of those admirers, so you shouldn’t take it to heart.”
Alana shook her head. “No, I was just wondering... with a man as outstanding as you, who has so many admirers, why did you choose me of all people? I feel like I’m pretty terrible. Not only that, but I’ll probably cause you a lot of trouble.”
“I have a terrible background, a terrible life... everything about me is a mess. I just don’t understand how a man as outstanding as you could possibly be interested in someone as terrible as me.”
He clearly had better options.
Besides, after everything they’d been through, he’d seen enough of her miserable life. She wondered if he might now see her as a burden and start to look down on her.
Actually, it would be normal for him to look down on her, because she felt terrible about herself, too.
Stephan understood what she meant, and his breathing grew a little heavier.
Perhaps because so much had happened recently, she had once again fallen into a sense of unworthiness.
The insecurity deep within her caused her to constantly doubt herself, making her feel she didn’t deserve good things or a good life.
She felt a deep sense of unease, and she was terrified of losing him.
What could he do to make her believe that he loved her... loved her unreservedly, embracing both the good and bad moments.
His heart felt heavy. He let out a deep, lingering sigh, his breath heavy with resignation.
His large hand gently slipped around her back, wrapping around her slender waist and pulling her into his embrace.
“Alana, I won’t let you talk about yourself like that. It’s true that you’ve had a rough life, but you’re not a bad person at all. In my eyes, you’re strong, independent, gentle yet resilient... these are your unique and beautiful qualities. You’re not worthless at all. Your existence is justified; don’t dismiss
yourself so easily.”
“Besides, these hardships weren’t a choice you made. You can’t change your past experiences, but you can change yourself and choose the life you want. From the very beginning until now, your choices have been right. You’ve done very well.
So stay true to yourself... don’t dismiss yourself so easily.”
“Most importantly, you must believe in yourself. You’re not a bad person... you’re wonderful and worthy. I also believe that my judgment won’t fail me.”
Alana bit her lip hard, closed her eyes, and struggled to calm her turbulent emotions.
Her nose grew unusually stuffy, and she felt an overwhelming urge to cry.
She understood what he meant; she had always wanted to stay strong.
But after going through so much, even the strongest heart would inevitably be shaken.
She was deeply grateful to Stephan... grateful that when she had given up on herself and was plagued by self-doubt, he was willing to lend her a hand, to affirm her worth, and to tell her that she wasn’t a terrible person.
After waiting outside Grandma’s hospital room for a while, Stephan suggested that Alana go back to rest, saying that Grandma would be fine with the nurse taking care of her.
However, to prevent Miranda and her group from coming back to harass Grandma, Stephan arranged for several bodyguards to stand guard at the door.
No one was allowed to enter without the consent of Stephan and Alana.
With this security in place, Alana felt at ease and returned home with Stephan to rest.
*******
Back at home, Alana delicate body suddenly pressed against Stephan’s, her soft hands wrapping around his slender neck.
“I’m so tired. Carry me to the shower.”
Stephan smiled, lowering his gaze to the girl in his arms who was clearly trying to seduce him.
“What’s your reward for me?”
Alana’s cheeks flushed. Alright, he really was sharp... he’d seen right through her.
She bit her lip and lifted her beautiful eyes, which were slightly flushed with shyness.
“You really impressed me today. I don’t have any other good way to thank you, so I can only...”
Stephan gazed intently at her flushed little face, his eyes darkening.
“So you can only repay me with your own body... by pleasing me thoroughly?”
Alana tilted her face up to look at his excessively handsome features, her slender, fair neck stretching gracefully and delicately.
“Don’t... you like it?”
Stephan curved his lips, leaning in with his
handsome face. The tip of his high, straight nose gently and tenderly brushed against her soft, full forehead.
“I do.”
“But considering how tired you are today, I’ll save the reward for next time.”
Alana blushed and gave a soft “Mm-hmm.”
Stephan chuckled softly and gave her soft lips a gentle peck. “I’ll carry you to the shower.”
“I’d love to... take a shower with you.”
Alana’s beautiful eyelashes fluttered slightly, a mix of shyness and embarrassment.
Her sweet, soft voice murmured, “I like it too.”
Stephan’s breath caught in his throat, and he clenched his jaw.
“What do you like? Say it louder!”
“I like taking a shower with you.”
Damn it!
This is killing me!
Stephan picked Alana up in his arms,
“What are you waiting for? Let’s just do it!”
*************
Agnes was a step too late.
It wasn’t until she came to the hospital to visit the old lady that she learned the woman had fainted from anger and had to go back into the operating room.
No one had told her about it.
She wanted to go into the ward to see how the old lady was doing, but the bodyguards at the door stopped her and wouldn’t let her in.
Upon further inquiry, she learned that these bodyguards were Stephan’s men.
If she wanted to go in, she would need Stephan’s permission.
Agnes was anxious and wanted to call Alana.
But Alana had blocked her number, so she couldn’t get through.
But since she had come all this way and hadn’t yet learned how the old lady was doing in the ward, she wasn’t willing to leave.
With no other choice, she turned to one of the bodyguards for help.