Even though this wasn’t the first time Ableson had seen his daughter reach for Cedric Clarke’s hand, he still found it hard to watch.
The old man closed his eyes and let out a heavy sigh.
Scarlett glanced at her husband, then turned to Cedric with a warm smile, Dr. Clarke, Ableson and I are going to pick up a few things. Would you mind staying with Stella for a bit?”
Cedric nodded. “Of course.”
With that, Scarlett gently pulled Ableson out of the hospital room.
The couple wandered into the small park tucked behind the hospital wing.
Scarlett broke the silence. “So, how did your chat with Dr. Clarke go?”
“Dr. Clarke’s a good man. He’s level–headed.” Ableson took off his reading glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “But when a man’s around the woman he likes, all that self–control can go out the window”
He spoke from experience–he’d been young and impulsive once, too. Some things, he knew, simply couldn’t be restrained by good intentions alone.
Scarlett shook her head. “I don’t quite see it the way you do.”
Ableson frowned, glancing at his wife with a hint of confusion.
“Cedric did everything he could–time, money, whatever it took–when Stella got hurt. If it weren’t for him, she might not have made it…” Scarlett’s voice wavered at the memory, her eyes growing misty.
She took a deep breath and sighed. “We’re getting old, Ableson. We won’t be here to watch over Stella forever. She’s always been a little scatterbrained, too blunt for her own good, always saying she’ll never get married. But if she really doesn’t, who’ll look after her when we’re gone?”
Ableson pressed his lips together, giving a resigned sigh.
Scarlett had a point.
He’d always supported their daughter’s choices, but, just as Scarlett said, their time with her was limited.
Stella was hopeless at looking after herself–couldn’t cook, couldn’t keep a house to save her life.
In Scarlett’s eyes, her daughter’s self–sufficiency was practically nonexistent.
“Ableson,” Scarlett said, slipping her arm through his, her tone thoughtful. “If it’s Dr. Clarke, I think he’d truly care for Stella. And I’ve done my homework–the Clarkes may be an old–money family, but they have a solid reputation. Cedric has two older brothers: the eldest is set to inherit, the second went into show business, and all three siblings have carved out their own paths. There’s no messy family drama, and their name carries a lot of respect in their circles.”
Ableson chuckled, half amused, half exasperated. “You’ve certainly done your research. What, if Stella says yes, are you ready to hand her over to Dr. Clarke tomorrow?”
Scarlett’s expression grew serious. “I’m just scared, Ableson. After everything that’s happened, I mean it–I just want someone who can protect our daughter. That’s enough for me.”
Ableson frowned, silent for a long moment, before wrapping his arms around his wife.
“Let’s just take it as it comes.”
Later that afternoon, in the café downstairs from the hospital, Cedric Clarke sat across from Briony.
“When will Stella be discharged?” Briony asked.
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Chapter 240
“She’ll be out the day after tomorrow,” Cedric replied, pausing before he added, “She’s doing well. Aside from her memory still being patchy, she’s just as lively as ever.”
Briony nodded. “That’s good to hear.”
Cedric knew that after everything that had happened, Scarlett was still shaken.
Briony had been keeping her distance, wanting to give Scarlett peace of mind.
But Cedric was certain–if Stella hadn’t lost her memory, she would never allow Briony to stay away.
“How about this,” Cedric offered, “I’ll distract Ableson and Scarlett upstairs, and you can sneak in to see her for a minute?”
Briony shook her head. “No need. Knowing she’s well is enough for me.”
Cedric studied her, sensing something was off about her today.
