Chapter 26 The Angry Timothy


    Hearing Mary out, William couldn''t help but


    frown at the pain she was put through. He


    wanted to offerfort to lessen the intensity, but he failed to string the right words that could make


    an impact.


    "Go upstairs," he said, breaking through the


    uneasy silence, trying to give Mary her space to collect her thoughts. "If your mother wakes up, give


    me a call. I''ll be right over."


    "Alright." Mary kept her gaze fixated on the


    ground, trying to keep her vulnerable state from filling William''s vision as she wiped away her tears


    and rushed upstairs.


    Watching Mary''s petite figure from the rear, William waited till she disappeared out of sight before


    pulling out his phone.


    "Hello, Lucas."


    "My oh my! The sun must be rising from the West!" an annoying voice came from the other end of


    the line. "Is William Lan really calling me?"


    "Lucas Murong, you idiot... You are so annoying, " William spoke while gritting his teeth.


    "Really? How heartbreaking. And to think that I''ve missed you so much..."


    "Stop running your damn mouth and listen to me! " William retorted angrily, his veins protruding from


    his neck.


    "Haha, nice to see you haven''t changed..." the person on the other end couldn''t help but let out a


    light chuckle in amusement to William''s reaction. "What is it? Why did you call me in such urgency,


    Mr. Lan? Is everything okay?"


    "There''s something I need your help with," William said, now sounding serious as he adjusted his


    tone to his usual professional tone.


    "I see. So, what''s the matter?" As soon as Lucas heard William''s tone turn grim, he immediately


    switched his demeanor from yful to solemn with a cheeky smile.


    "There''s a patient who''s currently suffering from cancer. Her condition is deteriorating, and she''s at


    thete stage of it. I''ll send you all the relevant details via email soon." As William briefed Lucas


    about the situation, he reached for the cigarette resting in his pocket and fiddled with it as he spoke,


    "I''m in dire need of your help."


    "Thest stage? Why didn''t you tell me this sooner?" Lucas Murong blurted out, sounding helpless.


    William sighed as he finally pulled the cigarette out of his pocket. "It''s a long story. Can you at least


    try to relieve the pain?" "I''ll try all I can," Lucas assured. After a short pause, he questioned, "Is it


    someone important?"


    "You could say that," William said as he bnced the phone on his shoulder to continue talking and


    lit the cigarette in his hand. Pressing the cigarette between his lips, he took a smoke out of it as he


    leaned his back on his car and said, "She''s my mother-inw. I''m married now.


    "Huh? Wait. What!?" A loud scream echoed from the other end of the phone. William


    subconsciously moved the phone away from his ear as he frowned to drown out the sound piercing


    through his eardrums.


    "What are you talking about? When did you get married? And why did you never tell me that! Oh my


    God, I have so many questions!" Lucas Murong bombarded him with rapid questions that randomly


    came to his mind at his sudden revtion. "Damn it, William! You cheeky bastard. Nowe on,


    tell me everything. Stop adding unnecessary suspense!"


    "Don''t be so hasty. I''ll tell you everything in detail once you''re back."


    "Really? No, I can''t wait that long. Just tell me now!" Lucas Murong suddenly switched to a teasing


    tone as he said, "Don''t forget you have a favor to ask of me. Tell me about your marriage in


    exchange for it. Deal?"


    "You have such a knack for gossip. This habit of you makes it hard to believe you''re a doctor at all!"


    Just as William raised his head in exasperation, he noticed Mary approach him as she came out of


    the in-patient department. He quickly dismissed Lucas as he kept his gaze steady at Mary. "I have


    to go now. I''ll call youter."


    "Du, Du, Du..."


    "No! Wait! William? Hello? Are you there? Fuck...


    After staying outside of the ward for a while, Mary thought of Timothy, still waiting for them in the


    family house. Not wanting to take up more of the time, she didn''t stay longer and walked out.


    As soon as she came out, her eyes fell on William''s profile. The picture of William smoking while


    leaning against the car door, filled her vision. It was the first time Mary had caught him while he was


    smoking. His sharp features seemed to appear more mature under the smoke, as though they


    complimented each other. Somehow, he looked a whole lot more handsome than he usually would


    on an average day.


    "You came out earlier than expected. Is everything okay?" William asked as he instantly dropped


    the cigarette on the ground and put it out.


    "Father is still waiting for us at home. Anyway, my mother hasn''t regained consciousness yet. We''d


    better go back soon." "Is there anything else you want to tell me? Or is that all?"


    "No, that''s all."


    "Alright, get in the car then. Let''s go back." "Okay."


    A while after, the car drove into the entrance to the family house. At the same time, a strong


    unsettling feeling birthed in Mary''s heart as she subconsciously clutched her chest and sank into the


    seat.


    As they stepped inside, they found Timothy sitting upright in the living room with his chin resting on


    his palm. He bit on his lips at the sight of them, his expression was the spitting image of William.


    "Father." As soon as William entered the room, he greeted his father in a restrained voice.


    "Father," Mary called out as she bowed respectfully.


    "Humph!" Timothy shot William a cold re as he prepared himself to scold his son. The moment


    he opened his mouth to say something, he was interrupted by Mary.


    "Um, Father," Mary smiled as she walked over to him. "I have decided to take wedding pictures with


    William tomorrow. What do you think of that?" Timothy was then forced to gulp down his frustration


    without having to voice it out loud. His tensed expression rxed as he nced over at Mary and


    returned her warm smile. "Alright, tomorrow it is. Your Aunty Amy was asking about it a while ago on


    the phone."


    "Really? Father, I need your advice. Do you think the shoot should be indoors or outdoors?" Mary


    asked.


    "Why not both?" Timothy waved his hands, unable to contain his excitement. "We''ll take lots of


    pictures. Both indoors and outdoors!"


    "It''ll be just how you want it to be, Father." Mary smiled sweetly.


    "William you..." Just as Timothy readied himself to give an earful to William, Mary interrupted him


    again.


    "Ah, Father!" When Timothy nced at her midway, she exaggeratedly rubbed at her stomach. "I''m


    famished! Is dinner ready? I can''t wait to eat!"


    "Haha, Mary is hungry," Timothy said as he chuckled at her gesture. "Guess it can''t be helped. Let''s


    eat first!"


    "Okay, fine." Mary turned around and made a pouty face at William. Caught off guard from her


    reaction, William was left confused about whether tough or cry.


    During the dinner, Mary kept talking to their father to drive his attention away from William.


    Watching Mary try so hard for him filled William''s heart with an inexplicable warmth as he


    suppressed hisughter and choked lightly on his food. He felt tempted to remind her that their


    father had been living amidst the clutches of society longer than them. How could a little girl like her


    fool him? But watching her try so enthusiastically kept him from saying it out loud, he just remained


    slumped in his chair, taking the scene in.


    The dinner soon concluded with the harmonious conversations.


    Satisfied with how she had performed so far, Mary was convinced that she had dissolved Timothy''s


    anger and made him happy enough to protect William. As soon as she stood up to walk to her


    room, Timothy''s deep voice made her freeze in ce. "William,e to the study once you''re done


    with dinner."


    ''Boom!''


    His words wrung like an electric jolt traveling through the veins of her body as she stood rooted to


    the ground. Even after trying so hard to divert his attention, she still failed? William still couldn''t


    escape?


    When she regained control of her senses, Timothy had already left the dining area to head to the


    study.


    William paused and examined Mary''s anxious profile from head to toe. He smiled amusingly and


    said, "You''ve done a good job."


    "Huh?" Before Mary could say anything, William had already followed behind Timothy into the study.


    As soon as William shut the door of the study behind him, Timothy''s calm expression drastically


    switched as it disyed unparalleled rage. He sat in his chair with a shadow hovering over his eyes,


    without uttering a word. The lingering tension in the room was undeniable.


    "Today''s news was entirely my fault," William spoke first to break through the silence and took


    ountability of his actions. "I am fully aware that it has damaged the reputation of thepany. I


    will deal with it right away."


    "Shut up!" Timothy mmed the table with his bare fists out of anger. "Don''t even try to shift this


    conversation to a different route! You know exactly why I''m upset! Mind exining why you went out


    with Frank sote at night? And where did you go?"


    "We went to have a drink, that''s all."


    "Have a drink? Don''t make meugh." Timothy scoffed coldly, "Do you really think I''m oblivious to


    your actions just because I''m old now? Do you honestly believe I''d fall for that flimsy excuse!"


    William bit on his lip and lowered his head to keep Timothy from peering into his eyes. "I''ve been


    friends with Frank''s father for many years now. Don''t get me wrong, I don''t object to your friendship


    with Frank," Timothyshed out without lowering his tone. "But you two are men! I will never agree


    to a rtionship that goes above and beyond the boundaries of friendship!"


    "But why?"


    "Why? You dare ask me why?" Unable to contain his temper, Timothy stood up suddenly, almost


    knocking the table over. "Frank has been married sincest year, and you too now have Mary. And


    yet you still ask me why?" Timothy''s voice rose up significantly as he continued to be consumed by


    his rage. "Do you still want to remain in a rtionship with Frank? Answer me!"


    William''s face remained stiff as though he was devoid of all emotions. But he didn''t say anything in


    response. It was like he was fighting an inner war with himself to not retaliate against his father.


    "You are a grown man. Have some sense of responsibility. That is not for me to teach, it''s


    something you should realize on your own! Now that you''re married to Mary, you should be good to


    her!" Timothy didn''t seem to stop as he ranted, "Do you think I didn''t realize that Mary was trying to


    protect you just now? "


    "Responsibility, huh?" All of a sudden, a cold sneery smeared across William''s face. He finally


    raised his head to stare his father dead in the eye before he retorted, "If you''re so noble. Why did


    you divorce my mother?" I should be responsible for taking good care of Frank, isn''t that right,


    Father? That''s my responsibility, isn''t it?''''


    "You, you unfilial son!" That was it, that was all it took. Timothy was now thrown off the edge of his


    sanity as his face reacted to his inner rage and turned bright red. Driven by his impulses, Timothy


    grabbed the folder on the table and threw it in William''s direction.


    With a click, the folder struck William right on his head as it grazed his skin. The sharp edges dug


    into his forehead and caused blood to pour out.


    William held his head on instinct as he staggered back a few steps but said nothing except a light


    groan that escaped his mouth. Timothy didn''t intend to hit him that hard, he waspletely taken


    over by wrath that clouded his judgment. He quickly turned his face away from William and pointed


    towards the door. "Get out of my sight!"


    "Fine." With an expressionless face, William silently turned around and walked out of the study.


    On the side of the stairs, Mary waited anxiously for William toe out. ''The two of them must be


    having an argument. That must exin the loud noise I heard earlier.''


    Just as she was going over her thoughts, assuming what was going on inside, she was interrupted


    by the clicking sound of the turning of the doorknob of the study.


    As soon as she stepped forward to see William, her eyes fell on the blood oozing out from his


    forehead.


    "Oh my God!" Mary panicked as she gasped out loud. "What happened to you? You''re bleeding so


    much... Are you okay? This looks bad, there''s so much blood. I''ll go call the doctor!"


    Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    As soon as she was about to head downstairs, William grabbed her arm and shook his head to


    signal her to stop. His voice sounded hoarse. "It''s nothing serious. I''ll just go wash it and apply


    some alcohol."


    "Are you sure?" Mary looked at him with eyes brimming with worry. "The blood is almost flowing to


    your mouth..."


    "I''m fine." William gave her a weak smile tofort her and walked towards the bedroom alone.


    Mary nced shortly at the closed door of the study and then chased after William.


    As soon as they arrived in the bedroom, she saw William rummaging through the drawers to search


    for the alcohol. Then Mary walked up to his side and took the medicine box from his hands. "Please


    take off your coat. Let me apply the medicine to the wound."


    William looked at her but did not protest. Mary stood by the bed and leaned over towards William''s


    face to wipe the wound with a cotton stick as she held his face in her palm to keep him still. "This


    will sting a bit. If it hurts too much, please let me know. I don''t have any experience in dealing with


    wounds like these."


    "Hiss... Argh"


    Just as Mary stopped speaking, William bit hard on his tongue to prepare himself for the pain that


    would follow. "You''re really inexperienced at this! That hurt."


    "Well... I''m sorry." Mary apologized as she continued to wipe his wound with delicate dabs. "I was


    wondering. You and your father..."


    "It''s nothing." William stopped Mary short before she could finish, as if he didn''t want to speak on


    the topic she was getting at.


    Taken aback by his reaction, Mary paused for a while before she said, "Fine. If you don''t want to


    talk about it, I won''t ask any further."


    The room was suddenly choked up with a lingering silence, the only sound that dominated the


    atmosphere was Mary tending to his wound with careful hands.


    Suddenly, she leaned her face over close to his to blow on the wound. "It will heal quickly this way."


    All of a sudden, William tensed up and remained stiff as he watched her closely. He felt the delicate


    wind created by her mouth brush against his forehead gently, causing his


    heartbeat to quicken. The fragrance of her shampoo filled the air around him. This feeling, it wasn''t


    real!


    "That should do it." Before William could recover from the daze, Mary pulled away and said, "I have


    applied a small gauze to stop the bleeding temporarily. I''ll redo it tomorrow with new medicine."


    "Huh... Oh, okay." Snapping out of his trance, William coughed unnaturally. ''I can''t let Mary know


    what I fantasized about her just now.''


    Mary spoke softly as she put the things back in the medicine box, "We can''t take wedding pictures


    tomorrow."


    "Why?" William said, raising his eyebrows.