A Matter of Wife and Love by Mila

Chapter 112

Um, why is he asking me that? She raised her head and saw his eyes shining bright like obsidian gleaming under the

sun, and she frowned in confusion. His grip on her shoulders tightened, his force almost breaking her bones. “Ow.”

She gasped.

As if he was electrocuted, Leo pulled his hand back, but his eyes remained on her. What she said earlier. Her tone,

her voice, even her inflection… they’re all just like her. The only different thing is their names.

Big Eyes used to say the same thing to me.

Amelie rubbed her shoulder. “Is something the matter, Mr. Alston?”

Mr. Alston? He snapped back to reality and stared at Amelie again. Probably just a coincidence. She doesn’t sound

like Big Eyes now. “Sorry,” he whispered and left the room, shaking his head.

Amelie saw him off in silence, a sigh of relief escaping her lips. And I thought he recognized me. A sense of

disappointment welled within her, but she shook it off. He’s going to marry Elyse soon, and we’re going to leave. It’d

be problematic if he recognized me. She spaced out for a moment and returned to her daughter. “Rest, child.” She

touched her cheek. “We’ll see your grandfather when you feel all better.” And she spoke in that gentle voice Leo

was familiar with. She would only speak like that to those closest to her. Most of the time she wouldn’t even speak

like that.

Bria woke up two hours later. The anesthetic had worn off, and the pain kicked in. She wanted water, but the nurse

said she couldn’t have it for twenty-four hours after the appendectomy. Though she could wet her lips with some Q-

tips dipped in water. Understandably, the child was miffed. Most of the time, she was a good kid, but now she was

throwing a tantrum and crying to no end.

L

Amelie felt for her, but she couldn’t help with the pain Bria was feeling. And it made her feel powerless. She tried

her best to calm the girl down, but Bria flew into a rage when it was time to take her medicine. She shoved the

glass of water away and tossed her medicine into the distance. “I don’t want any pills! I’m in pain!” And she burst

into tears again.

“Oh, you can’t let her cry right after the surgery. Don’t want to reopen the wound, or it’s going to be dangerous.”

The nurse came in.

Amelie was going to let her daughter vent for a while, but if the consequences were that serious, she couldn’t

afford to let Bria cry anymore. But try as she might, the girl would not stop crying. Even the nurse, in all her

experience, couldn’t do anything either. Amelie eventually teared up.

It was then someone asked calmly, “Why is she crying?”

Amelie raised her head and saw a familiar figure coming into the ward. “Leo?” I thought he wouldn’t come

back

Leo looked at her and approached the girl. Then he placed the lunch box on the table and sat beside the bed. “Bria,

tell Daddy why you’re crying.” He held her hands.

Bria’s face was covered in tears, her eyes glistening. Her eyes were closed, but the moment Leo spoke, she opened

her eyes, and her crying stopped. She stared at her father, surprise welling within her.

And she looked at his hand. Leo had never held her hands this gently before, nor did he ever talk so nicely to her.

All her pain was forgotten, and she only had eyes for him.

Leo pulled a tissue and carefully wiped the tears off her cheeks. He was a little clumsy, but he had heart.

Bria stayed silent, staring at him at all times.

Amelie was looking at him as well. She couldn’t believe he had come back. Nor could she believe he was being so

gentle to the girl. It felt like a dream to her.

And then Leo spoke to her, breaking her train of thought. “You must be hungry. Here, for you.”

Amelie looked at him. Bria was already in his arms, sleeping soundly.

Leo was looking at her, pointing at the lunch box with his chin. She was surprised he would bring food for her, but

she hid her feelings away. “Thank you.” And she took the lunch box. Taking care of Bria was an exhausting job, and

she needed all the energy she could get, so she started eating.

When he was done, Amelie helped Leo place the girl back onto the bed. Leo took a document out of his briefcase

and went through it. “You’ve been up all night. Get some sleep.”

Once again, Amelie looked at him. He’s staying? Leo was already starting to work, so Amelie took the lunch box and

washed it out. Through the bathroom door, she looked at Leo. He was going through his documents intently, his

fingers dancing across the pages like they were playing piano. Rays of sunshine shone upon him, draping him with a

sheet of a golden blanket. Sometimes he would look at the little girl with love welling in his eyes.

Bria’s wound closed up a few days later. No longer tortured by pain, she resumed her lively, gentle nature. Leo

would come over every day. Even though Bria didn’t show a lot of response, she would always have a smile on her

lips. Sometimes, Leo would help feed her, and when he did, she would close her eyes and take a big bite out of her

food.

Amelie was pleased to see her daughter looking so happy. Four days had gone by since Bria’s surgery. And Amelie

was taking Bria to do a checkup. If things were fine, she could be discharged the next day

Bria couldn’t stop smiling on the way. A nurse softly asked, “You’re going to get a blood test later, Bria. How do you

feel? Scared?”

Bria shook her head. “No. Daddy said I’m a brave girl. And I’m scared of nothing Leo’s companionship managed to

close the gap between him and the girl, and she was thinking better of him now.

Amelie looked at her daughter and pursed her lips.

The test was done soon enough. The nurse stayed back for the result, while Amelie took Bria back to her room.

Bria’s eyes were shining like stars, and she kept staring out the window. She wasn’t saying it, but Amelie knew she

was waiting for her father to show up. Family is a magical thing. She used to be so distant, but now that her father

managed to break the ice, she’s getting closer to him.

But then, a sweet, gentle voice said, “Oh, hello, Bria.”

Amelie and Bria raised their heads. They were met with a beautiful woman standing in their way.

Elyse. She was standing in the middle of the corridor, wearing an oversized shirt. And she was staring at Bria,

smirking.

Bria had no idea who this woman was, but she noticed her patient attire, and she asked, “Oh, you’re wearing the

same clothes I am. Are you sick as well, lady?”

An elegant smile had curled Elyse’s lips. “Yes. It’s my belly, really.” She caressed her belly gently as if she was

pregnant.

Amelie looked at her belly intently.

Noticing Amelie’s look, Elyse rubbed her belly even slower, and she beamed, though her eyes were still on Bria.

“You must be happy, Bria. Your father’s been coming to see you a lot, hasn’t he?”

Bria’s eyes went wide with surprise. “How did you know that, lady?”

Elyse’s smile got even bigger. “Because I told him to do it. He loves my baby and me, but you’re important to him

too. I won’t let him ignore you just because he has another child now.”

And Amelie’s heart sank.