Chapter 24: Have You Made Up Your Mind? Come Back.
Marcus had had enough. He stepped forward and grabbed Alijah’s shoulders.
“Enough! Mabel will come see you once she’s done with work. You need to get some sleep.”
Marcus understood what he meant.
“I don’t want Mabell I want Mom!”
“Waaah! I want my mom, I want my mom!”
He cried so hard he could barely catch his breath.
Marcus felt like his head was going to explode from the noise.
-Nol”
His voice was louder, drowning out the sobs.
“Your mom divorced me, and she’s not coming back!”
Alijah froze, his cries stopping as he stared at him with wide eyes.
Marcus felt the world go silent again, and he let out a slow, tired breath
But then-
That night, Alijah spiked a fever again.
Marcus was forced to wake up in the middle of his sleep to help the doctor administer fever medicine to Alijah.
Alijah cried non–stop, even knocking over the medicine cup.
Marcus was exhausted, drained.
Finally, after Alijah had taken the medicine, he wet the bed from drinking too much water.
Marcus had never handled a kid’s everyday needs–he didn’t even know how to change a child’s clothes.
Because Alijah wouldn’t cooperate, he didn’t even know how to change the sheets and mattress.
He had no choice but to call for a temporary helper.
When the helper arrived, Alijah had been lying in the wet sheets for so long, his little bottom was red, like it might break out in a rash.
Marcus looked pissed. “Why’s this so complicated?”
The helper was surprised. “You’ve never taken care of a child before
Whose kid isn’t a handful?
Marcus froze at the comment.
He realized… he hadn’t..
Alijah’s fever was finally starting to go down.
He still muttered in his sleep.
“I want Mommy, I want Mommy.”
“Mommy, don’t go.”
“Mommy!”
Marcus couldn’t sleep at all with the constant crying.
The sky outside was just starting to lighten.
It was already past five in the morning-
He was wide awake now, throwing on his clothes and walking out of the room.
Gemma had been out of line lately.
Now that the kid was sick, as his mother, she had a right to know.
Chapter 24: Have You Made Up Your Mind! Come Back
For Ali’s sake, he decided he could let Gemma come and take care of him for a couple of days.
He pulled out his phone and dialed the number with a sense of pride.
But the call wouldn’t go through.
Oh, right.
He’d been blocked.
He walked over to the nurse’s station and borrowed a phone, dialing the familiar number.
Gemma had been on leave recently, busy with herbs.
It wasn’t that she was slacking off–it was just that she’d found a treasure trove of rare herbs here that could be used for medicine.
When you’re exploring a new field, there’s no end to it.
She didn’t even notice how tired or uncomfortable she was. It felt like she’d found her comfort zone.
Noah trailed behind her, carrying a small basket, helping her collect the herbs.
“Gemma, take whatever you like. You can have anything you want here, including me!”
Gemma was in a good mood, so she teased him
“Are you running the show now?”
Noah slapped his chest proudly. “Of course! I’m the best!”
“I get
you’re the coolest kid in the world.”
“Nooo, I’m just Gemma’s baby.”
Gemma’s heart melted.
Her own child wouldn’t even let her near, but this child, who wasn’t related by blood, just wanted to stay close to her.
So, blood ties didn’t really matter, did they?
People always tend to be around those who are like them.
“You little rascal. I think you’re just after the dishes I make.”
“Will you make them for me, Gemma?”
“Since you really want them, I guess I’ll make an exception.
Noah jumped up with joy.
“Wow, that’s awesome! Gemma, you’re the best!”
They returned to the villa with the herbs just around six–thirty in the morning.
Gemma sorted the herbs, then began preparing the medicine.
But just as she started, her phone rang with a familiar number.
Because it was a local number, she assumed it was a patient’s family calling, so she answered.
When she picked up, a familiar voice greeted her.
It wasn’t as haughty as before; now, his tone was more like when they first married–calm and collected.
He called her name.
Actually, it had been a long time since they’d spoken so calmly.
She didn’t even know when it all started, but every time they met, they’d inevitably end up arguing.
Even their phone calls always ended in shouting at each other.
It felt like being around each other was exhausting
“Mr. Wilson, the cooling–off period isn’t over,” she said, trying to keep things civil. “Please, don’t call me or come by. It’s
really starting to get annoying.”
Marcus scoffed.
“You really don’t want this cooling–off period to end, do you?
Before Gemma could respond, he went on.
“Let’s put that aside for now. Ali’s sick. He needs you.
Gemma gripped the phone tighter.
Even though she had considered cutting ties with Alijah, he was still her biological child. She couldn’t just forget about
him.
“The kid really wants to see you. We’re at McDaniel’s Hospital. I need you here as soon as possible.
The tone was like an order, and Gemma snapped out of her daze.
Her expression grew dim.
“I don’t think Ali wants me to take care of him. Let’s be honest. He probably doesn’t want to see me.”
“He made his choice back then.”
“I think it’s better if I just stay out of it.”
Marcus cut her off immediately..
“Don’t take kids‘ words so seriously. Do you really believe what they say? Are you going to argue with a kid?”
“Gemma, I’m giving you one hour. You need to be here. In Front Of Ali”
“If you show up, I’ll consider giving you a chance to stay in the Wilson’s mansion.”
“If you keep refusing, we’ll get the divorce papers in half a month, and I won’t care about you anymore.”
Gemma pulled the phone away from her ear, the noise too much.
She was getting annoyed.
“Mr. Wilson, if Ms. Johnson doesn’t want to take care of the kid, what about you? You’re his father–why aren’t you taking care of him?”
“And about our divorce–it’s a decision I’ve thought through carefully. I hope you take it seriously.”
“Gemma, are you really not coming?”
“Yes.”
Gemma said calmly, “Mr. Wilson, you’re capable of handling everything without me. You don’t need me.”
“You’ll regret this!”
“I won’t.”
With that, she hung up the phone.
But-
She stared at the screen, lost in thought.
Noah, sensing her mood, asked nervously.
“Gemma, are you leaving?”
Gemma didn’t answer.
Her mind was a mess, she didn’t even know what she wanted to do.
“Gemma, can I come with you? I just want to be with you.”
