Chapter 239 A Dog Has No Use for Moralities
There was a stormy look in Lucian’s eyes as he stared at the pair.
“Keep your filthy paws to yourself.”
Hector retracted his hand from Calista’s forehead and turned it over several times.
“You mean this?”
He raised a brow at Lucian and stuck his hand back to her forehead in a provocative manner again. He also stroked her head.
Calista didn’t think a man soon to turn thirty would still be this childish. Before she could stop him, he had stroked her hair so vigorously that it resembled a nest.
“Do you know what a proper ex–husband should be doing? He should act dead. You, on the other hand, keep returning like a corpse that refuses to die while dragging others down with you.”
Just as Lucian was about to lift his covers and get out of bed, the nurse réturned with a tray and handed him a thermometer.
“Take your temperature.”
Then, she turned to Paul, who was still seated on the stool, and said softly, “I’m sorry, sir. It’s getting late.. This hospital has a rule that states that family members that aren’t accompanying the patient must leave the ward by 11:00 PM.”
Paul got to his feet. The nurse had thought he would leave. But Paul instead went to sit on the stool in front of Lucian’s bed.
I
“One person to look after a patient, am I right? Perfect timing. I’ll stay with him.”
The nurse was rendered speechless. Lucian’s expression was now downright dark.
“Leave,” he said curtly.
Paul smiled.
I’m Calista’s brother. You’re her ex–husband. You could say I’m your brother too. I’ll take care of you since you’re so pitifully alone.”
The air in the ward seemed to be still. Lucian and Paul’s eyes met; one cold and the other warm. But it didn’t change the tension between them.
No one spoke. Even the nurse had made herself scarce.
Calista was already suffering a headache that only got worse. She raised her hand to knead the spot in between her brows when all three men turned to look at her.
All of this left her speechless.
“You should go home and get some rest. Nothing is going on here anyway. I’ll probably be discharged from the hospital in the morning,” she said to Hector.
As for Lucian and Paul, she couldn’t care less. They were patient and companion. She wasn’t the one running the hospital. Of course, the doctors wouldn’t throw them out.
Hector raised a brow and stared at the two men.
“Are you tossing me aside like last week’s trash, Calista? I’m a human being too. The vacation resort is so far away. My car isn’t here either. At least let me get some sleep. I’ll go the next day okay? It’s not safe to
catch a cab this late at night.”
“You’re a man. Your being naked is the least of your concems. What do you mean it’s not safe?”
“It’s exactly because I’m a man. I’m born to suffer the consequences of my gender when encountering
something like that. If I want to defend my rights, I would have to prove why I can…“.
Calista shut him up by stuffing the pillow behind her at his mouth.
“Please shut up.”
She didn’t want to hear him speak crude words about how he could still “get hard“.
She decided to stop giving them her time of day and lay back in bed with her back to the men. She closed
her eyes.
“If you guys have nothing better to do, have the nurse bring you some poker cards. I’ll file a complaint if
you disturb my rest.”
Calista didn’t know if they argued about that. At least they didn’t speak again until she fell asleep.
She fell into a deep sleep. She had spent her afternoon climbing up a mountain for more than an hour and
then had to wait for night to fall at the observation deck.
Then, she was caught in the rain. Even a god wouldn’t be able to withstand such torture. When she woke
up, the doctor was making their rounds.
Hector, who was answering the doctor’s questions, noticed that she had opened her eyes.
Are you uncomfortable anywhere?” he asked.
+15 BONUS
Calista shook her head. Besides the hospital bed being uncomfortable and giving her a backache, she felt fine. She showed no symptoms of a cold.
The doctor left after they were done making their rounds, Calista got out of bed to freshen up in the
bathroom.
By the time she came back out, the takeout that Hector ordered had arrived. There was chicken noodle soup, bread rolls, custard, and puff pastries… It was a dazzling spread laid out on the table.
Hector handed her some disposable cutleries.
“Eat or it’s going to go cold.”
Meanwhile, Lucian and Paul had also woken up. Neither of them said a word when greeted by the sight
before them. It wasn’t quite in line with how they always clashed.
Calista did think there was something wrong but thought she might be overthinking it.
The silence continued even after she finished her meal and told Hector that she was reach to ho
discharged from the hospital. It was strange.
“What’s wrong with them?”
Hector couldn’t care less as he hummed in response.
“They lost to me in a game of cards. The losers aren’t allowed to speak to you for a day. They’ll also be
staying away from you.”
Calista rolled her eyes. How were the men this childish? She was deemed well enough. After asking the doctor if she could be discharged, Hector proceeded with the formalities.
Meanwhile, Lucian kicked Paul, who was seated on the stool. The latter had his head bowed to handle
business affairs.
“Aren’t you family? I want to be discharged from the hospital. Hurry up with the discharge procedures.”
Hector was already out the door when he turned around. He shot them a smirk.
“Are you trying to take the opportunity to talk to Calista while we’re gone?”
Lucian sneered.
“Do you think everyone is like you just because you always act so tastelessly?”
Of course not. A dog has no sense of morality. It’s hard not to worry.”
Hector left after saying his piece, giving Lucian no chance of retaliating. Lucian had no choice but to stew In his anger and look away. That was when he noticed Calista barely being able to hold back her laughter.
“Do you find this funny?”
Calista wanted to pretend as if he weren’t around but couldn’t help bursting into laughter. It was a rare sight to see Lucian so defeated.
“Didn’t the three of you make a bet? Losers aren’t allowed to speak to me.
“Hah,” the man sneered. Was he trying to be sarcastic or did he have nothing to lose? “Does a talking dog
count?”
She was rendered speechless.
After a brief moment of silence, an unexpected yet expected visitor barged into the ward. It was Lily who had been gone for a while. She was dressed in a black slim–fitted halter dress with a jacket over top.
From her makeup to her appearance, it was clear she made the effort to look beautiful and proper. It was just that her makeup was laid on a little too thick.
It was completely different from her usual nude makeup looks.
Calista’s bed was on the outer corner of the ward. Lily noticed her the moment she walked in. She bit her lip in embarrassment and approached Lucian with her head hung low.
“I heard you’ve been hospitalized, Lucian. Are you feeling better?”
There was a haggard look on her face that couldn’t be covered by the thick layers of makeup. Her eyes.
were red due to her insomnia.
It was the perfect state to be in when dealing with a man; delicate and pitiable. But it was a humiliating
state to be in when faced with Calista, her love rival.
With her around, she had to take the high road even if she was angry..
