Filed to story: The Regretful Billionaire: An Unpredicted Reunion >>
“Can we really go back to how it was before?” she mumbled. There was a hint of sarcasm in her tone. Gilbert frowned. “Of course we can. Unless you don’t want me as your brother anymore.”
“Of course I do.” But the moment she thought of the fact that he liked her, Danika would be unable to pretend as if nothing had happened. She’d even wanted to run away.
Gilbert held her shoulders. “Danika, I know this is sudden, and you can’t accept it immediately. But you must believe me when I say that I only want you to be happy.” As long as Danika was happy, he would be able to stow away his feelings.
“Okay.” Danika nodded in a daze. She got up from the sofa. “I’m going home.”
“I’ll drive you there,” he offered.
Danika shook her head at once. “I can get myself back.”
“Danika…” Gilbert couldn’t bear to let her go like this.
Danika forced a smile at him. “I need some time to think about it, okay?”
They held their gaze. Gilbert could see the pain in her eyes, and he nodded. “Okay.”
Danika walked out of the villa alone, and Gilbert watched as she left. When she was out of sight, he turned and found Zack staring at him from the second floor. He was no longer in his room.
“You’ll ruin our family,” Zack blurted out. They had grown up together. He’d always thought of Danika as his sister. He thought Gilbert would, too.
Gilbert kept quiet. He knew that. It was why he didn’t dare to tell her how he really felt. But no matter how carefully he guarded his secret, someone exposed him anyway.
Zack was angry when he saw how silent Gilbert was. He rushed down the stairs and stood before him, fuming. “Why? You could have any woman you wanted. Why did you have to choose Danika?” He was afraid. Afraid that the bond they had worked for so long to build would fizzle out.
“Zack, you don’t know this, but no one can control how they feel.” If he could, he wouldn’t have wanted to fall for Danika.
“Maybe I don’t. But I would never fall in love with Danika-I know she’s my sister. Who would feel this way toward their sister? Unless…unless you never saw her as one.” Zack wasn’t stupid. Gilbert’s feelings didn’t come from nowhere. It must have started early on. Zack and Danika simply had not seen things from that perspective.
No matter what Zack said, Gilbert remained silent. He didn’t tell him that on the day they were adopted by Danika’s grandfather, when Gilbert saw Danika for the first time in that village, his feelings for her had begun to sprout. Now, it had grown into a large tree.
“Motherfucking…” Zack raised his fist, wanting to punch Gilbert. It was infuriating seeing him so quiet.
Gilbert didn’t intend to duck. But then, Zack’s fist didn’t land on his face. They were brothers. How could he punch Gilbert? He was just angry because Gilbert’s actions could ruin their family.
He sighed in exasperation. “Just think about it really hard. I want you to forget about your feelings for her and think of her as your sister instead. Stop making the same mistake.”
Zack thumped Gilbert’s shoulders heavily and turned. He didn’t go upstairs; instead, he left the villa. No one would be able to sleep tonight.
The next morning, Danika woke up exhausted. She got herself ready and rushed to the hospital.
Despite what had happened yesterday, she was not shaken. To her, work was work. Besides, her thoughts would spiral if she stayed at home all alone. If she was busy, she’d have no time to overthink things.
“Good morning, Dr. Zellweger.” Morgan smiled at her when she walked into the office. She’d learned a lot staying by Danika’s side. Although her internship had not yet ended, a number of hospitals had already given her offers and opportunities. She was extremely happy.
Danika nodded and forced out a smile.
Morgan sensed that something was amiss at once. She walked over, worried. “What’s wrong, Dr. Zellweger? You’re pale. Are you sick?”
“I’m fine. I couldn’t sleep last night.” Danika shook her head. She couldn’t very well talk about Gilbert. That was a family matter.
Morgan was still worried. “There are quite a few surgeries lined up for today. Are you sure you can do them? Do you need me to reschedule some?”
“There’s no need to. I can carry out the surgeries just fine,” Danika replied.
“I’m just worried about your health.” Morgan hurried to explain herself, thinking Danika had taken her words the wrong way.
Danika of course understood. She smiled. “I know. But brain diseases are not like other diseases. A late surgery could have unfathomable consequences.”
“Alright.” Morgan didn’t push the matter further since Danika was so determined. She’d been by Danika’s side for a long time, so she somewhat understood her personality. If Danika made up her mind about something, she would not change it.
The first surgery was scheduled early. Before long, it was time for them to carry it out. They walked toward the operating room and began to prepare themselves.
Danika had worked there for six months, and the people who came in to see her had only increased. Because of her, Parrington Hospital had become the most famous hospital in Parrington. The chairman was happy. He felt that his decision to convince Danika to stay was the correct one, but she didn’t care about all this. She only cared for her patients.
The surgeries were conducted from morning till night. Besides a lunch break and a few bathroom breaks, Danika hadn’t rested at all. The doctors and nurses all said amongst themselves that Danika was a soulless surgery-performing robot.
All the surgeries were finally done, and Danika was exhausted. She leaned back in her chair in the office and slept. When she woke up, it was dark all around her.
No, not completely.
She trained her gaze on a sofa nearby. A little lamp was turned on, and someone was sitting on the sofa.” Eustace Quincey?” She was uncertain. Why would he be here in the middle of the night?
Eustace knew she was awake. The first thing he did was turn on the lights. The fear in his heart dissipated greatly.
“Haven’t you been to the doctor yet?” Danika asked instinctively. Eustace’s fear of the dark had not been cured.
He seemed to avoid the topic. “You haven’t had dinner, have you? You know you have stomach issues. Do you think you’re a statue?”
Danika didn’t know what to say. Eustace hadn’t taken care of himself, yet here he was, lecturing her about her own body. How ridiculous. She couldn’t be bothered with him anymore and simply glared at him. “I’m going home,” she said, getting up from her chair. “You can stay here if you like it so much.”
“I’m going with you.” What sort of a joke was this? He was there for Danika. Why would he stay if she weren’t there?
They left the hospital. Before Danika could hail a cab, Eustace stopped his car in front of her. “It’s not safe to take the cab this late. I’ll send you home.”
“Thank you.” She didn’t refuse because she knew it was pointless; if she did, she’d still be wasting time with him here. She was exhausted. All she wanted was to go home and sleep. Her eyelids drooped shut in the car, and she fell asleep.
Eustace glanced at her, feeling his heart ache. He’d heard from the hospital staff that she had performed surgeries all day without rest. It was no wonder that she was tired.
Not long after, the car stopped in front of the apartment. While he was debating whether or not to wake her up, her eyes fluttered open.