Chapter 435 The Things Left Unsaid

Chapter 435: Chapter 435 The Things Left Unsaid

Ariel seemed to understand what Ryan was saying, but not quite.

She couldn’t understand what kind of relationship could end with two people having no contact at all.

Then one thought occurred to her.

“What if Mom needs you?”

Ryan’s eyes flickered.

For a moment, he seemed lost in thought. Then he reached over and gently ran his fingers through Ariel’s hair.

“I hope there never comes a time when she needs me,” he said quietly. “From now on, I just want her life to be peaceful. I hope nothing gets in her way.”

Ariel didn’t understand adults.

Adults were so complicated.

She still couldn’t make sense of what Ryan meant. But for some reason, as she looked at the man sitting in front of her, she felt an inexplicable sadness coming from him.

He was smiling.

His manner was calm and reserved.

Yet there was something lonely about him that she couldn’t put into words.

Before she could think about it any longer, the hospital room door opened.

Rose stepped out.

Her eyes were still red from crying.

Only a short while ago, Morgan had woken up again.

She had looked directly at Rose, but there had been no recognition in her eyes.

“Who are you?”

Morgan didn’t remember her.

But that was all right.

She was awake now.

That alone was a miracle.

As long as she stayed awake, there would be time for her memories to return.

“Mom, don’t cry.”

The moment Ariel saw Rose’s tear-stained eyes, her heart ached. She immediately slid off the chair and wrapped both arms around Rose’s legs.

Ryan remained seated.

He simply turned his head and watched them.

Rose crouched down and comforted Ariel for a moment before straightening.

Then she looked at Ryan.

“How did you end up here?”

The tension that had once existed between them was gone.

Rose had finally accepted everything that had happened.

Ryan was simply someone from her past now.

An acquaintance.

Nothing more.

“She just woke up,” Ryan said. “The doctor said that after such a long coma, her brain will need time to recover. She may have emotional fluctuations, confusion, memory gaps, or periods where she says things that don’t make sense.”

Rose already knew.

Her doctor had explained the same thing.

“My mom said anything to you?”

Ryan’s fingers paused against the lighter in his hand.

After a brief silence, he answered, “Nothing coherent. She was confused.”

He glanced at Rose, then casually changed the subject.

“I heard the Taylor family is planning a big celebration for your return.”

He had brought it up himself.

And he had done it right in front of Ariel.

Rose gave a quiet, noncommittal sound and looked at him.

“Are you coming?”

Ryan lifted an eyebrow.

“Are you inviting me?”

Rose almost laughed.

“Mr. Knight, do you always have to make everything so complicated?”

“If you’re willing to invite me, I’ll make time.”

He tilted his head slightly, looking almost amused.

Rose stared at him.

She wanted to tell him that he could come if he wanted to.

But Ariel was watching the two of them with wide, curious eyes.

Rose had no intention of getting dragged into another verbal sparring match with Ryan.

“Fine. I’ll send you an invitation next week.”

Only then did Ryan slowly stand.

“By then, your mother should have recovered enough to leave the hospital.”

He paused.

“When you bring her back to the Taylor family, you could take her with you. Let her meet everyone.”

Rose hadn’t thought that far ahead.

But after Ryan mentioned it, she realized it made sense.

“I’ll arrange it.”

“It’s getting late.” Ryan glanced at his watch. “Do you want to grab something to eat?”

Rose nearly rolled her eyes.

Was he seriously asking her that so casually?

They had agreed to leave the past behind them. They had settled their debts and let go of their resentment.

That did not mean they suddenly needed to start having private dinners together.

“No, thank you. My family already has dinner waiting.”

She smiled politely, especially with Ariel standing right there, and declined without making it awkward.

Ryan seemed to expect the answer.

Morgan’s condition was still unstable, and she needed as much peace and quiet as possible.

Rose wanted to stay beside her, but the doctors had warned her not to overwhelm Morgan. After being unconscious for so long, Morgan needed time to process what was happening around her.

Rose reached for Ariel’s hand.

“I’m going to take Ariel home. Ariel, say goodbye to—”

She stopped.

She couldn’t bring herself to say Dad.

So, she simply left the sentence unfinished.

Ariel waved at Ryan.

“See you next time.”

Ryan caught the brief flicker of discomfort that crossed Rose’s face.

He understood exactly why.

“Mm-hmm.”

Rose took Ariel’s hand and walked away.

They had only gone a short distance when Ariel turned around and waved at him again.

Ryan stood there with one hand in his pocket, watching them disappear down the hallway.

He remained there for a long time.

Only when the light from the end of the corridor disappeared did he finally look away.

He walked back to Morgan’s room.

She was sleeping fitfully.

Ryan stood outside the doorway and looked at her through the glass.

But the scene in front of him slowly blurred beneath another memory.

Morgan screaming when she had first woken.

Her mind disoriented and frightened.

The same words over and over again.

“...Sophia.”

And then—

“Sophia couldn’t have killed herself.”

Ryan’s expression darkened.

Something about those words had stayed with him.

*****

Over the next few days, Rose took time off from work.

She spent nearly all her time at the hospital.

Morgan’s condition fluctuated.

Some days she seemed more alert.

Other days, she barely responded.

After being unconscious for so many years, there was no way to know how long her recovery would take.

Rose knew better than to rush it.

Again and again, she reminded Morgan who she was.

“Mom, it’s me. I’m Rose. I’m your daughter.”

Sometimes Morgan’s expression would soften.

For a brief moment, something almost familiar would appear in her eyes.

Then it would disappear again.

Aside from the first day, when Morgan had been delirious and confused, she remained mostly quiet.

She spent hours staring out the window.

Rose simply stayed beside her and talked.

She told her about everything that had happened over the years.

The good things.

The happy things.

The moments that would make Morgan smile if she could remember them.

Rose said nothing about the painful years.

Nothing about the struggles.

Nothing about the things she had endured alone.

There was no reason to burden her with them now.

During those days, Rose also became familiar with several of the nurses.

One afternoon, she was heading out to get lunch when two nurses caught up with her.

“Miss Bennett,” one of them said with a teasing smile, “you and your husband have really divided up the shifts, haven’t you? You come during the day, and he comes at night.”

Rose stopped.

“My husband?”

The nurses exchanged amused looks.

“You know, your husband. He’s been coming in every night.”

Another nurse laughed.

“You didn’t know? He’s practically a celebrity around here. Every time he walks in, everyone notices.”

Rose was speechless.

The nurse continued, clearly entertained.

“He’s ridiculously handsome, too. And apparently everything he wears is custom-made. One of the younger nurses said even his watches cost more than most people’s houses.”

Rose gave her a blank look.

The nurse lowered her voice conspiratorially.

“With his money and position, he could easily hire someone to handle everything for him. But he keeps showing up himself. That has to mean he really loves his wife.”

Rose’s smile stiffened.

She had no idea how to explain that the man they were praising was not her husband.

Not anymore.

It was easier not to explain at all.

Besides, the nurses weren’t trying to gossip maliciously.

Ryan simply attracted attention wherever he went.

Even patients from other rooms had apparently asked the nurses whether they could introduce their daughters to him.

Rose gave a polite, helpless smile.

There was no point trying to explain the complicated history between her and Ryan.

She had only one question.

“Wait. The hospital called him that first day?”

The nurses thought about it.

“I don’t think so.”

“Then who called him?”

“Probably the private caregiver,” another nurse said. “Your mother’s caregiver. She’s one of the most highly qualified private caregivers we have. I heard she makes around eight thousand dollars a month.”

Rose went still.

“The caregiver?”

“Yeah. She’s been with your mother for years, hasn’t she? A caregiver like that would usually be one of the first people to know when a patient’s condition changes.”

Rose didn’t say anything.

She suddenly understood.

The caregiver had probably been arranged by Ryan too.

All this time, she’d assumed the caregiver was simply part of the hospital’s VIP private-care package.

Apparently, she had been wrong.

Rose had known that caregiver since she was in college, back when she’d taken a part-time job to help support herself. Even before her marriage, she’d been told that the caregiver was included as part of Morgan’s private-care arrangements.

So many years had passed.

Rose stood there quietly.

She couldn’t understand why Ryan had never told her.

But now that the two of them had truly put the past behind them, what difference would asking make?

If he had deliberately kept it from her, then he probably hadn’t wanted her gratitude.

Rose let out a quiet breath and shook her head.

She tapped her forehead lightly, as if reminding herself to stop thinking about it.

Then she turned toward the hospital’s equipment desk.

She needed to arrange a wheelchair.

The Taylor family was hosting a grand garden party soon.

And Rose intended to attend with Morgan.

If Morgan couldn’t walk there herself, Rose would find another way to make sure she was there.

For the first time in years, her mother was finally awake.

Rose wanted her to see the family she had been separated from for so long.

She wanted Morgan to know that she wasn’t alone anymore.