CHAPTER 392: CHAPTER 392: NO LONGER HOPING FOR ANYTHING

Audrey Sutton firmly gripped the blanket, refusing to let Shane pull it away, and she never responded to him either.

It’s not because of the child that she’s blaming him, for the loss of the child, she, as the mother, holds the greatest responsibility.

She just doesn’t want to engage with Shane because of the tension between them lately.

She thinks Shane is the type of person Flora Lane described as someone who "enjoys being loved," and she’s not interested in loving anyone right now.

In her heart, she doesn’t regret her initial decision, for having loved, she has no regrets left.

The fact that they couldn’t end up together in the end is also a kind of result.

In the adult world, there really isn’t that much perfection.

Having tasted sweetness and experienced pain, she knows he’s a stone she can’t warm. She’s no longer hoping for anything; being alone is quite good.

Outside the door, seeing that Shane Warner’s efforts were in vain, Hazel Yates entered, coaxing Audrey Sutton, "Your grandmother got up early to make soup for you. If you don’t eat, it’ll be a shame after she’s been busy all morning for you."

A muffled voice came from under the blanket, "Mom, I want to sleep for a bit. You all go out first."

Hazel Yates glanced at Shane, remembering that Samuel Sutton mentioned Audrey hadn’t slept the whole night. Hazel pulled the blanket slightly and said, "Alright, then eat when you wake up. Open the blanket to sleep, don’t suffocate."

Hazel opened the blanket a bit, revealing Audrey’s face, gently tucking her in, and sighed helplessly, softly telling Shane, "Let’s go out and let her sleep a while."

Outside the hospital room, Hazel Yates said to everyone, "I’ll stay to look after Audrey, you all go back first. There’s no point in crowding here."

Shane said softly, pressing his lips together, "Mom, I’ll stay to take care of her; you should go and rest for a bit too."

Hazel Yates: "You’re a grown man, it’s inconvenient for you to stay here. You lack experience with these matters. As an experienced mother, I understand more than you do. Go home, when Audrey wakes up, she’ll be hungry. See what she wants to eat and bring it to the hospital. There’s nothing else to do here."

Samuel Sutton: "You all go back, you’re just being in the way here."

Hazel Yates glanced at him: "You should go back too."

Samuel Sutton: "If the hospital needs any forms processed, I can help. You won’t manage everything alone."

Hazel Yates also knew that Samuel generally didn’t show much concern for his children, but when he heard Audrey was in trouble, he was more anxious than anyone.

She thought he had a point and let him stay.

Shane left with his other brothers and went home. On the way back, everyone was somber, each caught in their own thoughts.

Norman Sutton felt deeply culpable; he believed he bore the greatest responsibility for what happened to Audrey, so he was no longer as lively as before.

As for Shane, he was more remorseful and pained. Both the lost child and the tear-stained Audrey lying on the hospital bed made his heart ache.

If only he hadn’t doubted her, treated her coldly, and appeared in front of her sooner, or called her during those days trapped in that hotel, maybe things wouldn’t have turned out this way.

...

Hazel Yates, taking a short nap by the bed, woke to find the rain easing up. She went to the window, gently opened it, and a breeze carrying the fragrance of flowers from the yard blew in, fresh and delightful.

"Mom."

Hearing a gentle voice, Hazel wasn’t sure if she was hallucinating and turned to see Audrey’s eyes open. Only then was she convinced she hadn’t misheard.

Smiling, she walked over to Audrey, "Awake?"

Audrey’s face was still haggard, but her eyes were clearer and more spirited than before. Her dry lips parted, her voice slightly hoarse, "I’m hungry."

Hearing this, Hazel smiled brightly and quickly asked her, "What would you like to eat? Shall I reheat some chicken soup for you?"

Audrey nodded, then said, "I want to drink some water first."

Hazel agreed, and called Samuel from outside, where he was making a call, to heat up the chicken soup while she went to fetch water for Audrey.

She also shared the good news with the family worried about Audrey at home, telling them to bring more food when they came that night.

After Audrey woke up, although she said she was "hungry," her appetite wasn’t great; she only drank half a bowl of chicken soup and ate a few dates before putting down the bowl.

After eating, Hazel had her lie back down, telling Audrey to stay in bed and rest as much as possible for the next week. Even a minor miscarriage needs good care to avoid long-term health issues.

During dinner, everyone came to see her at the hospital. Her grandparents and Shane Warner were there too.

They made all the dishes Audrey liked, and she was courteous enough to eat a fair amount of food and half a bowl of rice.

Although Shane was there, Audrey didn’t interact with him at all, not even glancing his way, treating him as if he didn’t exist.

When communicating with the family, she still spoke decently, answering questions, just not as lively as before.

Everyone carefully avoided mentioning the child, no one wanted to cause her any further guilt.

Shane’s presence was minimal; he didn’t deliberately hover around Audrey.

Stabilizing her mood was the most crucial thing now. Everything else could be discussed once she calmed down.

Hazel noticed something strange between the two and called Shane aside to ask, "What’s going on with you two? Are you having a fight?"

Shane couldn’t explain it all in a few words, so he said, "Mom, this time it’s my fault."

Hazel didn’t know the specifics, but seeing Shane’s self-blame, she gently reassured him, "Don’t take it all on yourself. I know you’re hurting too. Now that this has happened, what’s the point in assigning blame? You need to get it together and be there for Audrey. Life goes on."

Shane nodded, looking at Audrey, languid on her hospital bed, recalling how she always wore a smile. If it hadn’t been for his words, she might forever have remained everyone’s adored, carefree little princess, instead of the despondent figure she was now.

It pained him and filled him with guilt.

Hazel said it wasn’t convenient for a man like Shane to care for Audrey, and more importantly, it unsettled her.

Though Audrey suffered a minor miscarriage, she needed to be treated like a postpartum woman, and since Shane lacked experience, he might just end up more flustered in the hospital. It was better for him to return home to rest, then come back during the day to sit and chat with Audrey.

So after Audrey had dinner, Hazel and Samuel went back home, planning to clean up and change before returning to relieve Shane.