CHAPTER 162: CHAPTER 162: I CAN HELP YOU IN MANY MORE WAYS

Sheila Yardley absentmindedly returned to the hospital. She had originally planned to borrow a book for study during her spare time here, but the sight of those feminine cigarette butts unnerved her.

Looking at the book in her hand, it contained Ryder Griffin’s neat notes, done in great detail and with beautiful handwriting.

She took a deep breath, closed the book, and glanced at Catherine Yardley, who was already asleep.

Thinking of what the doctor told her in the morning, her heart grew even more troubled.

She got up and left the ward, reaching the end of the corridor, leaning against the railing by the window. Looking at the bustling city outside, the cold night wind blowing, her mind still felt muddled.

Ryder Griffin’s matter caught her off guard; she had never considered that one day she might lose him.

At the other end of the corridor was the restroom. Caleb Grant tilted his head, holding the phone with his shoulder, freeing up his hands to put them under the faucet, and whispered to the person on the other end, "Yeah, let’s talk when I get back."

A somewhat familiar voice reached Sheila’s ears, pulling her out of her wandering thoughts. When she turned her head to see Caleb, his gaze also landed on her.

He made an "mm" sound into the phone, shook the water off his hands, then removed the phone and hung up.

Sheila looked at him, slightly awkward. If Caleb hadn’t seen her, she might have slipped away quietly to avoid such a face-to-face meeting.

Caleb walked to a spot a meter away from her and stopped, his gaze fixed firmly on her, but he didn’t speak.

Sheila pursed her lips and said with a dry smile, "Why are you here too?"

Caleb calmly replied, "A relative is sick, came to see them."

"Oh... I still haven’t properly thanked you for my brother’s matter last time, thanks for your help."

"There are still many ways I can help you."

Sheila froze, looking at Caleb in confusion, not understanding what he meant by that.

She didn’t know much about this man before her, unsure if he was good or bad.

Even though he had helped her several times, she wondered why he helped her without any reason.

"I heard Ms. Yardley’s condition isn’t very optimistic, she needs surgery soon," Caleb said.

Sheila did not respond, just looked at him with some puzzlement, wondering why he knew so much about her mother’s illness.

Caleb didn’t continue speaking. Instead, he took out a business card from his bag and said to her, "If you have no other options, go to this address and find me."

Sheila reached out and took the business card, looking at him with confusion as she asked, "Who exactly are you? Why are you helping me?"

Caleb looked at her, remained silent for two seconds, and then turned and left without answering.

Why help her? It seemed even he didn’t have an answer to that question.

After staying in the hospital for almost half a month, Silas Kerr advised she remain there until after the birth, but Shannon Quinn didn’t listen, whether it was Vincent Rhodes’ idea or not, and she initiated her discharge procedures.

Resting at home was far more comfortable than staying in the hospital. During these half months at the hospital, she always hoped Vincent would take the time to visit her.

Her expectations weren’t high, yet nothing could fill that sense of disappointment in her heart.

Reaching this point, perhaps no one was at fault. She had her concerns; he had his helplessness and difficulties. Separation might be the best solution.

Shannon Quinn also worried about any further mishaps with her child, not having gone to the studio since the start of the year, only working from home whenever Aidan Lockwood arranged tasks for her.

Whenever she went out, it was when Erin Bishop was off work, otherwise she’d stay home alone most days.

June Yardley’s ways scared her; at times, her actions seemed utterly reckless.

Unlike Claire Yardley, June was much shrewder, for instance, enlisting Seth Fairchild as her backing.

She just wanted to avoid any further complications, wishing for her child to be born safely and to grow up in a stable environment. She hoped for nothing more from Vincent Rhodes.

With his background, he wouldn’t have trouble finding a wife after retirement, or maybe even before he retired, he would find a more suitable partner.

Two weeks later, the first rain of spring finally arrived.

Carrying a bit of coolness, the rain fell steadily all day long.

In the evening, Shannon Quinn leaned on the sofa, listening to music while reading a parenting book.

The sudden ringing of her phone startled her. Seeing the caller ID, it was Catherine Yardley.

She hesitated, pausing for two seconds before answering.

It had been quite some time since she visited the hospital to see her, only casually inquiring about her condition via chats with Sheila Yardley. She knew Catherine’s health wasn’t good lately.

"Shannon..."

Shannon Quinn lowered her eyes, took a deep breath before responding, "What’s up?"

There was a two-second pause on the other end, as if unsure how to start the conversation.

"I... I know you dislike me disturbing your life, but I’m really afraid that if I die, you’ll still hold a grudge against me. The doctor said if there isn’t a suitable kidney for transplant, I might not live much longer. So, I wanted to say, if you have time, could you come to the hospital? There are things I want to tell you."

Shannon Quinn didn’t have many feelings for Catherine Yardley, yet this woman was her mother after all.

She could cold-heartedly refuse to acknowledge her, but she still wished for her to live well.

This was a situation Shannon Quinn didn’t want to face either.

"... Can you, Shannon?" Catherine asked cautiously again during Shannon’s silent contemplation, her voice slightly choked and trembling, perhaps fearing rejection.

Shannon glanced at the clock on the wall. It was not too late, and she impulsively said, "I’ll come now."

Even through the phone, she could hear Catherine breathe a sigh of relief but remained worried and said, "Should I have Julian pick you up?"

"No need."

"... Then be careful on the way."

Shannon changed her clothes, grabbed the car keys, and left the house.

She felt a bit troubled, maybe due to Catherine’s matter or the weather.

The wipers moved across the windshield quickly covered again by dense raindrops. Though the rain wasn’t heavy, it felt as if it poured into her heart, chilling her to the bone.

Sheila had returned to school with the start of the semester; when Shannon arrived, only Julian Yardley was there.

Julian, who usually appeared carefree and unserious, now sat on a bench outside the hospital, holding a cigarette burned halfway through.

A passing nurse paused to remind him, "Excuse me, sir, you can’t smoke here."

Julian glanced at the nurse and saw Shannon Quinn walking towards him out of the corner of his eye.

Without the heavy winter coat, her large belly was particularly noticeable.

Julian took a look at her belly, didn’t greet her, but got up and walked to the trash can, extinguished the cigarette, and tossed it in, then turned to Shannon and pointed to the room, "My mom’s in there, you can go in."