Chapter 91

“Okay, then, Ralda, be careful. After you find your dad, don’t mention him. He has some mental issues now, and if you talk about him, he will get angry easily.”

“Okay.”

After comforting my mom, I called my dad again, but he still didn’t answer. I furrowed my brows, put away my phone, and ran quickly towards the direction of the hospital, hoping to intercept my dad before he found Reynaldo.

Perhaps I ran too fast, and a sharp pain suddenly surged on my knee. Bending my knee, I almost fell to the ground. I held onto the nearby tree trunk, tears streaming down my face in desperation.

What would Reynaldo’s reaction be if my dad really went to ask him for money? How would he view me, how would he view our family, the Duffy family? By then, in his eyes, I was afraid I had truly sunk into the dust.

I wiped away my tears, endured the pain on my knees, and continued running towards the direction of the hospital. When I walked back from the hospital just now, I was completely lost and didn’t even realize that I had walked so far. The pain in the knee gradually intensified, feeling like being pricked by needles. When I arrived at the hospital gate, I was already sweating profusely from the pain. I took a deep breath and walked slowly into the hospital, praying that my dad hadn’t come.

However, things did not go as planned. I had just arrived at the outpatient department when I saw my dad pulling Reynaldo towards the flower bed. Feeling anxious, I quickly shouted to my dad, “Dad, what are you doing?”

My dad looked at me in surprise. Reynaldo also looked at me. Reynaldo’s gaze remained as cold as frost when he looked at me. My heart throbbed suddenly. I closed my eyes, endured the pain in my knees, and pretended to walk towards them as if everything was normal.

“Ralda, you came just in time. Hurry and talk to Reynaldo…”

“Dad!” I interrupted him in a deep voice and pulled him, saying, “We’ll talk about your matter later; come back with me first.”

“Ah!” My dad brushed aside my hand and impatiently said to me, “What ‘later’? This matter is urgent for me. If you don’t want to help me, then go away and don’t bother me while I discuss important matters with Reynaldo.”

He said and pushed me aside. I looked at Reynaldo anxiously. Reynaldo was bowing his head and lighting a cigarette. He took a puff and asked my dad with a faint expression, “What’s the matter? Tell me.”

“Um, Reynaldo…” My dad rubbed his hands, looking very eager to please, and compared to before, he seemed like a completely different person. He said, “Dad has been investing in projects with his friends recently, you see…”

“Dad!” I interrupted my father again, shouting at him angrily and impatiently, “I’ve already told you, we can talk about your matters later. Danielle is still in the hospital, so please don’t bother him, okay?”

And, can’t we solve our own family matters ourselves? Why do you always have to seek help from an outsider to solve them? You don’t feel annoyed, but others do. Why should they help you? I was so angry that my eyes turned red. At that moment, I really didn’t know what to do with my dad.

I clearly told him that Reynaldo and I had already divorced, but he still called himself "dad" in front of Reynaldo. He used to be the president of the Duffy Group, but why did he become like this, losing all his dignity, after the family fell into decline?

Reynaldo blew a smoke ring and looked at me with a mocking expression on his face. He appeared lazy and casual, with a hint of disdain and mockery in his expression. In contrast to my father’s attempts to please, his carefree demeanor made me and my father appear even more disheveled, given my state of anxiety and despair.

I wanted to forcefully drag my dad away, just like last time. But this time, he was determined to find Reynaldo for money. He once again flung my hand away and angrily shouted at me, “Shut up, you little brat! How could Reynaldo be an outsider? Your words are so insensitive and hurtful.”

Reynaldo immediately let out a light chuckle, accompanied by a hint of mockery. I bit my lip uncomfortably and went to pull my dad again. I really can’t understand my dad now. Can’t he see that Reynaldo doesn’t want to talk to him? Can’t he see that Reynaldo dislikes us? Couldn’t he hear the impatience and sarcasm in Reynaldo’s tone?