Chapter 834

Although Rachel didn’t say anything out loud, deep down, she still felt uneasy.

Late at night, the VIP ward was filled with the scent of disinfectant.

Thomas leaned against the headboard while staring blankly at the moon outside.

As soon as Tyler opened the door, he saw William in a chair, looking utterly drained.

“Go home. Come back tomorrow morning.”

“Okay, I’ll head back for now. I’ll bring breakfast in the morning.”

With Thomas in this condition, William no longer argued with Tyler about past grievances. The two of them had become surprisingly civil after being united by Thomas’ illness.

After William left, Thomas’ gaze shifted to the thermos on the nightstand. It was still steaming hot. It contained soup that Tyler had brought earlier. Tyler claimed it was made by Wanda, though in truth Rachel had specially arranged for someone to buy it that morning.

“Cough, cough!” A coughing fit had Thomas bending forward.

Tyler stood quickly to press the call bell, but Thomas waved him off.

“It’s just a cough. Don’t make a fuss. I’m not that fragile.”

Though his breath came short, his gaze remained stern.

“How are things with the Lloyds?”

Tyler sat back on the sofa before tapping his phone screen. “It’s all handled. You don’t need to worry.”

“Worry?” Thomas sneered. “I’m just afraid a certain person cares too much about a particular woman, so much that he doesn’t even know what he’s doing with his life.”

His words were harsh, but his gaze swept over the dark circles beneath Tyler’s eyes.

“How many days have you gone without sleep? Do you plan to die before me?”

“Just take care of yourself.”

Tyler put his phone away, stood up, and poured some of the soup into a bowl. He set it in front of Thomas.

“Do you want it now?”

“In a bit.” Thomas reached under his pillow and pulled out a velvet box. He tossed it into Tyler’s lap. “This bracelet was your mother’s. Now, you figure out what to do with it.”

Tyler opened the box. Inside, a jade bracelet glowed brightly under the moonlight. He knew it was a Lewis family heirloom. Years ago, when his grandmother had passed it down to his mother, Thomas had had a huge fight with her over it.

He understood what Thomas meant, but recalling his attitude toward Rachel, Tyler closed the box and placed it back in his hands.

“You should keep it. She only wears silver bracelets now.”

Thomas’ expression darkened instantly. “I said, take it! Enough with the nonsense!”

Tyler accepted it quietly. “I’m stepping out for a smoke. Call me if you need anything.”

He closed the door softly behind him.

At the end of the corridor, the glass reflected his figure. Tyler pulled out a pack of cigarettes, but after a pause, slid it back into his pocket.

His phone lit up. It was a message from Rachel.

[I’ll visit your dad tomorrow and bring him his favorite almond pastries.]

His fingers hovered over the screen. He typed, erased, typed again, and finally just sent a single word.

[Okay.]

Back inside the ward, Thomas listened to the fading footsteps. Slowly, he pulled out an old photo album from under his pillow. Tucked inside was a yellowed photograph of his younger self grinning foolishly while cradling baby Tyler.

With his frail fingers, he traced the worn edges of the photo. He muttered under his breath, “Brat. Still the same as ever.”

Tyler was just like him.

The men of the Lewis family had always been that way. They were stubborn, soft-hearted, and clung to pride above all else.