The night Aaron Lynch left was the most chaotic and least morable night in Ian Preston’s mory.
The hallway was clearly empty just a mont ago, but after one phone call, it was overcrowded.
The second brother arrived first, originally on his way, coming tonight to watch over the eldest brother.
Then ca a group of people, Aaron Lynch’s leaders and comrades.
The scene of several stalwart n crying until they were speechless was truly unforgettable.
After that, Sean Bell, the Lynch family uncle and aunt, and other elders from the hospital arrived.
Oddly enough, the only ones missing were the Lynch patriarch and Thea Lynch.
The Lynch patriarch’s health was poor, and the uncle hadn’t figured out how to explain.
As for Thea Lynch, the uncle also kept hesitating.
At that ti, Thea Lynch’s situation had just improved, and she had beco slightly more outgoing.
No one dared to make that call to her.
Including Ian Preston.
For the first ti, he was so timid, he dared not speak facing Thea Lynch.
But soone had to make that call; Thea Lynch had to be inford.
He first had a call with Thea’s uncle, who learned of Aaron’s matter yesterday but was abroad and would only arrive in Coronet the next day.
There was silence on the other end for a while, then, "Have you inford Thea?"
"Not yet."
"I’m still in transit, won’t reach Coronet until the morning. Thea only has her grandparents there now; I’m worried she won’t handle it alone. Ian Preston, are you available now?"
After a mont, he said, "I’ll go bring her over."
He still rembers the call vividly, before he could speak, Thea Lynch intermittently asked, "Will you not co for my birthday either? Ian, you haven’t visited for quite a while now..."
Her speech was slow due to nervousness, sothing he was long accustod to, but at that mont, it was undoubtedly torturous for him.
She seed to want to ask sothing further, but he couldn’t focus on it at the ti; he called her, "Thea."
"Wh-what’s wrong?"
His tone seed too serious, she appeared frightened.
"Let’s not celebrate the birthday for now, okay?"
"..." On the other end, the breathing stopped.
After a long pause, she asked with a trembling voice, "You won’t co?"
I will.
Not just tomorrow, whenever she needs, he would definitely go.
But he understood, after this call ended, the decision wouldn’t be his anymore.
The hospital’s ergency corridor was deathly silent, dim and cold.
He leaned against the door, gripping the phone tightly, his voice hoarse enough that he almost couldn’t recognize his own voice.
"Thea, you’re ho right now, aren’t you? I’ll send soone to pick you up now."
He still didn’t dare to ntion it in the phone call.
To save ti, he asked a friend in Westre to bring Thea Lynch over.
During the two hours waiting for her, he stood at the hospital entrance watching the passing cars, constantly wondering how to explain to Thea.
Sean Bell ca out looking for him, kicking at the cigarettes butts piled at his feet.
"Is she coming?"
"Yeah."
"Did the third brother tell her?"
He didn’t answer.
Sean Bell: "Has the third brother figured out how to start, or should the uncle do it?"
At that mont, Sean Bell was also flustered.
No one expected Aaron Lynch would leave.
Initially, they didn’t tell Thea Lynch about the elder brother’s serious injury because, given the dire situation at first, the uncle didn’t think the patriarch and Thea should worry before knowing the results of the rescue.
Because truth be told, Aaron was the only support Thea had left.
The surgery went smoothly, and during the first two days of observation, the doctors also ntioned Aaron’s condition was stable.
He intended to bring Thea to see Aaron at the hospital after celebrating her birthday.
Just one more day.
He hadn’t seen Sean Bell so anxious before: "Third brother, we didn’t let Thea see the elder brother for the last ti. Will she hate us for it?"
"Even though... we ant well, third brother, we made a mistake, didn’t we?"
They were acutely aware that, even if Thea understood, sothing like this would inevitably create a rift between them in the future.
Because aside from elders, he was her last blood relative.
A short while ago, she had ntioned wishing to write a letter to Aaron as her birthday wish this year.
She asked if it would affect Aaron, if it could be sent, if soone would receive it.
He promised to help her inquire about it.
Now Aaron has returned, but... has left again.
"I don’t know how to explain to Thea Lynch; I think if I explain, she probably won’t listen." Sean Bell continued to mutter to himself.
"Will she hate us forever?"
Thea arrived with her grandparents. Her grandparents seed unaware too but followed out of concern.
Once she stepped out of the car and saw the conspicuous letters at the hospital entrance, she worriedly asked if Grandpa’s health had issues again.
Sean Bell said no.
She then asked if it was the uncle and aunt.
Seemingly using elimination, she nad each one.
Finally...
She looked at him, her eyes red, "Is, is... is it b-brother?"
"It’s the elder brother." It was still Sean Bell’s voice.
"Wasn’t he out of town? What’s wrong? Is he hurt?" Her speech accelerated, without a pause.
This ti, Sean Bell didn’t say more.
Thea suddenly grabbed his sleeve, turning her gaze toward him.
"Elder brother was severely injured while on a mission, transferred to Coronet for rescue three days ago. Initially, the doctors said his condition was stable..."
"What about now?"
She looked at him, the light in her eyes flickering weakly. She was so clever; just by observing his reaction, she already guessed but couldn’t believe it, still clinging to hope in what he was about to say.
He never wanted to disappoint her, but this ti, he was powerless.
The day was a nightmare for Thea Lynch.
For him, too.
The day had passed midnight, already her birthday.
No one rembered, no one cared, including herself.
Everyone was imrsed in the sorrow of Aaron Lynch’s departure; Thea was especially so, passing out from crying in the hallway.
She was clearly still a child, at an age filled with beautiful stories awaiting her.
Yet she had to watch her closest kin depart one after another within less than a year.
She couldn’t accept the reality.
As Sean Bell had imagined, at the mont Thea knew they didn’t inform her imdiately about Aaron’s injury, in an instant, her gaze at them carried a clear hint of hatred.
At that mont, the uncle attempted to explain to her, but she was emotional, unwilling to listen.
"Uncle," he gently shook his head at the uncle, hoping to give her enough space to vent.
Even if, in the end, all the anger was directed at him.
He didn’t mind.
The hallway late at night was much quieter than a few hours ago.
Thea sat in a corner, her shoulders still trembling from cries; he walked past others, sitting next to her on the floor.
No one knew how to comfort her; his hand raised then lowered, repeating several tis before softly nudging her head to rest on his shoulder.
"Thea, I’m sorry."
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