Ezra Ford was holding a teacup, sipping tea. Upon hearing this, he paused and said calmly, "With his precious health, the family has regular check-ups arranged every year. What could go wrong?"
Even Ethan Ford couldn’t help but feel he was overthinking, "That’s true. Ever since that incident, you and my sister-in-law have certainly been very good to Julian."
"He’s our son. Of course, we would give him the best."
Ezra Ford seed slightly displeased with Ethan Ford’s comnt, his expression showing slight annoyance:
"You always bring up the sore subjects. These old matters should be left in the past. Talking about them does no good to anyone."
Ethan Ford showed an apologetic expression.
After a brief silence of a few seconds, he suddenly thought of sothing and said, "Oh, right, the other day when I saw Julian at the hospital, his girlfriend was with him. Maybe Shaw wasn’t feeling well, and Julian was accompanying her for a check-up."
Ezra Ford scoffed, a trace of disdain in his eyes, "She’s a clever woman, climbing up to Julian. Even for a doctor’s visit, she wants privileges."
"Big brother, those words don’t sound like you. You have no evidence; how can you just say Shaw wants special privileges?"
Ethan Ford couldn’t help but feel indignant on Scarlett Shaw’s behalf.
Ezra Ford glanced at him, with a smile that was not quite a smile, and said, "Since you won’t marry or have kids, not even willing to compromise before dad passed away, saying this now is just idle talk."
Ethan Ford gave a gentle, cultured laugh, "I just think, with how busy Julian is every day, if he’s willing to take ti to accompany soone, it shows how important Shaw is to him. There’s no point in you being at odds with him over this."
"Important now, sure, but will that stay the sa? They’re not really a good match. How far can they go?"
Ezra Ford said with a hint of sarcasm.
You and my sister-in-law were a perfect match, weren’t you, but still ended up dreaming separately on the sa bed?
Ethan Ford maintained his composure, elegantly picked up the celadon teacup, sipped the tea lightly and joked, "What if the check-up is special and suddenly presents you a grandchild?"
Ezra Ford squinted his eyes, assessing his own brother.
After a mont, he spoke leisurely, "Ethan, I heard your new company over in Cloud Harbor just started, how co you’re so free to ddle in our family affairs?"
The implication in his words was blatantly clear.
Ethan could see that his older brother was maintaining his composure, but there were signs of anger in his deanor.
Quickly, he offered a conciliatory gesture, "I spoke out of turn. If you don’t like it, big brother, I won’t ntion it again."
Saying this, he glanced at his watch, stood up and tidied his shirt, "It’s getting late, since my sister-in-law is resting today, I won’t disturb her."
As he turned, his gaze brushed past the carved staircase, and he hesitated slightly.
Freya Pierce and Ryan Ford had just co downstairs from the bedroom, standing on the staircase. The forr’s beautiful face was slightly pale, while the latter maintained his nonchalant, frivolous deanor, hands in his pockets.
"Ethan, what did you just say?"
Freya rushed down the stairs, running excitedly to Ethan Ford’s side, "Did Julian have a child out there?"
Ethan reassured her, "Sister-in-law, don’t worry, I was just joking because I saw Julian and Shaw at the hospital."
Ezra Ford shot a cold, sharp glare at Ethan Ford, "Is that sothing to joke about? I think you’re not drinking black tea today, but green tea!"
Ethan Ford seed oblivious, particularly considerate of Freya as he said, "If you can’t let it go, why not have big brother ask the director? After all, the hospital is in long-term cooperation with the Ford family. Julian would have been warmly received for sure."
Freya looked at Ezra, "Husband..."
Ezra was almost of a mind to throw Ethan out.
This brother of his, appearing gentle and kind, actually harbored countless little thoughts. Today, it seed he ca specifically to add to the trouble between him and Freya.
"No need to ask the hospital. If there’s sothing, we can just ask Julian directly." Ezra Ford said.
"Dad, are you kidding ? Have you forgotten how you blad my brother before? And now you want him to report every detail of his itinerary? Aren’t you just dreaming under the broad daylight?"
Ryan’s words slipped out effortlessly.
His eyes holding a lazy amusent, with a hint of mockery, as if hearing a joke.
"We’re all family, no need to hold grudges overnight." Ethan Ford played peacemaker, gently chastising Ryan, "Ryan, truly, how can you speak to your dad like that?"
Ryan shrugged indifferently, "Just speaking the truth."
"Is it your place to speak? Get lost, you punk!"
Ezra shot Ryan a fierce glare.
"Alright, I’m leaving now, rolling away nice and smooth."
Ryan lazily stepped towards the door, and at the sa ti, Ethan also knew when to retreat and bade farewell.
Uncle and nephew walked out of the house one after the other. Ethan stopped at the door, pondering for a mont, and then said to Ryan, "Even though my big brother doesn’t seem to care much about this, take so ti to check on Julian. I still think there might be sothing wrong with his health."
Ryan was montarily stunned, his brows slightly furrowing.
The car pulled up in front, the driver respectfully opened the back door, and Ethan bent down to get in.
Ethan’s words reminded Ryan of Julian fainting on New Year’s Eve.
Though they were half-siblings, they were still family by blood. Besides, he had recognized Julian as his brother for over twenty years. They might not be each other’s salvation, but the brotherly bond was genuine, with no calculations between them.
Ryan felt a creeping unease in his heart.
However, he didn’t rush directly to Julian to get to the bottom of it. After all, if his brother didn’t want to talk, no matter what, even peeling away three layers of skin wouldn’t get him to open up.
Thinking it over, Ryan decided to visit the hospital to probe Josiah Sutton for information.
...
When Ryan arrived at the hospital, Josiah Sutton was in surgery. After waiting for an hour, Josiah finally erged from the operating room.
"Josiah."
Ryan approached to greet him.
Josiah, while taking off his sterile surgical gown and tossing it into the trash, nodded in response, "What’s up, Ryan."
Ryan got straight to the point, "Is there sothing wrong with my brother’s health?"
Josiah paused, looking at him calmly, "Where did you hear that from?"
"So, there is a problem, isn’t there?"
Ryan furrowed his brows.
Josiah chuckled, with a distant yet polite deanor, "Julian’s matters should be addressed to him, not ."
"You know my brother’s character well. It’s precisely because I know he wouldn’t tell , that I’ve co to you."
Josiah remained silent, simply walking past him towards the consultation room.
Seeing Josiah’s inscrutable attitude, Ryan grew increasingly anxious.
The less willing soone is to talk, the more serious the issue usually is.
He gritted his teeth, as if making up his mind, he boldly said:
"Josiah, aren’t you at all interested in Mia’s current situation?"
In a heartbeat, Josiah’s deanor went cold, "Have you had dealings with Mia?"
His voice was icy and frigid.
The clients Ryan encountered as a lawyer who were clean were few and far between. If he really had dealings with Mia, then Mia...
"You first tell about my brother’s situation."
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