Josiah Sutton was stunned for a few seconds, even doubting his own ears, unwilling to believe that Julian Ford said not to et.
But the coldness in the man’s eyes was real, and the distance and alienation as if rejecting people from thousands of miles away were also real.
And obviously, it wasn’t a good ti to ask for reasons.
Julian’s gaze withdrew from the window, his pale face showing signs of fatigue, perhaps his body hadn’t fully recovered after surgery, or maybe he was just really tired.
He closed his eyes, refusing to continue the conversation.
Josiah pressed his brows, said nothing more, quietly leaving the ward, shaking his head at Jasper Spencer and Yana Yarrow who were waiting outside.
Jasper’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Yana, however, lowered her gaze as if she had expected it, sighing, "In fact, Scarlett also thought that Julian Ford wouldn’t want to listen."
From the start, she never had hope of getting the ssage through.
[Take care of yourself.]
[Don’t look for .]
Eight words, two sentences, whether to say them or not, truly made no difference.
Julian didn’t want to listen, nothing said would have mattered, just like Scarlett having to leave, any attempt to retain her was futile.
"Aside from what was for Julian, did Scarlett say anything else to you?" Josiah asked.
Yana: "She also said goodbye."
Josiah was silent, as it was the sa as what she said to him.
Yana’s eyes were red, her voice choking:
"Scarlett has never done anything like this, never."
"She told she’d be fine and not to worry, but she wouldn’t say a word about where she was going, she wasn’t like that before."
"Back when tis were toughest, she carried so much debt, worked many jobs, even paid her school fees herself. Besides her grandmother, the only family she had left, her so-called uncle, aunt, and that cousin of hers, never truly cared for or loved her."
"Yet, it was Scarlett who brought more joy and warmth than anyone else."
"Why is that... Dr. Sutton, everything was clearly getting better, so why did Scarlett leave? Does Julian Ford know the reason?"
Yana grew more emotional as she spoke, tears streaming down her face. Jasper couldn’t help but wipe her tears with his hand.
Josiah kept his hands in the pockets of his white coat, his eyes filled with indescribable complexity.
When he heard Ryan Ford admit to bankrupting Benjamin Shaw, his first reaction was only to worry about whether his brothers were involved, worried that Scarlett would find out and take it out on Julian, leaving in anger.
Even when he saw Julian like that in the ward just now, he still felt a touch of resentnt towards Scarlett.
It was only at this mont, after hearing Yana’s tearful recounting of Scarlett’s past, that he slowly realized that ever since Scarlett left, all his thoughts and Ryan’s actions were centered on Julian.
They had never truly stood on Scarlett’s side to think about her.
As the old saying goes: Just because soone doesn’t cry out in pain doesn’t an they don’t feel it. Just because soone doesn’t cry doesn’t an they have no tears.
Because in all their eyes, Scarlett always had a warm and vibrant smile, she was the brightest star, the indomitable and strongest Scarlett.
So they selectively ignored the fact that she had endured more loneliness than others from the age of fifteen till now, and perhaps shed many tears in unseen corners.
It was simply that they didn’t see it.
Or rather, to be more precise, they didn’t want to see it.
People habitually approach those who are warm and kind, not because they genuinely think that person is great, but because such goodness makes them feel comfortable, at ease, and brings them joy.
Josiah curled his lips into a slight smile, but his eyes were filled with mockery.
Not towards others, but himself.
Ultimately, human nature is inherently selfish, and he was no exception.
Julian didn’t want to see anyone, so Yana and Jasper didn’t stay much longer, but just before leaving, Jasper couldn’t help but say:
"Even though my words are probably aningless to Julian, still, pass along for , if he’s a man, he should hurry up and get better, find Scarlett, and not let her hide away and suffer alone."
Jasper had never understood all those intricate twists and turns.
Anyway, if it were him, he wouldn’t care about anything else; as long as he still loved, he would find the person no matter what.
So what if a man suffers so grievances? If he can’t bear the grievances brought by the woman he loves, what big things can he achieve?
Besides, just because he saw Yana cry so miserably and mournfully for the first ti, ignoring any past personal "grudges" with Julian, he was on Scarlett’s side!
Josiah was both amused and exasperated by Jasper’s optimistic spirit, nodding his head and seeing them out.
On the way back to Julian’s ward, he happened to run into Ezra and Ethan Ford.
"Mr. Ford, Uncle Vincent."
Josiah greeted them politely, but when they reached the ward door, he firmly blocked their way, politely yet firmly saying:
"Julian just woke up, his body is still very weak, and it’s quite late now. How about I go and check how he’s feeling first?"
As he said this, Josiah’s gaze was fixed on Ezra’s face.
The latter frowned imdiately, his expression darkening, "I need your agreent to see my son?"
Josiah remained calm, "If you truly want him to get better, you should respect his wishes."
His words had a sowhat double-edged aning.
Ezra sneered coldly, attempting to force his way in, but Ethan, with good temperant, held him back and advised, "Josiah does have a point; Julian’s health is most important now. As a father, endure it for a while."
Ezra glared at him, "What do you know? I..."
"By the way, why haven’t I seen Scarlett?"
Ethan asked curiously.
"Is she in the ward?"
"Scarlett is resting today." Josiah didn’t want to blow the matter out of proportion, especially since Ethan himself was an unrelated party, so there was no need to explain too much to him.
Ethan had no doubts, smiling gently: "I ca by a few days ago to see Julian, and the doctors and nurses said Scarlett was always by his side, never leaving. I thought, this child must be tired, she deserves a good rest."
"Her timing for rest seems rather fitting."
Ezra snorted disdainfully, looking at Ethan, who was still speaking up for the person who abandoned his son.
The latter still maintained a calm deanor:
"Scarlett and Julian have such a good relationship, companionship isn’t urgent at this mont. Once she’s rested, she’ll naturally co back. Besides, haven’t you always looked down on her? Now that she’s not here, why do you still seem displeased?"
Ezra found it pointless to continue and reluctantly said to Josiah, "Go ask."
Josiah went into the ward and ca out quickly, but the answer he brought out left Ezra very unsatisfied.
"Julian is resting. Dr. Lawson checked earlier, and everything is normal. As long as he focuses on follow-up chemotherapy, all will be well," he said slowly, "Mr. Ford, perhaps you should co back in a few days."
Ezra: "..."
Not letting him see his son tonight was one thing, but now even saying to co back in a few days?
If it’s a few days later, would they then say to co back in a few months?
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