Chapter 28: I Don’t Go By Fu Anymore. I’m Taking Mom’s Last Name. Ducky’s eyes welled up, overwhelmed by Caleb’s chilling presence.
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Nash quickly comforted him. “Ducky, you and Zoey are siblings. She’ll forgive you!”
She turned to Caleb, her tone light and teasing.“I always thought Shane was approachable, but he’s even colder than you.For him to risk his life to save someone…remarkable!”
She drew out the last word.“I saw Evelyn get out of Shane’s car earlier. When did they become so close?”
Hey! Caleb, wait for me!”
Seeing Caleb turn to leave without a word, Nash hurried after him.
two
more zeros
to
At the hospital, Shane was prepped for surgery.Lying on the operating table, he said to the surgeon,“Add
the bill.I’m making
leech Fu pay!” making that
The surgeon, an acquaintance, chuckled while prepping the incision.“You’re the leech! Should I exaggerate your injuries to make that woman who brought you in cry her eyes out?”
Shane folded his arms beneath his head.
“Nah, I don’t want tears.Even making her feel guilty would break my heart.”
“Wow! Your mouth’s dripping honey instead of hemlock! Let me touch the venom of a viper…hey, it’s warm!”
Shane turned his head, his eyes narrowed in a playful warning.“You want a complaint filed?Three–year license suspension or a full department audit? Your choice.”
The surgeon scoffed.“Careful, or I’ll stitch your arrow wound into a… well, you know.” Evelyn stood outside the operating room. Zoey, staring at the closed door, had red–rimmed eyes. She clutched Evelyn’s hand, clearly distressed.
Before Evelyn could comfort her, Caleb arrived with Ducky.
Caleb ordered his son, who was hiding behind him, “Go apologize to Zoey!” Ducky refused to come out. What good would an apology do? Mom would lecture him, confiscate his crossbow, and spank him! He hated her nagging.
Caleb snapped, “Ducky! Get out here!”
“Caleb, Ducky already knows he’s wrong.”
Nash intervened, and Ducky, whimpering, immediately clung to Nash’s leg. Nash was his safe haven.
Nash’s heart fluttered.She patted Ducky’s back gently.“Ducky was just trying to protect the family! If Evelyn hadn’t caused all this divorce drama with Zoey, none of this would have happened!”
“You gave Ducky that crossbow, didn’t you?” Evelyn asked Nash,
Nash felt Caleb’s icy gaze.“Boys will be boys. Evelyn, he’s your son!”
Evelyn looked at Ducky’s fluffy black hair. This was the son she carried for nine months, the son she’d cared for day and night.She had loved him fiercely.
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< Chapter 28: I Don’t Go By Fu Anymore….
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But the bolt he’d fired pierced Evelyn’s heart, a pain that convulsed her insides. Their umbilical cord had been severed.
“I don’t have such a child! I’ve already given him up.”
Ducky, clinging to Nash, stole a glance at Evelyn’s face.Evelyn’s expression was cold and distant. Why wasn’t Mom even looking at him?
Ducky bit his lip, conflicted about apologizing to Zoey. Nash said he hadn’t done anything wrong. “It’s Zoey’s fault!” Ducky shouted.“Zoey made Dad upset! Even if I hit her, it’s her own fault!” Zoey was stunned. Her young heart was shattered. Had she done something wrong? If she’d gone home with Dad, Uncle Shane wouldn’t be hurt. But the bolt came from her own brother.They had been so close.
Slowly, because of their age difference, Ducky’s attitude towards her had changed. She realized that in the Fu family, even her father favored Ducky over her, except for her mother, who treated them equally.
“Ducky! Even if you apologize, I won’t forgive you!” Zoey cried.
She asked Caleb, “Dad, can I not be your daughter anymore? What can I do to never go back to the Fu house?“She longed to escape, but she didn’t know how.
Caleb’s face was frozen.
“Zoey! You’re a Fu! You’ll always be my daughter! A Fu!” “Then…can I not be a Fu?” Zoey asked.“Can I take M
A dark shadow fell over Caleb.
last name?”
Nash crossed her arms, sneering. “Evelyn, you raised a good daughter, one who dares to betray the Fus! Who doesn’t even acknowledge her own father!”
She instructed the boy clinging to her leg.“Ducky, don’t you ever be like Zoey.‘ Evelyn stepped forward, placing her hands
placing her hands on Zoey’s
on Zoey’s shoulders, offering support. The operating room door opened; Shane, lying on a gurney, was wheeled out.Everyone turned.He wasn’t wearing a shirt, his broad back muscles taut, his lines clearly defined. He was relaxed, his waist trim and muscular.
“Uncle Shane, are you okay?” Zoey was worried.
Shane turned, smiling at Zoey, his dimples deep.
doctor.
She owed Shane
a
debt.
“Who’s the family? I need to discuss post–operative care.” Evelyn had already called Shane’s father. He was on his way. “I’ll listen,” Evelyn said, approaching the Caleb’s gaze followed Evelyn, his brow furrowed unconsciously. Shane was wheeled to a private room. Zoey wanted to follow. Caleb’s gaze stopped her.
“I hope you understand what you just said!”
Caleb entered the room with Ducky.
Shane lay on the bed, pointing to Caleb.“Give him the bill.”
ཡིན་།
< Chapter 28:1 Don’t Go By Fu Anymore…
Mens
The
doctor
handed
Caleb the
bill.“Remember
to pay at the front desk.”
Caleb intended to cover Shane’s medical expenses since Ducky had hurt him. He didn’t even look at the bill. The amount was insignificant.
“Apologize to Mr. Shane,” Caleb ordered Ducky.
Ducky, eyes downcast, approached.“Mr. Shane, I’m sorry.” Even at his age, he understood Shane’s status and influence.Shane was someone not to be offended.
“You hurt me, and Evelyn had to take care of me. Of course, she’s not taking care of me because of you, but I guess I should thank you anyway…
་་
Ducky was confused by Shane’s words.But Caleb understood.
Shane’s words were meant for him. He had suspected something between Shane and Evelyn, but he hadn’t expected that even from a hospital bed, the man would dare to flaunt it so openly! Caleb wasn’t enraged; he found it amusing.
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< Chapter 29: This is the Evelyn Vance…
