Shattered Longings Novel
Shattered Longings 73

Chapter 73 Take It or Leave It

After what happened last night, she was happy to greet him with a smile, no matter how grumpy he was. “Morning,” she said cheerfully.

Sipping his coffee, he glanced at her with indifference. “From now on, drive yourself to work. I don’t want any more trouble from you.”

Bella was momentarily taken aback. It wasn’t until she saw him toss the car keys onto the coffee table that she realized he had gotten her a car.

Seeing the logo on the keys, she suggested timidly, “Maybe we could exchange them for a less expensive option?”

He replied impatiently, “No, take it or leave it.”

Speechless, she took the keys and drove out. She was extremely cautious, afraid of even the slightest scratch. All she needed was a little run–down car. She didn’t want to draw

attention to herself.

When she arrived at the hospital, her colleagues couldn’t help but stare at her car as she parked, giving her judgmental looks. She just smiled and hurried inside.

After changing into her white coat, she went straight to Simon’s ward. He was awake, and she had brought him breakfast. She gently helped him sit up to eat.

Simon looked pale but smiled happily. “I thought you wouldn’t care about me.”

Bella remained indifferent. “You saved me, so I can’t be that heartless.”

Her words carried a hint of something more, and Simon felt a little awkward. “I was in Joville on a business trip and wasn’t feeling well, so I came to your hospital for a checkup. I didn’t expect to run into you, but I’m really glad to see you’re okay.”

Bella spoke bluntly, “Let’s keep things separate. I appreciate that you saved me, and I’ll take care of you while you’re in the hospital. But don’t expect this to make everything else disappear.

“Your injuries aren’t serious, so you should be able to go home in a few days. You should probably call your family to come look after you. I have to get back to work now.” When Bella wasn’t busy at work, she would drop by to check on Simon, simply as a doctor, making routine inquiries about his condition and examining his wounds.

Since Bella came to visit so often, it was inevitable that someone would notice. As the nurse helped him with the IV drip, she joked, “Mr. Kennedy, are you close with Dr. Jones? She visits you several times a day. Most patients don’t get that kind of attention.”

Bella frowned, but before she could respond, Simon said, “She’s my daughter.”

Daughter…

Bella’s body stiffened slightly. She had always assumed Simon wouldn’t dare acknowledge her in public. After all, he was a prominent figure now, and he preferred to keep her existence hidden. Even at the Sawyer family gathering, he hadn’t approached her.

The nurse looked surprised. “Really? You’re Dr. Jones’s father? She’s never mentioned you before.”

Simon smiled, his eyes filled with tender affection as he looked at Bella. “It was my fault. I wasn’t there to raise her.”

Bella’s old wound was inadvertently reopened. Her face hardened as she turned and left without a word. Still, she couldn’t deny that when Simon risked his life to save her, she felt a long–lost paternal love, a love she had once felt from Richard.

If the attacker’s knife had pierced Simon’s lung, his life would have been in danger. The fact that he risked his life to save her was beyond her expectations.

On the fifth day of his hospitalization, Simon was about to be discharged when his family member finally arrived.

When Bella went to visit again, she heard noises from inside and stopped at the door. If she went in now, she would probably seem out of place.

Just as she was about to turn away, she heard a woman’s voice inside shout, “How much longer do we have to wait? You can wait, but our daughter can’t!” Daughter? Did Simon have another daughter? Bella bit her lip, and despite her better judgment, she found herself wanting to hear more.