In the hospital room, the atmosphere was tense and heavy as iron.
After Raymond was brought out of the ICU, he only talked to Wendy and Precious, pretending that the rest of Oliver family weren't even there.
He ignored them, including Ryan and Luke.
Precious didn't seem to notice, but Wendy did.
"Ray..."
"Mommy, I'm hungry."
"What would you like to eat, sweetie? I will cook anything you want."
Raymond scrunched up his face in concentration.
After a while, he made up his mind.
"I want wontons."
After a small pause, he added in a low voice, "I almost starved to death these past two days."
Wendy's heart squeezed.She stroked Raymond's hair gently.
"Wantons, then.I'll just pop to the store to get ingredients."
"Great!"
Raymond had been on IV for two days and he had nothing to eat or drink.The IV took care of his nutrition and hydration.The nurse had told him that he could eat now, but only light food, easy to digest.He could eat wontons.
Wendy grabbed her purse and put on her sunglasses and mask.
After confirming that no one would recognize her, she left the hospital.
When she left, the temperature in the room suddenly seemed to drop.
Raymond clenched his jaw and closed his eyes without a glance at everyone around him.
They all stole glances at each other, at a loss what to do or say.
Even Precious seemed to realize that something was not right.She scratched her head and asked gently, "Ray, why are you so silent all of a sudden?"
Raymond's eyes flew open at the sound of her voice.
He touched her cheek and replied softly, "I'm just tired.
"Oh, I see," Precious said, breathing a sigh of relief.
lay in the bed, holding Precious' hand, his eyes sweeping
take Precious outside to
"What?"
looked at Raymond and then back at Ryan and
"Okay, then!"
to Precious and said, "Come on, let's go buy
Mommy makes," said Precious exclaimed,
at his brother, Luke tried
you just accompany me
budge, though.She wanted to stay with Raymond.When she was about
turned to look at him in
"Ray..."
am a little thirsty.Would you mind fetching me some orange
help!' Precious felt as if
chest enthusiastically and said, "I'll bring you some
room in
had to run to catch up with
right? Isn't that why
a seat in the chair standing
"Go ahead, then.I'm listening."
away from
his jaw clenched in his attempt
a threat?'
lips
know Ryan was his father, they had been
he was cold
his head and shot a
lying in a hospital bed, pale and starved, he would
eyes were fierce and his face was set in a grimace of barely controlled
of your
Josie couldn't help reacting.
walked to Raymond, wanting to touch the boy and comfort him, but he shrank
Her hand froze mid-air.
more he reminded
herself for not
hand and whispered, "Ray,
Raymond interrupted her.
are not my
Josie tried pleading with
her, dismissing
you are not my father.Rest assured that I won't be laying claim
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