A Father Figure

The atmosphere at the table was tense. Marleen and Daniel had agreed to discuss things further at the hospital café. Though the café was bustling with people, neither of them had spoken a word. From Marleen's expression, Daniel could tell she was angry.

"Anna told me she didn't want to marry you—I mean, Ethan," Marleen finally broke the silence. "But you, Daniel, are her boyfriend?"

"Ah…" Daniel hesitated for a moment, choosing his words carefully. "First of all, Aunt Marleen…my full name is Ethan Daniel Harrington. So, no, I'm not lying about my name. Both names are mine." He clarified the confusion Marleen might have about his identity.

"So… Anna knows about it?" Marleen asked directly.

The sudden question left Daniel speechless. He locked eyes with her, guilt creeping into his expression.

"She doesn't know, does she?" Marleen's disappointment was clear. "She's not the type to lie to me…"

Marleen's sharp words cut deep. Her tone was soft, but Daniel understood the weight behind them. He couldn't find the words to respond, remaining silent as Marleen stood up.

"End whatever relationship you have with her," she said firmly. "Even though your parents are great, I can't accept this anymore. How could you start your relationship with her built on a lie?" With those final words, she turned and walked away.

"Aunt Marleen, wait..." Daniel hurried to stop her. "I never wanted to lie in the first place. I made a stupid mistake and ended up ruining my chance to get to know her better..."

Marleen stopped in her tracks, her voice colder than before. "You think this is just about making a mistake, Ethan? I've seen this before—empty promises, sweet words, all to cover up lies. You don't get to play with her trust like that. If you truly care about her, you'll stay away until you figure out what honesty means. Until then, don't bother trying to fix anything."

Marleen's harsh words echoed in Daniel's mind as she turned and walked away. He stood there, feeling the sting of her disappointment and the weight of his own regret. The vibrant chatter of the hospital cafe seemed to fade into the background.

"No… no… no…" Daniel shook his head, realising he couldn't accept this. He hurried after Marleen, who was heading toward the operating room. "Aunt Marleen…" he called out as he reached her. "I'm sorry, but I can't do this."

"You can't do what? Break up with her?" Marleen's face remained cold. "And do you think she won't be just as disappointed when she learns the truth?"

"Can I let her decide when the time comes? I mean, I'll explain everything to her after she recovers. I know you're mad at me and I know I'm wrong, but Aunt Marleen… can you give me one last chance? I didn't think I could lose her." His voice was low, but his desperation was clear.

Marleen turned her face away from Daniel, her gaze fixed on the door to the operation room. She remained silent, unwilling to give Daniel an answer.

Marleen's phone rang suddenly, breaking the tense silence. She answered it quickly, her face turning pale as she listened. The voice on the other end was urgent and serious.

"Ms. Marleen? This is Dr. Lee. I'm afraid Flynn's condition has worsened. We need you to come to the ICU right away. It's critical."

Marleen's eyes widened in alarm. She turned back to Daniel, her voice trembling. "I have to go. Flynn's condition is getting worse. I... I don't have time for this right now."

Without waiting for a response, she hurried towards the ICU, leaving Daniel full of thoughts.

After a tense wait, Anastasia's operation was completed, and she was moved to a private room for recovery. Despite the seriousness of the situation, her injuries were not life-threatening, a broken hand and a mild concussion.

Daniel gently pulled the blanket up to cover Anastasia. He had been waiting by her side for hours. She remained deep in sleep from the anaesthesia, and he hadn't received any updates from Marleen. He had called his parents to inform them of everything, and he knew they had arrived at the hospital shortly after.

Standing up, Daniel walked toward the window. 'Well, at least the view from up here is nice,' he thought, smirking. 'Maybe I'll start a blog: "Top Ten Hospital Views You Don't Want to Miss." '

He chuckled to himself, the absurdity of the thought briefly clearing his mind.

Daniel's phone buzzed again, and he answered it with a mix of apprehension and hope that it was just a routine update. "Yes, mom?"

The voice on the other end was his mother's, and her words were a sledgehammer to his chest. "Daniel… Flynn didn't make it. The doctors... they tried everything, but they couldn't save him."

His mind blanked for a moment, the words not fully registering. "Flynn? But... What do you mean? He's... gone?"

He repeated the words in disbelief, his voice louder than he realised. "No… that can't be true. Flynn is..." His voice trembled. "Are you sure? I mean…"

The sound of sheets rustling brought his attention to Anastasia. She had stirred awake, her eyes blinking slowly, trying to focus.

"What happened?" she asked groggily, noticing Daniel's pale face and strained expression.

Daniel's heart sank. He hadn't meant for Anastasia to overhear, but now that she had, he had no choice but to face it. He looked at her, trying to compose himself. "Anna… I—" He hesitated, unsure of how to explain.

Anastasia's eyes fluttered open, and she stared at him with concern. "What happened to Flynn?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly. She wasn't sure if she had heard correctly, but her heart was now racing as she awaited his response.

Daniel took a deep breath, his voice soft and gentle. "Anna, I'm so sorry. Flynn—"

He couldn't finish his words as Anastasia, her face pale and eyes wide with shock, yanked out the IV needle from her hand. Before Daniel could react, she stumbled off the bed and made a desperate dash for the door.

"No, no! Stop! You can't!" Daniel shouted, reaching out to stop her. But Anastasia, disoriented and still groggy from the anaesthesia, lost her balance and collapsed to the floor.

As she lay there, struggling to catch her breath, her mind raced through painful memories. Flynn had been a guiding light in her life, especially during her teenage years. The sudden and harsh reality of losing him was like a cruel echo of a past loss she had barely come to terms with.

Daniel hurried to her side, his heart aching. "Anna, please…" he said softly, holding her hand gently. He helped her back onto the bed, but as he looked into her tear-filled eyes, he saw the depth of her pain.

Unable to watch her suffer, Daniel pulled Anastasia into his arms. Her sobs were muffled against his chest as he held her tightly, offering her what little comfort he could in the midst of her grief.