The Man Who Was Sleeping

"It's good that you know your place."

Astrid scowled, but she had always known that Matthew was famous for his distasteful attitude, and even more distasteful mouth. "Don't worry, I have no idea what had happened to you as I was confined in John George's. Never will I wish, nor will I ever dream about being affiliated to you ever again."

'I've already learned from my mistakes, Matthew. And I will never make them again.' She said to herself.

Raising his head, Matthew's line of sight connected to Astrid's bottomless eyes.

"Five years?" Acashia asked. "You knew each other?"

Astrid smiled. "Yes, but you see I don't like your father."

It's as if the two were in a staring contest. "He's just not the type a sane girl would marry."

Matthew let out a hearty laugh. "It's good you understand. Because the feeling is mutual."

"Definitely mutual."

As the two were bickering, practically throwing slurs and passive-aggressive words to each other, Acashia looked back and forth, trying to catch their heated conversation. She ate as she listened to the two quarreling. Her chubby little face was covered with crumbs of bread.

"I hate you." Astrid hissed.

"Likewise."

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On the way to the hospital, Matthew had arranged a car for Astrid. He intended for her to go alone, but since Acashia was throwing a fit and wanted to be with Astrid so much — Matthew had no choice but to let Astrid join them as they travel using a luxurious car. They traveled using a limited edition Panther 2019 Gunther Leon Turbo.

Although the little girl knew that she was going to the hospital, she seemed to be in a good mood. Unlike her regular visits, Acashia didn't throw any tantrums.

"I like this!" The little girl said in a sing-song tone. On her right hand was Astrid's, and on her left was her father's big ones. "I feel like we're a family!"

Matthew ignored the comments and continued to read the emails he received this morning. While Astrid tried to hide the blush that crept up on her face.

As they traveled, she continued to hum a little song. And as Acashia sang, Astrid smiled.

"By the way, pretty lady, I'll take you to meet one of my friends later, he's so handsome!"

Astrid didn't answer, but Matthew frowned and asked, "Since when have you been meeting that ugly boy in the hospital?"

If ordinary people heard how Matthew Cullin asked his question, they would have been trembling with fear. But Acashia had become so used to her father's arrogant and hot headed persona that it didn't matter to her anymore. It's as if it's normal. Not only that but the little girl had built a wall that nullifies his father's crude and ill behavior. And with Astrid holding her hand, she felt like she could fight even the baddest, meanest and the boldest ogres.

"I met the handsome boy when I was hospitalized before. Whenever you have meetings, I go to the handsome guy's room! There's nothing wrong with him. He's really good looking!"

Matthew rolled his eyes, letting raspberry sounds slip off his lips. "Pfft." He murmured. "Ridiculous."

This time, Astrid couldn't hold back her amusement and laughed out loud, in return, earning side glances from Matthew.

'Oh how everything can change in just a day.' Astrid thought as her laughter slowly died out. The day before she'd never thought she could laugh like this again. Her days inside the mental hospital were dark and empty. Even in her dreams she could not laugh, but now she was laughing her heart out.

Even the scars on the side of her face and her chin did not hide the charming side of Astrid Starling's laughter. Her eyes formed a crescent shape, sporting a dimple on her cheeks that could make any man breathless. She may be filled with scars and no longer had porcelain like skin, but she was still beautiful enough to make any man's heart skip a beat.

"Pretty lady, why are you laughing?"

Acashia thought she was the object of Astrid's amusement. The little girl pouted, unhappy with the thought of being bullied by Astrid.

In return, Astrid quickly raised and waved her hand and explained, "Don't pout, sweetie. I'm not laughing at you. I'm just curious about what kind of handsome guy caught your eyes. Don't be mad, hm?"

Hearing someone respond, Sheng Xinxin put on a mysterious look and whispered, "You'll know when you go."

However, when they got out of the car and entered the hospital, Astrid did not expect to see someone she knew all too well.

Acashia pulled her to stand in front of the so-called handsome guy, and when she did, Astrid felt her world crash and burn. It's as if a hole appeared on the bottom of her feet and dragged her down an empty and dark pit.

In front of her was a bed covered with tubes and medical equipment. The man on the bed had no stubble because someone took care of it, and he still looked handsome and bright. It's as if she saw a real life prince who was casted on a spell of endless sleep.

The handsome man's muscles didn't shrink, nor did he look weak. He still looked as strong as he used to be, but not quite. And his slightly longer blonde hair didn't cover his eyes.

Looking at his closed eyes, Astrid's knees trembled, almost gave up on her. "Austin!"

Ten minutes ago, when Matthew went to the VIP room to handle a video conference and asked the bodyguards to follow them to meet Acashia's so-called friend, Astrid thought her daughter was pertaining to a strange little boy.

But now, she could barely stop herself from bursting into tears as she looked at the man who was barely living, barely breathing as he laid in bed. At this moment her fingers laced against Acashia's head full of hair. "My love, you are really heaven sent to me…" Tears fell down from her eyes. Her heart was jumping in sorrow and glee.

Not only did her daughter help her escape from her. But Acashia also lets her reunite with the ones she loves and cares for the most.

"Mother, when will we be able to ask the doctors to remove his tubes? How long are we going to let that cripple lie there?"

Hearing someone walking towards the ward, Astrid unconsciously pulled Acashia closer to her and embraced her tightly. The two of them entered an empty wardrobe, and Astrid tried to conceal their presence the best way that they could.

Astrid even pushed away the guard, telling him to shut his trap in the nicest possible way that she could. She even covered Acashia's mouth to hush the child and told her to not make a sound.

After a few minutes, a male voice and a middle-aged woman's voice resounded inside Austin's room, causing Astrid's body to turn cold.

'It's those two!' She screamed mentally. For it was none other than her stepbrother and her father's mistress.

==============

Corazon Le Mour's voice had no remorse, no conscience. Her voice was cold and emotionless, something that Astrid couldn't forget.

"What's the rush, Noli? If that man doesn't wake up after this month, his shares will be transferred in your name, and then we will be able to formally request your father to stop those machines from..." There was a pause, and a long cackle. "...from forcing the dead to keep wasting good money."

After hearing that vile woman's words, Astrid's body trembled from anger. She wanted to throw a fit. She wanted to run outside the empty closet door, grab Corazon by the head and slam it against the wall. How badly she wanted to hurt the woman was incomprehensible. She yearned for it, wished for Corazon to die.

She knew that they were greedy. But she never thought they were yearning for it so badly. It turned out that they had long been salivating on her brother's shares.

'Since that's the case, then I'm going to fucking ruin your lives!' She hissed as she kept her silence. Plotting her vengeance.

The sound of the ruckus outside gradually disappeared. Soon the two leeches walked out of the door, the sound of their footsteps weakened until it disappeared.

After Astrid made sure that those two vermin were nowhere close to where they were, she walked out of the closet with Acashia in her arms.

The little girl who was tightly holding onto Astrid's waist looked up to her. Though she could barely grasp the situation, she knew based on the look on Astrid's face and her actions that they were bad people.

"Who were those two bad guys just now?"

Astrid pursed her lips and forced herself to smile. She didn't want to answer. But after looking down at her child, she said, "They are indeed bad guys…" She hissed. "And I must find a way to get rid of those two."

Acashia gasped, obviously excited about the matter. Thinking about how this day is going to be a bit more adventurous than the others. "Really? Can I help you?!"

"If you'd like."

But before they left the room, the little girl ran to the hospital bed excitedly. With stars shining in her eyes, Acashia pulled Astrid close. "Pretty Ladt, look, this is my friend, I was in a hurry just now, and I didn't have time to introduce you, I will come to accompany you when I have time! This is him! Isn't he handsome?"

Looking straight at the man who was laying silently and peacefully at the bed, Astrid's emotions were stirred again. Her eyes welled with tears.

"Thank you for accompanying him..."

Acashia looked up to Astrid and wondered why her pretty friend was on the verge of tears. "Why are you sad?"

"It's nothing, darling."

"It's not nothing!" Acashia pouted. "Daddy says if you lie, you die!"

Astrid smiled and kept her silence for a while. She had always been thinking about her brother after Milly Brown told her about his condition. Austin's face would always pop up in her mind.