Chapter 234

Mr. Hastings Senior looked at the tear stains on my face, then at Mom, who was still lying on the hospital bed. In the end, he let out a sigh and said nothing. I stole a glance at him. He looked much older than the last time we met, with more gray streaking his hair. His gaze remained fixed on Mom's face. It was filled with an emotion I couldn't quite decipher—worry, guilt, or perhaps both. After a long silence, he finally said, "Serena, your mother has had a hard life." I let out a cold laugh and didn't respond. He didn't finish what he wanted to say. He turned to Mom and murmured. I couldn't make out everything and only caught scattered words—"Are you okay", "You shouldn't have", and "Serena will be worried". But Mom didn't look at him at all. Her empty eyes remained fixed on the ceiling as if something up there was far more interesting than him. I watched the two of them, especially Mr. Hastings Senior. I couldn't tell if I felt pity or disgust. Mostly, I just felt numb. He