Chapter 8

Leo hadn't left yet. He had been gathering his thoughts for a while, about to say something, when the hospital room door was pushed open again.

The tapping sound of a cane hitting the floor made my heart clench. Without turning around, I knew who it was.

It was Caleb’s father, my adoptive grandfather, Mr. Vance Sr.

Caleb escorted Mr. Vance Sr. into the room.

“Grandpa, Uncle Caleb…”

I murmured softly, my gaze no longer lingering on Caleb for a second.

Mr. Vance Sr. snorted coldly.

“Serves you right! If you hadn’t shamelessly followed Caleb, would all this have happened? Serena told me you even broke her parachute pack, nearly killing her on the plane! What were your intentions? How could the Vance family have raised such a useless girl?”

“What does this have to do with Jocelyn? A broken parachute pack was just an accident, and Mr. Vance is no saint, he snatched Jocelyn’s parachute and gave it to his beloved fiancée, didn’t he? It wasn’t Serena who almost died, but Jocelyn… You’re Jocelyn’s grandfather, yet you come in here and immediately start barraging her with questions? She’s still injured. Is everyone in your family this heartless?”

“Leo!”

Caleb’s eyes flashed with barely suppressed anger, his gaze instantly turning sharp.

“What, did I say something wrong?”

The tension in the air was palpable.

“It was my fault for being thoughtless, for interrupting Uncle Caleb’s plans. I shouldn’t have boarded that plane. It was only right for him to give his parachute to his fiancée. I’m just an adopted child of the Vance family; my life isn’t worth much anyway. Dying wouldn’t be a loss. I’m already very content to have miraculously survived. I’m sorry, Uncle Caleb. I won’t ever trouble you again.”

I said calmly, my voice completely flat.

Caleb’s heart clenched. He countered,

“You?”

“You’re an elder. Is there anything wrong with addressing you that way?”

Mr. Vance Sr.’s expression finally softened somewhat.

“It’s good that you know your place! Don’t cause Caleb any more trouble in the future! Otherwise, I won won't be so lenient with you!”

If it had been before, I would have been utterly wronged, turning my gaze to Caleb, seeking his protection and comfort.

But this time, I was exceptionally calm, even detached.

“Jocelyn…”

Caleb felt a growing unease in his heart, a stifling pressure in his chest.

“It’s getting late, Grandpa, Uncle Caleb. You should head back. I apologize for causing you trouble; it won't happen again.”

Mr. Vance Sr. had originally been seething with anger, ready to properly discipline this disobedient girl.

But his rage met no resistance, and it deflated. Although displeased, he couldn't continue to pick a fight.

“Come on, Caleb. Serena is waiting downstairs. Aren’t you two going for a wedding dress fitting soon?”

At the mention of wedding dresses, Caleb subconsciously glanced at me, feeling a strange apprehension.

But I seemed not to have heard him, my eyes empty.

He finally panicked, a cold dread washing over him.

“Jocelyn, are you okay?”

I shook my head. “I’m fine. You should go, don’t worry about me.”

“I… I’ll stay with you for a bit.”

“Stay for what? Is she a three-year-old?”

Mr. Vance Sr. was about to erupt again. Caleb swallowed the words he was about to say.

“Alright, your twentieth birthday is coming up soon. I’ll come pick you up from the hospital then, and we’ll celebrate properly.”

“We’ll see.”

I stopped looking at Caleb. Appearing tired, I turned my gaze towards the window.

That dull ache grew stronger and stronger, making even breathing difficult.

Caleb grew more and more uneasy, but he didn’t know what else to say.

Ultimately, he gave up, leaving with a promise of "I'll come see you tomorrow," then departed with Mr. Vance Sr.

Life in the hospital was exceptionally calm. I no longer had that stubborn persistence I once had; instead, I felt lighter.

Caleb had visited me a few times, perhaps plagued by guilt.

He was no longer cold and aloof, seeming to have transformed back into the uncle who had once spoiled and indulged me unconditionally.

But I knew, everything had changed.