Chapter 1172: Chapter 1172
Jeffrey Foster’s mood suddenly calmed down, the inexplicable anxiety of the past few days faded away as he quietly waited for the doctor to reapply the cast, and under Cloud Parker’s arrangement, he underwent a series of examinations.
After leaving the hospital, Jeffrey Foster didn’t immediately return to Rose Valley but instead dialed Abigail’s number.
Since the last phone call, Jeffrey Foster hadn’t contacted Abigail, and this time he was asking to meet her.
Abigail was quite surprised that Jeffrey Foster would ask to meet, but after a moment’s hesitation, she agreed.
However, to prevent jealousy at home, Abigail informed Brandon Piers before she went.
As the weather gradually warmed up, Abigail returned to the research institute after the hundred-day period since the baby’s birth, and Brandon Piers also ended his ’maternity leave’ to officially return to work amidst Adam Piers’ various complaints and threats.
Brandon Piers had just finished a meeting when he received Abigail’s message. Upon seeing it, his eyebrows furrowed, causing Adam Piers, who was following behind him planning to apply for some annual leave, to feel a bit unsettled. But wasn’t the meeting just fine?
"Why are you still following me?" Brandon Piers stopped halfway and turned to ask when he realized someone was still behind him.
His gaze was calm and expressionless, but Adam Piers just felt that he wasn’t happy, so he turned and left without saying a word.
Annual leave is good, but life is more important.
Watching Adam Piers’ departing figure, Brandon Piers glanced sideways at Kelvin Max, "What’s up with him?"
Kelvin Max took a step back silently, "I have no idea."
"A cat’s illness." Brandon Piers muttered and returned to his office, glancing again at the message from Abigail on his phone, puzzled at what Jeffrey Foster was up to with Abigail now.
Hadn’t he fallen for a young girl? Why was he bothering his wife again?
"Look into Jeffrey Foster’s situation lately," Brandon Piers finally couldn’t resist instructing Kelvin Max.
"I was just about to report to you, Dr. Foster seems to have broken up with that girl, and his condition seems bad." Although the BOSS said there was no need to pay attention to Jeffrey Foster’s situation, as an efficient secretary, Kelvin Max understood that not needing to monitor didn’t mean he shouldn’t know.
Brandon Piers immediately became alert upon hearing this, "Do you know the specific reason?"
This put Kelvin Max in a difficult position, but as an assistant, he naturally couldn’t say he didn’t know, "I’ll have someone look into it right away."
Brandon Piers nodded, still holding the phone and pondering how to reply to Abigail.
Over there, Abigail waited for half the day without getting a reply from Brandon Piers and guessed he might be unwilling or unhappy, so she took a moment to call him.
Seeing the number, Brandon Piers hesitated a bit before answering, his tone somewhat cold and indifferent.
Abigail found it amusing, "Senior brother says he needs my help, it’s rare for him to ask, I’m quite curious."
Having known Jeffrey Foster for so many years, Abigail understood his temperament so well that unless absolutely necessary, he would never actively seek help from her. So, while surprised, she was genuinely curious.
Brandon Piers was quite annoyed. Unlike Abigail, he wasn’t so magnanimous; he bore a grudge against Jeffrey Foster for his past manipulation of Abigail, nearly costing her life by taking her to Durin.
"Curious or is there some lingering affection?" Brandon Piers almost bit his tongue after saying this. He knew Abigail’s feelings for him, yet for some reason, he found it difficult to remain calm whenever Jeffrey Foster was involved.
Abigail was momentarily stunned, but immediately understood that he was jealous again, "Alright, then I won’t go."
"No way!"
"Hmm?" Abigail was confused, how was it that both going and not going were unacceptable?
"I’ll go with you," Brandon Piers said awkwardly, adding, "I’m actually curious about what trick he’s trying to pull."
"Okay," Abigail responded briskly, then asked Brandon what he wanted to eat so she could choose the place.
This finally lifted Brandon’s spirits slightly.
When the couple arrived at the appointed restaurant in the evening, Jeffrey Foster was already there. Seeing the white cane beside him and his empty gaze, the two were momentarily taken aback.
The last time Abigail saw Jeffrey Foster was before her pregnancy, and it was just a fleeting encounter at night. Since then, she’d only heard that his vision had problems, but facing it so directly was quite shocking.
As for Brandon Piers, he’d seen Jeffrey Foster a few times, but always with a guarded attitude, never focusing on his eyes. This was the first time he directly faced a now-blind Jeffrey Foster.
"Abigail?" Jeffrey Foster sensed some movement beside him but hadn’t heard anyone sit down for a while, so he tentatively called out.
Abigail felt a pang in her heart and responded softly.
Jeffrey Foster smiled, "Sit with Mr. Piers."
"Mmm." Abigail replied, finally seating herself alongside Brandon.
Compared to Abigail’s sorrow, Brandon was visibly displeased. He knew there was no good intention behind this meeting; Jeffrey Foster had deliberately invited Abigail to reveal his condition, clearly with a purpose.
He was taking advantage of Abigail’s soft heart!
"What is Mr. Foster’s reason for inviting Abigail? Just say it," Brandon didn’t like Jeffrey Foster, so his attitude wasn’t pleasant.
Abigail understood Brandon’s thoughts and what he was worried about, so she didn’t stop him.
Jeffrey Foster touched the cup the waiter had placed in front of him and didn’t hide his intentions, "Actually, it’s Mr. Piers I wanted to see."
"Ha." Brandon smirked, then turned to Abigail, "See, I told you he’s no good, even now, he uses you."
Abigail, seeing her husband turning childish and petty when jealous, simply held Brandon’s hand, "Let’s hear what he has to say."
Brandon, comforted by his wife’s gesture, managed to restrain himself from leaving in a huff, but his tone remained unfriendly, "Then go on, tell me what you want from me."
Jeffrey Foster didn’t feel offended, having come to terms in the morning, he was especially calm, unconcerned with Brandon’s attitude. He first apologized to Abigail, "I’m sorry, Abigail, I knew if I invited your husband directly, he wouldn’t see me, that’s why I arranged this."
And as he expected, Abigail agreed to the meeting, and Brandon immediately joined her.
Brandon was initially quite upset, but hearing Jeffrey Foster address him as her husband in front of Abigail unexpectedly mollified him somewhat. He tapped the table lightly, "Speak to me if you have something to say. Don’t look at my wife."
After saying this, he remembered Jeffrey was now unable to see, which made his expression slightly awkward, but he didn’t apologize, just urged Jeffrey to get to the point.
Jeffrey Foster didn’t beat around the bush, "The Foster family has been getting active recently, and Hearst Foster inside isn’t quite behaving. I heard the Piers group started a film company, instead of struggling so hard, why not take over the Foster and settle it once and for all?"
The Foster family initially started in the real estate business, later colluding with the third branch of the Piers family to venture into the film and entertainment industry. After Brandon Piers brought down the third branch back then, the Foster enterprise was also severely affected, and he took the opportunity to deal a fatal blow to Hearst Foster, sending him to prison.
But as they say, a lean camel is bigger than a horse; though Hearst Foster went to jail, the Foster family hadn’t completely fallen. Now Hearst isn’t behaving, still trying to move against him, but that’s only because he still has some capital. What if the Foster family is completely gone? Hearst would not be a concern anymore.
In the past, he naturally had ways to handle all this, but when he took Abigail to Durin, he practically burned his bridges, leaving almost nothing in the country. Now, being blind, he can’t operate as thoroughly as he used to.
If it were just himself, he wouldn’t mind not being thorough. He wouldn’t care if something happened to him, but now it’s different. He wants to recover, to see the girl again, even...to try to live like a normal person, so he doesn’t dare to gamble.
Although Brandon Piers is his rival in love, he is also the only one who can truly help him.
"Ha!" Brandon Piers laughed as if he heard a joke, "Do you think I’m a garbage collector? What use is it to me to take over the mess of the Foster family? Why should I help you? Do we have any ties?"
This was quite a blunt remark. Abigail couldn’t help but glance at Jeffrey Foster, chastising her husband with her eyes but saying nothing.
"Haven’t you always minded me and Abigail? Help me, and I won’t bother you anymore, and I’ll also strive to get married early to ease your concerns," Jeffrey Foster said with a frank expression.
Brandon Piers was shocked hearing this. Although he had been in contact with Jeffrey Foster many times, he never knew this person’s face could be so thick. Who did he think he was?
Abigail also paused for a moment, then couldn’t help but laugh, "Senior brother, you have someone you like?"
Jeffrey Foster always knew Abigail was sharp; he didn’t deny it after hearing her, responding with a light "Hmm," "I want to plan a future for myself. I know this sounds despicable, but in my current state, I can’t guarantee I can protect her well."
"You actually know you’re despicable?" Brandon Piers remarked mockingly at Jeffrey Foster’s candid response.
But it was really hard to blame Brandon Piers for looking down on Jeffrey Foster. Since knowing him, this seemingly refined and honest person always acted rather despicably.
"Thank you," Jeffrey Foster addressed Brandon Piers.
Brandon Piers let out a laugh filled with anger, "Did I say that was a compliment?"
"The Piers Group is building a high-end intelligent hospital in East City, I heard it’s set to finish by the end of this year, you probably need doctors, right? I can sign a ten-year contract with you," Jeffrey Foster ignored Brandon Piers’ sarcasm, continuing to state his second condition.
"You?"
"I’ll start rehabilitation therapy as soon as possible."
"You say you’ll recover, and I’m supposed to believe that? What if it takes you ten years or more?" Brandon Piers had seen arrogant people before but never someone as self-confident as Jeffrey Foster; he was truly amused.
Abigail couldn’t help but give her husband a light tap, then turned to Jeffrey Foster, "Let me check your pulse."
Jeffrey Foster nodded and extended his wrist; Brandon Piers’ face changed immediately, but the next moment, Abigail gently shook her head while holding his hand.
Very soon, Abigail finished checking Jeffrey Foster’s pulse, "Your body has mostly recovered; if you still can’t see, it’s probably not a physical issue."
"Hmm, ophthalmologists suggested I undergo psychological therapy," Jeffrey Foster didn’t hide anything from Abigail.
Abigail nodded, "If it’s not due to a physical reason, the chances of recovery are high as long as you let go of your mental block," she said, glancing at Brandon Piers, "As a top-notch cardiologist with domestic prestige, getting you into our family’s new hospital would open up opportunities easily."
"Huh," Brandon Piers snorted arrogantly, but inwardly he agreed with Abigail, "Then let’s wait until your eyes get better."
Hearing this, Jeffrey Foster’s expression tightened, "I..."
"Don’t worry; since we’re taking you in, we’ll ensure your safety in the meantime," Brandon Piers discerned Jeffrey Foster’s concern and interrupted him coldly.
"My safety isn’t important," Jeffrey Foster lowered his head.
Brandon Piers sneered when he heard that, "Abigail, see that? He claimed to love you so much, but he’s been ensnared by a younger girl."
"I didn’t..." Jeffrey Foster instinctively tried to defend himself, but after speaking only a couple of words, he realized his recent behavior seemed to confirm what Brandon Piers said, and he immediately dropped his head, dejected.
Abigail looked at the dimming Jeffrey Foster, then side-eyed her husband before gently speaking, "I understand you, senior brother."
When she began speaking, Jeffrey Foster suddenly raised his head, and even Brandon Piers looked at her instinctively as Abigail lightly laughed and explained softly, "Senior brother, your obsession with me was more about guilt than affection. The emotions between us seemed intense but had long lost their initial intent. You couldn’t let go not because you couldn’t let go of me but because you couldn’t let go of my death. After we parted in Durin, the last connection between us was gone. When you called last time to ask if I was doing well, wasn’t that your decision to let go?"
"This is good; senior brother, I’m glad you can let go of my death and start a new life. I’m also happy someone can reopen your heart and enter it, so don’t feel guilty or doubt your feelings. Cherish her well."
"Abigail..." Tears hadn’t fallen from Jeffrey Foster’s eyes for years, but he didn’t know why after hearing everything Abigail said, his eyes felt sore. He also suddenly realized that after the last phone call, Abigail had started calling him senior brother again.
She saw through everything, understood everything.
His junior sister was both smart and kind...
"Thank you," Jeffrey Foster mumbled to Abigail, and after a long time, solemnly said thank you again.
His intention today was not pure, and he didn’t have much hope, yet he didn’t expect Abigail to embrace him with the greatest goodwill.
Brandon Piers watched the interaction between the two, feeling sour, but for once did not step in, instead, he possessively wrapped Abigail in his arms, "I haven’t agreed to help him yet."
"Silly, this is a no-cost trade. No matter how you look at it, you’re gaining," Abigail’s demeanor changed from being generous and tolerant with Jeffrey Foster to playfully teasing Brandon Piers.
Brandon Piers side-eyed the person in his arms, "Should I be thanking you then?"
......
A short while later, a refresh.
Jeffrey Foster’s mood suddenly calmed, the inexplicable annoyance of recent days faded as he quietly waited for the doctor to reapply his cast and then underwent a series of tests arranged by Cloud Parker.
After leaving the hospital, Jeffrey Foster didn’t immediately return to Rose Valley but dialed Abigail’s number instead.
Since the last phone call, Jeffrey Foster hadn’t contacted Abigail. This time he was arranging to meet her.
Abigail was surprised that Jeffrey Foster asked to meet her, hesitating slightly but ultimately agreeing.
But to prevent jealousy at home, Abigail reported to Brandon Piers before leaving.