Chapter 4295

Darren watched until Hunter was completely out of sight before returning to the inpatient ward. Inside, Caroline was on the phone with Liberty, discussing company matters. Though she was hospitalized, Liberty only needed to update her briefly on the next steps. Truthfully, Liberty could handle most matters independently by now. However, she still consulted Caroline, insisting that as long as Caroline remained second-in-command of Fisher Enterprise, she should fulfill her responsibilities. Caroline knew it was Liberty’s way of showing her respect. Not wanting to interrupt, Darren quietly moved to the guest lounge in the ward. He opened the small fridge, retrieving some of the fresh fruits visitors had brought. After washing and cutting them into bite-sized pieces, he placed them on a plate and prepared some disposable forks to go with it before carrying them back to Caroline’s bedside. By then, Caroline had finished her call. Seeing him carry another plate of fruits to her, she commented, “Didn’t I just eat a whole apple? Why’ve you prepared another plate of fruits for me?” “They gave too many fruits. If we don’t eat them, they’ll spoil. It’s best to eat them while they’re still fresh,” Darren explained, pulling up a chair beside her bed. His dark eyes traced her features, lingering with concern. “You’ve lost weight these past few days in the hospital.” “I haven’t!” Caroline stabbed a piece of fruit with the fork, chewing indignantly. “How could I possibly lose weight when you’ve been force-feeding me like I’m a prize pig? “Other than getting my injections and taking my medication, I’ve done nothing but eat. My meals aren’t small, and I have a free flow of snacks and fruits in between. And the second I try to get out of bed to move around, you panic like I’m made of glass. “My worst injury is on my arm. I can get out of bed and walk just fine!” Darren had barely gotten a word in before Caroline fired off a dozen retorts. He chuckled, conceding. “Fine, fine. You haven’t lost weight, but you did lose a lot of blood. Your complexion still isn’t back to normal. Once you’re discharged, we’ll focus on rebuilding your strength. “And you’re supposed to be resting. You’re always working. It’s a rare break, so you should rest well.” “Is my dad gone?” Caroline was tired of debating this subject with him. No matter what she said, he would still do his best to feed her as much as possible in the hopes it would make up for all the blood she lost. “Yes. I mentioned his future living situation, and that shut him up. He left, probably for his hometown, this time.” Caroline hummed in acknowledgment. “He knows exactly how things stand, but still has to make a scene. He’s always been biased.” Hunter’s favorite had always been Celine because he had believed she was his only daughter. He had doted on her, dreaming that if she took over the Fisher family, his own status would rise. Celine had played the role of filial daughter well, too. His second favorite was his eldest son, Adrian. After all, he was the firstborn and bore the Clark surname. The affection he had lavished on Adrian rivaled what he had given Celine. When he learned Celine was not biologically his, it was too late. He had already invested too much love into Celine, could not withdraw it, and could not transfer it to Caroline either. Instead, his actual daughter became the one he disliked most. Yet now, ironically, she was his only hope for support in his old age. Caroline would not take him in, but she would provide an allowance. If he needed a caretaker, she would cover that too. It would not be the lavish retirement he had imagined, but it would still surpass what most elderly in his hometown could expect. “He still has money now, so there’s no need to worry about him this year. Once it runs out, we’ll provide a monthly stipend. “I’ll pay for any hired help he gets. Have them add your contact, and if he has any issues, have them tell you. Their wages will come directly from you. There’s no need to go through him. “Otherwise, once his funds shrink, he’ll start skimming their pay. And if the pay’s too low, no one will tolerate a difficult old man. His quality of life will plummet, and without proper care… He won’t last long.”