Chapter 1681: Chapter 1681

McNeil’s mind snapped back into focus as he turned his gaze towards Bryan, who was chuckling at something on his phone. His cheeks turned a rosy red. “Who’s that from?” He probed.

Startled, Bryan stood up and cleared his throat. “Ah, Dad, give me a moment. I need to return a call to a friend. I’ll be back to continue our chat in a bit.” Without waiting for his father’s response, he swiftly exited the room, phone in hand.

McNeil, being a man of experience, could tell that his youngest son was head over heels for someone.

Even Bryan had someone special, yet Balfour, his eldest, lived like a monk. A grown man of thirty who had never been seen with a girlfriend was a bit troubling. Perhaps the failure of his own marriage had influenced Balfour’s views on love, making him indifferent towards it.

Sigh.

Once out of the hospital room, Bryan asked the security guard to keep an eye on the door and walked towards a quieter spot to make his call.

It was a text from Ida, asking about his father’s condition. The fact that she cared for his family’s affairs delighted him. It felt like she was genuinely concerned about him. After a few rings, Ida picked up. She barely managed a “Hello” before Bryan blurted out, “Ida, I miss you so much!”

Ida, who had intended to inquire about McNeil’s condition, was taken aback by Bryan’s confession and fell silent.

From Bryan’s tone, she could tell that Mr. Howard was probably well on his way to recovery.

Bryan pushed her to speak after a few moments of silence passed. “Ida, say something.”

Adjusting her glasses, Ida replied, “What should I say?”

Grinning, Bryan teased, “Say you miss me too.”

Ida gave him nothing but a dry laugh. “As long as everything is okay with your family, I’m relieved. Stay home and take care.”

With that, she was about to hang up.

Sensing her intention, Bryan quickly intervened. “Wait! Ida, don’t hang up.”

Ida paused. “Anything else?”

Since he was unable to leave the hospital and was desperate to meet her, Bryan concocted a little white lie. “Ida, I got hurt. Can you come to the hospital to see me?”

Ida frowned. “You got hurt? Where?”

Feigning injury, Bryan replied, “I hurt my arm. It hurts a lot.”

Ida asked sternly, “How did it happen?”

Bryan continued his act. “You know, yesterday… when my dad attempted suicide? I accidentally got scratched while saving him.”

Ida asked, “Which hospital?”

“Central Hospital.”

“Wait for me.” The line went dead before Bryan could say anything else.

Ida seemed in a hurry. Was she rushing to the hospital to see him? Did she really care for him that much?

Bryan, who was used to being ignored, felt overwhelmed and flustered by the sudden attention.

The thought of Ida coming to see him made him ecstatic, but he needed to prepare.

If Ida came and saw that he was perfectly fine with no injuries, she would definitely be angry.

With this in mind, Bryan rushed to the nurses’ station, pleading with a nurse to bandage his uninjured arm. He even borrowed some iodine to make it look like a real wound.

After seeing him like this, Ida would surely be worried, right? Hahaha!