Love My Friends with Benefits

Chapter 30: Utterly Dissipated

He probably hadn't expected to see me here and was obviously taken aback.

I felt utterly dissipated. Leonard would definitely tell them about my presence because there was no

need for him to cover up for me. It looked like I wouldn't be making it out of this ward in one piece.

It didn't matter if I were the one to suffer from a beating, but what about May? Knowing her, she'd

definitely jump out without a second thought to bear the brunt of the Jones family's fury with me...

Things shouldn't have turned out this way! May shouldn't have come with me!

In that instant, countless thoughts raced through my mind.

Leonard kept staring at me, his gaze slowly taking on a hint of interest.

Perhaps he'd stared at me for too long, causing Bell to sense that something was afoot. Bell cleared

his throat and asked, "Leonard, what are you looking at?"

"It's nothing."

Leonard quickly put the sheets down to conceal me.

What was he up to?

Instead of relaxing, I felt even more anxious.

He wasn't the type to do something unless it benefited him in some way. I didn't believe for a second

that Leonard would let me off the hook.

Bell still felt concerned and asked, "You looked a little odd just now. Are you feeling unwell?"

"No, I'm fine," Leonard answered simply, starting to sound a little displeased.

...

Bell immediately smacked himself on the head and switched tacks. "That's good to know. Looks like

Queena made me so angry that I'm starting to see things."

I couldn't help admiring how flexible he was when it came to dealing with someone rich and powerful.

One of the ICU nurses pushed the door open. "Visiting hours are almost over and visitors should start

getting ready to leave."

Bell hummed in reply and picked up his briefcase, saying to Gail, "Gail, let's go."

It was obvious that he didn't want to stay even a second longer.

Aunt Nancy snorted angrily. "You don't have to force yourself to come if you don't want to!"

Bell was embarrassed and angered by this. "Nancy, what are you talking about?"

"You know very well what I'm saying!"

"You..."

At this moment, Leonard was the one who intervened. "That's enough. Mr. Jones, you need to calm

down. We're in a hospital."

Bell swallowed his anger and turned to leave. He didn't even say anything to Grandma before leaving.

Gail trailed him closely, whispering something into his ear.

My ears perked up and I tried to hear what they were saying, but all I caught was her mentioning

something about Phoebe, the wedding, and a chance.

I thought nastily, "Maybe they're thinking of ways to trap Leonard in their net again."

About a minute later, Aunt Nancy lifted the sheets and pulled me up. "Queena, come on. They're

gone."

May heard this and climbed out of the cupboard, rubbing her shoulders with a grimace.

It wasn't surprising. She had to have been cramped up in there.

The nurses hadn't expected there to be two other people hiding in the ward. She gaped at us while

holding her clipboard up.

"Queena, you're here..."

Grandma cried out in surprise when she saw me.

Her complexion was much worse than the last time I'd seen her.

I teared up and sat down next to her. "Grandma, you need to take care of yourself."

Aunt Nancy wiped her tears away. "What's the use of saying that? You know how your grandmother's

body is like. She can't take any sort of stimulation or provocation, yet Gail loves doing just that..."

"Alright, Nancy, that's enough," Grandma said reproachfully. "It's too shameful to mention things like

this in front of outsiders."

Grandma was the same as always. She had to maintain a classy, elegant image at all times, refusing to

allow others to see her down in the dumps.

"Oh, alright," Aunt Nancy said reluctantly.

...

Grandma reached out a hand and caressed my head. "Queena, things aren't easy for you, making a

living on your own. When I'm not around in the future, you have to take better care of yourself."

Her words made me feel like she was saying her last words.

"Grandma, what are you talking about?" I forced out a smile and held her cold hand. "You're doing just

fine. You'll be around for a long, long time, long enough to see me get married."

Grandma shook her head, looking at me lovingly. "I know what my body's like."

She said it casually, but it sounded perilous to me.

Aunt Nancy couldn't help bursting into tears. "Mum!"

"Don't cry," Grandma said to Aunt Nancy comfortingly. She then looked at Leonard. "You... are you

Phoebe's fiancé?"

I turned to look at Leonard.

Leonard shook his head, then nodded.

Aunt Nancy frowned. "What do you mean by that?"

Leonard paused, then answered, "I'm not too sure myself."

I supposed he had a point. His and Phoebe's wedding had been ruined. If they were to have another

one, would it once again turn them into the laughingstock of the city or even the country?

At this point in time, their wedding was stuck at an awkward stage.

The gloominess in my heart dissipated a little at the thought of Phoebe's situation.

"You ..."

Aunt Nancy was about to say something when Grandma cut her off with a smile. "I feel that you and

Queena are a much better match, though."

What did she say?

I was stunned. When I came back to my senses, my face burned, and I cried out, "Grandma!"

Did Grandma lost her mind so that she was playing matchmaker with the wrong couple?

Leonard smiled, looking like he didn't believe her. "Really?"

Behind him, May pouted, obviously not believing it.

Grandma nodded easily and gestured for me to help her up. "It's just a feeling. I feel like there's

something in your eyes when you look at Queena."

...

Leonard narrowed his eyes, not saying anything in response.

I put a pillow behind Grandma to support her. "Grandma, come on. Mr. Nell doesn't have that sort of

intention."

Judging from Leonard's attitude towards me, even if he had feelings for me, they were probably

abhorrence and revolt.

"Is that so?" Grandma shook her head, looking a little glum. "Maybe I was wrong. Queena, I've been

thinking about your grandfather recently. I even dreamt of him earlier."

Grandpa had passed away more than a decade ago. When he was still alive, he and Grandma had

been a loving couple.

Aunt Nancy said, "Mum, you're just missing Dad."

Grandma smiled. All of her teeth had already fallen out, and whenever she smiled, all we could see

were her gums. "Maybe."

After that, the ward fell into silence.

The nurse checked the time and started kicking us out. "Visiting hours are up."

Grandma and I said our goodbyes. After that, I followed Aunt Nancy out of the ward.

Aunt Nancy's house was on the west side of town. We were headed in different directions.

Therefore, we split up on the way to the basement parking lot.

I had no idea where May had run off to. I was all alone with Leonard.

She knew very well that he and I weren't on good terms, yet she'd still abandoned me to face this

awkward situation on my own...

I couldn't help silently grousing at her. ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

The four walls of the elevator were made of mirrors. Through them, I saw Leonard standing next to me

silently and stoically, his lips slightly pursed.