Still Alive
Gizem finished changing and stepped out of the office. She headed to the ward to check on Desi. The
girl would be staying in the hospital that night, so Gizem herself would have to work overtime.
When she arrived at the ward, Wynnie and Eil were not there anymore, likely having headed home.
Samuel was the only one accompanying Desi. The man was truly a loving father. The love he had for
Desi was very genuine.
“Daddy, I want ice cream,” Desi begged coyly.
“Some other time. We’ll have to wait till you get better.” Samuel caressed her cheek. The little girl
looked a lot like Kathleen, especially her pair of eyes. Samuel’s heart would often throb in pain when he
looked at Desi. If it hadn’t been for him, perhaps Eil and Desi wouldn’t have lost their mother’s love. He
owed his two children far too much.
“But I really want to have some,” Desi pleaded.
“Little glutton.” Samuel chuckled dotingly.
“Tomorrow, then. The convenience store downstairs is closed now.” The girl pouted.
“I don’t believe that you can’t even get me some ice cream, Daddy. You are Samuel Macari, aren’t
you?” Samuel couldn’t refute that. Meanwhile, Gizem found it rather hilarious. Samuel heard her
chuckle and turned around to throw her a sharp sideways glance. For a moment, Gizem froze.
“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. I came to refill her IV drip.” True to her word, she was carrying a bag of IV
drip. Samuel nodded. Gizem walked over to Desi and replaced the nearly empty bag with the new one.
“Ms. Zabinski, can I have some ice cream?” Desi tugged on Gizem’s white coat.
“Yes, you can.” Gizem’s red lips curved upward.
“If you intend to revisit the emergency room tonight, you can do that.” Hearing that, Desi pouted again.
“No way! I don’t want ice cream anymore!” Gizem smiled faintly.
As expected, children are so predictable. Samuel came to tuck Desi in.
“Since you’re not having ice cream anymore, sleep early, then.” Desi yawned.
“Ms. Zabinski, can you tell me a story?” Gizem froze.
“Let me do it.” Samuel furrowed his brows. In the past, Desi used to pester him all the time. It made
him feel needed.
“I got bored of your croaky voice, Daddy,” the girl grumbled. “I want to hear Ms. Zabinski’s gentle
voice.”
As she said that, she turned to Gizem.
“Can you, please?” Gizem glanced at Samuel, who said nothing. Thus, she nodded at the girl.
“Sure.” Desi was elated. She shifted from her spot on the bed to give Gizem some space. When
Gizem sat down, Desi quickly wrapped her arms around the woman’s slim waist and buried her face in
Gizem’s embrace.
“Ms. Zabinski, you smell like herbs.” Gizem stiffened. Desi closed her eyes. That’s clearly how Mommy
smelled like. Gizem didn’t think that this kid would like her that much. Samuel’s gaze darkened.
“I’m going out.” Gizem nodded. With Desi in her lap, she began to narrate a story. Since she had barely
read any fairy tales herself, she racked her brain and made one up on the spot. Desi listened
attentively in fascination. Soon, she fell asleep. Gizem, who had gone through an exhausting day,
closed her eyes too, her arms wrapping around Desi. Outside, Samuel was on the phone.
“Samuel, my subordinates have been tracking Charles for three years but haven’t found Kathleen’s
grave,” Leonard reported.
“Do you want us to continue?”
“Not even once?” Samuel’s gaze was dark and solemn.
“Not even once,” Leonard answered firmly.
“Do you suppose that Kathleen wasn’t buried?”
“Impossible,” Samuel said in a hoarse voice.
“Charles would definitely give her a proper burial.” “For three years, Charles hasn’t visited the
cemetery once. Does that mean Kathleen is still alive, then?” Leonard surmised. At that point, Samuel
suddenly burst into a coughing fit.
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