Chapter 247
Joseph’s under the weather, so I brought him over
Lizetta felt a bit out of her depth facing Hogan
Seeing her on edge, Hogan didn’t try to close the gap.
“I’ve been trying to reach you these past few days to discuss Thaddeus transfer to another hospital, but your phone’s been off the god
Lizetta pursed her lips. “Hogan, I’m worried that Thaddeus won’t be able to handle the flight or the vibes abroad, so I’ve decided to keep
him here”
Hogan was taken aback. “But we had a deal, right? The Lab was all set up to welcome him.”
Lizetta shook her head firmly. “Don’t sweat it, Hogan. I’ve made up my mind, sorry”
As she turned to leave, Hogan frowned slightly and called out with a hint of urgency in his voice.
“Liz, you in the know about something?”
Lizetta stopped in her tracks. Since Hogan had brought it up, she wanted some answers too.
She turned around, locking eyes with Hogan.
*Are you talking about that car crash you had four years ago, the marriage proposal from Helen, or the fact that you’ve been footing the bill for Astoria Medical Lab just for Thaddeus?”
Her gaze was frosty.
She wasn’t bom yesterday, Hogan’s motives were as clear as day.
But Lizetta didn’t feel honored–just baffled, offended, and uneasy.
Hogan looked flustered and took a step forward.
Instinctively, Lizetta stepped back. She didn’t even know what to make of Hogan anymore.
Was his whole stint as her brother’s doc a calculated move?
Hogan gave a bitter chuckle, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he spoke with resignation.
*I’ve played out confessing to you in my head a million times, but it never looked like this. What a mess, sorry.
He spread his hands, then straightened up.
“Maybe you think the first time we met was that mix–up back when you were a freshman and I was a junior. But actually, that wasn’t our first encounter.”
Lizetta was stunned. She racked her brain but couldn’t remember meeting him before that.
Seeing her blank look, Hogan pulled out his phone, opened his WhatsApp, and enlarged his profile picture to show her.
“Look familiar?”
Lizetta took it, seeing a profile picture of a small orange cat, looking cozy and well–behaved in Hogan’s large hand.
It must be Hogan’s pet, but she didn’t get why he was asking her about familiarity. Did she and the cat have a history?
Hogan would have been a sophomore when she was in middle school.
She thought hard, then a memory flashed.
One year, she found a wounded orange kitten in the school woods and took it to the infirmary. The doctor wasn’t there, but she bumped into a senior from the high school.
The senior helped her stitch up the kitten and apply medication. She named the kitten CoCo and temporarily placed it in a cardboard box, feeding it regularly.
Sometimes she’d bump into the senior checking on the cat. She wanted to keep CoCo, but Hanna hated pets, so she couldn’t.
Then came a downpour, and worried about CoCo, she went to check with her umbrella and saw the senior again.
CoCo’s cardboard home had collapsed, and the kitten was a pitiful sight. She asked the senior to take CoCo in, and he agreed.
“This is CoCo?”
“You remember?” Hogan’s lips curled slightly.
Lizetta felt sheepish. She did remember the cat but only had a vague recollection of Hogan.
“That year you were a freshman, and I was learning to dance with Younne because I heard you wanted to study with her. I got there first. We were just students then, and I didn’t want to disturb you, so I kept my feelings under wraps. I figured once you were in college, I’d
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definitely confess and pursue your properly. But then, I had that accident and lost feeling in my legs.
Hogan was the big man on campus, with an Ivy League quaranten. Lizella was finishing up freshman year when he graduated and want
abroad.
His accident overseas was kept hush–hush around school.
Lizetta remembered how teachers and classmates would often reminisce about the brilliant and exceptional student
While everyone thought he was making waves overseas, he was actually enduring the pain of his disability. She felt a wave of emotion.
“You’re strong Hogan. You got back on your feet.”
Hogan’s smile remained warm, as if he had weathered many storms and was now at peace.
“I was in despair, too, you know I even popped sleeping pills at my lowest. My mom found my diary after that scare.”
Hogan locked eyes with Lizetta. “She saw you as my hope for recovery and went to the Dashiell family to propose marriage. When I found out, I talked to her and promised to get my act together. She cleared things up with the Dashiell family, but by that time you had already…”
