Chapter 187: MEETING DERYL MCKENNA
After a few kisses and some making-out sessions, Hazel was finally able to convince Ranon to go to the hospital.
However, she was still not happy with the hickey on her neck, which she had to cover with a shawl.
"Next time you do it again, I will be very mad with you," Hazel said in a warning tone, but Ranon actually laughed at that.
"So, you do expect there will be another time. I see." He nodded in understanding.
"You are crazy," Hazel grumbled. Ranon had become more cunning. She didn’t even expect he could be comfortable enough to tease back and forth with her.
At this rate, she was going to have another baby with this man. That wouldn’t do because it would be another headache for them.
It took them an hour to reach the hospital, and during the entire journey, Ranon and Hazel discussed a few random things lightly.
Hazel was not even surprised when Ranon knew where to look for Olivia. He must have been well informed by his men about the situation here.
However, when they went closer to Olivia’s ward in the VIP room, they saw four men standing on guard. They immediately stood up when Ranon and Hazel approached them.
"I want to see Olivia," Hazel said.
McKenna’s people.
Hazel immediately recognized two of them. If they were here, it meant Deryl was also here. But it had been so long since he showed his care towards his daughter.
"Mr. McKenna is still inside. I will check with him."
They looked at Ranon when they answered Hazel. It was very blunt to see that they didn’t chase her right away because of Ranon.
At first, Hazel thought they wouldn’t be allowed to come inside, but two minutes later it was Deryl who came and greeted them personally.
"Good day, Mr. Leighton, Mrs. Leighton." He nodded politely, and even when the corner of his lips quirked up into a smile, it didn’t reach his eyes at all.
Deryl McKenna was River’s father’s loyal confidant. He trained his son to be an assassin, but his relationship with his daughter was a little bit rocky, as Olivia hated her family’s business.
Although, from what Hazel remembered, Olivia used to be her father’s favorite. It was not clear what happened that changed the dynamic between them.
"I am surprised that my daughter befriended your wife," Deryl said. He didn’t even look at Hazel.
This subtle demeaning attitude was expected. Deryl respected River, but Hazel held no value in his eyes. However, the way he disregarded his wife didn’t go unnoticed by Ranon.
"Your daughter designed the wedding dress for her," Ranon replied languidly. He hinted at how his daughter worked on something for his wife, and she was paid for that.
But if Deryl wanted to mention River, Ranon didn’t mind it either. It would open the topic for him, since he had been gathering more information about her.
Yet, Deryl simply nodded. He didn’t bring up River.
"I appreciate the gesture, but my daughter has just woken up," Deryl said calmly. "It is unfortunate, but you can come back again later."
The corner of Hazel’s lips twitched. He was not being very secretive when he kicked them out. If she knew he would be here, she wouldn’t have come. The timing was off.
But when Hazel was about to take Ranon and leave, the man stayed firm and spoke shamelessly.
"We have taken an hour to drive here. My wife is pregnant, and she still finds time to visit your daughter. I will appreciate it if you give the two women time alone."
If Hazel came alone, refusing her entrance would be easy, but with Ranon here, and he had already spoken like that, it wouldn’t be proper to turn him away.
"I didn’t know you were this shameless to force your way in," Hazel said in a low voice, which only Ranon could hear.
"At least, I have learned something from you."
"What?" Hazel frowned.
But thankfully, Deryl didn’t make things difficult. Leighton’s name still held so much value in his eyes, despite the fact he used to be their target.
"While waiting, why don’t we have a cup of coffee?" Deryl offered.
Hazel’s eyes flashed with this offering. She tiptoed and kissed him on the cheek. "I will come back soon." But then she actually whispered a warning. "He is Lozen’s confidant."
Ranon nodded. He caressed her cheek and kissed her back. Whispering like she did earlier. "I know."
The sight was rather lovely, but Deryl found this a little bit strange. It felt familiar.
And then he remembered that was how River coquettishly acted around Lyle when they went on their first mission together, as they were undercover.
However, that was a far stretch, and he dismissed the thought immediately.
***
Laurel had been trying to ignore her father, but Denzel was determined to stop her attempt to divorce James.
At this point, it was not about business anymore, since Ranon had told him they were going to be alright without the support from the Starling.
This was about control.
Denzel had lost his control over Ranon and Laurel because the two of them no longer did what they were told.
He became even more enraged when Ranon stopped coming to the company, which caused an uproar among the shareholders.
However, Denzel didn’t want to back down, since his pride didn’t allow him to do so; thus, he vented it on Laurel by pressuring her.
It was not easy to track her down, since Laurel moved very often to avoid her location being disclosed, but finally, Denzel got to know her whereabouts, and here he was, sitting in his wheelchair right outside her door.
"What are you doing here, Father?" Laurel asked with a sigh, but her gaze hardened when she saw James standing behind Denzel. She had been harassed by him about Carl’s condition.
His message ranged between pleading and demeaning, but now she had to face him along with her father too.
"That’s how you greet your father?" Denzel pushed his wheelchair and entered the house. This place was one of their vacation houses; they used to come here when Laurel was little.
"Laurel, let’s talk inside," James said; his voice was calm.
"If you want to talk inside, please do. I am going out." Laurel stepped aside to avoid James, but he caught her elbow and stopped her from leaving.
"Don’t be childish. This is an important matter."
"Important for you, not me."
"This is about Carl." Once again, he used this card. "Do you think Carl is not important?"
Hearing that, Laurel felt conflicted. There were times when she wanted to go to the hospital and check on his condition, or even ask Ranon about any news about her stepson, but she stopped herself because there would be no end to it.
"I see you still care." James caught Laurel’s hesitation. "I will not talk about our problem. I need your input about Carl’s situation."
Finally, he learned something and changed his strategy.
However, it was not easy to deal with Laurel, especially when she was already determined about something. "I am not his mother. You need to find Amelia and ask for her opinion."
James flinched when Laurel mentioned Amelia. She had been asking to see Carl, but James forbade her to come near his son.
"Amelia will not be involved in this. She doesn’t know Carl like you do." He then explained how he had stopped Amelia from coming near Carl. "I don’t lie to you when I say I have cut all ties with Amelia."
However, Laurel didn’t care. It was a little too late. "So? Should I praise you for that?"
"Laurel..." James looked tired. "You know Carl, and he has been asking for you. Your presence will help him." He leaned over and looked at her closely. "I need you to go through this."
"Does it matter whether I know him or not?" Laurel said in a matter-of-fact tone. "It will not change anything. You are his father; don’t you have any idea how to handle your own son?"
"Enough!" Denzel roared angrily. He faced Laurel, and his sharp gaze fixed on her.
Laurel hated it when her father had this effect on her, as she immediately shut up. She grew up fearing her father, and it was hard to change it.
Old habits died hard.
"You are going to sit down and listen to what I am going to say! You have been very ungrateful recently!" Denzel squinted his eyes. "Do you think you can rely on Ranon? Do you think he cares about you?! He is only going to use you and throw you away once you are not useful for him anymore!"
Laurel laughed at that statement. That sounded very ridiculous, and somehow, she couldn’t stop herself. This situation was too absurd. She wondered where her father got this idea.
"Laurel!" Denzel felt humiliated because it almost looked as if Laurel was mocking him, which she was.
"Father, you don’t even believe that." Laurel wiped the tears from her eyes. "I am flattered that you think I am useful for Ranon."
All of them knew Laurel didn’t even enter Ranon’s eyes. There was only one reason why Ranon helped her; it was because by doing it he could piss Denzel off, or so he thought.
Because the real reason was Hazel, because she asked him to.
"I am done here. I don’t have anything to say." Laurel yanked her elbow harshly and glared at James when he was about to stop her again.