Chapter 13 Chapter 13 Vanessa looked up, meeting Preston's cold gaze. Her cheeks flushed as her eyes welled up: "It's fine. It might just leave a scar, that's all." "Eleanor... I'm sure she didn't mean to hurt me." Preston looked at Vanessa's reddening face and stated calmly: "Hospitals are stretched thin during the holidays. This seems like a waste of resources." Vanessa's embarrassed, wounded expression froze instantly. Preston and I went downstairs to watch the snow. Soon enough, we overheard people talking about how Vanessa had been advised to leave the hospital. Some visitors passed by us, speaking with obvious disgust: "All that fuss over a tiny scratch." "My one-year-old wouldn't even need a hospital for that." "Trying to take a bed from someone who actually needs it-just because her family owns Foster Textiles." Carter was escorting Vanessa out of the hospital building. He carried a large suitcase-apparently filled with things for her "extended" stay. The people gossiping didn't bother lowering their voices, seemingly unconcerned if he heard them. Human nature tends to resent wealth. After the recession in the early 80s, when many textile businesses went under, Foster Textiles had made a remarkable comeback. In just a few years, they had become one of Boston's most successful family-owned companies. Plenty of people were envious. Carter knew this well. He had always been careful in public, never using his family's status to bully others. For years, he'd avoided Chapter 13 giving people anything to criticize. Now, being publicly called out, he remained silent-seemingly unable to find any defense or explanation. Vanessa muttered with obvious displeasure: "So what if I wanted to stay in the hospital? My brother can afford it. They're just jealous." For the first time, Carter didn't indulge her. His voice was cold: "That's enough." Vanessa looked at him in disbelief, biting her lip, eyes full of hurt. Under the mocking gazes of onlookers, Carter couldn't even lift his head. I hadn't seen such an embarrassed expression on his face in years. In his extreme discomfort, he raised his eyes and met my gaze. For a moment, I saw uncertainty and dejection in his eyes. But I quickly looked away. Boston's snowfall continued to drift down softly. I went to a grassy area and rolled a snowball, then told Preston: "I didn't know you were coming." "I actually mailed you a letter recently, saying I'd bring you a snowball when I came south." Preston reached over and tightened my collar. Looking down at me with a gentle smile, he said: "Snow melts, Eleanor. You can't take it all the way south." I crouched in the snow, staring at the snowball in my hands: "Yeah. I know." I had just suddenly wanted to see Preston so badly, wanted him to see the first snow. I mailed that letter without even remembering that snow melts. Preston crouched down beside me, his eyes filled with sadness: "I'm sorry. I should have come to get you sooner." He always worried about me. For many years, just like Carter with Vanessa, Preston could endure any hardship himself in the Army, but couldn't bear to see me face even the slightest difficulty or sadness. Now his expression was full of regret. Perhaps from the cold wind rushing into his lungs, he suddenly began coughing violently. After a while, instead of subsiding, the coughing grew worse. His usually tan skin gradually turned pale. My heart dropped to my stomach. I frantically helped him to his feet: "What's wrong? We need to get you to a doctor." In "A Relationship Kept in The Dark" by CrushReel, the storyline unfolds as renowned photographer Jane finds herself drawn to the charismatic rookie model, Hector. Little does she know that Hector harbors a secret—he is actually the heir to a powerful business empire. As their romance blossoms, Hector grapples with concealing his true identity to capture Jane's heart. However, their love story takes a tumultuous turn when jealousy rears its ugly head, threatening to unravel the delicate balance they've built. This modern romance novel delves into themes of hidden identities, unexpected love, and the complexities of maintaining a relationship shrouded in secrecy. With its blend of sweet romance and suspenseful twists, "A Relationship Kept in The Dark" stands out for its exploration of hidden feelings and the consequences of revealing long-held secrets. For readers seeking a captivating tale that combines elements of romance, intrigue, and emotional depth, this ongoing story is available to read at CrushReel. Immerse yourself in the world of Jane and Hector as their journey unfolds against the backdrop of hidden truths and heartfelt revelations.