His Unveiled Passion novel Chapter 359

Stephen stood outside the door for a while longer to listen in on Caleb and Sophia's conversation, but eventually didn't go inside.

The sky was gloomy outside, and a light drizzle began to fall, fine and steady.

Stephen walked to the hospital entrance, looked up at the heavy, oppressive sky, his thoughts adrift.

There might really be no future left for him and Tessa.

Caleb was only 52, yet he was dying.

When Stephen was five, the scandal of Caleb's illegitimate child came to light. Sophia had fought hard for a divorce, but in the end, the marriage had been forced to continue due to pressure from both families.

He remembered everything from that time clearly. Those painful memories had long taken root in him. He remembered every bit of pain Sophia endured, her crying alone behind closed doors, the endless arguments between his parents, and the look of disdain in Caleb's eyes.

He knew Caleb didn't love Sophia.

Caleb didn't love him either.

He had never known what a father's love felt like. Growing up, he and Caleb had never been close. He always thought that when Caleb died, he wouldn't feel anything.

But now that it was actually happening, he realized he couldn't stay indifferent.

Not far off, a middle-aged man came hurrying toward the hospital entrance, one arm cradling a little boy, the other holding up an umbrella.

Soon, the man walked past Stephen.

At the entrance, he closed his umbrella and bent down, gently whispering to the boy in his arms, "Don't cry, baby. Daddy's taking you to see the doctor. It won't hurt much longer."

Stephen's heart trembled. He couldn't tear his gaze away, remaining glued to that scene.

The little boy looked no more than a year or two old.

The man wore a dark blue uniform of some factory, with the company's name embroidered on the chest.

Stephen noticed the man's hands—rough, dark, and covered in calluses.

But even with those coarse hands, he held the child so gently, overflowing with fatherly love. His weathered face was full of worry and urgency.

Stephen had never seen that expression on Caleb.

No, that wasn't true. He had seen it once.

That year, Caleb returned to the country with James, begging Ralph and Rowena to let James be officially acknowledged as part of the family.

Ralph and Rowena refused and didn't even let them in the house.

So Caleb knelt outside with James in his arms, refusing to leave.

That day, the weather was just like today. There were heavy clouds overhead, and it later started to rain.

At the time, Caleb took off his coat and draped it over James' head to shield him from the rain. But still, James got soaked, caught a cold, and ran a fever.

The panicked and desperate look on Caleb's face that day was exactly the same as this weathered man's.

Stephen stared at him silently, his chest tightening with pain.

The man hurried away with his child.

Stephen pulled his gaze back, looking out into the curtain of rain.

A few women standing by the entrance blushed and kept sneaking glances at him, whispering to each other.