Chapter 836 - Buried Under Responsibilities

"How's my mother's condition?" Dylan's tired voice as soon as he stepped through the door of the house. 

"Today, she seems to be doing better than before," replied the nurse by his side.

"You can take a rest, I want to spend some time with her alone," said Dylan and made his way towards his mother's room.

As he entered the dimly lit room, he found his father sitting beside his mother as he held her hand tightly. His eyes were closed which showed he was sleeping in that sitting position. But Dylan knew he wasn't sleeping. He had hardly been sleeping because of Zhao Wei's condition. Even now, he was just resting his eyes. Dylan placed his hand on his father's shoulder gently and he immediately opened his eyes to look at him.

"Dad, you should eat something now," said Dylan. "I'm here with mom for an hour."

His father looked at his son who appeared not only tired or haggard but also dispirited. It was obvious from just one look that Dylan hadn't been sleeping well these days. Since he had been spending time with his wife lately, all of the responsibilities had fallen on Dylan's shoulders.

The guy with the cheery aura was suddenly buried under a lot of unforeseen circ.u.mstances that forced him to grow up. With his declining appetite, his health was also declining but Dylan would never say any of that out to anyone. He didn't want anyone to worry about him. 

"Don't force yourself and close your eyes for a moment as well," his father told him before leaving the room. 

Dylan sat beside his mother and touched her face. He didn't say anything, he just continued to accompany her in silence with his mind wandering off. He didn't even know what in particular he was thinking about. He was completely out of focus. 

He suddenly felt a tug at his shirt and looked at his mother. Zhao Wei's eyes were slightly open as she tried to make out her son's face in this dim light. 

"Ma," he called out. "You're awake?"

She opened her mouth to say something but nothing came out. Her throat was parched and her lips were dry. Dylan helped her up a little before he took the water from the nightstand and put the straw between her lips. After taking a sip, Zhao Wei finally felt better.

"Is it nighttime?" she asked in a weak voice.

"No," replied Dylan. He got off her bed and walked over to the windows, as he opened the dr.a.p.es, sunlight poured inside. Clearly, it was still day but think dr.a.p.es had made the room shroud in the darkness just like this house had been shrouded in darkness for days now. 

Zhao Wei squinted her eyes because of the sudden exposure to such bright light. But she slowly got adjusted to it but ended up gasping when she looked at her son's face. Her heart ached to look at him right now.

When he came back to sit with her, Zhao Wei forced herself to lift her hand to caress his non-shaven face. She had never seen her son in this condition before. Dylan had always been particular about his looks. The way he looked or the way he dressed, it all mattered to him way too much. But now, he didn't even care that his suit was wrinkled and it seemed like he hadn't changed out of these clothes for a couple of days now. There was a beard on his face that he didn't bother to take care of. 

Dylan held her hand as he saw the distress and worry in her eyes. "Ma, are you hungry? What do you want to eat? I'll ask someone to bring it for you."

"Have you eaten anything?" inquired Zhao Wei in return making Dylan press his lips together.

He avoided looking at her as he lied through his teeth, "I have. I already ate." He couldn't bring himself to tell her that he had been skipping lunch because he used that hour to come and visit her every day, just like he used his dinner time to check up on his best friend. While running back and forth, he would occasionally eat a steamed bun just so his body could function properly. 

"Lying is not a good habit," said Zhao Wei. "See what is for lunch. We'll eat together."

Dylan looked at his mother and nodded his head before he left the room. He first ordered someone to make something for lunch and then he went to call his father. But when he found his father asleep on the sofa, he didn't wake him up. He knew if he woke him now, he won't sleep again.

Then he went back to his mother's room and saw her looking out the window in a daze. Feeling his presence, she turned around and smiled at him softly. She beckoned him close and Dylan went up to her side. He put his head on her stomach while she ran her hand through his hair.

Dylan felt relaxed with her hand on his head. He didn't know he had been missing it for days now. Since the day, Zhao Wei had a heart stroke due to stress, she had been comatose. While he did get to see her, he didn't get to feel her warmth like this. And now that she placed her hand on his head, he finally felt like he could breathe again.

He had been scared just because of the idea of losing his mother. 

"How are Regi and Xiu?" she asked making Dylan's body stiffen slightly.

"They are doing well now," replied Dylan and even gave her all the details regarding Darren and Xiu's health. 

"That's good," she replied and heaved a sigh of relief. "Did you meet him?"

"I..." Dylan was gonna lie but somehow he couldn't do it. He felt stifled at the moment. He wasn't scared of facing Darren anymore, now he just didn't know how to do so. He could sneak up every night to check up on him while Darren was asleep but directly going to him when he was awake... He hadn't been able to do so.