Day Sixty-Eight..

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Mia recognized Jane through the photo that was shown to her by Vincent. He said the woman in his wallet was her mother.

"What do you mean?" Ethan asked her confusedly.

"Does she have a twin? She looks like my mother." Mia had mixed emotions right now. Longing could be seen in her eyes.

Ethan, on the other hand, fell silent. He didn't know what was going on. Though Jane was not his biological mother, he didn't want Mia calling her 'Mom'. He was jealous.

"Maybe this is just a coincidence. Your mother and my mother have similar features. Besides, you said, your parents were gone. She can't be your mother." Ethan pouted his lips.

Mia could only bob her head. But her eyes were still fixed on Jane. "I envy you, Ethan. You have a mother.. like her. If only my mom is still alive.." Mia heaved a deep sigh. She still couldn't believe that Ethan's mother looked like her mother.

'I should ask Uncle Vincent about this. What if.. my mom is still alive.. not dead.' Mia was having a wishful thinking.

"What's wrong with her? Is she gravely ill?" Mia asked Ethan worriedly. She reached out to hold Jane's hand. Something pinched her heart when she touched her. Her yearning for her mother intensified inside her chest.

"She is a sleeping beauty. Don't worry. She will wake up two days from now." Ethan whispered in her ear.

"Eh? Two days from now? Why?" Mia couldn't understand why Jane should wake up after two days. "Did the doctor make her sleep for that long?"

"Yes. A quack doctor whose name is Bam-Bam," Ethan said, turning around as he searched for Bam-Bam. He hadn't seen him for a while. He wondered where that magical creature was lurking around.

Mia pouted her lips and said, "We should file a complaint against that doctor. How can he let a patient sleep for too long? I bet you miss her already." She patted Ethan's back, consoling him.

They were still talking when Mia's phone rang. Vincent called her immediately after leaving his villa. He was now on his way to Zhou's Hospital.

"Uncle? Why did you call?" Mia asked him. Ethan stayed quiet, just watching Mia.

"Mia.. I'm on my way to fetch you. What's your location again?" Though Vincent already knew where to find her, he pretended not to know because he didn't want Mia to find out that he sent her bodyguard to spy on them.

"Zhou's Medical Hospital," Mia responded, feeling a little bit puzzled. "I just arrived here, Uncle. Are you fetching me already?" she asked him in disbelief.

"Hmm. I just want to meet your friend. At the same time, I want to accompany you. Besides, I have nothing to do in the villa." Vincent responded as an alibi. The truth was he wanted to confirm if Jane was the VIP patient.

"Okay, Uncle. We will be waiting for you here. There is something I wanna ask you in person." Since Ethan was there, listening to their conversation, Mia decided to ask Vincent about her mother once he arrived.

When the call ended, Mia informed Ethan that her uncle was coming over.

"I'll introduce my uncle. You are going to see him today." Mia smiled at him excitedly.

"Okay. But I can't let him in. Dad forbade anyone from entering Mom's ward, aside from me and a few trusted friends."

Mia blinked her eyes in amusement. "Then why did you let me in?"

"Because you are harmless," Ethan answered matter-of-factly.N0v3lRealm was the platform where this chapter was initially revealed on N0v3l.Bjn.

Mia: "..."

"You won't hurt my mother," Ethan added confidently.

"Is her life in danger?" Mia asked him curiously, tightening her grip on Jane's hand.

"Yes. Though my father is not telling us about it, I can sense it. Why would he ask our family guards to scatter around here if not for her safety?" As expected, Ethan could easily grasp of the situation. He was good at analyzing things and situations.

Mia squinted her eyes and said, "Who wants to hurt your mom? I'm going to beat them all!" Mia raised her closed fist as if she was ready to punch someone.

Ethan chuckled as he held her fist. "Don't get so worked up. I can protect my mom. Ladies should be protected by men. I should be the one protecting you and my mom."

Mia blinked in amusement once again because of Ethan's last remarks. "Hmm. If that so, why were you allowing our classmates to bully you?"

"Well. I just want to waste my time dealing with their childishness. It wasn't worth it. But once they bully you, I will not hesitate to fight them." Ethan responded confidently.

"Good. That's my friend! You should fight for what is right!" Mia let out a soft giggle. Ethan joined her as his laughter bubbled up inside the ward.

Soon, Cherry returned, holding some snacks. She invited the two charming kids to eat. Cherry enjoyed talking with the two little kids. The three of them talked about Jane. Since Cherry lived with Jane for so long, she shared so many stories wherein Jane acted as her big sister. Ethan and Mia listened to her attentively.

It did not take long before Vincent reached the Zhou's Hospital. He immediately searched for Mia.

"Miss Cherry, Ethan.. I guess my Uncle is here. I have to meet him in the hospital lobby."

"Okay. Let me accompany you," Cherry volunteered.

"It's okay, Miss Cherry. Just stay here. I'll accompany her. I also want to meet her uncle. Just stay here and look after my Mom." Ethan said, letting Cherry stay behind.

Cherry was taken aback for a moment when she heard Ethan calling Jane 'Mom'. Ethan just smiled at her meaningfully.

"O-Okay," Cherry responded absentmindedly.

Ethan and Mia stepped out of the VIP ward. Ethan was still holding Mia's hand, guiding her to the elevator.

Ding!

The elevator door slid open. Vincent was already standing there, waiting for Mia. Ethan and Vincent met each other's gazes. A few seconds later, Vincent's eyes moved from his eyes to the entangled hands of Mia and Ethan.

"Uncle!" Mia let go of Ethan's hand as she run in Vincent's direction. She immediately hugged his legs.

"Mia.." Vincent called her name softly, stroking her hair.

When Mia broke the hug, she held Vincent's hand as they faced Ethan. "Uncle, this is my friend, Ethan.The smartest kid in my class." Mia proudly introduced Ethan to Vincent. "Ethan, this is my Uncle Vincent, the sweetest and the best Uncle in the world!"

Vincent couldn't stop himself from smiling. This was his first time meeting Ethan in person. He moved closer to Ethan and leaned over, hugging him.

Ethan was caught off guard by that sudden hug.

"It's my pleasure to meet you, Ethan," Vincent said, gently rubbing Ethan's back.

Ethan just smiled awkwardly. He didn't expect Mia's uncle to be so clingy. "Same here, sir."

Vincent softly chuckled. "Don't call me sir. That's too formal. You are not my employee. I'm not your big boss." He ruffled his hair.

Ethan felt like his personal space had been invaded by this guy. They were still strangers to each other but this man was acting as if they had known each other for so long. Ethan simply stepped back, distancing himself from Vincent.

Vincent gave him an apologetic look when he noticed Ethan's awkwardness and discomfort.

"I'm sorry about that, Ethan. I'm just happy to meet you today. My niece always mentioned you to me." Vincent scratched the back of his head as he apologized to Ethan.

"Oh. No worries, Uncle Vincent," Ethan politely responded.

"Sorry. I didn't bring anything. I was in a hurry to come here," Vincent explained to Mia.

"That's alright, Uncle. Ethan and I already ate snacks. Shall we go home now?" Mia wanted to talk to her uncle alone.

But Vincent was hoping he could enter the VIP ward to confirm something. "Are you done visiting his sick mom?"

Mia just bobbed her head as she tugged his hand. "Time to leave, Uncle." The little girl dragged her uncle away as she waved her hand at Ethan. "See you in school!"

Ethan could only watch the two. "Why is she in a hurry to leave?" he mused to himself.

Upon reaching the car, Mia could no longer wait to confront her uncle.

"Uncle, I saw my mom. I mean.. a woman who looks like her. She's in the hospital. Does my mother have a twin sister? Is she still alive?" Mia bombarded Vincent with so many questions. Her eyes filled with curiosity and anticipation.

On the other hand, Vincent was flabbergasted when he heard that. He remembered showing Jane's picture to Mia. He even told her that she was Mia's mother. This only meant Jane was moved in this hospital!

Instead of answering Mia, Vincent turned to look at the hospital. He found what he was looking for. She was here.

'But why is Ethan calling her mother? Don't tell me Nathan..' Vincent's line of thoughts was interrupted by Mia.

"Uncle, answer me," Mia demanded since her uncle was not paying attention to her.

Vincent turned to face her again, holding her shoulders. "Mia.."

Vincent was hesitating to say a word. He was analyzing the pros and cons of answering Mia's question.

"Mia, I lied.."

A crease formed on Mia's forehead when she heard that. "Lied about what, Uncle? Was the woman in the photo not my mother?"

Vincent cupped her face and said, "Your mother is not dead."

Mia didn't know if she heard it right. "What did you say uncle?"

"Your mother is alive."