"Doctor, how are they?"
Nicole felt her voice shaky, and didn't know where to put her hands.
Looking at Nicole and Samuel, the doctor said under his breath, "Miss Zoe is not badly hurt, but has a
slight concussion. As for Mr. Joseph, his chest is damaged badly, I am afraid that his physical strength
is affected greatly, and he won't be allowed to do serious physical training in future. What's more, there
are bruises and congestion in his lung, so he should be hospitalized for observation. We can promise
nothing, but will do our best."
Hearing this diagnose, Nicole almost fell down.
"How come Joseph got hurt so badly?"
The doctor looked at Nicole and sighed, "The organs in a child are fragile. And the films show that Mr.
Joseph suffered a series of serious strikes, which results in the great damages in his chest and lung. It
is supposed that he was kicked by a man. I advise you to call the police. And I should emphasize that
Mr. Joseph is not allowed to take part in serious physical training in future."
Samuel was down in spirits, and the doctor did not dare to look straight at him.
"Mr. Green, we did our best. If you still cherish hope in your heart, I will suggest you to transfer Mr.
Joseph to another hospital. You know Doctor Blair and Director Gabrielle, perhaps they have a better
solution."
Now the doctor was trying to shift the responsibility to others, because he felt that he could not afford
the aftermath.
Samuel nodded and began to arrange the transfer immediately.
Joseph and Zoe were transferred to the Military Hospital where Gabrielle was the director. After a
series of examinations on the two children, Gabrielle and Blair came to the same conclusion as before.
"Nicole, I know you love Joseph. What happened to him is terrible, but we can do nothing for it now.
Joseph should be taken good care of, and no one can tell what will happen in future. For the time
being, Joseph should be forbidden to take serious physical training, it is for his sake."
Nicole was stung by regret and self-reproach now, 'How come I let Joseph have such terrible
sufferings?'
'He is too pitiful.'
She felt too remorseful to breathe.
Samuel patted her shoulder and comforted her in a low voice, "It is my fault too. I did not look after
them well. Don't worry, I will leave Eternal Group to Joseph; as for Lucas, I would like him to start a
military career. We owe Joseph too much, for I think Joseph suffered for Zoe."
Nicole made no objection to Samuel's decisions. If there was a time machine to save Joseph from
those sufferings, she would spend all her wealth to turn back time. Unfortunately, there was no time
machine.
Both Joseph and Zoe were sent into the same intensive care unit, because Nicole felt that Joseph
would look for Zoe on his waking up.
Zoe woke up soon because her injuries were not serious. When seeing Joseph, she cried loudly in
Nicole's arms.
"Mommy, that evil driver kept kicking even when Joseph spat out blood. I ran over and bit him. Then he
pushed me down the slope. Mommy, how is Joseph now? Does he hurt badly?"
Zoe's description incurred the wrath of Nicole.
"That driver kicked Joseph?"
"Yes, Joseph was trying to protect me."
Zoe was intimidated by the fury of Samuel.
"Why did you leave home? Why didn't you tell us about your departure? You're old enough to beware
of danger. Joseph suffered for you."
The accusation from Samuel frightened Zoe into sobs.
"Alright, don't scare the child."
Nicole felt upset about Zoe's cries and was sad about Lucas.
"Zoe, tell Mommy, why did you go out with Lucas stealthily? Where were you going?"
Zoe looked at Samuel first and then at Nicole, hesitating to speak her mind.
"It's fine. Mommy is here. I promise no one will blame you, just tell me the truth."
"Including Daddy?"
Zoe looked at Samuel timidly.
Nicole nodded.
"Yes, including Daddy. No one will blame you. Be good, tell Mommy, where were you going?"
Zoe hesitated for a while before whispering, "We were going find Uncle Blair."
"Uncle Blair? What for? Were you sick?"
Nicole became nervous instantly.
Zoe shook her head immediately and looked at Samuel. After a moment of hesitation, she explained,
"We found that Daddy was ill and intended to ask for help from Uncle Blair."
"Are you sick?"
Nicole looked at Samuel anxiously.
Samuel was at a loss.
"I don't even know that."
"You have dissociative identity disorder."
This assertion was clearly heard by people in this quiet room, even though Zoe's voice was low.
Nicole and Samuel kept their eyes wide open.
"What is it?"
"Dissociative identity disorder. I learned it from Joseph's book. Joseph also said that Daddy was so
fierce when quarrelling with Mommy this morning, and behaved differently when he came back at noon,
which were the typical symptoms of dissociative identity disorder. Joseph worried that Daddy would
suffer from this disease in future if without early prevention; what's more, we might also be affected, like
being beaten by Daddy. So, we tried to find Uncle Blair for help."
Zoe's speech came as a shock to both Nicole and Samuel. Then Nicole found this fact both funny and
annoying, while it made Samuel feel despondent.
"That person appearing this morning wasn't Daddy. Daddy doesn't have that. You kids are messing up!"
Samuel did not quite understand his children.
Dissociative identity disorder?
He didn't know what the word meant in his childhood.
Suddenly, he recalled that Joseph was the last disciple of Morgan who had been teaching Joseph
about medicine recently. He did not stop Joseph, but never expected that he himself would become a
research object.
Nicole looked at Zoe depressingly.
"Zoe, if you have any confusions in future, talk to us first. For example, what happened today could
have been prevented if you came to us for assistance earlier. You could have called Uncle Blair instead
of going find him; otherwise, you should have informed us of your departure at least. No matter Daddy
is sick or not, you, Joseph and Lucas are the dearest to his heart, so he would rather hurt himself than
you kids, got it? "
"Oh, I see. Mommy, sorry."
Zoe lowered her head and cried sadly.
"How is Joseph? Is he badly hurt? Why hasn't he woken up yet?"
Who could be hardhearted to blame poor Zoe?
Samuel sighed, "Zoe, remember that Joseph sacrificed for you. And you should be good to him in
future, no matter what happens, OK?
"OK."
After the matter was clarified, Samuel held Zoe in his arms and comforted her.
Joseph woke up.
"Zoe!"
He sat up abruptly, which made him cough violently and his face turned purple.
"Joseph, don't get excited. Zoe is fine."
Nicole strode over quickly and patted his back gently.
Joseph felt his chest burning when stopping coughing.
"Mommy, Daddy, I'm sorry, I failed to protect Zoe. I..."
"You did very well, Joseph. You're a real man. Zoe did not get hurt badly because of your protection.
Daddy and Mommy are sad about your sufferings. Promise me, don't put yourself into danger in future,
no matter what happens. You're our son and we will be grieved if you get hurt."
Nicole's eyes were filled with tears.
Joseph's pains were alleviated by this family warmth.
He grinned, "Mommy, I am fine. I'll work out more to be stronger. And I'll learn to protect my sister and
brother."
This speech made Nicole feel sorrowful, and her tears flowed down her cheeks immediately.
"No, no physical training. Let Zoe work out and protect you in future."
"How could I ask my little sister to protect me? Mommy, I'm fine. I can build up my body."
Joseph patted his chest to make promises, and he coughed violently again.
Seeing that Nicole was so remorseful, Samuel said to Joseph, "Alright, we will talk about it later. Petty
will be here in a while, and she will take care of you two. Daddy and Mommy have work to do."
"Daddy, are you going to dispose of that driver?"
Joseph was not an ignorant child, as he learned from his experiences.
Samuel did not hide anything from Joseph and nodded to his question.
"Yes, anything to supplement?"
Looking at Samuel, Joseph thought for a moment. He said with some uncertainty, "I don't know if I was
dazzled. I saw a tattoo on that man's arm."
"Tattoo?"
It drew Samuel's attention.
"Do you remember the pattern?"
"Yes, it is a poppy which I once saw and learned from the medical book. Daddy, I have a feeling that he
is more than a driver who provides only online car-hailing service. The residents of the Seapolis City
should know our community and don't dare to mess up with children from this community, that is why I
relaxed my vigilance. But when I warned him with my identity, he did not let us go, what's worse, he
threatened to sell Zoe. And I hated that he stared at Zoe like a hungry wolf staring at its prey. It seems
that his target was Zoe from the very beginning.
Joseph combed through his memories and told Samuel his opinions in an orderly manner, causing
Samuel and Nicole to frown.
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