Rebirth to take revenge
Chapter 148: Meet my father

Chapter 148: Meet my father

"It’s impossible between us," Lucy replied, her tone resolute and unwavering.

Mrs. Phillips was visibly disappointed, but she continued her persuasion. "Lucy, I know how stubborn you are. If you truly give up on Josh, you might regret it for the rest of your life."

Lucy smiled bitterly. Regret was the last thing she cared about at this moment.

"Rest for now! When you feel better, reconsider whether you want to end things with him for good," Mrs. Phillips advised before heading back to the kitchen.

The familiar sounds of knives chopping vegetables and meat filled the air, pulling at Lucy’s heartstrings. Their family could no longer afford a chef, and she could see her mother silently worrying for her. But Lucy was firm—she wouldn’t change her mind.

She wasn’t going to repeat the same mistake. If she reconciled with Josh, she’d hate herself even more. The only viable path now was to wait until Claire was discharged from the hospital. Claire, as the daughter of the influential Smith family, might be the key to salvaging their business. Lucy wasn’t someone who liked relying on others, but at this moment, Claire was her last hope.

---

Meanwhile, at the Western Medical Clinic in City A, Claire lay thoughtfully on the pristine hospital bed. She had been hospitalized for what felt like an eternity, and while Alex made it a point to visit her every day, he left at night to care for Leander, her son.

Thinking about Leander filled Claire’s heart with an aching sadness. She hadn’t seen him for days and couldn’t help but wonder how he was doing. The longing was unbearable.

As she mulled over her thoughts, a gentle knock echoed at the door. Alex entered, carrying his familiar calm demeanor.

"Claire, how are you feeling today?" Alex asked, his concern evident.

"Haven’t you been skipping work to visit me? Don’t you have responsibilities to manage?" Claire countered, her voice laced with slight guilt.

Alex smiled faintly and shook his head. "I’ve delegated most of my duties. I have the time to spend with you every day."

Claire’s smile faded, and her gaze shifted. "Alex, I want to leave the hospital."

Alex sat on the edge of her bed, leaning closer. "The doctors have recommended you stay a few more days under observation. Once you’ve improved further, we’ll talk about going home."

"I don’t want to be here anymore," Claire said softly, her head bowed. "I want to go back to the Smith family estate."

Alex placed a firm yet gentle hand on her shoulders. "Claire, please don’t act on impulse. The doctors believe you need at least six months of recovery. This hospital is the safest place for you right now. I trust their judgment."

"But Alex—"

"Listen to me. I don’t want you to suffer any more than you already have," Alex interrupted firmly. The guilt he carried for her suffering was immense, and he wouldn’t allow her to face hardship again.

"Please stay here and focus on recovering. For Leander, and for yourself," Alex added, his tone softening.

Tears welled up in Claire’s eyes. "You don’t understand how much I miss Leander."

"I do," Alex murmured, wiping her tears with his thumb. "I promise to bring Leander to visit you tomorrow. Would that make you happy?"

"Truly?" Claire asked, her eyes lighting up with a glimmer of hope.

"Yes, really." Alex nodded with a reassuring smile.

Her tears turned into a fragile smile. "Thank you, Alex. That means so much to me."

Just then, Alex’s phone buzzed in his pocket. He glanced at the screen and hesitated before answering it.

Claire noticed his reaction. "Who’s calling?"

"It’s nothing important," Alex lied smoothly. "Just some paperwork the team needs me to sign off on."

"You should go handle it. Don’t keep your employees waiting because of me," Claire said with a gentle nod.

"Alright. I’ll be back as soon as I’m done," Alex assured her as he stood and walked to the door.

As he opened it, Alex was greeted by a familiar figure standing outside—the sight caught him off guard.

"Josh?" Alex’s brows furrowed slightly. His gaze lingered on Josh Greg’s face, trying to decipher the man’s intentions.

Josh, composed as ever, gave Alex a cool once-over. Neither man seemed willing to break the tension.

Finally, Alex spoke. "What a coincidence to see you here. Are you visiting someone at the clinic?"

Josh raised an eyebrow and replied curtly, "Yes."

Alex frowned. "What brings you here?"

"Visiting a patient, of course." Josh smirked as if amused by Alex’s evident discomfort.

Alex scoffed. "Your fake concern is unnecessary. Claire doesn’t need your visit."

Josh’s smirk deepened into a more menacing expression. "Fake concern? Let me correct you—I’m not here for Claire. My family matters have nothing to do with yours."

Josh’s calm, unyielding demeanor sent a chill through Alex. Despite Josh’s words, Alex knew well how unpredictable and calculating the Greg family patriarch could be. Wealthy family politics were a terrain Alex had navigated often, but Josh’s presence always carried an unsettling edge.

Alex’s thoughts shifted to Claire. No matter what, he wouldn’t let Josh manipulate or harm her again. Claire had already endured enough pain at Josh’s hands.

"Josh, I’ll warn you once. Stay away from my family. And if you do cross paths with Claire again, tread carefully. You wouldn’t like the consequences," Alex said, his tone cold and warning.

The intensity in Alex’s voice finally broke through Josh’s composed façade. His smirk faltered for a brief moment before returning in full force.

"Don’t lecture me on consequences," Josh said before walking away, his footsteps echoing down the sterile hallway.

Alex lingered by the door for a few moments, his jaw clenched in resolve. No matter what schemes the Greg family had in store, Alex wouldn’t stand by and let Claire or Leander become collateral damage.

Josh Greg wasn’t fazed by Alex Miller’s warning. He chuckled and said, "Don’t worry, I know my place."

With that, Josh turned and left, closing the door to the hospital room behind him.

Alex Miller watched him go, a dark expression crossing his face. He motioned for one of his bodyguards to step closer.

"Assign two more men to guard this room," Alex ordered.

"Yes, sir," the bodyguard replied, bowing respectfully. "And if Josh does anything suspicious, I’ll inform you immediately. I don’t want him to harm Miss Claire."

Alex nodded sharply and walked away.

---

During her stay at the Western Medical Clinic, Claire Smith noticed that Josh visited her every single day. Though she wasn’t used to the idea of suddenly having a brother, Josh seemed unconcerned. He showed up with snacks and even helped her cut apples and pour tea.

"Thank you, Mr. Greg," Claire said one day, taking a bite of an apple and smiling softly.

But as soon as she called him "Mr. Greg," Josh’s expression darkened.

"Claire," he said with a frown, "we are siblings. There’s no need to be so formal."

At the mention of the word "siblings," something stirred uneasily within Claire. Her smile faltered as she lowered her gaze, hiding the emotions rising within her. Josh didn’t seem to notice her hesitation.

After a moment of silence, Claire said, "Mr. Greg, may I ask why you’ve been coming to see me every day?"

Josh shrugged casually. "No particular reason. I just happened to be passing by and wanted to check on you."

Claire raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Is that so?" she asked, her tone implying disbelief.

Josh Greg wasn’t the type of man to waste time on anything unless it served a purpose. As a successful businessman who had built the Greg enterprise into a dominant force in just three years, he rarely did anything without a motive.

"If you don’t believe me, we can do a paternity test tomorrow," Josh said lightly.

"No need," Claire replied immediately, shaking her head. "I believe you’re not a bad person, but I don’t have the energy to figure out your reasons right now. All I ask is that you stop coming to see me."

Josh felt a pang of disappointment at her words. He took a deep breath to steady his emotions. He couldn’t rush things with Claire—this situation required patience and strategy.

"Do you still not trust me, Claire?" Josh’s voice carried a hint of dejection.

"I just don’t think it’s a good idea for you to visit me anymore," she said bluntly.

Her straightforwardness surprised Josh. Claire trusted no one, including him. She feared his intentions and was wary of getting entangled in something she didn’t fully understand.

Josh’s expression hardened. "When you’re discharged, you will come to my house and meet my father," he said firmly.

Claire’s fists clenched. "I won’t agree to that, Josh!" she replied, her voice rising with defiance.

Josh’s face darkened further. "Claire, my patience is limited."

Her temper flared, and her eyes reddened with frustration. "I’m not going to your house! Forget it!"

Suddenly, Josh grabbed her chin, tilting her head up to meet his icy gaze.