Chapter 1684: Chapter 1684

Judging by Bryan’s response, Ida was pretty sure she was on to something.

“Alright, I won’t call for the doctor.” She followed Bryan’s suggestion and made her way to his bedside.

“We’ll spare the doctor the trouble. You want me to help you unwrap the bandages to check on the wound?”

Bryan’s expression stiffened. “Uh… Ida, I’m really fine. We don’t need to check.”

Ida adjusted her gold-rimmed glasses, her expression as serious as a judge’s. “You refuse to let the doctor check, and you won’t let me see either. Is it because you were never injured in the first place?”

Bryan blinked and quickly averted his gaze. “I…I was injured! Why else would I be lying in a hospital bed?”

Ida fixed him with a cold stare. “Okay, you say you were injured? I’ll check the hospital’s emergency room records now and see if your name is on the patient list.”

With that, Ida stood up and turned to leave.

Realizing his ruse was up, Bryan quickly sat up in bed. “Ida, don’t go. I… I admit it! I wasn’t injured; you were right.”

Ida paused and turned back, glaring at him in displeasure. “Why lie?”

Bryan climbed out of bed, his head drooping in shame. But thanks to his height, he still managed to meet her gaze, looking like a guilty Labrador. “I just wanted you to come to the hospital to keep me company while I’m here with my dad. I couldn’t leave.”

Ida frowned. “You could have just told me the truth. There was no need for all this theater!”

Bryan looked forlorn. “Would you have come if I told you the truth? You would have probably told me to focus on being with my father in the hospital, and then you would have left me alone.”

Ida fell silent.

Indeed. If he hadn’t claimed he was injured, she likely wouldn’t have come.

Why should she? To stand awkwardly in front of his father under what pretense?

Seeing her silence, Bryan muttered, “I was right, wasn’t I? If I hadn’t pretended to be injured, you would never have come. But… when you heard’I was injured, you really came. I was afraid you wouldn’t even care if I was injured, Ida.”

As he spoke, he rushed toward Ida like an excited Golden Retriever, enveloping her in a bear hug.

“Thank you for coming.”

Ida cringed and furrowed her brows. “Ahem… Let go, be mindful!”

Bryan, unfazed, continued to nuzzle against Ida. “Mindful of what? Ida, we’re officially dating. It’s natural for us to hug, right?”

Ida sighed as she patted his back. “Did you forget? Your father is still in this room.”

Bryan looked stunned, as if he had just remembered this fact. He lifted his head, turning to look.

McNeil was sitting upright on a sofa, watching them with a warm smile on his face.

Bryan’s cheeks turned a shade of pink, but he didn’t appear overly embarrassed. While holding Ida’s hand, he walked over. “Dad, since you’re here, I want to introduce you. This is my girlfriend, Ida.”

Ida was caught off guard by his sudden introduction.

This cheeky rascal always acted on impulse.

McNeil looked up at his youngest son and the girl he was introducing as his girlfriend. He nodded and smiled. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ida. I apologize for our first meeting being in such a setting. Bryan should invite you over to our house sometime for a proper introduction.”