Mr Thompson looked at Adele, scarcely able to believe she was there in the hospital. She was heavily disguised, almost unrecognisable. She smiled at him nonchalantly as she pulled out a cigarette.

"Put that out. You can't smoke in here," he scolded her sternly. "Why didn't you answer when I called, and how did you know I was here?"

"Did you think I wouldn't follow you after you made me leave your house the way you did?" Adele asked, relishing her ex-father-in-law's surprised expression. "How's Christian? What happened to him?"

"He's just had surgery for a brain tumour," Mr Thompson replied curtly.

"Really?" Adele was astonished, not having believed he...