Chapter 297
The day before Thanksgiving, Jaslands had just seen rain. Alex rarely visited the Warren Manor, but this time was an exception
Entering the living room, he saw his parents‘ solitary figures discussing plans to visit Carlos grave tomorrow, Changing into his house slippers, he walked into the central living room.
Todd noticed his son and sighed without saying a word.
Nancy shot Alex a glare and spoke in a sarcastic tone, “Your father’s cat is almost out of cat food.
Alex sat on the sofa, petting the cat. After a brief moment of hesitation, he said, “Mom, can you make some savory pastries for tomorrow?”
There’s no one to eat them. Why bring that up
at up all of a sudden“” Mentioning the pastries caused Nancy’s expression to change immediately.
In the past, her eldest son Orion loved her savory pastries. After he passed away. Ellie had come into their lives and also loved them.
But now, with one gone and the other estranged from the Warren family, even though she wanted to make them, there was no one left to enjoy them.
“Mom, I want to eat them” Alex suddenly said.
Nancy was astonished. “You usually hate desserts. What’s gotten into yo
you!”
Lowering his gaze to hide his emotions, Alex repeated “Mom, I want to eat them”
“Alright, alright. I’ll make you a couple.” Nancy softened at the sight of her lonely, grown–up son and agreed.
“Mom, make a few more,” Alex reminded her. Seeing her skeptical look, he mumbled a half–hearted explanation, “I want to take a couple to Grandpa’s grave tomorrow”
As it neared the end of the workday. Ellie used the excuse of doing rounds to visit Orion’s hospital room.
She stationed Linda in the lounge area outside to keep watch while she went in to work with Orion on retrieving classified documents.
“Since we’ve already completed most of it, there’s no rush. Whenever you want to pick this up again, just call me.” Ellie said, saving the files onto a USB drive and shutting down the computer. Her heart was still pounding,
She hadn’t expected the classified files Orion referred to were a set of medical data, specifically a compound designed to counteract addiction to most street drugs.
If this compound went into production, countless addicts could be freed from their addictions and return to normal lives.
The researcher who developed this drug had been targeted by an international drug cartel. Orion had been tasked with bringing the researcher back home but was ambushed en route.
The USB containing the data had been stolen at one point. Under extreme circumstances, Orion managed to memorize all the data and store it in his mind, eventually making it back to Ditato.
After finally calming down, Ellie left the room, only to find Alex heading to see Orion.
“Sorry, Dr. Thompson. Mr. Warren insisted on coming in, and I couldn’t stop him.” Linda said, shrugging helplessly.
gif Linda could’ve
“It’s fine, Ellie said without elaborating. She thought to herself that with Alex’s stubbornness, it would have been surprising Hopped him.
“Mr
Warren.
to make way.
, you can go in now,” Ellie suid, standing aside to m
Alex stood still and handed Ellie a lana of pastries. “Here.”
Ellie didn’t take them. She looked up at Alex.
“My mom made these today, Alex said, extending the box towards her again.
Ellie hesitated but still didn’t take them. “Mr. Warren, hospital regulations prohibit doctors from accepting gifts from patients‘ families. But thank you anyway.” She stepped back.
“Take it,” Alex said, placing the box directly into her hands before she could finish her sentence.
“If you dare put it down, alon’i la Teasingly micracing look.
me,” he warned, grasping both the box and Ellie’s hands in his own as he mimed a biting motion with a
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Chapter 297
Ellie glanced awkwardly at Linda nearby and reluctantly accepted the pastries. She was genuinely worried that Alex might lose it in front of Lända and actually bite her.
Holding the pastries. Ellie quickly left the room. She saw Barry in the hallway, and her gaze flickered uneasily before she hastened away.
Barry’s confused expression followed Ellie’s retreating figure, focusing on the pastries in her hands. He thought, If I didn’t mishear, Mr. Warren said those pastries were for the memorial. He didn’t even let me try them. How did they end up with Ellie?
That evening. Ellie brought the savory pastries Alex had given her home. Her daughter, Betty, took one bite and refused to eat more, but her son, Oscar, enjoyed them immensely
“It’s after dinner already. No matter how much you like them, you can’t have too many,” Ellie said as she walked over and took a small piece for
herself.
The familiar taste brought back memories–it was just like it used to be when Nancy made them by hand. The other box Alex had must have been for Orion.
She remembered how, back at the Warren family, Nancy knew she liked these savory pastries and often made them for her.
It turned out Oscar shared her taste and also enjoyed them. There was an indescribable feeling in her heart–heavy yet neither sad nor joyful.
“Mom, tomorrow’s Thanksgiving and I’m off all day. I’ll go buy groceries in the morning, so don’t get up early.” Ellie said that night as she brought a
massager into Joanna’s room that she had bought for her.
She had been so busy at the hospital lately that she hadn’t had time to properly y spend with her mom and two kids.
Take care of yourself and don’t overwork. I can take care of myself and two kids,” Joanna said, sitting on the bed, learning how to use the massager from Ellie while chatting about daily life
“Mom, thank you Ellie put down the massager and gave
gave her mom a
mom a warm hug.
Even though her mom couldn’t read a single word, she was understanding and gave Ellie immense support and patience.
When Ellie went abroad for several years and came back with her children, her mom didn’t utter a word of complaint–just endless concern, affection, and acceptance
Ellie didn’t feel tired at all. She felt incredibly lucky and happy
The next morning, Ellie was jolted awake by the sound of her phone ringing.
Just forty minutes later, though it wasn’t yet time for her shift, Ellie had already rushed to the hospital.
“Linda, don’t let anyone in. If Mr. Warren comes, tell him to call me. I’ll speak to him myself, Ellic instructed Linda before entering Orion’s room.
“Great, all the data has been sent!” Ellie said excitedly, staring at the computer screen over an hour later. Orion gripped the armrest of his wheelchair tightly.
“Mr. Warren, they replied–it’s approved, Ellie said, just as the ringing phone interrupted her celebration.
Jason’s voice came through loud and clear on the other end. “Orion, leave the rest to me. You just focus on recovering
“That woman has already reached the outpatient building. Tell Ellie to leave the hospital immediately and remind her not to run into her, Jason said before hanging up
Orion spoke urgently, “Get the prepared items ready and go now”
Ellie quickly switched to another laptop, inserted the same USB drive, pack
packed everything up, and left the room.
As she stepped into the hallway, she heard the elevator’s mechanical noises indicating its arrival. With no time to escape, she quickly ducked into
achind F
