Chapter 317
Until Ellie stepped out of the elevator, she didn’t understand what Alex’s chuckle meant. After all the mists and nuns, she found out that the and Alex had become neighbors.
Elle opened her door and reached out to take the hoses from Alex. But Alex, using his height to his advantage, raised his arm and carried the box straight into her apartment.
“Anything che left to move?” Mex asked, setting the box down and glancing around the living room
“Most of its done. There are just some loose items in the car. I take care of them slowly,” Ellie replied, opening the two large boxes and starting to sort through their contents.
Alex stood behind her, his gaze fixed on her for a long moment. Then he stepped closer. “Give me your car keys. III bring the rest up keep unpacking here”
in while y
you
“No need, Mr. Warren. You’ve got your own things to do. I can handle this,” Ellie said politely.
Alex frowned at her formal tone, Without waiting for her to protest further, he bent down, plucked the car keys from her jacket pocket, and turned
to leave
At this point. Alex wasn’t angry anymore. He had forgotten the harsh words he had said earlier that morning. After staying up half the night due to a nightmare, he felt refreshed and energetic, ready to help Ellic move her belongings.
Ellie sighed, letting him have his way, Soon, Ellie was unpacking upstairs while Alex made trip after trip to bring up the remaining items from her car. What would’ve been a one–person job tumed into a two–person effort, and they finished quickly
Ellie checked the time–it was already past 8 pm. She turned to see Alex casually wandering around her apartment, seemingly in no hurry to leave. She hesitated, then walked over to him.
“Tve been helping you all evening. You’re not going to send me off without dinner, are you?” Alex said, cutting her off before she could speak
“I can order you some takeout, Ellie offered, picking up her phone. She hadn’t moved in fully yet, so her kitchen was empty.
Alex shook his head. “My stomach’s been acting up lately. I can’t eat takeout. Just come over to my place and whip up something simple,”
Ellie stood there with her phone in hand, unsure of what to do.
“I have ingredients in my fridge. You can figure something out, Alex said, leading her to his apartment before stepping away to take a call. Ellie took off her jacket, left it on the couch, tied up her hair, and put on an apron. She rumanaged through Alex’s fridge, pulling out ingredients to make him a quick meal.
About ten minutes later, Alex emerged from the shower, wearing a white robe and drying his short hair move around the kitchen with focused efficiency. There was something oddly familiar about the scene.
With a towel He paused. watching Ellie
Alex’s hand stilled as he remembered the first time he’d seen her after getting out of prison. Back then, he’d thought she was not only stunning but also the kind of women who’d make a good partner
The fact that the was a widow had bothered him at first, but now even Nancy was pushing him to consider second marriages. He thought. A widow shouldn’t be a problem, right? A arrall smile tugged at his lips.
The aroma of the cooking food filled the air, and Alex relaxed on the couch, draping Ellie’s jacket over himself. His eyes stayed glued to her as she worked in the Lischen..
When lille finally came out to call lom for dinner, she found him E
fast asleep, her jacket still covering him. “Mr. Warren Ellie called softly, but he was fast asleep. She retrieved her coat and turned to leave.
After a few steps ihr paused. She wondered. He was traxting me at 4 am last night. What was he even doing up that late? She glanced back at him, now sterping soundly
Potiring his le dionan door was ajer, Elie went in to grab a blanket. As she pulled the thin comforter off the bed, something fell to the floor with a
For a long antiina
she just sosed there, frozen. “That day at school, my daughter gave him a gift but didn’t let me ver it. So this is what it was—this somali drum. Ellie demight
Memories fordel her must be years ago, when Alex had found out star emerging from a baby store with this druma in hand.
was pregnan. He’d l
1 broken out of prison to see her, covered in blood.
He’d been completely out of his mind back then. In the end, he never got to ineet he sher eyes grow daingi
binet her or
circ
chult All that remuined was this red drum. Ellie sch
1/2
L
Chapter 317
Back in the living room, she covered Alex with the blanket and left quietly. “Ellie, come home with me!” Alex murmured in his sleep. Startled, Ellie turned around sharply.
Looking at the sleeping Ales on the sofa, Ellie’s heart raced. He’s just talking in his sleep, she thought, feeling a mix of emotions she couldn’t quite name. She reached into her pocket, pulled out the drum, and placed it quietly beside him before leaving.
The next morning. Alex woke up on the sofa. Seeing the blanket, he rubbed his head in frustration. He thought. I finally got her to come over, and 1 fell asleep
He got up and walked into the dining area, where the dinner Ellie had made for him sat untouched. He hit himself again for falling asleep
Half an hour later. Alex was dressed and ready to go. He stood by his door, staring at Ellie’s. She starts work at 8:30. It’s 7:30 now–perfect timing. he thought.
When standing by his door grew tiresome. Alex moved to the elevator. He shifted his weight from foot to foot, occasionally checking his reflection on his phone to make sure his styled hair was still in place. By 8am., Ellie still hadn’t come out
Did she oversleep because she was tired from last night” Alex wondered. He pulled out his phone and called her. Thankfully, she picked up.
“Ellie, you’re going to be late for work. Why aren’t you out yet?” Alex said, clearing his throat.
“Mr. Warren, I’m already at the hospital, Ellie replied. Alex paused, realizing she had already left without him noticing.
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