Chapter 8
The cookies were Ales’s peace offering, his way of trying to sweeten things
Thinking bark on the caring look in Alex’s eyes as he offered i
thest that made it tough to breathe
She slipped out of the hospital that afternoon while Alex was off somewhere Back at her apartment, the de
There was a time when just a glance from him was all it took to make her day. But now! Now, the couldn’t stories about Haley that she’d rather not hear
When Alex found our she’d checked herself out, he called, his voice a mix of
and worry. He demanded
get her. But she kept her mouth shut above her hideout. He ended the call with a promise to leave her be
he just cinched.
I of proved and
zh bis careless looks and
Aaron came over, shaking his head at her latest stunt. After giving her a good tulking–to, he got to work in the inches, makin
Over the meal, be told her the law firm hard called the whole mess a “misunderstanding” They’d even throt
hed tumed it down, choosing to walk away from the job.
Ellie stayed mostly silent through it all, not wanting to stir the pot way further
After a few days and with her fout almost back to normal, Ellie and Aaron headed to their old family home in the p
It was a simple plane thinne old pones with clay tiled roofs a big yard with wooden pare, and a pipes out front. It was much but it was home
As they walked in, their clad was in the yard, whaling away at a brooms, his old wooden crutch propped up nearby
His face marked by years of hard work, lit up w
When he looked up and saw them, be froze for a second, then his eyes got all watery: I
Their mom heard the commotion and came out from the main house. Seeing them, she did a quick turn and went back inside, probably to dab away her tears,
Alter a home–cooked dinner, they all ut in the yard to catch the cool evening air. Ellie was checking her dad’s leg, which was mill Aaron piir ked up where their dad left off with the bosom, trying to persuade him.
ruling while
*d, Ellie and I are all grown up now. Just take your meds, and when we start making money, well get you and Mom a place in the city? Aaron said, trying to sound hopeful,
Ellie watched her dad, his head down, as he smoked his cheap cigarettes. The sound of each drag was a sad reminder of their situation.
It wasn’t easy, but everyone wanted to live, her father included. The cost of constant medical care was a heavy burden for their family, which wa already struggling
Aaron, with a warm smile, looked at his clad, Dad, when things settle down, I’ll bring my girlfriend over. You two need to take care of yourselves Don’t you want to see my children in the future?” he said, his voice full of love and expectation.
Ellir stayed quiet by her dad’s side, seeing a glimmer of hope in his eyes. Her father, a retired veteran with a stubbom streak, was a man of few words, but fr always listened to Aaron.
Their mom, Joanna, brought over some peamies. “It’s not easy for the kids to come back. Let’s not make it harder. We’ll do what our son says,” she said softly. “With all their schoolwork, they should brad back tomorrow.”
The harshness of reality was a lesson learned through experience. Even her mother, who couldn’t read, knew that for children from a poor family. education was the key to a better future.
Ellie and Aaron were heading back to town after a night at their old home. Their mom, with a hand on their dad’s arm, who was leaning on his cane, walked them to the end of the road, a ritual that always tugged at Ellie’s heart.
Joanna was in her glory, chatting up the neighbors. “My kids are back in town, she’d say, her voice brimming with pride. “Aaron’s a lawyer now, and Ellie, star’s a doctor” Ellie had never seen her mom so full of joy, so eager to show them off
As they pulled away, the look on their parents‘ fares was hard to bear. It was a mix of love and sadness that Ellie couldn’t shake. She turned away. ber vision blurring with tears,
Growing up, she’d left this place behind, moving to the city to live with the high–society Warren family. She knew her status then, but as the years went by, her small–town routs started to feel like a distant memory.
This inplomme was like a splash of cold water, a wake–up call to the reality she’d been living in. For someone from her background, love was a beenis, a cherry on top. What really mattered was dignity, the core of her existence
Chapter 8
Ellie had barely kicked off her shoes when the hospital called, urging her to get back to her internship.
Monday rolled around, and she was right back in the swing of things. Her boss gave her a thumbs up, dropping hints that if she kept killing it, a permanent spot might be hers for the taking.
Come lunchtime. Ellie was holed up in the break room, scrolling through her phone for any part–time gigs.
Her internship paycheck was slim, and she was on the hunt for extra cash to help out at home. She refused to let Aaron be the only one holding the family together
A quick knock and a coworker poked her head in with a mysterious. “Dr. Thompson, you’ve got a guest” before vanishing as swiftly as she’d appeared.
Ellie was still wrapping her head around the cryptic message when Alex walked in. Their eyes met for a fleeting moment, and Ellie quickly deflected, offering a “Hey, Alex, as if they’d never had a cross word.
With the formalities out of the way, Ellie returned to the massage chair and hit the power button. It had been a few days since she’d seen Alex, and she found herself at a loss for words–no small talk, no unresolved bes
Alex, apparently not thrilled with her lukewarm reception, made his presence known by slamming a bag and keys onto the table, the sound jolting the quiet room
Ellie’s attention shafted from the bag of treats to Alex. His brows were furrowed, a clear indicator that he was carrying soi
some heavy thoughts. As Ellie settled into the massage chair, Alex took a seat on the desk’s edge, facing her. The only sound in the room was the gentle hum of the massage chair, filling the silence between them
Alex noticed Ellie’s quiet and tried to crack a joke to rase the tension. You bailed on me with that injured leg, not even a goodbye. You’re not adding another crutch to the family, are you? His smile didn’t reach his eyes.
Ellie’s brow furrowed, and she met his gaze with a seriousness he’d never seen. “That’s not funny” she said, her tone flat,
Her dad had taken a bit for her when she was just a kid, trying to save a strange boy. If it weren’t for that, she and her brother wouldn’t have had to rely on handouts for everything, inchiding school.
Sering Ellie’s frown, Alex’s playful demeanor turned sharp. “Ellic, come on,” he said, his voice edged with annoyance. Who’s been letting you get away with this attitude? It was just a joke.
Ellie kept her head down, not bothering to argue. To Alex, she was just a girl who’d been under the Warren family’s root, not someone of consequence.
Frustrated by her silence. Alex pulled our a box of pastries. He held it out to her, but when she didn’t take it, he opened the box with a tone that suggested he was doing her a favor
“I won’t hold it against you, considering what happened last time with the manhole,” he said.
The box revealed a mess of melted cream, spilling out and covering his hand. “Haley didn’t want it, so I thought you might, he muttered, clearly annoyed as he tossed the dessert and went to clean up.
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