chapter16

After seeing her daughter’s tired face, Bella could only heave a long sigh.

“Sorry, it’s all my fault. I’ve dragged you down with me.”

She knew she shouldn’t always feed her daughter with fears of men. After all, she’d get married someday, but she was scared that her daughter would get hurt again out of foolishness.

“What are you talking about, Mom? After your surgery, the doctor said you might be able to walk again. Promise me you’ll make pasta for me then. I miss it.”

“Alright,” Bella nodded, then suddenly thought of something. “Call your boyfriend over. I want to meet him.”

Dorothy was taken aback and quickly averted her gaze to peel an apple. “He’s too busy with the company.”

“Just like your father back then…..”

“Mom,” She interrupted softly. “Not everyone is like him.”

At least her intuition told her Everett wasn’t that type of person.

To Bella, it sounded like her daughter was defending her boyfriend. She immediately frowned and didn’t say anything else, but she also didn’t take the apple that Dorothy handed over.

Outside, the sky was gradually darkening.

With her mother taken care of, she had to return to work early the next morning. So, after her mother fell asleep, Dorothy left the hospital. After stepping outside, she took a deep breath before hailing a taxi and heading to Everett’s place as he had instructed.

Just as she got off, her phone in her bag started ringing. It was a number she didn’t recognize.

“Are you home?” Everett’s deep and magnetic voice was too distinctive to be mistaken.

“Yeah, I’m here.”

“I have to attend a last-minute event, so I’ll be back later. You go in first.” He paused. “The door code is 0825.”

Startled by the sudden mention of the code, she hesitated before agreeing.

Upon entering, while changing her shoes, Dorothy thought that the meaning behind 0825 was probably deeper than she initially thought. He didn’t remove the tattoo or change the code, which meant this person still mattered to Everett.

So, when he said he needed a marriage partner, it was probably to address a void left by someone else. It was likely that lawyer named Heather that Karen had mentioned.

Dorothy wasn’t sure how she felt at the moment. She felt as though she were stepping into a space meant for another.

She planned to take off her coat and start working on her laptop. However, as she looked up, her gaze was drawn to several shopping bags left by Everett’s assistant in the hallway—supplies for his new living arrangement.

Dorothy instinctively felt a flush rise to her cheeks, realizing the reality of their shared space. She quickly retreated from the hallway, trying to focus her mind on professional matters.

On the company’s internal software, Karen immediately messaged Dorothy when she saw her online.

“Who was that male voice on the phone earlier?”

“A consultant from the hospital,” Dorothy chose not to tell her the truth. This arrangement was strictly professional and temporary; the contract was only for a year, and she intended to keep it a secret.

After replying, she opened the files for the SinoSuccess Enterprises project and started checking them one by one.

After some time, she heard the sound of the front door unlocking.

Dorothy got up and walked over. Before she could say a word, she was met by Everett's tall, imposing figure. He seemed tired, his presence carrying the faint, sharp scent of an evening event and high-end spirits.

The air in the living room suddenly felt heavy with an unspoken tension. He stepped into her personal space, his gaze intense and slightly clouded by the night’s activities.

“Mr. Lopez... wait,” she whispered, her heart racing as the professional boundaries she had carefully constructed began to feel incredibly thin in the quiet of the apartment.