Chapter 62

Outside Elsie's apartment, a black sedan was parked downstairs.

Mason looked at her, concern written all over his face. "You sure you'll be okay living alone? I got a feeling that guy might come back."

He paused, then suggested, "Why don't you crash at my place for a few days? It's safer there."

Elsie was taken aback, her heart inexplicably tightening for a moment. 

Mason had always been considerate, but she kept a certain distance from him. After all, Mason and Ronald were childhood friends. Staying at the house of her ex-husband's childhood friend might be crossing a line.

She lowered her gaze, her long eyelashes casting a shadow over her eyes. Ronald's cold face flashed through her mind, bringing a wave of bitterness. 

Elsie tried hard to suppress the emotions surging within her. She used sign language to decline Mason's offe, "No, I'll be fine on my own. Thanks."

Seeing Elsie refuse, Mason looked disappointed but respected her decision. "Alright, just be careful. Call me if you need anything."

Elsie nodded, opened the car door, and got out. 

He watched Elsie disappear into the building before starting the car and driving away. His grip on the steering wheel tightened, a sense of unease lingering in his heart.

Elsie returned to her apartment, collapsing tiredly onto the couch. The dim light cast a lonely glow over the empty room. 

She curled up, hugging her knees tightly, as if that could provide a small measure of warmth. The terror of this night had left her utterly drained, both in body and spirit.

The sudden ringing of her phone shattered the silence of the room. Elsie picked up the phone, seeing Bruce's name on the screen, and answered the video call. 

Bruce's face appeared on the screen, clearly anxious.

"Elsie, are you okay? I saw your message. You scared me! I was setting up for a party and missed your message, I'm so sorry!"

Elsie shook her head, using sign language to say, "I'm fine, just a bit shaken."

"Thank goodness you're okay," Bruce visibly relaxed. "Tell me what happened. Who was following you?"

Elsie briefly described the events using sign language. Finally, she pointed to herself and then signed Missy's name. 

Bruce's expression darkened. "Missy again! That woman just won't leave you alone! Don't worry; I'll have Albert look into this. We can't just sit around and do nothing."

"Thank you," Elsie signed.

"Are you sure you'll be alright alone? I'm worried about you," Bruce asked with concern.

Elsie nodded, indicating she would be fine.

"No, I still don't feel right about this," Bruce insisted. "I'm coming over to stay with you. I'm leaving now."

Before Elsie could refuse, Bruce ended the call. Elsie smiled helplessly, feeling a warm sensation in her heart.

Bruce immediately called Albert, "Albert, I need your help with something!"

On the other end, Albert seemed busy, with the sound of typing in the background. "What's going on? Take your time."

Bruce paused, then explained the events of the evening. "In any case, the situation with Elsie is quite perilous. Fortunately, Elsie is unharmed this time."

"Can you check the surveillance in the business district and find that guy?" Bruce asked.

"And look into who Missy has been in contact with recently. I fear there's more to this."

"I got it," Albert replied, his tone turning icy as the typing sounds quickened. "I'll get to the bottom of this. Tell Elsie not to worry."

After hanging up, Bruce rubbed his temples, still feeling uneasy. 

Missy's level of obsession was beyond his expectations. He needed to find a solution quickly, or Elsie would be in real danger.

An hour later, Bruce arrived at Elsie's apartment door. He brought hot porridge and some snacks, worried she might not have an appetite after the scare. 

Elsie accepted the food, feeling deeply touched. Now living alone, Bruce's presence was akin to a ray of winter sunlight, warming her cold heart. It felt extraordinary to have such a considerate friend.

"Albert is already investigating. Don't worry, he'll find the evidence soon," Bruce reassured her.

Elsie nodded, signing her thanks.

"If you're feeling cooped up, we could go up to the rooftop," Bruce suggested.

They went up to the rooftop, where a cool breeze blew gently.

The city's nightscape spread out below them. Bruce draped a jacket over Elsie's shoulders.

Elsie pulled the jacket tighter, signing a "thank you" to him. Bruce smiled, sitting beside her, maintaining a respectful distance.

"The moon is beautiful tonight," Bruce said, breaking the silence as he looked up at the starry sky.

Elsie looked up too. The moon was indeed full tonight. She signed back, "Yes, it's beautiful."

"I once had a patient, a little girl who loved the moon," Bruce reminisced. "She had a severe illness and endured immense pain every day."

"But she always stayed optimistic. She said as long as she could see the moon every night, she felt happy."

Elsie listened quietly, her eyes showing sadness. "What happened to her?" Elsie signed.

Bruce sighed, speaking with regret. "Sadly, she couldn't beat the illness in the end. But she taught me a lot. She showed me that even in the darkest times, you have to hold on to hope."

Elsie gently traced the edge of the jacket, deeply moved by Bruce's story. 

She thought of her own experiences over the years, her parents' tragic death when she was four, the subsequent muteness, and Cedric's passing. All these were knots in her heart, weighing her down.

"When I was little, I went through some tough times too," Elsie hesitated but then shared her story with Bruce using sign language. 

She rarely opened up about her past. But for some reason, she felt an unprecedented sense of security with Bruce.

Bruce listened quietly, his eyes full of empathy and understanding. He reached out and gently held Elsie's hand, as if to bestow strength upon her. Elsie's fingers trembled slightly.

"That's all in the past," Bruce said softly. "You're strong and distinguished now."

Elsie lowered her head, her eyes welling up. She signed, "Thank you, Bruce. You've helped me a lot."

They talked on the rooftop for a long time. Before they knew it, the night had passed.