Chapter 282

Chapter 282

She pushed open the door, and the familiar hum of instruments hit her.

Several colleagues who were busy working looked up. When they saw her, their expressions were a bit awkward.

She didn't bother with small talk, just walked straight to her long-absent lab bench, set down her belongings, and skillfully put on her gloves.

The whole sequence of movements was smooth and natural, as if she'd never left.

"Ms. Brown, here's the data summary and experimental progress records from the project team while you were away."

The project leader came over and placed a thick stack of folders on her desk, his tone strictly professional.

"Thanks."

Elaine took them and immediately opened the files, immersing herself in the data.

From that day on, Elaine's life became unusually routine.

She was almost always the first to arrive at the research institute and the last to leave.

After work, she would stop by Bradley's apartment.

Although Bradley had been discharged from the hospital, the doctor had instructed him to rest and recuperate.

Elaine basically took care of all his meals, stopping by every day after work to check on his wound recovery and remind him to take his medicine.

Bradley felt bad about it at first, but couldn't resist her insistence, so he accepted it gracefully.

All of this reached Arthur's ears bit by bit through Vera during their occasional video calls.

"...Mommy's been so busy lately, but she goes to see Bradley every day. She says he got hurt protecting her, so she needs to take good care of him... Bradley's place is really big, but he lives alone. Mommy says sick people need someone to look after them..."

Arthur gripped his phone, listening to his daughter's innocent voice describing how Elaine was carefully taking care of another man, and an inexplicable surge of stifled anger rose in his chest.

He remembered how Elaine had been investigated before, even kidnapped... So many dangerous situations, and she hadn't reached out to him even once!

Every single time, he only found out after the fact!

And this time, for that Bradley, she'd actually traveled to another city, gotten caught up in a shootout, and he'd been seriously injured protecting her!

She didn't go home after work every day, but ran off to take care of Bradley instead!

A vague anger gnawed uncontrollably at his rationality.

He suddenly clenched his phone tightly, his knuckles turning white.

She'd rather rely on Bradley, someone she hadn't known that long, rather tough it out alone, than ask him for help?

Arthur's eyes darkened.

He suddenly felt that the Elaine he once thought could never leave him seemed to have truly moved on.

A few days later, when Elaine had just finished an experiment and walked out of the lab rubbing her throbbing temples, her phone rang.

The name flashing on the screen was "Arthur."

She frowned slightly, hesitated for a moment, then walked to a quiet corner of the hallway and answered.

"Hello?"

Arthur's voice came through the receiver, still in that habitually aloof tone.

"We haven't had dinner together in a long time. Tomorrow night, I've made a reservation. Bring Julius and Vera, and we'll... have a family gathering. The kids are looking forward to it, and you shouldn't keep missing out on their growth."

Elaine was silent for a few seconds, her tone calm: "If you want to see Vera, you can pick her up for dinner tomorrow, or come see her at my place. I won't be going."

The other end of the line clearly hadn't expected her to refuse so decisively, and went quiet for a moment.

Arthur's voice dropped a few notches, with obvious displeasure: "Why? Elaine, it's just a meal. Julius hasn't seen you in a long time either. Don't you want to see your son?"

"Arthur,"

Elaine interrupted him, "If the kids want to see me, you can have them call me or video chat. But having dinner together isn't necessary. Between us, we don't need this kind of formal family dinner anymore."

"What do you mean not necessary?"

Arthur's patience seemed to be running out. "Are you really that unwilling to sit at the same table with me and the kids? Elaine, what exactly are you being difficult about? Or... are you so busy taking care of someone else now that you can't even look after your own children?"

That last sentence carried an obvious barb.

Elaine irritably closed her eyes.

"Think whatever you want."

Her voice was cold. "I still have things to do. Hanging up now."

Without waiting for Arthur to say anything else, she ended the call directly, shoved her phone back in her pocket, turned around and walked back to the lab.

On the other end, Arthur listened to the busy signal on his phone, his expression suddenly darkening.

The veins on the back of his hand gripping the phone bulged slightly, and a sense of frustration churned in his chest.

She actually hung up on him?

For that Bradley, she could even push her own children away?

He didn't believe it, and pulled up his daughter Vera's number to call.

The phone was answered quickly, and Vera's voice came through: "Daddy!"

Arthur softened his tone: "Vera, have you eaten yet?"

"Not yet! Mommy just got home, she's in the kitchen making something yummy! She says she's going to take it to Bradley, he's injured and needs nutrition!"

Vera reported innocently, "Mommy's been so busy these past few days, working, and then visiting Bradley after work. It's so hard for her!"

Bradley... Bradley again!

Arthur's fingers gripping the phone suddenly tightened.

She left work on time every day, so she was rushing to take care of another man!

Even personally cooking and delivering food to him!

This kind of meticulous care—how long had it been since she'd given it to him?

No, it had been ages since she'd even put this much thought into preparing food specifically for the children!

A sour feeling unexpectedly shot up, burning his rationality until it felt hot.

He hastily said a few words to Vera and hung up, his expression dark enough to drip water.

That evening, Elaine had just finished carefully preparing soup and several light dishes and was packing them into an insulated bag when the doorbell suddenly rang.

She thought something had come up with Bradley, wiped her hands and went to answer the door.

The moment she opened it, she froze.

Standing outside was Arthur with a grim expression.

And beside him stood their son Julius, looking somewhat reluctant.

Arthur's gaze first landed on her, then swept to the obviously takeout-ready insulated bag in her hand, his eyes suddenly darkening.

"Dad said he was bringing me to eat."

Julius spoke first with a pout, but his eyes sneaked glances inside the house.

Seeing Arthur and Julius standing outside the door, Elaine was genuinely stunned for a moment, her brow furrowing instinctively.

She had clearly refused the family dinner—why would he still show up at her door with the child?

"What are you doing here?"

Her tone carried undisguised displeasure, and her body showed no intention of moving aside, still blocking the doorway.

Arthur didn't answer immediately.

His gaze moved past Elaine's shoulder to the bulging insulated bag on the entryway cabinet behind her, then swept over the casual apron she hadn't yet changed out of.

This scene, combined with what Vera had said earlier, made the answer obvious.