Chapter 289

Chapter 289

Outside the window, the sky was already getting light.

She gasped for breath, raising her hand to press against her violently heaving chest. The images from her dream still lingered clearly in her mind.

So real that the heart palpitations couldn't settle for a long time.

This time when she woke up, besides the lingering fear, an unprecedented emotion welled up inside her.

She began to face it head-on:

What kind of feelings did she really have for Bradley?

Was it just gratitude? Just because he had helped her so much?

If it was only gratitude, why did her heart race so wildly when she heard his confession?

Why did she feel a twinge of reluctance when she saw the disappointment in his eyes?

Why did her heart ache so badly in the dream when she saw him hurt?

The answer had actually been there all along.

She just hadn't dared to touch it.

At the breakfast table, Vera drank her milk, curiously watching Elaine's somewhat distracted state, and asked softly, "Mommy, didn't you sleep well? Your eyes are a bit red."

Elaine snapped back to reality. Looking at Vera's innocent, caring little face, something inside her softened.

She set down her fork, hesitated for a moment, then spoke gently, her tone cautious:

"Vera, can Mommy ask you a question?"

"Yes! Go ahead, Mommy!"

Vera nodded vigorously.

"If... I mean if."

Elaine chose her words carefully, her cheeks slightly warm. "If Bradley... you know him... if he wanted to be with Mommy, like... like a family. What would you think, Vera? Would you be... unhappy? Or would it feel weird?"

After asking this question, Elaine's heart was in her throat.

She could ignore anyone else's opinion, but her daughter's feelings mattered most to her.

Vera blinked her big eyes, seeming to think seriously for a moment, then put down her milk glass, a bright smile spreading across her little face:

"Mommy, I want you to be happy! My biggest wish is for Mommy to be happy!"

She paused, then said in a clear voice, "Bradley is really nice! He's good to you, Mommy, and good to me too, and he protects you! Last time when you were in danger, Bradley was the one who saved you, right? If he can make you happy and smile a lot, then I'll really like him too!"

Her daughter's words instantly dispelled the last trace of shadow in Elaine's heart.

Elaine's eyes grew slightly warm. She reached out to pull her daughter into her arms, kissed the top of her head, her voice a bit choked up: "Vera is such a good girl... Thank you, sweetheart."

Her daughter's approval finally gave her the courage to face the thoughts she hadn't dared to confront.

This thought had barely begun to take shape when it was suddenly interrupted by the doorbell.

Elaine and Vera both looked toward the door.

Elaine had a vague bad feeling.

She got up and walked to the entrance, looking out through the peephole.

Sure enough, that figure that annoyed her so much was standing outside.

Arthur.

He was here again.

Elaine's face instantly darkened.

How could he have the nerve to show up at her door again and again?

She took a deep breath, suppressing her irritation, and opened the door, but blocked the doorway with her body, showing no intention of letting him in.

"What are you doing here again?"

Arthur seemed to have expected her attitude. His gaze moved past her, as if trying to see inside, but Elaine blocked the gap tightly.

He withdrew his gaze, refocusing on her face, his tone brooking no refusal:

"To drive you to work."

What?

Elaine almost thought she'd heard wrong.

She frowned, looking at him like he was some inexplicable stranger: "Drive me to work? Arthur, are you okay? I have hands and feet, I can take a taxi, I can take the subway. I don't need you to drive me."

She simply couldn't understand what he was playing at now.

After last night's ugly scene, he shows up first thing in the morning trying to be nice?

"It's on my way."

Arthur was brief, seemingly unwilling to explain further. "My car is downstairs. It's hard to get a taxi at this hour, and the subway is crowded during rush hour."

"No need, but thanks for the offer."

Elaine refused decisively. "I can manage on my own. If there's nothing else, I need to get ready to leave."

With that, she moved to close the door.

"Elaine."

Arthur reached out and held the door, stopping her.

His strength was considerable; the door didn't budge.

His expression also darkened, his deep eyes fixed on her, his tone becoming somewhat forceful.

"We need to talk."

He lowered his voice slightly. "Right now. We can talk on the way, won't delay your work."

"What is there left for us to talk about?"

Elaine found it absurd. "I already said everything clearly last night. We're even. About the kids, I'll honor the visitation rights for Vera. Julius... since you have custody, please take responsibility. Other than that, I don't see any reason we need to talk privately."

"Whether it's necessary isn't for you alone to decide."

Arthur stood his ground. His gaze swept past her, seeming to hear Vera's approaching footsteps. Not wanting to argue in front of the child, his tone softened slightly. "Just a talk. Won't take much of your time. Just the drive to work."

For him, this was already a very low posture, even somewhat yielding.

But that commanding presence still made Elaine extremely uncomfortable.

She didn't want to talk to him.

Not at all.

She just wanted to close the door immediately and shut him out completely.

But looking at his hand on the door, looking at his determination not to give up until he got what he wanted, and checking the time—if they kept this up, not only might they disturb the neighbors, but she might be late for work.

The research institute's project was at a critical stage; she didn't want personal matters to affect her work.

Besides, she wanted to know what else he could possibly say.

In the end, she compromised.

She didn't want to make a scene at her own door, and even more, she didn't want Vera to witness more unpleasantness.

She took a deep breath, released her grip on the doorknob, and stepped back half a step, tacitly allowing him to stand at the door, though still showing no intention of letting him inside.

"Fine."

Her voice was emotionless. "Then give me a ride. But Arthur, I hope this is the last time."

After speaking, she turned back to the dining room and said gently to Vera, who was looking worriedly toward the door, "Vera, sweetie, let the nanny take you to kindergarten first. Mommy will pick you up tonight."

After comforting her daughter, Elaine picked up her bag and coat, walked to the door, and put on her shoes.

Throughout the process, she didn't look at Arthur once.

Arthur watched her back, his eyes darkening, but ultimately said nothing more, just stepped aside to clear the doorway.

Downstairs, Elaine walked straight to his car parked by the roadside.

She didn't even wait for the driver to open the door, pulling open the back seat door herself, getting in, then slamming it shut with a "bang."

Arthur watched this series of angry movements, his jawline tightening. He stood there for two seconds before stepping toward the car, opening the other back seat door, and getting in.

"To the Virus Research Institute."