Chapter 266: "He Will Return" (Part 2)
"Auntie, my name is Xylia."
"What a lovely name! Who gave it to you?"
"My mom."
"Who else is in your family?" She leaned down to ask the child, growing fonder of this innocent little girl.
"It's just me and my mom. She's sick and can't move, so I help her sell flowers to earn money."
Hearing this, a pang of sadness gripped Alison's heart.
"Xylia, come with me. I'll take you to a wonderful place, okay?"
Xylia looked at her warily. "No, I want my mom."
Alison smiled. "Xylia, I need your help. Would you be willing?"
"What kind of help?"
"Take care of two children. Just play with them and tell them stories. I'll pay you."
"Really?" Xylia's eyes sparkled.
"Of course."
"Then I need to ask my mom first."
"Okay, do you have a phone at home?"
"No, but the lady next door has one."
Alison handed her phone to Xylia. "Here, use this to call."
After Xylia explained the situation, and Alison took the phone to state her terms, the mother agreed.
"Don't worry. I'll send someone to take care of your mother, okay?"
"You're so kind, Auntie."
Alison hailed a cab and returned home in a daze.
When she opened the door, holding Xylia's hand, she collapsed onto the floor.
"Ma'am, you're back. Why are you soaking wet?" the nanny said, concerned.
Sophia and Ethan rushed over. "Mommy, what's wrong?"
"Mommy's fine. Look, I brought you a friend to play with. Mommy isn't feeling well and needs to rest."
With that, she staggered into the bedroom.
As the door slammed shut, tears streamed down her face.
She rushed to the bed and buried her face deep in the sheets. The lingering scent of Jack's cologne clung to the fabric.
"Jack, you're joking, right? You're not dead, are you?"
No one answered.
She believed he would come back.
She stepped into the bathtub, letting the water warm her body.
The nanny and children pounded on the door.
"Ma'am, please open the door!"
"Mommy, what's wrong?"
Alison whispered, "Stop making noise. My head hurts. I need quiet."
Sophia and Ethan were terrified. "Mommy, don't scare us. Open the door and let us see you."
Alison ignored them. She walked straight to the bed, sat down, and hugged her knees.
Though her inner strength sustained her resolve to press on, she still fell ill.
Suddenly, the door burst open with a loud bang.
Aidan entered, leaning on his crutch.
He approached her, watching her shiver and curl up on the bed.
As he drew near, he found she was trembling.
"Alison, what's wrong?"
His hand touched her forehead, its coolness easing her fever slightly.
"Alison, you're burning up. I'm taking you to the hospital," Aidan urged.