Chapter 18
“Don’t let your own physical condition affect your work. This profession isn’t a game.”
After saying that, Sebastian slid one hand into his pocket and turned to leave.
Ruby bit her lip as she watched his tall, refined figure disappear.
She had chased after him for so long, especially when they were in Inkko for seven years. Yet, why was his heart still icy and impossible to thaw?
“Ruby, I just saw… Sebastian with a woman and her kid… They were kind of pulling at each other, and he even held her waist… That woman’s daughter looked about five or six…” Tessa spoke while watching Ruby’s expression, which darkened.
Tessa quickly fell silent.
“Tesas, that’s enough. Sebastian isn’t that kind of man. How could he be messing around with some older woman who already has a kid? Maybe she was his patient… and he was just being
considerate.”
However, even Ruby knew how hollow her explanation sounded.
Anyone who knew Sebastian knew that he was cold and distant with sky-high standards. Once he left work, he was completely aloof.
Ruby only came because she heard a few nurses whispering that a woman had been rejected after trying to bring Sebastian lunch. She knew Sebastian wasn’t interested in those women- except for that one day when she saw someone sitting on his lap in his office…
That made her anxious.
There was actually one more thing Tessa didn’t say.
That woman didn’t look old at all. Rather, she was very beautiful…
At the sight of Ruby’s expression, Tessa didn’t dare add another word. Ruby was Joseph Gardner, the hospital dean’s daughter, so she needed to ingratiate herself with Ruby.
In September, Selena started first grade.
Valeria took her to school in the morning, giving her all sorts of reminders.
Watching her daughter walk into the school, she then took the subway to work. After clocking
in, she arrived at her desk just in time for the morning meeting.
L&M Design Studio took on two design projects lately.
Valeria was busy, working overtime constantly. Even after getting home at night, she still worked for two more hours.
The two dogs at home were very well-behaved. For the past couple of days that she had to work overtime, Lucy would help out and pick Selena up in the afternoons. For this, Valeria was deeply grateful, so on her day off that Saturday, she bought Lucy a new outfit.
Lucy seemed gruff on the outside-shrewd and sharp-tongued like most elderly. Yet, after spending time with her, Valeria found that she had a warm heart.
That afternoon, Lucy wore the outfit Valeria bought her and went to play cards with her
friends.
“It’s nice, right? That young woman upstairs bought it for me. I told her I don’t need it, but she insisted. Look at this cotton. It’s so comfortable in summer. It’s way better than your silk one. My luck at cards is better after wearing this today.”
Valeria took some loose change from her wallet, planning to swing by the neighborhood grocery store to buy some groceries. In the evening, many vegetables were on sale.
Selena took Valeria’s phone and went to Lucy’s place. Lucy had just returned from her card game, her face glowing with happiness at having won a fair bit.
She had asked Valeria to pick up some beef ribs for her dinner tomorrow. She wanted to make
braised short ribs.
1
Looking up at the sparse stars and bright moon, Valeria slowed her steps.
She closed her eyes as the warm, slightly restless evening breeze brushed across her face. The down-to-earth bustle of the neighborhood soothed the exhaustion and irritability from her
busy workday.
Valeria bought a bunch of groceries at the store, and the man selling salmon even gave her a pile of scraps to feed her pets. She thanked him.
It was only a 20-minute walk back to her apartment.
On the way, she thought about preparing the salmon scraps with hot water for Potato and Pork Chop. Then, she would marinate the beef ribs and prep side dishes.
Both of her hands were full, her fingers aching as she climbed all five flights of stairs. The old building didn’t have an elevator.
When she arrived on the fifth floor, she saw Lucy’s door wide open. She set the bags at the door and stepped inside. “Selena?”
“Mommy.” A reply came from inside, with a shaky, tearful tone.
Valeria’s heart skipped. Rushing inside, she saw Lucy sitting on the floor, with Selena holding her arm, trying to help her onto the couch.
When Selena saw Valeria, her voice broke into a sob. “Mommy, Granny Lucy suddenly couldn’t breathe and felt dizzy. I called Mr. Doctor already.”
Valeria’s heart tightened as she looked at Lucy’s state. In her panic, she completely missed the last part of Selena’s sentence.
