Chapter 290
“Hey, something happened at work. I need to go.”
“Okay, off you go, then. Good luck.” Sadie nodded at him in understanding.
But Alex didn’t leave right away. Instead, he gave her a long, meaningful look that lasted a moment. Then he turned on his heel and left.
Sadie watched him disappear into the crowd outside, perplexed by that lingering gaze. Another wave of unease swept over her. She shook her head, pushing that inexplicable feeling aside.
The mother and son finished their shopping and headed home. Sadie settled Averi on the sofa to watch cartoons while she went into the kitchen to start dinner.
Out of nowhere, Averi asked, “Mommy, where did you go last night?”
Sadie’s hands froze mid-movement. She had her back to the living room, so she had a few seconds to think about what to say. In the end, she replied, “I had some work to do last night.”
“Oh,” Averi replied with a hint of disappointment in his voice. “Please don’t stay out at night anymore. Okay, Mommy?”
Sadie finally put the vegetables down and walked back to the living room. She knelt in front of the sofa so that they were eye to eye.
“I promise, I’ll try to come home every night. And tonight, I will make your favorite egg custard, too. How does that sound?”
Averi’s chubby face broke into a delighted grin. “Great!”
Silence reigned in the apartment soon after dinner.
Sadie took Averi for his bath, then tucked him under the blankets before gently lulling him to sleep. It wasn’t until he was fast asleep that she quietly left the room.
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She walked over to her desk and opened her laptop. The bright glow of the screen illuminated her face, highlighting the traces of exhaustion that were all the more noticeable in her features.
Sadie took a deep breath and opened a design file entitled “Free Hibiscus.”
When she woke up the next morning, Sadie went through her usual routine of washing up and getting dressed. Then she padded over to Averi’s bedside.
The little guy was still sleeping soundly, his long lashes casting shadows on his chubby cheeks.
“Averi, sweetheart?” she called out softly. “Wake up. We need to go to the hospital for your checkup.”
Averi stirred. “Mommy,” he mumbled as he rubbed his eyes and stretched. “Are we going to see Dr. Archer again?”
“That’s right,” Sadie replied with a smile as she helped him out of bed to get dressed. “Once we’re done at the hospital, I’ll take you to eat something yummy.”
Less than an hour later, Jim was carefully examining Averi and taking notes on the boy’s condition post-surgery.
“He’s recovering very well, and the wound is healing up nicely too,” Jim said as he set his stethoscope down. “This little warrior is pretty tough.”noveldrama
“Thank you, Dr. Archer.” Sadie sighed in relief, feeling a burden lift from her shoulders.
“Mommy, may I have ice cream?” Averi chirped as soon as they stepped out of the consultation room.
Sadie thought about it for a while. “Well, a little bit wouldn’t hurt.”
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