I thought it was hrious, but I held myughter back. Watching Teri, her grin quickly turned intoughter, filling the quiet room with a burst of humor I hadn''t expected."


    Once she finishedughing, the sighed deeply. "Ari, don''t think I''m overstepping, but ever since you tried to, well, you know... it''s like Elijah''s turned into a shell of himself." 1 frowned. "How would you know?!


    Teri hesitated, ncing at me. "He.. he''se to see me a few times''


    The thought of Elijah reaching out to her left an odd taste in my mouth, especially after his pitiful disy this morning-being dragged out of the hospital ward, bruised and beaten, after trying to barge in 1 could''t forget his desperate look as he crawled across the floor.


    I sighed, dropping my gaze. Even without my old memories, Lunderstood that Elijah was a proud man-too proud. Seeing him reduced to such a desperate, pitiful state was jarring, like) seeing someone entirely different.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Te noticed my expression and quickly defended hersel


    "I''m not making excuses for him, I promise. It''s just, well, I can''t help but think if he regrets it now, why couldn''t he see it all sooner?


    What did here to you? Lasked softly


    She shrugged. "He said a lot. He talked about how he first met you, how you''d follow him around, how much you did for


    The more she spoke, the deeper my frown grew.


    "He''s just not the same as he used to be," she added.


    "Before, he''d never say so much to me, especially about something so personal. And the way he talked-it was so careful like he was trying to remember every little detail"


    I cut her off, my toe calm but firm "So, he knows now, doesn''t he? He realize just how much I loved him before I lost my mo?


    Teri nodded, "Yeah, he does"


    After a brief pause, I said softly, "Terk, the next time he tries talking to you, tell


    She watched me expectantly, but I trailed off, lost in my thoughts. She nudged me gently. "Tell him what?


    I lowered my pace. "Tell himte love means nothing."


    Her eyes widened. "Oli.


    She fell silent, and for a moment, the room was still


    Just then, a muse knocked and entered hesitantly. "Ms. York, there''s a kid here asking to see you.


    1 blinked in surprise. "A kid? Whun''s his name?"


    The nurse shook her head. "He won''t give a name. Just keeps saying he knows you and really wants to visit.


    The nurse didn''t want to upset me, so she quickly added, "Mr. Wood gave instructions that no strangers are allowed to visit you. But this kid has been here a few times already and always brings a bug of things, insisting they''re for you "A kdd" And he brought gifts?" I raised an eyebrow, my curiouty piqued. "How old is he?"


    "13. Maybe 15, "the use replied, then paused, "actually, he could be closer to 15 or 14.**


    Trei and teaclunged puzzled nces, both shaking our heads slightly, I couldn''t remember any young boys I knew, and Teri seemed equally clueless.


    "Alright. Let him in. Maybe he''s a distant rtive," I uld


    These wild rxed and nodded Thank you I''ll bring him right in. Remember, if you i


    i need anything, just press the red button by the bed-


    Bufone star could finish, I saw a fair toute walking toward the room. The instant I recognized him, it all clicked. Elijah''s younger brother, Evan Myespressam pewthoughtful. Turning to Teri, salt, "Could you give us a few minutes alone? "dlike to talk to him" He looked back, startled by the sight of Evan, then nodded and quietly stepped out of the