Chapter 190
After a few more back-and-forths, Sienna ended the call.
Right then, someone knocked and poked their head in. “Director Brown, the meeting’s about to start p>
“Got it p>
Sienna set her phone down and headed out. On her way to the conference room, she spotted Elodie talking to Mr. Kim about some work thing.
Sienna knew Cole and Wilson Corp had an ongoing partnership. Cole’s tech staff came by regularly for system maintenance. But she hadn’t expected to run into Elodie here today.
Elodie felt someone watching her. She glanced up, saw it was Sienna, and immediately looked away.
No hesitation. Just done.
Around ten in the morning, Elodie excused herself to use the restroom.
As she stepped into the hallway, she saw Dante.
He was leaning against the wall like he’d been waiting. For her, probably.
She didn’t slow down. She was just going to walk right past him. Then he spoke.
“Nonna fell last night. Fractured her thigh. She needs surgery to replace the bone p>
Elodie stopped dead.
She turned to face him.
Dante told her which hospital. Which room. Then added, “She really wants to see you p>
Elodie didn’t say anything. She was about to walk away when Sienna came out from one of the offices.
She looked surprised to see Dante there.
She hadn’t known he’d come to Wilson Corp today.
And now he was talking to her… Sienna stopped, her lips pressed tight.
Elodie didn’t spare either of them a second glance. She turned and headed straight for the restroom.
By the time she came back, Dante and Sienna were gone.
She went back to work.
Around eleven, after wrapping up the system maintenance, she and the rest of the Cole team packed up and left.
At lunch, Elodie told her grandmother about Nonna’s fall.
Old Madam Miller’s face went pale. “We’re going to see her tonight p>
No matter what was going on between Elodie and Dante, Nonna had been there for the Miller family when they’d needed it most. Back when things were at their worst.
If it hadn’t been for Nonna’s help, the Miller family wouldn’t exist today.
That kind of debt? You didn’t forget it.
“Okay,” Elodie said.
That afternoon, Elodie left work early and went to the Miller house for dinner. Then she picked up her grandmother and they drove to the orthopedic hospital together.
When they got to Nonna’s room, Elodie wasn’t surprised to see Liora there.
She reached out and gently patted her daughter’s head. “You came right after school, huh p>
“Yeah!” Liora’s whole face lit up when she saw her. Then she turned to Nonna. “Great-grandma, look who’s here p>
Old Madam Miller stepped forward. “Hello, dear p>
Before Nonna could respond, Dante walked out of the room.
He saw them and gave a polite nod.
Old Madam Miller’s expression went cold, but she didn’t say anything.
Elodie barely glanced at him before looking away.
She noticed Liora shifting on her feet, clearly wanting to say something. So she spoke first.
“Mom and your great-grandma are going inside to visit now, okay p>
“Okay Liora’s face fell a little, but she held back whatever she’d been about to say. She reached out and took Elodie’s hand as they walked into the room together.
Dante picked up the flowers and fruit basket Elodie and Old Madam Miller had brought and followed them in.
When Nonna saw them, her face lit up. “Oh! What are you doing here p>
Old Madam Miller rushed over, gently pressing Nonna back down before she could try to sit up. “How could you not tell us about something this serious p>
Nonna’s smile faded. She glanced over at Dante, who was already pouring water for Elodie and Old Madam Miller like the perfect host.
“I didn’t have the face to call you,” Nonna said quietly.
Elodie and Old Madam Miller both accepted the glasses Dante handed them.
Old Madam Miller shook her head firmly. “This is between them. None of it is your fault p>
“But I p>
Nonna stopped herself, glancing at Liora, who was standing right there listening.
Old Madam Miller patted her hand gently. “I know p>
After a few more polite exchanges, Nonna turned her attention to Elodie.
Liora, meanwhile, had been glued to Elodie’s side since they walked in. She was pressed up against her leg now, trying to climb into her lap.
Elodie sighed softly, set down her cup, and lifted Liora up onto her lap.
Old Madam Miller glanced over at them. Liora beamed and called out, “Great-grandma p>
“Hello, sweetheart,” Nonna said warmly.
With Liora right there, they couldn’t really get into the heavy stuff, about the divorce, and the mess between Elodie and Dante.
So Old Madam Miller kept the conversation light, asking about Nonna’s condition, how she was feeling, and what the doctors had said.
Nonna explained that her surgery was scheduled for tomorrow.
“Then I’ll come stay with you,” Old Madam Miller said immediately.
“You don’t have to do that. It’s too much trouble p>
“Nonsense. I want to p>
Having Old Madam Miller there to chat with would help pass the time. Keep her spirits up.
A little while later, Nonna seemed to remember something.
“You haven’t eaten yet, have you? Dante, why don’t you p>
“We already ate,” Old Madam Miller cut her off. “Before we came p>
Then she turned to Dante, her tone noticeably colder. “If you and Liora haven’t eaten, you should go do that p>
Liora had been waiting for a chance like this. She wrapped her arms around Elodie’s neck and looked up at her with big, hopeful eyes.
“Mom, I really miss you. Come eat with us. Please p>
Elodie thought about last night. Seeing Liora with Dante and Sienna at the mall, holding hands, laughing together like a perfect little family.
Hearing her say she missed her now… it stung.
Elodie looked down, smiled faintly, and gently shook her head.
“I’m tired from work, sweetheart. I don’t really feel like going out. You two go ahead p>
Liora’s face fell. She knew better than to push. But she didn’t let go. Just stayed curled up in Elodie’s lap, holding on tight.