CHAPTER 84: CHAPTER 84: JULIAN SINCLAIR COMES OVER TONIGHT

He stared at me for two seconds, those eyes deep and unfathomable, as if probing for something.

Finally, he spoke lightly, "No."

The tension in my nerves suddenly relaxed, and I almost collapsed.

"She’s out of danger."

Timothy Xavier’s tone was cold as he said to me, "The daughter of the Xavier Group’s CEO getting food poisoning, that’s quite a scoop for you journalists looking for sensational news, isn’t it?"

I never imagined that in his eyes, my actions were just those of a reporter seeking a scoop.

But I was already too exhausted to explain anything.

The moment I confirmed Doris was okay, my eyes suddenly welled up with heat.

I lowered my head, my voice muffled, "It’s good that she’s okay."

At this moment, Serena Sawyer returned, "Timothy, the transfer arrangements are ready. This public hospital is too noisy, and the environment isn’t good. It’s better for Doris to go to our own private hospital where she can rest quietly."

"Alright."

Timothy Xavier had no objections.

Hearing about her transfer, I couldn’t stay calm, "Timothy Xavier, Veridia First Municipal Hospital is the top pediatric hospital in Veridia, with the best doctors. You’ve already harmed Doris by transferring her to a kindergarten, and now you want to make the same mistake again?"

Timothy Xavier paused slightly, with a hint of hesitation in his eyes.

At that moment, Serena Sawyer said, "Miss Ellison, Timothy and I are Doris’s parents; we have the right to arrange anything for her."

After she spoke, Timothy Xavier ignored me and left with Serena Sawyer.

Watching their retreating figures, I tightly clenched my fingers, clearly, I am Doris’s real mother!

But Timothy Xavier is clearly intending to keep everything hidden; he just doesn’t want me to have any contact with Doris and instead lets someone like Serena Sawyer be involved in everything about Doris.

I must find a way to quickly get the paternity test results for Doris and me and fight for custody.

But the only person I can think of to help me with all this is ’Julian Sinclair’.

As soon as the name crossed my mind, I suddenly remembered tonight’s engagement.

I hurriedly took out my phone; it was already past nine at night.

There were several missed calls on the phone from the assistant director, with whom I had exchanged contact information last time I auditioned.

Because of Doris’s food poisoning, I had completely forgotten about the engagement.

Thinking of this, I quickly called the assistant director back, wanting to ask about the evening’s situation.

The assistant director didn’t sound very pleased, complaining, "Miss Ellison, I know you became famous with a book, and it’s normal to be proud. But you should know the occasion! What was tonight? Investors, directors, producers, they are all big shots! Which one isn’t bigger than you?"

"Sorry, something happened unexpectedly this evening, so I forgot."

I could only keep apologizing.

The assistant director said, "Luckily, the investors didn’t blame you, otherwise, it’s hard to say if this show would have even started filming!"

After saying that, he hung up the phone.

Looking at the darkened phone screen and recalling what the assistant director said earlier, I realized I should explain to Julian Sinclair.

After all, I didn’t deliberately break the appointment.

But I don’t have his phone number, just WeChat.

After hesitating for a long time, I gave him a WeChat voice call.

Unfortunately, he didn’t pick up.

I was not bold enough to keep calling.

Because it was too late.

Perhaps he was asleep.

Maybe he’ll reply to me when he sees it tomorrow?

...

That whole night, I tossed and turned.

Doris’s situation kept me from sleeping at all.

What method should I use to get a paternity test?

Even if I had a paternity test, Timothy Xavier might not give Doris back to me, let alone approaching him for the child without any evidence!

The next day, I got up with dark circles under my eyes.

The phone was completely silent, and Julian Sinclair hadn’t replied to me.

Was he angry?

I had no choice but to send him a sincere message, "Uncle, I’m very sorry. Yesterday, Doris had food poisoning at kindergarten; the incident was sudden, and I was so occupied with Doris that I forgot about the engagement. I promise to apologize in person another day."

I waited for twenty minutes, but the apology message seemed to vanish into thin air.

I didn’t have the energy to think about anything else and went to Veridia First Municipal Hospital again.

As expected, Doris had already been transferred.

Even with my identity as a reporter, I couldn’t find out which hospital she had been transferred to.

Just as I was anxiously preparing to go to The Xavier Manor to find Timothy Xavier, the man actually called me.

"Are you free now?" His voice was low, seeming quite reluctant.

"Do you have something to say?" I asked.

He said quietly, "Doris has a poor appetite and wants to eat the cake you make. If it’s convenient for you, please make one and send it over. I will pay you."

The last sentence felt like a needle piercing into my heart.

I replied coldly, "I don’t need your payment. I can make a cake for Doris. Send me the address, and I will deliver it myself."

Timothy Xavier said, "I’ll ask Jack Sullivan to pick it up."

"No need, I’ll deliver it myself!"

My tone was firm.

Asking me to make a cake yet not wanting me to see Doris, he really was playing a good hand.

In the end, to let Doris eat as soon as possible, he agreed.

Afraid of delaying Doris’s lunch, I quickly bought ingredients and busied myself at home.

Before noon, I made the sponge cake that Doris liked, but this time it was very small, thinking she was recovering from illness and shouldn’t eat too much sweet food.

At the same time, I also made a nutritious meal for children.

After packing everything up, I drove to the address given by Timothy Xavier.

The Xavier Group’s pediatric hospital was indeed quieter than the public ones, and the environment was impeccable.

Timothy Xavier even cleared an entire floor just for Doris to stay.

When I arrived, Serena Sawyer and Timothy Xavier were outside, talking about something I couldn’t hear.

Hearing my footsteps, they stopped talking.

Serena Sawyer walked over, forcing a smile, "Miss Ellison, it’s really a trouble for you to make a trip."

After speaking, she was about to reach for the food and cake I brought.

I directly avoided her, expressionless, "I’ll give it to Doris myself."

"No need."

Timothy Xavier spoke coldly, "Doris has just recovered, her immunity is still low, and the ward requires absolute cleanliness, the fewer people going in, the better."

Hearing this, I got angry, "Are you saying I’m a virus? Then the food I made is also viral. If that’s the case, why did you call me early in the morning to make a cake?"

Timothy Xavier narrowed his eyes slightly, without saying anything.

Serena Sawyer, with a faint smile, said, "Miss Ellison, how about this? You teach me, and I’ll ask Timothy to pay you. Is that okay?"

"You’ll ask him to pay?"

I squinted my eyes and retorted, "His assets are all frozen, half of his money is mine! Who do you think you are, asking him to pay?"

Serena’s face suddenly turned white, her eyes glistening with tears as she looked at Timothy Xavier.

Timothy, his face cold and serious, said, "Zoe Ellison, don’t think that just because you filed a lawsuit, you’ll get anything! Talking about all this is premature. While reminding others of their status, you’d best remember your own!"

At that moment, Doris’s voice came from the hospital room: "Daddy, is my cake here?"

Timothy’s tone softened instantly as he responded, "Yes."

To ensure our daughter got her cake quickly, she let me in, but he stayed close behind me, as if guarding.

When Doris saw the cake in my hand, her eyes lit up: "Wow, it’s so pretty! But why is it smaller than last time?"

Gazing at the little girl’s pale face, my heart ached terribly.

As I gently stroked her fluffy head, I said, "Doris, when you get better, I’ll make you a bigger one, okay? But for now, if you want to eat this cake, you have to finish your meal first, alright?"

With that, I opened the children’s meal I prepared for her.

Doris focused on the cake, pouting, "But I don’t want to eat anything but the cake."

"How about you try a little first?"

I picked up a small piece of lotus root with chopsticks and said, "If you don’t like it, you don’t have to eat it. Just give it a try, okay?"

Doris opened her little mouth and ate the piece of lotus root.

Lotus root is my favorite vegetable, and I thought if there’s a connection between mother and daughter, Doris would like it too?

I looked at her expectantly.

Unexpectedly, after eating that piece of lotus root, she seemed to have a bigger appetite and said to me, "More rice, please."

I couldn’t help but smile softly, sitting by her bed and feeding her bite by bite.

Occasionally, I caught a glimpse of Timothy Xavier, with that deep and complex gaze.

At this moment, Serena Sawyer walked in, smiling, "Doris, would you like mommy to feed you? Auntie is busy, shall we let her go?"

My hand paused slightly, and I couldn’t help but grip the chopsticks tightly.

Yet Doris was almost obedient to Serena and nodded, "Okay, let mommy feed me. Mommy feeds more deliciously."

My heart felt as if pierced by countless needles, tightly and painfully.

But to avoid raising Timothy’s suspicions, every day when I saw Doris, I still handed the bowl and chopsticks to Serena Sawyer.

As long as I could find evidence that Doris and I are mother and daughter, what did this patience matter?

While Serena fed Doris, Timothy also came to her side.

The two of them stood on either side of Doris, while only I seemed like an outsider.

Timothy’s determination was beyond my imagination, tearing me away from my daughter’s world.

If I hadn’t noticed something amiss, I would have believed my child was in that cold grave my whole life.

These thoughts spun repeatedly in my mind as I numbly walked outside.

At that moment, Doris’s voice came from behind: "Auntie Ellison, are you coming tomorrow?"

I turned back, seeing clear displeasure and surprise on the faces of Timothy and Serena.

While Doris was looking at me with those bright, dark eyes.

My nose tingled, and I nodded forcefully, "What do you want to eat tomorrow, Doris?"

"Anything is fine!" Doris said, beaming, "Auntie Ellison’s cakes and meals are so good!"

At this moment, I first felt the warmth of a bond between mother and daughter.

Everyone here was cold, except Doris, who gave me a ray of light.

"Alright, Auntie will make something even more delicious for my Doris tomorrow."

I took a deep look at the little girl before leaving.

...

For three consecutive days, I made various appetizing meals for Doris and baked different kinds of cookies and cakes.

She ate happily at every meal, and seeing her appetite improving and her health indicators returning to normal, I gradually felt relieved.

After returning home, I completed the draft on the kindergarten students’ collective poisoning incident and sent it to Victoria Monroe.

She said, "This news is your investigation. I’ll attribute it to your name."

"It’s all good, it doesn’t matter."

I was genuinely indifferent. After all, the main reason I helped her with the news was to get the latest updates on Doris.

But Victoria insisted, "This news must have your name. It’s your work; I won’t take credit."

She’s like that, meticulous yet fair and square.

I smiled and said, "Alright then, as you see fit."

"Zoe, are you... planning to go back to being a full-time housewife?" Victoria’s tone was filled with concern. "Is it because you find the outside workplace tough? So... you decided to compromise?"

I laughed heartily, "What if that’s the case?"

Victoria paused for a long moment and said, "If so, I would really look down on you! I thought we were like wolves, battling in the workplace! I didn’t expect, after such a short time, you’d retreat again!"

I couldn’t help but feel a warmth and explained, "Don’t worry. Like you, once I recognize a scumbag, I won’t turn back. It’s just that now I have a different direction to strive for, so I’m quite busy. Therefore, I temporarily put work aside."

"A different direction?" she asked curiously, "Is it related to news? You were so good at your major in college, it would be a shame if you didn’t do news."

I replied, "It’s not related to news. I’ll tell you when I’ve established it!"

Victoria extended an olive branch, "How about coming to the company I’m at now! It’s competitive here, but the interpersonal relations aren’t as complex as before. I’d love to continue being comrades with you!"

As much as I wanted to continue in journalism, I remembered that I needed to finish the first half of my novel by the end of the year, so I said, "Let’s talk about it next year. If you need my help with anything, I’m willing, like this time, to occasionally be your comrade."

"Zoe, with that commitment, I’m sure we’ll fight side by side again in the future!"

Victoria’s voice was filled with fighting spirit.

After being away from the job for so long, my name reappeared in the new news hotspots.

The comment section mostly criticized the kindergarten’s misconduct, but there were a few comments about me.

"Isn’t she the journalist who previously unearthed a lot of explosive news?"

"Yes, yes, it’s her! Back then, she exposed Miles Sawyer’s academic fraud and was framed by Serena Sawyer and her mother!"

"I thought she offended some big shots and was sidelined, but she’s back to continue reporting the news. That’s great!"

"..."

Reading these comments, my eyes grew warm.

I hadn’t expected anyone to remember me as the journalist Zoe Ellison.

Just then, I received a call from The Kendall Family.

"Zoe, your grandpa saw your newly released news! It’s really impressive; your articulate and sharp language is something those actors can’t compare to!"

My grandpa’s voice was cheerful and jovial. "By the way, come to grandpa’s tonight for dinner with the family. Let’s celebrate!"

I hesitated to refuse.

After all, apart from the slight kindness from grandpa and grandma, the other family members didn’t seem suited for a meal together.

Just as I was about to refuse, grandpa said, "Don’t worry, your mother-in-law won’t come. She nags all the time, and I find her annoying. Timothy won’t be there, either. I heard Doris isn’t feeling well and needs company. It’s just your uncle coming! Grandpa thought the house is too quiet, and if you come, at least there’ll be some conversation and more warmth."

I was slightly taken aback. Julian Sinclair is coming over tonight?

Remembering how my calls and apology messages had gone unanswered, I thought it would be better to explain in person.

After all, this uncle also happens to be the patron of my novel now.