CHAPTER 111: CHAPTER 111: YOU WANT ME TO LEAVE?

Justin Holden was almost running as he hurriedly took the elevator down to the first floor, his sharp eyes scanning the lobby, quickly locking onto the quiet café in the corner.

He immediately spotted his mother and Jean Ellison sitting across from each other by the window.

Jean was slightly bowing her head, holding a coffee cup in both hands, her profile looking somewhat pale and tense.

His mother, however, was smiling, seemingly saying something.

Justin’s heart clenched suddenly; he walked over quickly, not even caring about the stares of those around him.

He walked straight to the table, grabbed Jean’s arm, his tone firm and unquestionable: "Get up and come back with me."

Jean was startled by his sudden appearance and action, instinctively trying to break free: "Lawyer Holden, you..."

Mrs. Holden was also taken aback by her son’s sudden move, showing displeasure on her face.

She put down her coffee cup, looking at Justin’s tense vigilance, as if she was going to devour Jean, and couldn’t help but laugh, with a tone carrying obvious teasing and a slight hint of probing.

"Justin, what are you doing, I was just inviting Miss Ellison for a cup of coffee and a chat. Why, are you afraid your mom is a tiger that can eat Miss Ellison?"

She looked up and down at her son, the interest in her eyes growing stronger.

"I have never seen you so anxious about anyone before, what, is Miss Ellison that special to you?"

Justin’s arm suddenly stiffened.

His mother’s words were clearly a probe.

He slowly released his grip on Jean’s arm, the force abrupt, even causing the unprepared Jean to stagger backward, almost knocking over the chair behind her.

He quickly retreated half a step, deliberately creating a distant social space, his expression returning to coldness.

His voice also reverted to its usual indifference, even more businesslike and formal than usual.

"Mom, you’re overthinking, just ordinary friends."

He paused, his gaze fleetingly passing over Jean’s face, her face still somewhat pale.

"Taking her back because Jesse’s anesthesia is about to wear off and could wake up any moment. The child is still small, especially fragile during illness, waking up not seeing the most dependent mother by their side would cause fear and crying, emotional upheaval is not conducive to post-surgery recovery."

This explanation was reasonable, calm, and almost cold, perfectly aligning with his consistently cold and meticulous lawyer image.

Mrs. Holden’s smile deepened a bit, the understanding in her eyes almost overflowing.

She knew well this was just a perfect excuse her son found in a hurry, but she wasn’t in a rush to expose it.

She elegantly picked up a napkin from the table, slowly wiped the corner of her mouth, then stood up, her tone gentle.

"So that’s it. Considerate indeed, then you should go back, the child is important."

She picked up her handbag, her gaze moving meaningfully between her son’s feigned calm and cold face and Jean’s lowered eyelids, obscuring her expression before continuing.

"I’m also a bit tired, should go back to rest, your father is waiting at home to have dinner with me."

She paused, looking at Justin, her tone naturally adding a reminder, as if it were the most ordinary mother-son conversation.

"Justin, remember to come home early too."

Justin’s expression was emotionless, his jawline somewhat taut, his voice steady and even: "No, Mom, you go ahead and eat. There’s an important international video conference at the firm tonight, there’s a time difference with the client, I must attend. I’ll go directly there, won’t be coming home tonight."

Mrs. Holden’s eyes flickered with a smile as if she expected this, not insisting, nodding along smoothly.

"Alright then, work is important, but remember to take care of yourself."

She turned to Jean, offering a polite and distant smile.

"Miss Ellison, take good care of the child, reach out if you need any help."

With that, she turned and left the café with measured steps.

Justin no longer looked at Jean, not even a surplus glance exchanged, just left a blunt statement.

"Let’s go."

Then he turned around first, striding towards the elevator, his upright back showing an aloof and unapproachable hardness.

Jean watched his back, seemingly annoyed by lingering even a second longer, pursed her pale lips, completely pressing down the ridiculous wave in her heart, and silently followed.

All the way in silence.

The elevator was cramped.

Justin watched the changing floor numbers straight ahead, while Jean looked down, focusing on a small patch of the floor in front of her shoes.

Back in the ward, Zoe Holden was indeed still there, bored, swiping through short videos on her phone.

Seeing them come in one after the other, especially her brother’s more stern face than usual, she wisely swallowed all her probing words, immediately grabbing her bag and standing up.

"Mom went back herself? Then I’ll be off too."

She walked to the door, turned back to Jean with a smile, which seemed somewhat forced.

"Reporter Ellison, take good care of the child."

After Zoe left, the door to the ward gently closed, isolating the outside world.

The room was suddenly left with only two of them, and Jesse still asleep under the influence of medication.

The air abruptly became exceedingly quiet, leaving only the rhythmic and slight beeping of the monitor, which instead felt more oppressive.

Jean walked to the bedside, leaned down, inspecting her daughter’s condition very carefully.

Breathing was calm, her face pale but still peaceful.

She carefully tucked Jesse in and adjusted the position of the IV line to a more comfortable state.

After doing all this, she straightened up, realizing that Justin hadn’t left as he said he would.

He still stood in his usual spot by the window, his posture straight like a pine, motionlessly staring out the window.

Outside the window, the sunset was slowly sinking into the city’s skyline, painting the sky a warm orange.

But this warmth could not penetrate the glass, nor melt the cold air he exuded.

Soon, the last glimmer of the sunset was swallowed, the night spread like ink, and the automatic sensing lights in the ward silently lit up, casting a soft yet cool glow.

Justin still held that posture, without any sign of checking the time or going to the firm for a crucial video conference.

His presence was like a silent oppression, filling every corner of the room.

Jean’s doubts in her heart grew like vines, tightening with each twist.

The passage of time became exceptionally clear, each second felt like a challenge to her taut nerves.

She finally couldn’t help but break the stifling silence, her voice sounding a bit dry and tight due to prolonged silence and inner turmoil:

"Lawyer Holden..."

She paused, almost carefully weighing her words.

"It’s getting late, aren’t you supposed to go to the firm for a meeting? I can stay here and watch over."

Justin’s figure moved slightly.

He slowly turned around.

Against the bright light in the ward, most of his facial features were hidden in the shadow, making it hard to see clearly, only those deep eyes reflecting a complex and indistinguishable light under the light.

He didn’t directly answer her question about the meeting, instead, he took a small step forward, slightly coming out of the shadow, his gaze calm, looking directly at her, his voice deep as he asked back.

"Do you want me to go?"