CHAPTER 63: CHAPTER 63: WHAT RUMOR?

Jean Ellison looked at Justin Holden, her willow eyebrows slightly furrowed. She couldn’t understand how he ended up at the hospital, appearing coincidentally outside Jesse’s operating room.

"Thank you."

Her tone was indifferent as she reached out to touch Jesse’s forehead.

Normal temperature.

"Mom, Uncle Holden has already taken my temperature several times."

"The nurse said Uncle Holden is the most patient dad she’s ever seen."

Jesse’s voice was sweet and soft, her little face clean and white, indicating someone had already wiped her face after the surgery.

As Jean withdrew her hand, her fingers curled up, and her heart sank for a moment.

"Children speak nonsense. Lawyer Holden, don’t take it to heart."

She hoped Justin Holden would take Jesse’s words as a joke.

Justin Holden stood up, silently standing by the bed, and said blandly, "It’s okay."

Jean turned around to see the attending doctor entering with the nurse, along with another familiar face.

Simon Sterling entered, wearing a snow-white coat, his skin even paler, with long arms and defined wrists.

He walked to the bedside, bent down, and gently looked at Jesse.

"Our Jesse is really brave."

Justin Holden glanced at the bedside, his eyes extremely calm, but his pupils were very dark.

He did not speak.

Director Thorne stepped forward, respectful, reaching out to shake his hand proactively.

"Lawyer Holden, long time no see."

"Mm."

Justin Holden’s attitude was indifferent, stretching out his hand and quickly withdrawing it.

He looked at Jesse on the bed, his gaze sweeping over the standing man and woman, fixing on Jean’s back, a darkness surging in his eyes.

"She woke up three hours after the surgery, takes her temperature every two hours, has normal bowel and bladder functions."

"Had some millet porridge in the morning, ate an egg, a few shrimp."

"Had vegetable porridge for lunch, drank some clear chicken soup."

"Drank half a cup of tomato juice in the evening, ate a few pieces of lotus root and ribs."

Director Thorne knew he was talking about the child’s condition and nodded, "The surgery was very successful, and recovery is also good."

"In the coming days, please take extra care."

Justin Holden turned his head, making eye contact with him.

Director Thorne noticed his facial features were very similar to the child’s and sincerely responded, "Don’t worry, I won’t let the staff leak any information. Our staff is very tight-lipped."

There had been no word about Justin Holden having a wedding, nor about him registering for marriage.

The child on the bed was presumably illegitimate.

Justin Holden was silent for a few seconds.

"What information?"

Director Thorne opened his mouth, his eyes moved, and he lowered his voice, "Isn’t this child your daughter?"

"No."

Justin Holden’s cold and calm tone carried a hint of instability at the end.

If he really had a child, his family wouldn’t press him to go on blind dates or get married.

Director Thorne smacked his lips, no matter how he looked at them, they seemed like father and daughter. People said daughters took after their fathers, and that saying wasn’t wrong.

"Sorry for the misunderstanding, thinking you and the child look a bit alike."

"Mm, people say so."

Justin Holden’s tone was plain and ordinary, and when Director Thorne looked up, he seemed to catch a slight smile at the corner of his mouth.

It must have been an illusion.

It’s not really something to be happy about if it’s not your own child and they look like you.

Justin Holden kept his eyes fixed on Jean’s profile. She smiled at Simon Sterling, who was leaning down and whispering something to her, even Jesse’s eyes were sparkling as she watched them.

"Doctor Thorne, since the child just had surgery, it’s best if no more than two people stay in the ward."

"This..." Director Thorne understood his meaning, gestured to the nurse beside him, "Go put the medicine down, and let Doctor Sterling come back with us. His department is also busy."

The nurse nodded.

"Doctor Sterling, your department is currently without a doctor. Perhaps you should return first."

Simon Sterling stood up, seeming warm and gentle from top to bottom. He wore a pure white coat, with a high-quality shirt inside, all in cool colors, but gave off a warm, sunny feeling.

He seemed to interact with children often.

"I understand."

Jean helped Jesse lie down, covered her with a soft blanket, watching her close her eyes.

"You should head back. It’s office hours."

Turns out, Simon Sterling worked at this hospital.

She should have asked Simon Sterling to find a good ward on the day she moved in, so Jules wouldn’t think she wasn’t taking good care of Jesse.

She didn’t resent Jules; she knew all of Jules’s anger stemmed from too much love for Jesse.

Simon Sterling responded, casting a deep look at her and instructed, "I’ll come back later. If there’s anything, remember to call me."

Justin Holden put one hand in his pocket, taking long strides to the bedside, standing right beside Jean.

His eyes were cold and heavy, falling on Simon Sterling’s face.

He’s still here, what could possibly happen?

Simon Sterling ignored him, pretending not to see him, and left the ward with Director Thorne.

In the hallway, his voice could be heard asking about Jesse’s surgical condition, when she could recover well, and when she could be discharged.

Justin remembered Jean and Jesse now had nowhere to live.

Once Jesse was discharged, even if Jean was unwilling, she would have to consider the child and find a place to stay.

The apartment provided by his office was near the hospital, a two-bedroom, just perfect for mother and daughter.

He should clean it up in the next few days, so Jean wouldn’t have to, and they could move in directly. He also needed to buy some children’s items, like toothpaste and a toothbrush.

"Why don’t you sit for a while, the child will sleep for two to three hours before waking."

Justin seemed more like the child’s parent. He had only spent a day with Jesse but already knew her schedule.

Jean nodded, sitting down on the sofa next to her.

Her whole body was sore and she hadn’t rested well these past few days. It was the first time she’d slept so long, and she still felt a bit unaccustomed.

A vibration came from the bag, and the screen lit up. Even through the bag’s fabric, the white light was clearly visible.

"Hello."

Jean walked over to answer the phone, turning her back to Justin Holden, naturally not seeing his gaze land on her after he lifted his eyes.

"Really?" Jean’s tone was cheerful, "Thank you, I can sign the contract online and transfer a year’s rent to you right away."

She didn’t expect to find shared housing so quickly.

The real estate agent said someone advertised for a roommate, and the location was excellent, a large flat with over 300 square feet.

More importantly, the landlord had no requirements, whether for children or pets.

Such a good deal, he thought of Jean first, knowing she was a single mother with a sick daughter, truly in a tough spot.

Just lending a hand and gaining merit for the landlord by doing good.

"You’re moving houses?"

Jean had just hung up when a low voice came from behind her, laced with an interrogative tone.

"Mm, the previous rental contract expired."

She put down the phone, her eyes avoiding his. She couldn’t say she had been kicked out, leaving her and her child without a home.

"For any reason, I can help you renew the lease."

Justin Holden sat in a single sofa, his tall figure sinking deeply into it, long legs crossed, arms comfortably resting on the sofa back, the platinum watch on his wrist reflecting a cold light.

He was a lawyer, and these weren’t empty words.

"No need; I’ve found someone to share with."

Share?

Hearing those words, his brow furrowed, and his fingers, previously tapping idly on the sofa’s leather, paused.

"Who?"

"Gender, age, occupation, hometown, any criminal record—are you aware of all these details?"

Jean was momentarily speechless; she indeed didn’t know, not even the roommate’s gender.

She had agreed with the agent without thinking, simply because she would lose the opportunity otherwise.

The rent was reasonable, and the other party had no requirements, not minding children at home.

There was no reason not to secure this housing.

"Yes, I’ve inquired about all of that. The landlord is a female student, honest and straightforward."

She avoided eye contact when lying, a habit she never changed.

Justin Holden gazed at her face; she lowered her head slightly, hands twisting in front of her, looking exactly like someone he knew.

He suddenly stood up, leaving the sofa.

"I’m going out for some air; it’s a bit stuffy."

He walked past Jean, quick steps, the cuff of his rolled-up shirt brushed against the outside of her wrist; the fabric was soft, yet it caused her heart to tremble violently for a moment.

She watched him leave, then turned to look at the window.

The hospital window was half-open, a gentle breeze drifting in, lightly swaying the moon-white, thin curtains.