Chapter 99: This Is His Home

They supported each other, leaned on one another. Though he was just a little boy, with his small frame, he held up a small world just for her.

It was a small world, but it was a warm one.

He said with sincerity, "You’re very lucky, Dr. Vance, to have a child like that."

Hearing his words, a warm smile slowly bloomed in Amanda Vance’s eyes. "Yes, I think so too."

She suddenly recalled the first thing Jean had said to her after passing a hacking test: "Mom, I can help you now. We can fight side-by-side. I’ll protect you."

He was even younger back then, the baby fat still clinging to his cheeks, yet he was already talking about protecting her.

Even after all this time, she still remembered the joy she felt in that moment.

Samuel Ford was a man of few words and rarely said so much at once. But seeing the smile on her face, he felt it was worth it.

Since neither of the children were coming, there was no reason for them to stay any longer. Samuel Ford glanced at her and said, "Let me take you home, Dr. Vance."

"There’s no need. I live right nearby."

"What a coincidence, so do I. We might be heading the same way. Where do you live, Dr. Vance?"

Amanda Vance told him the name of her residential complex, not expecting him to reply, "I live there too."

Now it was Amanda Vance’s turn to be surprised. "Well, let’s go together then."

"Alright."

Before leaving, Amanda Vance went to find Mr. Lynch one more time. She was relieved to hear him say that all the patients from the car accident had been saved. "In that case, I’ll head home now," she said.

"Yes, yes. Go on home."

Seeing the two of them walking off side-by-side, Mr. Lynch felt like there was something he’d forgotten to tell them. But he’d been busy all day and had only just gotten a chance to relax. His mind was a complete blank; he couldn’t remember what it was at all.

’It probably wasn’t anything important,’ he figured. Since he couldn’t recall it, he decided to just let it go.

The apartment was very close to the hospital, so Amanda Vance simply walked to and from work. The trip was only about ten minutes, which she counted as exercise. Samuel Ford didn’t plan on driving either.

They exchanged a few words here and there, and soon they arrived at the complex. After walking a few more steps, she noticed he was still with her. Amanda Vance paused. "President Ford, you don’t have to see me all the way. I can get back on my own from here."

"My home is this way too."

Huh?

He didn’t seem to be lying, so Amanda Vance nodded and kept walking. This continued until they were both standing in front of the same elevator. Amanda couldn’t help but turn to him and ask, "You live in this building too, President Ford?"

Samuel Ford nodded.

’Alright, this is getting a little too coincidental.’

The complex wasn’t very crowded, so the elevator arrived quickly. Samuel Ford stepped inside first, holding the door open with one hand while placing the other over the button panel. He glanced at Amanda Vance. "What floor, Dr. Vance?"

"The twenty-third."

Samuel Ford’s hand froze. He repeated, "The twenty-third floor?"

"Yes. Is there a problem?"

’No problem, it’s just...’

Samuel Ford lowered his gaze to the button panel, at the only number that was already lit up.

Amanda Vance noticed it too. She recalled that he hadn’t pressed the button yet after she told him her floor. ’So why was the twenty-third floor already selected?’

Suddenly, as realization dawned on them, they both fell silent.

The elevator ascended, stopping directly on the twenty-third floor. The doors opened, but neither of them moved. Just as the doors were about to close again, Samuel Ford held them open with his hand and looked at Amanda Vance. "Shall we, Dr. Vance?"

"Yes," Amanda Vance murmured, lowering her head and rubbing her nose. She wasn’t an idiot; there was no way she wouldn’t have figured it out by now.

Standing in front of the apartment door, she suddenly found it difficult to pull the keys from her bag. She gave a helpless smile. "I never would have guessed this was your home, President Ford."

"And I never would have guessed you lived here, Dr. Vance."

"I was in a rush to find a place to live, and Mr. Lynch said he had a friend with an apartment nearby that I could stay in for the time being." After a moment’s thought, she realized who that "friend" must have been. It had to be the elder Mr. Ford.

Samuel Ford nodded in understanding. He recalled the arrangement. With his grandfather staying at the hospital, they had offered the apartment to Mr. Lynch to make it easier for him to look after the old man, ensuring he could be there quickly if anything urgent happened. If anything, the Ford family owed Mr. Lynch a favor.

"The apartment actually belongs to my grandfather. You’re the one who saved his life; he’d be thrilled to know you were staying here. However, it seems I’ll be the one imposing on you tonight, Dr. Vance."

He had only planned to crash here for the night. He never expected to run into her.

What a coincidence indeed.

Amanda Vance shook her head. "This is your family’s apartment to begin with. I haven’t even had a chance to thank you properly in person."

Hearing this, Samuel Ford couldn’t help but chuckle. "Dr. Vance, why don’t we head inside first?"

The two of them, standing in the hallway thanking each other back and forth... it was starting to feel a little silly.

Amanda Vance realized it too. She blinked, then took the key from her bag and opened the door.

The interior immediately came into view. It was decorated in a clean, sharp, black-and-white style that seemed to perfectly match his personality.

She hadn’t thought about it before, but looking at it now, she felt his presence in every detail. How had she never noticed it?

Samuel Ford also took in the apartment. He rarely came here. His grandfather usually lived at the main family estate, so this place was just for convenience when a temporary stay was needed. The decor had been designed by his assistant based on his own preferences, so it looked much like his actual home.

Amanda Vance put her things down. Seeing him still standing by the door, she asked, "Are you hungry, President Ford?"

At her question, Samuel Ford’s gaze shifted to her. She was tying on an apron and slowly rolling up her sleeves, looking like she was about to start cooking.

A moment ago, he had thought this place felt just like his own home. Now, it seemed, he was wrong. It was different.

A flicker in his eyes, he lightly rubbed his fingertips together and nodded.

"Okay."

Taking his nod as a yes, Amanda Vance headed to the kitchen. "Why don’t you have a seat on the sofa and rest for a bit, President Ford," she said casually.

She didn’t hear a reply. Just as she was about to turn and see what he was doing, she found him right behind her. They were so close that his sudden appearance made her jump.

"Did I scare you?" Samuel Ford asked, looking down at her.

Amanda Vance quickly recovered. "I’m fine."

Noticing that he was still following her, she asked in confusion, "What are you doing, President Ford?"

"Washing the vegetables."

Amanda Vance almost thought she’d misheard him. ’What did he just say? Washing the vegetables?’

Before she could process it, he walked straight to the sink. Looking at the vegetables on the counter, he turned back to her and asked, "Are these what we’re cooking tonight?"

"Uh, yes," Amanda Vance answered automatically. It was only when she saw him actually pick up the vegetables and start washing them that she was sure she hadn’t misheard.

Still, it felt a little surreal. No matter how she looked at it, he just didn’t seem like the type of person who would do something like this.

’Oh, that’s not quite right,’ she corrected herself. ’He washed the dishes last time at the old headmaster’s house, too. He isn’t some pampered rich kid who’s never had to lift a finger.’

And yet... even knowing that, seeing him wash vegetables still felt somehow unreal.

Lost in thought, Amanda Vance couldn’t help but stare. She was so focused that she didn’t notice when Samuel Ford suddenly looked over. "What is it?"

As he spoke, their eyes met, and both of them froze.