Chapter 327 - 314: Aren’t You Going to See the Mother and Son? (2)

"Alright then. I’ll cook something special for you myself. Come over early, or should I have the driver come pick you up!"

Hearing her agree, Sharon Ennis’s tone instantly shifted, as if she were a different person. Her voice was suddenly full of energy—a complete one-eighty!

Georgia Thorne was rather speechless. "There’s no need!"

Georgia first brought her things back to her apartment. Hannah Gardner was sprawled on the sofa, boredly watching TV.

Hearing a noise at the entrance, he scrambled to the door. "Ms. Thorne, you’re finally back! I was so bored all by myself!"

"Where’s your mom?"

"She left. Said she had a dinner party tonight, so she just abandoned me!"

It wasn’t ideal to bring Hannah to the Sheridan residence, so Georgia called Byron Shaw. However, Byron was out of town and wouldn’t be able to get back until late.

With no other choice, Georgia had to take Hannah along with her.

Hannah cheered, put on his shoes, and followed her out the door. "Ms. Thorne, where are we going?"

"Remember that Mr. Sheridan? We’re going to his house in a bit. You’ll meet his mom and dad, so you have to be on your best behavior, understand?"

"Isn’t Mr. Sheridan’s house your house? Ms. Thorne, aren’t you and Mr. Sheridan married?" Hannah asked curiously. "Why do other married couples live together, but you and Mr. Sheridan live apart?"

"Because he and I had a little disagreement, so we’re living separately for a while."

"Like Chloe and my dad? Ms. Thorne, are you going to suddenly have a baby sister and end up like me?" Hannah asked, hopping up and down as he followed her into the elevator. "It’s actually not good at all. Even though Chloe says she doesn’t like Dad, I still hope they get back together. That way, I won’t have to be jealous of other kids!"

"Oh? Are you very jealous of other kids?"

"Yeah! I’m especially jealous of Leah. His dad is so cool—he can beat any video game!"

Georgia patted his hair. "You’ll get to see your dad sooner or later."

"Of course! My dad is definitely cooler than everyone else!" Hannah said proudly.

Georgia arrived at the Sheridan residence with Hannah. James Sheridan was sitting on the sofa, reading a newspaper.

"Dad!" Georgia called out. James Sheridan folded his newspaper and acknowledged her, his gaze falling on the child whose hand she was holding. "Who’s this little one?"

"He’s the son of a friend of mine. I’m just looking after him for a couple of days," Georgia explained. She then looked down at Hannah and said, "Quick, say hi to Grandpa!"

"Hello, Grandpa! My name is Hannah Gardner!" Hannah was a cute and clever boy who knew how to charm adults, and he quickly warmed up to James Sheridan.

He was soon calling James Sheridan "Grandpa" over and over in a clear, cheerful voice.

Georgia watched them, and for a moment, she pictured Hannah’s face as that of the other boy, Miles. ’Elderly people probably all like children, don’t they?’ she thought.

Elliot was also home. Sharon Ennis came out of the kitchen with a bowl of soup and said to the housekeeper, "Could you go upstairs and ask Elliot if he’s coming down for dinner?"

"Honestly, that boy. He goes on one business trip and runs himself into the ground. He’s had this fever for days, and it still hasn’t broken!" Sharon muttered to Georgia. A moment later, the housekeeper came back down to relay Elliot’s message. "The Second Young Master doesn’t want to eat. He says he’s not hungry."

"This boy is going to be the death of me!" Sharon angrily slammed the bowl down. Hannah, who was leaning on the table, asked, "Grandma, what’s wrong with Mr. Sheridan? Is he sick?"

"Didn’t you call a doctor to come see him?"

"We did, but the boy won’t take his medicine or get a shot. He just lies there sleeping. Tell me, how can I not be worried sick? Georgia, why don’t you go up and check on him for me? I’m really at my wit’s end! He’s a grown man now; I can’t force him to do anything!" Sharon said, grabbing Georgia’s hand and putting on a pitiful act.

"..." ’So that’s why Sharon Ennis called her over,’ she realized.

"I’ll go check on him in a little while," Georgia agreed.

’I remember he was coming down with a cold last time at the zoo. How is he still not better?’

After dinner, Sharon Ennis emerged from the kitchen with a tray. "Take this up to Elliot. You have to make him eat it. He hasn’t touched a thing all day. I’m entrusting this important mission to you!"

Faced with Sharon’s dead-serious expression, Georgia couldn’t help but become serious herself as she took the tray and went upstairs.

After taking a few steps, Georgia turned back and asked, "Um, Mom... which room is it?"

"It’s upstairs, the first door in the hallway!"

’She doesn’t even know where her own room is. It seems her memory really hasn’t returned yet!’

Georgia went up with the tray and knocked on the door. There was no answer from within.

She pushed the door open and stepped inside. The room was pitch-black. The curtains were drawn tightly, blocking out any trace of outside light.

"I said I don’t want to eat, Mom. Please leave," a hoarse voice came from the bed. It took a long moment for Georgia’s eyes to adjust to the darkness before she could faintly make out a human shape on the bed.

"Elliot, it’s me." Georgia cleared her throat and fumbled for the wall lamp, turning it on.

Hearing her voice, Elliot shot up in bed just as the light flickered on, his eyes meeting Georgia’s.

"What are you doing here?!" Under the dim yellow light, the man’s handsome features stood out sharply.

His pair of dark eyes stared at her, locking Georgia firmly in his gaze.

’He had to be sure this wasn’t just a fever dream. The Georgia in front of him was real, not a hallucination.’

"Your mom said you haven’t eaten all day and asked me to bring something up for you." Georgia walked over with the tray. "Do you want to eat?"

"Yes!"

’How could he possibly refuse something Georgia brought him herself?’

This was precisely the weakness Sharon Ennis had targeted, which was why she’d swallowed her pride and asked Georgia to come over today.

’If he didn’t eat soon, this cold would turn into something serious.’

Georgia handed him the congee and sat down on the edge of the bed. "How did your cold get so much worse?"

As she got closer, she noticed how pale he was. His cheeks were flushed, likely from the fever.

She placed her cool hand on his forehead, then touched her own. By comparison, his was definitely burning up.

"Have you taken your temperature? Your forehead is scorching!"

Elliot took a sip of the congee, which made his stomach feel even warmer. "It’s nothing, just a slight fever."

"How can you call this a slight fever? Is there a thermometer?" Seeing how lightly he was taking it, Georgia couldn’t help but grow anxious.

"Yes, in the TV stand. You were the one who organized it back then, so I’m not sure exactly where it is."

"I’ll go get it, wait here!"

Georgia stood up and started toward the TV stand, but she paused and walked to the other side instead.

After searching both sides, she found the thermometer. "Here, take your temperature."

The reading was 38 degrees Celsius. No wonder his forehead was so hot; he had a high fever.

"Get up, change your clothes. We’re going to the hospital."

"There’s no need!"

"But..."

"I’ll just take some medicine and sleep it off later," Elliot said again.

Georgia remembered how after they came back from Simara, she’d had a cold and fever, and Elliot had forcibly taken her to the hospital for an IV drip in the middle of the night.

"Elliot, can you not be like this?! Even though I still haven’t gotten my memory back, I do care about you! Can you please stop playing games with your health?!" Georgia took a deep breath. "You know I’ll worry about you, yet you’re deliberately putting off treatment. Are you taking advantage of my soft heart to bully me? Elliot, I’ve never met a bad guy like you!"

"It’s all my fault. Please don’t cry." Elliot sat up and pulled Georgia into a hug.

As she spoke, tears welled up and streamed down her face, a blubbering mess. She buried her face in Elliot’s shirt, wiping them all over his collar.

Her small hands balled into fists, and she pounded weakly on his chest. "You bad guy! How could you be so mean!"

"I’m mean, I’m mean. Don’t cry." Elliot’s voice was even hoarser as he gently coaxed her. He turned her face toward him and kissed her without thinking.

The bedroom door was suddenly pushed open. Hannah’s words cut off mid-sentence as he stared in astonishment at the two people on the bed. "Ms. Thorne, why haven’t you come back down yet? I... I didn’t see anything! Really, nothing at all!"

Hannah clapped his hands over his mouth in shock, then his chubby little hands moved up to cover his eyes. "I’ll just go downstairs. You guys... take your time!"

Georgia was both furious and flustered. ’How did I let him charm me again without even realizing it?’

"What now? I’ve probably given you my cold."

"I’m going downstairs!"

Elliot grabbed her wrist. "I’m sick. Aren’t you going to stay and keep me company a little longer?"

"Let me go!" ’Shameless man. He’s the same no matter the situation!’

"No. Stay with me a little longer." Elliot held on tightly, acting like a rogue.

"Elliot!"

"Mm, I’m here."

"Let go of me!"

"I don’t want to yet. Let me recharge for a bit."

"..."

Elliot had kissed her just now when she was at her most vulnerable; it had been an uncontrollable impulse on his part.

That night, Georgia didn’t stay over. She took Hannah and went back home.

Hannah sat beside her, curiously swinging his crossed legs. "Ms. Thorne, were you and Mr. Sheridan kissing just now?"

Georgia’s face burned. She bit her lip and said nothing.

Silence was as good as a confession. Hannah grew even more excited. "So does that mean you two have made up?"

"I heard Mr. Sheridan say he did something wrong to make you mad. Chloe says you have to be brave and admit when you do something wrong. Since Mr. Sheridan apologized to you, Ms. Thorne, why won’t you give him a chance?" Hannah asked, tilting his head. Georgia patted the top of his head. "I’m not mad at him. It’s just... I have some things I need to do that he can’t know about."

"Can I know?"

"No, you can’t," Georgia said, shaking her head. "So you can’t tell Mr. Sheridan either, okay?"

"Is this our secret?"

"Yes. It’s our secret."