âOh,â the owner finally snapped back to reality. âYouâre looking for Kendra. She took the afternoon off.â
âTook off?â Abel furrowed his brow. âIs everything okay with her?â
Emmeline, standing behind him, grew tense. Kendra and Quincy, could something be wrong?
âHer daughter had a high fever,â the owner said. âShe went to the hospital for an IV drip.â
âDo you know which hospital?â Abel asked.
âThe private one across the street,â the owner pointed a finger.
Abel turned around and walked towards the door, with Emmeline hurrying to keep up with him.
Kendra and Quincy were alone and vulnerable, and Emmeline couldnât bear the thought of something happening to them. She hurried across the street to the small private hospital and found the pediatric observation room.
Sure enough, she saw Kendra holding Quincy in her arms, with an IV drip in her head as she slept soundly.
Then, a pair of shiny leather shoes appeared in Kendraâs line of sight.
Without guessing, she knew who it was.
Kendra suddenly looked up.
âMr⦠Mr. Abel?â Kendra tried to sit up and hold Quincy, but the IV line was tangled up.
âDonât move,â Abel pressed her back gently. âBe careful of the child.â
âHow did you find us here?â Kendra was a little excited.
âI heard from the owner at the ravioli shop,â Abel said. âI told you to call me if you have any difficulties, why didnât you?â
âIâm fine,â Kendra lowered her eyes, tears welling up in them. âQuin just has a cold. You donât have to bother, Mr. Abel.â
âKendra,â Abel said with a hint of bitterness. âAlthough you used to work for me, weâre still friends. Donât make it so awkward.â
âI know, Iâve always been grateful to Mr. Abel and Ms. Emmeline,â Kendra said despondently, âbut now that Ms. Emmeline is gone, things have changed. Itâs better for me to keep my distance from Mr. Abel to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings.â
âThings have changed?â Abel furrowed his brow. âAre you talking about Evelyn?â
âI donât know Evelyn well, sheâs not Ms. Emmeline,â Kendra said. âI donât want anyone to misunderstand, so itâs better for me to stay away from you. Itâs better for everyone.â
âYou know that thereâs nothing between me and Evelyn!â
âThatâs not my concern,â Kendra lowered her eyelashes. âWith Ms. Emmeline here, the Precipice was still my home, but with other women coming in now that sheâs gone, itâs not my home anymore. Iâm not their servant.â
âBut I need you now,â Abel said. âCan you come back to the villa with me?â
Kendra raised her head and asked bitterly, âTo serve Evelyn? She wants to take Ms. Emmelineâs place, and I canât do that!â
Emmeline stood behind Abel, listening to the conversation with a sour feeling in her and tears welling up in her eyes. She quickly turned her head and sniffed.
âNo,â Abel held Emmelineâs hand and explained, âItâs this young man. Heâs going to stay with me for a while, and I want you to help take care of himâ¦â
Only then did Kendra turn her gaze to âEmmettâ. When she saw him, she was first stunned, then said, âThis is a young man?â
âYes,â Emmeline nodded hastily, âa real man.â
âI must say, youâre quite handsome for a young man,â Kendra said. âIf you shave that beard off, youâd look like a pretty lady.â
Emmeline chuckled. âYou jest. I grew this beard precisely because people kept mistaking me for a woman.â
âMr. Abel,â Kendra turned to him, âyou want me to take care of this little brother?â
âYes,â Abel nodded.
âI understand,â Kendra said with a hint of bitterness, âI also know that youâre using this as an opportunity to help me and Quin.â
âThat was Emmeline and my intention from the beginning,â Abel replied. âWe didnât want you and your daughter to be homeless.â
âAlright,â Kendra wiped her eyes, âIâll do it.â
âThatâs good then,â Abel said, âonce Quin finishes the IV, Iâll have the bodyguard come pick you up.â
âMm-hmm,â Kendra nodded.
âLetâs go then,â Abel took Emmelineâs hand and left the observation room.
âMr. Ryker,â Emmeline said, âyou didnât mention that I was going to move in with you.â
âBetter late than never,â Abel said, âsince youâre interning with me, itâs more convenient for you to live with me rather than drive back and forth every day.â
âYouâre using the same excuse to have that young lady move back in, arenât you?â