Willow said she wanted to help share his burden.
But what exactly could she share?
She could attend banquets, manage projects, and wait for him in the luxury apartment.
But she didn't know how to fill out Leo's school logbook.
She didn't know where Eleanor's medical files were kept.
She had no idea which of his stomach medications couldn't be mixed.
Lawrence suddenly realized that what Willow offered him was an entirely different kind of superficial ease.
While what Wren had taken with her was the very foundation of his daily life.
The thought made him incredibly uncomfortable.
He quickly shoved it down.
"Stay out of his school matters."
Willow's face went slightly pale.
"Okay."
She lowered her head, her fingers subtly gripping the edges of her file.
This was the first time Lawrence had explicitly barred her from anything involving Leo.
She hated the feeling.
That afternoon, Wren finally finished communicating The Ethics Board inquiries with the hospital and returned to Stellaris just before 5 PM.
She had barely sat down when her phone rang again.
This time it was an unfamiliar landline number.
Wren answered.
"Hello, Ms. Whitaker. This is Southpoint Manor."
Wren's fingers stilled.
"Southpoint Manor?"
The nurse's voice on the other end was gentle.
"Madam Langford was awake for longer than usual today, and she kept repeating your name. She says she wants to see you."
Wren fell silent.
Margaret Langford.
It had been a long time since that name had been part of her daily life.
The only elder in the Langford family that Wren truly couldn't cut ties with wasn't Eleanor.
It was Margaret Langford.
Six years ago, if Margaret hadn't insisted, Lawrence never would have married her.
But it was also Margaret who, during Wren's darkest moments, had held her hand and said, "Wren, the Langford family owes you."
That year, Margaret had suffered sudden heart failure and was in critical condition.
Wren was still doing auxiliary device research with Vivian Vance's old team at the time. She had worked through the night, contacted her mentors, and coordinated a treatment plan. Margaret Langford became the very first beneficiary of their research direction.
When Margaret woke up, her first words were, "This child... the Langford family must never mistreat her."
VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABEL
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Sign the Papers Mr. Langford