Chapter 223 Michael's Child?
Nancy walked over. "Elizabeth, don't beat yourself up or feel down anymore. This is all on Michael. He was the one who started accusing you out of nowhere. You were just mad, and if he had any sense, he'd know those weren't your real feelings."
Dean chimed in to comfort her too. "Nancy's right. If anyone's to blame, it's Michael. He showed up late at night just to stir up trouble! He was way out of line! If it weren't for the kids, I would've decked him!"
But Elizabeth still felt guilty inside.
No matter what Michael said or did, Eloise was actually innocent. Elizabeth shouldn't have hurt her.
But seeing her family around her made her feel a lot better.
She waved at Dean. "Alright, Dean, I'm good now. It's getting late. You should head to bed."
Then she turned to Nancy. "Mom, you should get some rest too."
Nancy's eyes were full of concern. "Elizabeth, are you really okay?"
Elizabeth smiled at her. "Mom, I'm not a kid anymore."
Nancy said, "You'll always be my child in my eyes!"
Elizabeth walked over and hugged Nancy's waist, burying her head in her arms. "Mom, it's so good to have you here."
Pearl and Nolan saw this and joined in, hugging Elizabeth too. The four of them laughed together.
Later, Nancy took the kids to their room to sleep.
After Nancy closed the door and left, Pearl whispered to Nolan, "Nolan, have we been too mean to Eloise before?"
Nolan lowered his head and didn't speak.
Pearl tugged at his sleeve. "Nolan, Christmas is coming. Let's get a gift for Eloise, okay?"
Nolan nodded. "Okay."
They took out colorful origami paper.
Meanwhile, the black Rolls-Royce glided silently through the night, with no one speaking inside the car.
At some point, it had started raining, and raindrops pattered on the car window.
Eloise bit her lip, her fingers twisted together.
Michael kept looking ahead but saw Eloise's expression through the reflection. His brow furrowed, eyes full of heartache, and he gently held her hand. "Eloise, don't be sad. This family has made you so upset. We won't come here again. Don't take what Elizabeth said to heart. She was out of her mind and only said those things to upset me, not you."
Eloise looked up. "Michael, I'm not sad or angry."
Michael asked, "She said those things about you, and you're not angry?"
Eloise replied, "She wasn't wrong. I know I'm different from others. We grew up together. You went to kindergarten, elementary school, and college. But I only ever went to kindergarten. You're so smart, and I'm so dumb, not knowing anything. Aren't I just a fool?"
Michael, full of heartache, hugged Eloise tightly. "Eloise, don't say that. You're not a fool; you're just unwell. Don't worry, I'll find a way to help you, so you can see the world as someone your age should."
Eloise lifted her head from his embrace. "Michael, there's no need. I think I'm fine the way I am. You should break up with Dr. Griffin. I don't need her treatment anymore. Once she's gone, you can find someone you truly love. Without worries, I'll be very happy too."
Michael patted Eloise's head. "Eloise, let's talk about this later."
Eloise lowered her head. "Michael, I think you should apologize to Elizabeth."
Michael was puzzled. "Why? After what she said about you, I should apologize to her?"
Eloise hesitated and said, "Michael, that day at Global Horizons International School, Clio told me you found a doctor to perform surgery on me. I didn't understand what surgery was. Clio told me it meant cutting open my head and sewing it back up. I was so scared that I ran away from the room."
Eloise had wanted to keep this a secret forever, fearing Michael would scold her if he found out. She also feared he would take it out on Nolan and Elizabeth.
But from tonight's events, it seemed Michael didn't know the truth and was only getting angrier.
So Eloise made up her mind to tell Michael the whole truth.
She took a deep breath and said, "Michael, I ran away on my own, so this has nothing to do with Nolan and Elizabeth. I asked Nolan for help. I told him someone wanted to cut open my head, and he thought someone wanted to harm me, so he helped me escape."
She continued, "Nolan took me to his house, and Pearl was very nice to me, played games with me, and comforted me to sleep. Elizabeth was also very kind. When I was sick, Elizabeth stayed up all night talking to me, wiping my body, and feeding me water and medicine. Michael, you really shouldn't have said those things to Elizabeth. She must be very sad after hearing your words."
Eloise finally said it, feeling relieved to have no more secrets to keep.
Michael listened to Eloise's words, feeling a mix of emotions.
He hadn't expected things to be like this.
At that time, Elizabeth had taken care of Eloise all night, so she probably didn't have the energy to think about anything else.
That was why she didn't call him immediately.
They had talked on the phone that night, but it was tense, and she probably didn't want to tell Michael that Eloise was at Whispering Pines Estates in that situation.
But Michael had just stormed into her house, not giving her any time or chance to explain.
Michael gently let go of Eloise's hand and slowly sat up straight.
Yes, he should apologize to Elizabeth.
He must have hurt her with his accusations.
Elizabeth had kindly taken in Eloise, only to be misunderstood like this.
Michael held his head, feeling the onset of a headache. Suddenly, another memory surfaced.
He turned around and asked Eloise, "Eloise, after you got sick, did Elizabeth take you to the hospital? Was it Elizabeth who performed the surgery?"
Eloise shook her head in confusion. "I don't know, Michael. I only know that Elizabeth gave me an injection, and my fever went down. Then I had a fever again, and I don't remember anything after that. When I woke up, Dr. Griffin was there. But I don't think she did the surgery. I have no impression of her at all."
Michael comforted her. "It's normal to have no impression. Because they give you anesthesia before surgery. After the anesthesia, you won't feel anything or know what's happening."
Eloise understood. "So that's how it is."
Michael looked at Eloise's innocent face and silently vowed to find a way to cure her.
Even if it meant sacrificing his own happiness for the rest of his life.
The next morning at Global Horizons International School, Nolan came to Eloise's room and gently knocked on the door.
Clio opened the door.
Nolan looked up at her and asked, "Excuse me, is Eloise here?"
Clio was stunned for a moment when she saw Nolan's face.
She thought, 'This child looks so much like Michael when he was young! Could it be that this is Michael's child?'
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
