Chapter 443 International Express Delivery
Sarah was already fast asleep, her breathing steady and calm.
David shook his head with a resigned smile. He got up and walked to the bathroom.
He filled the bathtub with warm water, then returned to gently lift Sarah and place her in the tub.
After washing her, he wrapped her in a large towel, dried her off, and carried her back to the guest room bed.
He pulled the covers over them, lay down beside her, and gently embraced her, drifting into a sweet sleep.
As for the mess in the master bedroom, that could wait until tomorrow.
At Whispering Pines Estates.
Elizabeth had a long sleep and felt much more refreshed.
Last night, after taking Sarah home, she had returned to her own house and looked up information on post-traumatic stress disorder.
Her graduate studies had been in neurology, so she had little exposure to psychology.
She wanted to help Sarah, to help her quickly move past the trauma of the kidnapping.
After changing clothes, she went downstairs, where Susan was coming in with a package.
"Elizabeth, an international package. There's no sender listed."
Elizabeth tensed up at the mention of "international package."
She remembered the international package sent by Silver King, which had contained Louis' finger.
She realized she might have a bit of post-traumatic stress herself. She had a fear of international packages now.
"Susan, could you open it for me?"
Susan took the package away. Soon, she returned with a cardboard box.
"Elizabeth, you should open it. It looks like a gift."
Elizabeth took the box.
Pearl came downstairs too.
"Mom, what are you looking at?"
Elizabeth paused in opening the box. "Sweetie, Mommy got a package. I was just about to open it."
Pearl was curious. "Mom, what kind of package?"
She sat down next to Elizabeth.
Elizabeth opened the box. Inside were two smaller boxes, one pink and one blue.
Pearl exclaimed excitedly, "It must be birthday presents for me and Nolan!"
Elizabeth was holding the blue box. "Pearl, how do you know?"
Pearl tilted her head. "Because our birthday is coming up soon. These must be for me and Nolan. Mom, can I open the pink one myself?"
Elizabeth nodded. "Of course, sweetie."
They opened the boxes together.
Pearl was quick. She shouted excitedly, "Wow, it's so pretty! I love it!"
Elizabeth opened the blue box.
Inside was a small doll wearing a hat, made of what looked like soft clay. The doll resembled Nolan.
Pearl was already shouting, "Wow! Mom, the doll you have is Nolan, and this one is me. I love this gift! Mom, who sent it?"
Elizabeth looked at the doll in Pearl's hand. It was a little girl in a princess dress with a crown. Pearl did have a dress like that.
Elizabeth continued to look through the box. At the bottom, she found a card with handwritten words: [Happy Birthday, Nolan and Pearl!]
The signature was a single letter: C.
Elizabeth immediately knew who it was.
Susan asked, "Elizabeth, do you know who sent this?"
Elizabeth said softly, "It was Louis. I recognize his handwriting."
Susan sighed lightly. "If only Eloise were still here."
Elizabeth suddenly remembered something. "Susan, is the package wrapping still here?"
"Yeah, I kept it. Figured you might want to check the sender info, so I didn't toss it."
Susan handed the wrapping over to Elizabeth.
She saw that the package had come from a small, distant country.
Louis had gone so far to avoid them. What was the point? Far from family, far from home, and possibly not even speaking the language. She wondered how he was doing.
Elizabeth sighed and took Nolan's gift upstairs.
Nolan was tidying his bed.
Elizabeth walked over. "Nolan, Mr. Cox sent you a birthday gift."
Nolan finished making his bed.
"Mom, is it the Mr. Cox who used to visit us often from abroad?"
Elizabeth nodded. "Yeah, that's him."
She felt a pang of nostalgia.
Back in Valoria, Louis had taken good care of their family. He was kind and never lost his temper, always gentle. Pearl and Nolan liked him a lot.
Now, they were worlds apart. Who knew if they would ever meet again in this lifetime?
She couldn't blame Louis for what he did. He hadn't done it for himself. He did it for Francis.
She also couldn't ask Michael to stop hating Louis. After all, Eloise was the person Michael loved most in the world.
All the pain could only be healed by time.
She went downstairs.
The doorbell rang. Elizabeth looked out the window. Carter's car was parked outside.
She opened the door and walked into the yard.
"Carter, you're early. The birthday party isn't until noon."
Carter smiled warmly. "I wanted to see you all early. Plus, I wanted Pearl and Nolan to open their gifts sooner."
His assistant was holding a stack of gift boxes.
Pearl heard his voice and came running out. "Mr. McGinnis!"
She jumped into his arms. Carter quickly caught her.
"Elizabeth, let's go to the hotel together at noon."
Elizabeth nodded. "Sure. Pearl has been excited for days knowing you were coming to celebrate her birthday."
Carter looked down and smiled at Pearl in his arms.
Pearl looked up and smiled back happily.
They walked into the living room together.
At the Thomas Villa.
Michael was adjusting his outfit in front of the mirror. He had called Daniel over early to help him pick out clothes.
"Daniel, did you get an invitation to the birthday party?"
Daniel yawned. "Mr. Thomas, I told you, Dean gave me the invitation a while ago."
Michael's face was stern. "Why didn't Elizabeth give me an invitation? Did she forget about me?"
Daniel watched his boss's actions and guessed that even without an invitation, he would definitely go.
In a public setting, would Elizabeth really turn him away?
He didn't consider what would happen to his dignity if Elizabeth did turn him away.
Daniel cautiously watched Michael's expression. "Forget? No way. Elizabeth finalized the guest list a long time ago."
Michael glared at him.
Daniel, ever the loyal assistant, quickly took out his phone. "I'll call Dean right now and get you an invitation."
He stepped aside to make the call.
"Dean, can you get my boss an invitation? He wants to go to Nolan and Pearl's birthday party."
"Daniel, are you kidding? Elizabeth finalized the guest list ages ago. If she didn't invite your boss, she knows it. If I let him in without her permission, do you think she'll let me off the hook?"
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