Chapter 205 Seeing Jessica Again
Quentin nodded along but didn't really care about what Noah said. He and Ethan just couldn't get along, at least not right now.
That's why he was so harsh with Ethan from the start, leaving no room for compromise.
Now that he had Lauren back, things were about to get interesting.
Lauren was thorough in her planning. She brought up a lot of policiesto protect the interns, and Ethan agreed to all of them.
For instance, the interns' meals and accommodation. Ethan's company didn't originally provide these, but to make things easier, he cleared out a conference room for them to stay in and arranged for a restaurant to deliver meals every day.
These might seem like small things, but they meant a lot to the students. Just stepping into the real world and getting such thoughtful care made them grateful to Ethan and his company. Plus, Ethan earned the trust of two universities.
The architecture students worked hard. With guidance from Lauren and Richard, they quickly adapted and started creating their own designs. Even though their work was still a bit rough, it was a good start.
Ethan's nerves eased as things went smoothly, and Lauren started to relax, too.
It was rare for Lauren not to work late. She was playing with Matthew at Ethan's villa when a familiar car pulled up. One look and she knew it was Jessica's car.
Sure enough, George got out.
Lauren watched as George walked over, looking as stern and cold as ever.
She stood up, opened the door, and forced a smile. "George, long time no see!"
She awkwardly waited for his response, but to her surprise, he bowed and didn't stand up.
"George, why are you doing this?" Lauren ran over, trying to help him up.
But George shook his head and said in a hoarse voice, "Lauren, I beg you to take Matthew back to see Jessica."
Lauren was stunned. "Why don't you stand up and say it? I promise I'll go back to visit Jessica."
After she agreed, George stood up. He resented Lauren, even though he knew he had no right to blame her for leaving without a word. Because of her, Jessica's condition had worsened.
It was also because of Lauren that the Robinson family was no longer like home.
Matthew was scared of George's cold demeanor. He hid behind Lauren, clutching her clothes.
Lauren gently squatted down and said, "Matthew, this is George. Don't be afraid."
Only then did Matthew peek out from behind her.
Seeing Matthew, George got emotional. "Is this Matthew? I can't believe how much he's grown. I must be getting old, not recognizing this little boy as Matthew!"
As George spoke, he reached out to hug Matthew, but the boy got scared and shrank back behind Lauren.
Lauren laughed. "Matthew's a bit shy around strangers, George. Don't take it personally!"
For the first time, George's stern face softened into a slight smile. "No worries. Matthew's adorable. Jessica will love him. Lauren, can you and Matthew come with me now to see Jessica?" His tone was almost pleading.
Seeing George like this, Lauren couldn't refuse. She had been back for a few days but was too busy with work to think about visiting the ancestral home. She felt guilty for neglecting Jessica, who had always been so kind to her.
Lauren took Matthew and got into George's car, not wanting Ethan to know since Kimberly wasn't home.
In the car, Lauren felt uneasy. She dreaded facing Jessica, knowing she couldn't explain what had happened three years ago.
"George, how is Jessica?" she asked, even though she feared the answer.
George's tone was cold. "Ever since you and Matthew left, her health has completely deteriorated."
He didn't hold back, making it clear he blamed Lauren for Jessica's condition.
Lauren immediately felt a wave of guilt. She had been selfish, leaving abruptly with Matthew and not visiting Jessica to explain.
Seeing her self-blame, George felt no sympathy. Instead, he looked at her with disdain, thinking she was just putting on a show.
Matthew, sensing Lauren's sadness, stayed quietly in her arms. He was a sensible child, knowing when to be mischievous and when to be still.
The car wobbled up the mountain road and finally stopped at the Robinson Estate.
The ancestral home looked the same, with old trees still sprouting lush leaves. But everything felt different now. Lauren could no longer hide under the trees carefree.
Holding Matthew's small hand, Lauren followed George to the second floor. He knocked on a door and walked straight in. Lauren hesitated, unsure if she should follow.
George noticed she hadn't come in and turned back, frowning at her.
Lauren awkwardly lowered her head and slowly followed with Matthew.
She was anxious. She knew Jessica was kind and wouldn't hold anything against her, but that only made her feel more ashamed.
With each step, Lauren's breathing became more uneven. When she finally reached Jessica's bedside, she saw the frail but smiling Jessica.
The moment she saw Jessica, Lauren's tears flowed uncontrollably.
"Jessica." She squatted by the bedside.
She couldn't believe how much illness had ravaged the kind and gentle Jessica. Unable to accept the reality, she could only express her pain and sorrow through her tears.
