More Than A Favor

Chapter 149 Alice's face lit up with a hopeful smile. "Do you have an idea, Elaine?" Thesitated.

I did have an idea, but it was one that even Ashton wouldn't dare to consider. How could I? If the surgery succeeded, it would be a miracle. But if it failed, Ashton's inability to forgivewould be the least of our problems. Losing Alice would destroy him.

My silence lingered too long, and Alice interpreted it as the absence of hope.

"You don't, do you?" she said softly, her voice tinged with disappointment.

Her gaze dropped to the ground, and she sighed. "Even Ashton doesn't dare to try because of the risks involved. I know my condition isn't something anyone has much faith in." Despite her words, Alice smiled gently, as if trying to shieldfrom her despair. She wasn't someone who would let her own feelings burden others.

"It's okay, Elaine," she said with quiet resilience. "I'm happy now. I'll just live until the day I die. Who knows? I might even make it to my hundredth birthday." The more she spoke, the more my heart ached for her.

How could I let such a beautiful soul resign herself to this fate? I leaned forward slightly, meeting her gaze. "I have a friend who's a doctor. She studied abroad and works as an obstetrician and gynecologist now. But she has a lot of friends in the medical field, including cardiologists." "Really?" Alice's eyes lit up instantly, shimmering with a newfound hope.

"Of course," I said, nurturing that spark in her. "I chere to understand your condition better." Though my words were meant to comfort her, I also wanted to plant the possibility of surgery in her mind. Even as I understood the gravity of the risks, I found myself unable to resist the eagerness in Alice's eyes. Life, for most people, felt like a journey toward a destination. But for Alice, it was about much more than that. She dreamed of a healthy life, free from the constraints of her illness.

Her life here, though idyllic and beautiful, was also a prison.

She yearned for more than the fairytale-like yard that surrounded her. She wanted to climb mountains, swim in the ocean, ride bicycles, and run freely through open fields. She wanted to explore the world beyond the fences of her sanctuary, to live her life with the people she loved.

But her weak heart held her back, forcing her to live a life of solitude.

Even falling in love, getting married, and having children felt like distant, unattainable dreams.

What I saw as freedom in her lifestyle was, to her, extrloneliness.

Her tcollecting river water, which had seemed so enchanting to me, was simply a way for her to fill the emptiness in her days.

17:15 < Chapter 149 "Really? Thank you, Elaine," Alice said suddenly, lifting her teacup in gratitude.

"Really," I repeated firmly.

Get 5> = Menu That single word seemed to illuminate her entire being. She was radiant with happiness, her earlier disappointment now completely washed away.

We sat together in the yard, drinking tea and enjoying the peaceful atmosphere. Afterward, Alice ledinto the house and showedAshton's room.

"You can stay in my brother's room, Elaine. Look at how neatly I've kept it,” she said with a proud smile.

The room was spotless, with a large window that offered a stunning view of the flowers outside.

I put my suitcase down and began to examine the room's decor. My attention was drawn to a few photographs hanging on the walls.

"I didn't expect there to be photographs here. I have sat home, too," I said, walking closer to inspect them. Alice joined me, her tone soft as she explained, "My brother says these are photos of our parents when they were younger, but I don't remember much about them anymore." The photos were old, taken with the stechniques as the ones my parents had left behind.

In one photo, Ashton's mother was holding a young child, and his father was carrying an older one. It was easy to tell that the children were Ashton and Alice.

"Ashton said that our father left after this photo was taken," Alice said quietly. Her words made my chest tighten. I didn't want the sadness of her story to affect my mood, so I turned my attention to another photograph. This one showed Ashton carrying a girl on his back. The photo was taken from behind, making it hard to identify the girl.

"Is this you and your brother?" I asked.

Alice smiled faintly. "Of course not. That's his..." She paused mid-sentence, her expression shifting. I saw her stick her tongue out slightly, as if realizing she had said too much.

I wasn't dumb. I smiled knowingly. "Was that his first love?" Alice's face turned pale with fear, and she quickly shook her head. Her grip on my arm tightened.

"Elaine, you've got it all wrong," she said frantically. "That's not it at all. Ash has never liked any other girl. You're the first one." Her lips turned pale, and I realized I had scared her. It was a mistake to tease her like that-her weak heart couldn't handle the stress.

I tapped her nose lightly, trying to calm her. "Look at you, getting all worked up. I know, Ashton already toldhe's never had a girlfriend." Alice relaxed slightly but still added, "He's never liked any other girl, either." Her innocence was touching. Alice was pure, untouched by the harshness of the world.

Yet, I couldn't help but worry. When Alice eventually fell in love, would she be able to handle the inevit # 17:15 36.72% < Chapter 149 able flaws and complexities of a real relationship? The thought of her getting hurt made my heart ache.

Get 5> Menu

But I pushed those worries aside and reassured her with a smile. “I know.

Your brother is as innocent.

a blank sheet of paper. I'll treasure him." Alice smiled again, her earlier panic fading completely.

Despite my reassurances, I found myself drawn back to the photograph of Ashton piggybacking the girl.

That girl wasn't Alice-I was sure of it. If it were, Alice wouldn't have panicked while trying to explain. So, who was she? Was she a neighbor? A cousin? Or someone more significant? I shook my head, trying to dismiss the wild scenarios forming in my mind.

Then my eyes fell on the Drake family portrait. My gaze lingered on Tom Drake, Alice and Ashton's father. There was something familiar about his face, something that tugged at the edges of memory. "Is this Mr. Drake?" I asked casually, pointing to him.

Alice nodded. "Yeah, that's my dad. But he's not Mr. Drake-he's Mr. Elordi." Her words made my heart skip a beat.

Elordi.

My father's driver had been a man named Elordi.

my

I remembered him clearly because he used to joke about his name, saying it had "lord" in it even though he wasn't of noble rank. Could it really be just a coincidence? I recalled what Ashton had said before-that both my father's car accident and his father's accident were connected to Alfred.

A chill ran down my spine.

Could it be that Ashton's father was my father's driver?