out, taking her hand with a bright smile. "Kristi

rning cold. "Missed me, huh? Funny. You never

like that. Things got complicated after you left. I've actually been

t like her home, so she didn't mind Ellie had taken t

staying here?

t's only a room," Jason s

Jason's arm. "Uncle Jason, di

mile and lightly ta

age to get h

e, I'll bring you along-

lmost bouncing with excitemen

r natural closeness, a tight knot of

been a distant relative of the O

ught her here. Back then, Ellie was quiet around

here; she had become close enough to

he still remembered Ellie handing her the glass of juice, her eyes flickering away nervous

ot understand why Ellie

picture began for

her and become the Olive

t hesitation. To him, was she so insign

ing slightly apart, her lowered lashes givi

one too far earlier? After all, it was only a room

in. "I'll move out and return the room to Kristina. It's right be

ad placed her room next to his so he could keep an eye o

ust now, and his expression turned cold again. "N

m. So she was

ply lifted her suitcase and as

in disposable bedding. Kristina showed no reaction

then headed straight into

rabbed the presents she had

was already seated. Vicki looked displeased and snapped, "After seven yea

ted," Kristina replied evenly, offe

Kristina, but she was unwilling to acknowledge it. "Coul

ptly as she froze, eye

om fell into a momen

g the delicacy of her refined face. Her features were gentle and

moment. Kristina had grown

toward her son, a sense of

d composed. He simply motioned

efore everyone on the table.

a set of skincare products with

ined herself carefully, using high-

as she forced a polite smile to respond, Ellie interjected, "Nancy, your

o bring us gifts, then you shouldn't have bothered at all. Do

rself to stay composed and explained, "It's a formula developed in our lab.

ally, he felt a faint frustration. After so many years awa

yet it seemed she had focused only on her appear

ing like quality chocolates, wou

away, a dull, lingering ache

from the shore, even a leaf she once thought was pretty. Back then, those small things h

son's father, finally said,

. No one engaged her again. Ellie, however, continued talking cheerfully, and the Oli

long since stopped expecting warmth from them, yet a dull

ay, Ellie's been accepted into Plence University'

academic history, admission there didn't seem likely at all. Her scores

graduate program would normally be ne

truth-merit had little to do with i

rmaceutical sciences. I suppose I ended up stepping into that dream for you. Oh, and

n anything. Plenty of people are just there to do basic

t you're around real researchers every day. Kristina,

ually understood research, she wouldn't be h

turned toward Ellie. "Since you admire Zero so much, I'll take you to Dr. Ander

laced a piece of food onto Jason's plate with

admiration felt natural and controlled, u

osity. "Uncle Jason, Kristina only just came back.

hat would she even do

eement. "She should

on without hesitation. "

d in Ellie's eyes. "Kristina, si

her off calmly.

tone cooled instantly. "In w

tensils with steady com

ff-guard. "His stu