After finishing the last bit of work, it was nearly ten o’clock. Nathan Moore tidied up the documents at the corner of the desk and leaned back in his executive chair, stretching his arms and rubbing his sore neck.
Just as he was about to get up, the mobile phone on the desk rang.
He reached out to grab it, staring at the continuously flashing number for a long time, Nathan Moore did not answer the call until it disconnected automatically.
Putting the phone back on the desk, Nathan Moore stood up and headed towards the rest area inside the office. He hadn’t returned to the villa for two days, living here, ordering takeout every day. Now, with the work that needed to be dealt with completed, Nathan Moore planned to treat himself at a restaurant outside.
Just after changing his clothes and coming out, the mobile phone on the desk rang again.
He walked over and picked it up. Looking at the incoming call, this time, Nathan Moore answered.
Taking long strides towards the exit of the office, "Lily?"
"Nathan, why didn’t you answer my call just now?"
Just as Nathan Moore started to speak, Olivia Zane’s voice came through with a complaining tone. Stepping out of the office, Nathan Moore turned around to close the door, then twisted the handle again, checking the lock without locking up, "Oh, I was having a shower just now, didn’t hear it."
"Nathan..." Olivia Zane’s complaint came through again.
"What is it?" Three words, the tone flat, no longer carrying the warmth of the past.
There was silence on the other end of the line for a while before Olivia Zane hesitatingly said, "You haven’t visited me for so long,"
Before she could finish speaking, Nathan Moore said, "I’ve been very busy recently, so I neglected you, sorry. I will come to see you in a few days and pick you up to go home then."
The fingers holding the phone tightened, even the toes tucked inside her flat leather shoes clenched, sitting in the wheelchair, her porcelain doll-like face was filled with anger, and her chest heaved in tune.
Still, she managed to suppress the discontent and fury in her heart, barely lifting the corners of her lips, and said in an understanding tone, "Nathan, I know you are busy. You don’t have to come to see me on purpose. I’ve already told my parents, and they will arrange a driver to take me home later."
As if worried that Nathan Moore might refuse, Olivia Zane added, "Although living at my parents’ house is convenient, as a married woman, staying too long would invite relatives to make jokes."
On the other end of the phone, Nathan Moore had already entered the elevator, lifted his hand with distinct knuckles to press the down button, his grasp on the phone tightened, saying, "Alright, I’ll come to pick you up later, don’t bother the driver."
Anyway, he had to go on a business trip. There were several caretakers hired at home already, it wouldn’t matter to take care of one more idle person.
After hanging up the phone, Julian Zane hurriedly leaned over, his eyes wide with anxious concern, "What did he say?"
Still holding the phone in her palm, Olivia Zane placed her hand on her blanket-covered legs and turned to look at her father, her porcelain doll-like face brimming with smiles.
"Dad, Nathan said he would come to pick me up later."
"Oh, I see." Julian Zane leaned back into the couch, a deep sigh indicating his relief.
Ariana Evans sat on the couch, peeling an apple. As someone who stood at the operating table year-round, she was adept with the knife.
Her gaze fell on the apple in her hand, her face with light makeup showing no extra emotions.
Olivia Zane wheeled over, happily stating, "Mom, Nathan said he would come to pick me up and take me back soon!"
"I heard it, I’m not deaf."
Ariana Evans’ expression was indifferent; she did not seem overly pleased about Nathan Moore taking her daughter back home.
"Mom! Why are you being ?" Olivia Zane pouted in dissatisfaction. Such a joyful moment, yet her mother didn’t seem happy at all.