"Go ahead if you want to, but you don''t need my permission."


    "Do you even care a tiny bit about Dorothy''s health anymore?" Quincy quirked a brow, her toneced with sarcasm. "Heartless, much?" Everett frowned at her, irritation clear in his gaze. "Leave."


    "I just came to see how you''re doing."


    "Don''t bother, just go."


    Silence.


    Everett turned away, pulling the nket over his head in a clear sign he had no interest in engaging further.


    It wasn''t long before Quincy''s footsteps faded away.


    Only once he was sure the door had clicked shut did Everett sit up again.


    He grabbed his phone and dialed Kevin. "Where are you?"


    "Picking up the kids, on our way back to their ce!" Kevin''s voice perked up at the sound of Mr. Lopez. "Mr. Lopez, are you feeling better?"


    "Send me your location." Everett bypassed the question.


    "Sure, sending it now."


    After hanging up, Everett swung his legs out of bed and left the hospital.


    Dorothy was back at their ce, waiting for Abigail and Langston.


    She took the opportunity to whip up some dinner, thinking the kids could eat as soon as they got home.


    Just as she finished setting the table and washed her hands, a knock sounded at the door.


    "Coming!"


    Dorothy hurried over, a smile spreading across her face as she opened the door-


    And then, her smile froze.


    "Everett?"Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    Wasn''t he supposed to be in the hospital...


    "Daddy!" Langston''s excitement filled the air as he saw her. "I dreamt about dadst night and missed him so much today. So, I asked Kevin to call him, and guess what? He was free toe home with us!"


    Dorothy nced at Everett, noticing his pale, unwell appearance.


    "Mommy?"


    "Your dad''s sick, he should be in the hospital."


    Dorothy was hesitant to let Everett in.


    She thought she had made herself clear at the hospital.


    But faced with Langston''s pleading eyes, she couldn''t bring herself to turn Everett away.


    "I just want daddy today!"


    It was rare for Langston to be this adamant, clinging to Everett''s arm, refusing to let go.


    Seeing her brother''s determination,


    Abigail


    ed in, "Mommy! I missed


    I


    ! Can he stay with missed


    please?"


    ooksel''s


    OOMS


    Caught in a difficult position, Dorothy shot Everett a look, signaling him to decline.


    But Everett, usually so sharp, seemed to feign ignorance at that moment!


    "I''m feeling a bit dizzy, may Ie in and sit down?"


    Dorothy wanted to tell him it served him right! Just discharged from the hospital and now iming dizziness, what did he expect?


    Yet, with the situation as it was, she had no real opportunity to refuse.


    With a sigh, Dorothy stepped aside. "Come in, then."


    She couldn''t just leave a sick person standing at the doorstep.


    At her concession, Langston looked up and winked at his dad, a smug little victory in his eyes.


    Everett quietly acknowledged him with a thumbs up while maintaining a facade of weakness.


    "Wow! Mommy cooked today, dad, you should eat with us!"


    Langston immediately went to pull Everett toward the table. Everett''s eyes sought Dorothy''s again...


    Somehow Dorothy felt as if she were being roasted over a fire! Every look from Everett seemed to ask for her approval, yet in front of the kids, she found she couldn''t voice any refusal.