Chapter 368


    "The milkshakes are here," Brandon said as he entered, holding some fruits.


    He didn''t ask any questions, but I could tell that he knew something was wrong.


    I was too upset to exin, so I just followed him into the room.


    Ellie''s face brightened when she saw me. "Mae, the milkshakes are here! I''ve been waiting for you


    to try them."


    Brandon went straight to the kitchen with the fruits, and I watched him for a moment before going


    over to Ellie.


    "Mae, I''ve got everything ready. I was just waiting for you to help with the milkshakes," Ellie said,


    putting several cups on the table.


    I wasn''t in the mood for milkshakes. "You don''t have to share them. You can have them all to


    yourself."


    "Really?" Ellie''s eyes sparkled. "But I don''t have that big of a belly."


    Ellie poured the milkshakes while chatting. "Mae, where were you? Bran got worried and went


    looking for you after he finished with the groceries."


    I said, "I ran into a friend on my way here."


    Ellie handed me a milkshake and said, "You have so many friends. I want to make more friends,


    too."


    I replied, "You''re so friendly. You''ll make lots of friends soon."


    Ellie tasted her milkshake and said, "This is so good! There are so many vors. I want to try them


    all. Mae…"


    "Mae?" Ellie waved her hand in front of my face. "What''s wrong? You look like you''re not feeling


    well."


    Before I could answer, Ellie called out to the kitchen. "Bran,e and check on Mae."


    Brandon came out of the kitchen with a bowl of cherries and a te of strawberries. He looked


    worried as he set the fruit down and ced his cool hand on my forehead.


    His touch felt nice and soothing.


    "I''m okay," I said, taking his hand and pulling him to sit beside me. I leaned on him and rested my


    head on his shoulder. "I just went to see Emma Finnegan, Charles''s mentor."


    Brandon knew about Emma from before, so he understood without needing much more.


    "Did something happen that upset you?" he asked gently.


    I could tell he was concerned. "Emma''s family is giving up on her, and Charles is really upset. It''s


    tough for me, too."


    "No life should ever be given up on," I thought, feeling the heaviness of the situation. But with


    Emma''s condition, it seemed like holding on might not make a difference.


    Brandon didn''t say anything, but he gently rubbed his cheek against my hair tofort me.


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    "We need to look after ourselves, too," I said, holding his arm tighter and ncing at Ellie, who was


    now watching us and had set her milkshake aside.


    I reached out my other hand, and Ellie took it. "Mae, what''s going on with Emma?"


    Brandon spoke up for me, "She''s very ill and in a persistent sleep."


    He spoke gently to avoid upsetting Ellie.


    I felt bad for mentioning Emma, especially since Ellie was about to have a big surgery herself.


    "Is she in a vegetative state?" Ellie asked, understanding the situation.


    Brandon nodded, and Ellie moved closer, holding our hands. "Bran, Mae, I need to talk to you about


    something important."


    Her usual cheerful tone was gone, reced by seriousness. Brandon and I exchanged worried


    looks as I lifted my head from his shoulder.