After freshening up, Evay in bed. The nkets, sunned until they were soft and fluffy, seemed to envelop her entirely. She thought she had almost forgotten the events from five years ago, because when she first left, she would often reminisce about the various things that happened back home, especially the moments she shared with Adrian ckwood. But as time passed, she dreamed of them less and less. Eventually, she stopped thinking about them altogether and lived her life in peace. She thought she had probably forgotten, but lying in this bed, the memories of her interactions with Adrian ckwood flooded her mind like a tide. It was as if all their moments together were being yed back in fast- forward. She had even shared the most intimate moments with Adrian ckwood on this very bed. She didn''t know how long she had been lost in thought, but eventually, Eva fell asleep without realizing it.
The next day, she was woken up by Dn running into her room. ncing at her phone, she realized it was already ten in the morning.
"Mommy, you''ve slept for so long," Dn Hansen remarked, looking at her with a hint of surprise.
Eva, running her fingers through her slightly disheveled hair, replied somewhat embarrassingly, "I overslept without realizing it. I forgot to set the rmst night."
Dn climbed onto the bed and hugged her arm, whispering softly, "Mommy, grandma had the chef make lots of yummy food, but since you didn''t get up, we ate first. Are you hungry now? Should we have them bring some up for you to eat?"
"No need," Eva refused, shaking her head. It wasn''t that serious to have food brought to her room.
"Sweetie, you go downstairs first. Mommy wille down after changing clothes."
"Okay."
After Dn Hansen left, Eva let out a sigh. She hadn''t expected to sleep so deeply. Could it be because she was back in a familiar ce that she had slept so soundly? She rarely had such deep sleep before.
After going downstairs, Eva started her breakfast. Ruby Hansen was already sittingfortably in Margaret''sp, wearing a pretty bracelet on her wrist.
"Where did thate from?" Eva couldn''t help but ask.
"Grandma gave it to Ruby!" Ruby Hansen, noticing her attention to the bracelet on her wrist, frequently showed it off to her, saying it was a gift from Margaret.
"Did you thank grandma?"
"I did, mommy."
Margaret, amused by her, pinched the little girl''s soft cheeks before raising her head to Eva, "We''ve pretty much prepared everything for the move. Whenever you''re free, we can go."
Considering the short distance, they had initially nned to fly, but due to safety concerns, they decided to drive their own car, apanied by bodyguards.
Eva had no objections and thought for a moment before saying, "I''m fine, I can go anytime."
"Don''t you need to rest some more?"
"I''m fine, mother. I''m not tired."
"Then let''s head back sooner rather thanter. After all, the kids still have to go to school."
"That sounds good."
Despite their age, the ckwood couple was still very active and decisive. When they said they would do something, they did it without hesitation.
That afternoon, Eva and the ckwoods set off for their return to Chicago.
On the way, Eva took out her phone to message Adrian ckwood.
"I and your father and mother..."
She stopped, feeling something off with the way she addressed them. Although she wasn''t quite ready to forgive Adrian ckwood, referring to them as ''your father'' and ''your mother'' felt too distant. She deleted the message and started again.
"We''re all on our way to Chicago today."
That seemed more appropriate.
She reviewed the message twice, ensuring it was fine before sending it.
Long after the message was sent, there was no reply from the other side.
Eva put her phone away, thinking he must be busy or asleep due to the time difference. She assumed he would reply when he had the chance.
They arrived in Chicago at night, the city alive with neon lights and towering skyscrapers.
Although Margaret was used to such sights, perhaps because they were in Chicago this time, she wanted to make Eva feel morefortable or hoped to alleviate any potential stress.
"The architecture here in Chicago isn''t any worse than in New York. I just checked the weather data; it''s a suitable ce to live. If you ever want to stay here longer, we can ask Adrian ckwood to move the mainpany here." Her words were full of consideration for Eva.
Eva could only awkwardly respond, "That''s up to him."
"Not up to him, up to us," Margaret insisted, holding Eva''s slender wrist as if to assure her, "For you, he''d definitely be willing to move. If he isn''t, then I''ll help you."
Eva believed that sentiment. Considering Adrian ckwood''s recent behavior, it did seem like something he might do. But moving apany wasn''t a small matter, especially since many of the ckwood family''s positions were held by local residents. A move would not only affect the ckwood family but also their employees.
"Let''s see how it goes," Eva suggested.
"Alright, we''ll see. He probably won''t be back for a while anyway."
Margaret didn''t press further about why Adrian was still abroad, and Eva felt a bit guilty. The issue had been resolved, yet Adrian remained overseas because of her personal problems.
She wondered when he would return.
The ckwoods owned property in Chicago, so they stayed in a house near the school for the night. Servants and housekeepers had arrived ahead of time, ensuring the ce was spotlessly clean.
After settling in, Eva finally had time to check her phone again.
She noticed that Adrian ckwood still hadn''t replied to her message.
Furrowing her brows, she considered the possibility of something amiss. Although she wasn''t usually superstitious about things like twitching eyelids signaling impending bad events, she couldn''t shake off a strong sense of unease. Looking at the phone, their conversation had not progressed beyond the message she sent. It had been quite a while since shest heard from him. Even if he was busy, it shouldn''t take this long, right? He wouldn''t have gotten into trouble, would he?