After lunch, Molly started griping about a headache. Sebastian was all like, "Why don''t you take a nap?" but she wasn''t having it. Instead, she hit him with, "Sebastian, can you rub my temples?"


    Before he could even say yes, she plopped down on hisp, grinning. "Thanks for the effort."


    Sebastian told her, "Close your eyes."


    Molly shut her eyes real quick, and soon enough, she felt his hands working their magic on her temples.


    In no time, her breathing got all steady.


    Sebastian stopped and looked at her, chuckling to himself.


    Then, he scooped her up and carried her back to the bedroom.


    Ellie chimed in, "Good thing you''ve been training for years. If it were anyone else, she''d be outta luck."


    Sebastian carried Molly upstairs,id her on the bed, and watched her for a bit before heading out.


    Suddenly, there was a ruckus downstairs. Sebastian heard some familiar voices and thought, ''What are they doing here?'' After tucking Molly in, he went to check it out. Seeing Ste downstairs, he was fuming.


    "Ellie, you''re out of the hospital?" Ste said, surprised.


    Sebastian stormed downstairs and asked the servant, "Who let them in?"


    "Mr. Chase, theye by often to see Zoey and Max when you''re not around. I''m used to it, so I didn''t stop them," the servant exined. Sebastian remembered Ste''s phone call and felt a chill.


    Abby didn''t expect to see Sebastian either. She walked over with a shy smile. "Sebastian, I didn''t know you were home."


    She tried to get closer, but he snapped, "Molly''s sleeping upstairs. If you wake her up, and she decides to smack you, I''m backing her up."


    Abby, taken aback, backed off and sat on another sofa.


    Sebastian turned to Ellie, who had just been discharged. "Mom, go upstairs and rest. I''ll deal with them."


    Timothy, worried Ellie might get upset, added, "Ellie, go rest."


    Ellie stood up, but Ste grabbed her hand.


    "Don''t go, Ellie. I tried visiting you in the hospital, but Mom and Dad stopped me. Now that I finally see you, we need to catch up." Ste sat beside her, holding her hand tightly. Ellie had no choice but to sit back down.


    "Ellie, how are you feeling?" Ste asked, eyeing her chest.


    Feeling ufortable, Ellie replied, "I''m fine."


    "The doctor mentioned follow-ups. What''s the n?" Ste pressed.


    "Regr treatment," Ellie said, keeping it vague.


    Ste kept pushing, "What kind of treatment?"


    Ellie, taking a cue from Molly, said, "Consult the doctor."


    Ste got frustrated. Abby, noticing Ellie''s evasiveness, stepped in. "Ellie, you''ve been through a lot. If I''d known about your surgery, I would''ve taken time off to help." "No need, I have Molly," Ellie replied.


    Timothy''s face turned dark. He wanted to kick them out but couldn''t be as blunt as Molly.


    If Molly hadn''t slept, with her fiery temper, they wouldn''tst a minute in the house.


    "Ellie, what about thepany while you were in the hospital?" Ste couldn''t keep up the fake concern for long and cut to the chase. "You can''t leave thepany to strangers. You know how it is, some folks will take advantage and leave you with nothing."


    Ste''s words made Ellie perk up.


    Ellie had been in the business game for decades and had a sharp eye for people. Ste wouldn''te up with this on her own; someone must''ve fed her the lines.


    Ellie shot a nce at Abby.


    Abby cursed Ste in her head. Ste hadn''t paid attention when she mentioned those things. Abby quickly put on a fake smile and tried to smooth things over. "Ellie, Ste''s talking about legal stuff and shellpanies. I just mentioned it casually, and she ran with it."


    Ste nodded. "Yeah, you''ve worked hard for your business. Don''t leave it to strangers."


    Ellie replied with a calm smile, "Thanks for your concern, Ste. I haven''t left thepany to strangers; Molly''s handling everything."


    "Molly?!" Ste shrieked.


    Upstairs, Molly turned over in bed and kept snoozing.


    Downstairs, Ellie nodded. "That''s right."


    Ste kept going, "Ellie, that''s exactly what I was worried about. What kind of person is Molly? How can you leave thepany to her? Strangers are those without blood ties to our family. If she drains thepany''s funds, your twenty years of hard work will be for nothing."


    Abby saw the Chase family''s affection for Molly and seized the chance to gain favor while stirring up Ste''s dislike for Molly.


    The more Ste disliked Molly, the better Abby''s chances with the Chase family.


    Abby chimed in, "Mom, you can''t say that. Molly may not be blood, but there''s been years of affection. She wouldn''t do such a thing. But, isn''t Molly still a college student? Can she really manage apany?"


    Ste, getting more worked up, said, "You don''t get it. Molly''s taking advantage of Ellie and Timothy''s kindness. She''s got bad intentions. Others might not see it, but I can."


    Ellie sneered, "I know who treats me well. Ste, we''ve talked enough. I need to rest now, make yourselves at home."


    Ignoring Ellie''s hint to leave, Ste held her hand and kept going, "Ellie, Molly''s still a student. Even if you trust her, she doesn''t have the skills. Let Harold help you at thepany; he''s better than her. Jonathan''s also there, be careful of him. Now that you''re sick, he might try to build alliances and undermine you. You need your own people in thepany, got it?


    Ste added, "If you don''t have anyone, let Harold keep an eye on things for you. You know Harold; he''s honest and will listen to you, no hidden agendas. Miles is also unemployed now, let him help you keep an eye on Jonathan. We''re family, and I''m just looking out for you."