?Chapter 936:


    His voice was smooth, familiar.


    Elissa froze for a moment, stunned by the sound. “Wait… it’s you?”


    “Yes, it’s me,” he answered with a soft nod she couldn’t see. “Your neighbor here at the sanatorium. Merry Christmas.”


    “Merry Christmas,” she replied, her tone lighter now. Her expression softened into a warm smile. “I thought you were going home for the holidays?”


    “I was. Just got back, actually,” Ernest said. Then, with a gentle tilt of his head, he asked, “And you?”


    “Same here,” she answered.


    Just then, Laney returned with two small tes of snacks. She gave Ernest a quiet nod, acknowledging him without a word.


    “Let me help with that,” Ernest said, taking one of the tes and handing it carefully to Elissa. “If you need anything, just say the word.”


    “Thank you,” she said, smiling with genuine gratitude. She was struck again by how gentle he was.


    “You should have some, too,” she added, gesturing slightly toward the te. “I can’t see, so please help yourself.”


    “Thank you,” he replied.


    “You’re wee.”


    Onstage, someone was performing a lively number, filling the room with music and scattered apuse.


    Elissa listened, her head tilted slightly toward the sound, taking it all in. Beside her, Ernest sat quietly, uninterested in the performance. His thoughts were elsewhere—on her.


    He nced at her profile, concern flickering in his eyes. Were her eyes still swollen? Did she still have headaches? Was she in pain?


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    “Your eyes…” he said hesitantly, his Adam’s apple shifting with the weight of his words. “Are they… okay?”


    Elissa turned toward him at the sound of his voice, momentarily surprised by the softness in it. She paused, but then offered a small, wry smile. “They’re okay—except for the part where I still can’t see.”


    Ernest’s brows drew together. “I heard that even without vision, some people still feel pain or difort. Is that true for you?”


    Elissa tilted her head, intrigued. “So others deal with that too? I didn’t know.” She thought for a moment, before adding, “I was ufortable yesterday, yes—but the doctor prescribed something. After the meds, it’s much better now.”


    Ernest let out a quiet breath, the knot in his chest easing. It sounded like the treatment was helping.


    “By the way…” Elissa, turning her face slightly toward him, asked, “From your voice, you sound pretty young. Why are you here in this facility?”


    She nced at him, noting that he appeared to be in good health. After all, someone fragile wouldn’t have been able to dive into a freezingke to save her.


    Ernest blinked, caught off guard by her perceptiveness. For a moment, he didn’t know what to say.


    “Ah—sorry,” Elissa quickly added, sensing his silence. “That was probably too direct. You don’t have to answer. I didn’t mean to pry.”


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