?Chapter 323:


    After a shower, Kaiden, now in a bathrobe, stepped onto the balcony for a smoke. On his return, he noticed Ellie’s phone screen lighting up with a call.


    It was Howard’s call. Interrupting her slumber, Ellie frowned in protest against the persistent intrusion.


    Seeing this, Kaiden nced at the buzzing phone and decided to answer it.


    The ceaseless vibrations ceased as he picked up. Howard’s voice, clear and resolute, emanated from the phone.


    “Hello, Ellie. It’s Howard. We need some snapshots for the lecture poster. Can you send me a few?” the person on the other end suggested.


    Kaiden responded nonchntly, “She is sleeping.”


    A pause followed on Howard’s end.


    “Who’s this?” Howard’s tone turned wary, as if entering a high-stakes negotiation.


    Kaiden mused that this was how a scion of the Lee family should sound.


    “Kaiden,” he replied.


    Howard had harbored a suspicion that it was Kaiden. Still, he couldn’t hide his frustration when Kaiden validated his intuition, causing him to clench his fists.


    It seemed fate had, once again, validated those rumors.


    “Mr. Thorpe, could you pass the phone to Ellie? I have something to discuss with her.”


    “Not convenient,” Kaiden replied, observing Ellie still asleep.


    “It’s afternoon already. Is she still sleeping?”


    Howard doubted Kaiden’s words, sensing a fib.


    Kaiden activated the speakerphone, softly calling Ellie’s name. The gentle vibration of Ellie’s phone jolted her almost into consciousness. A persistent caller spurred her immediate reaction.


    “Ugh, I’m so worn out… I’m done with this…” Ellie muttered, knitting her brows, cocooned in her quilt, determined to shut out all external disturbances.


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    Howard found himself at a loss for words, engulfed in the ensuing silence.


    Kaiden couldn’t help but find the situation amusing.


    He quipped, “Did you catch that?”


    “You, you…” Howard struggled for words.


    “Isn’t it normal for adults to have a love life?” Kaiden countered with a wry grin. “Is there anything else you would like to inquire about?” If not, he was ready to cut the conversation short.


    “Uh… no… nothing… Hold on! You, you… Forget it,” Howard stammered in panic.


    Ignoring his hesitation, Kaiden nonchntly hung up.


    Buried in the quilts, breathing became a challenge.


    Kaiden tucked Ellie in, intending to catch a few more winks, but a pile of pending work in thepany beckoned. Relocating hisptop to the bedroom, he propped himself against the headboard, ready to tackle the tasks at hand.


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