?Chapter 1053:


    peak with the doctor about your condition. Katharine will stay here with you,” Glenn said, then motioned for Kaiden to follow him out.


    “Where’s Daniel?” Ellie asked.


    “He went to Sacrapa with Susanna to honor the Todd couple a few days ago. He’s on his way back after hearing that you were in the hospital,” Katharine exined.


    “Are you concerned that Glenn and I won’t support your decision to postpone your eye treatment?” Katharine asked. “Kaiden doesn’t agree with you postponing treatment because of the baby, does he?”


    Katharine thought this might be the reason Ellie ced her hand on her belly when she and Glenn fell silent. Was Ellie trying to leverage her situation to persuade them to support her decision to dy the treatment?


    Ellie bit her lip. “Katharine…”


    Outside the ward, at the far end of the hallway, there was a balcony. Kaiden offered Glenn a cigarette, but Glenn declined and pulled one from his own pack.


    Pausing for a moment, Kaiden detailed Ellie’s condition to Glenn. Glenn realized that Kaiden wanted Ellie to undergo eye treatment immediately, instead of continuing with the pregnancy, which caused his frown to soften slightly.


    “Did you and Ellie have a disagreement about this?” Glenn asked.


    “Yes,” Kaiden replied, puffing out a smoke ring. “The issue is with me.”


    Glenn was d to see Kaiden taking responsibility. He couldn’t let Ellie bear the me.


    “If Ellie wants to keep the baby, we’ll arrange for her eye treatmentter,” Glenn said.


    Kaiden looked at Glenn, surprised.


    Glenn picked up on the unspoken question. “Do you think I’m just giving in to Ellie’s demands?”


    Kaiden did think that.


    He had assumed that, as Ellie’s family, Glenn would prioritize her well-being. “Don’t expect us to allow you to raise our child,” Kaiden eyed Glenn warily.


    Glennughed with frustration.


    “Kaiden, what are you thinking? We spent twenty years looking for Ellie! Even before our parents passed away, they were still worried about her. How could I ever neglect her well-being?”


    Kaiden looked away and took a drag from his cigarette.


    “If this had been seven years ago, I might have insisted she get treatment for her eyes,” Glenn said, his gaze intensifying as he looked at Kaiden. It was clear that Kaiden had made the same decision. “But now, I’m more afraid she might leave us. How could I possibly force her?”


    “She might leave…” Those words echoed in Kaiden’s mind, deepening the weight in his chest with every passing moment.


    They waited for the wind to carry away the scent of their cigarettes before heading back to the ward.


    Baylee had already returned with breakfast, and Katharine was feeding Ellie with a spoon.


    “Katharine, I can manage eating on my own, honestly! Even though I can’t see, I won’t stick the spoon up my nose,” Ellie said, her frail voice mixing helplessness with amusement.


    “I just want to help you eat. I didn’t get to do it when you were a kid, and now I finally have the chance to make up for it,” Katharine replied. “Just let me do this.”


    Ellie had no choice but to let Katharine feed her, taking bites one spoonful at a time.


    .


    .


    .