?Chapter 337:


    The thought of giving Louis a gift hadn’t crossed her mind; after all, Louis constantly teased her, often yfully pinching her cheeks. Not yet fluent in expressing herself, Kiera frequently ended up with flushed cheeks from Louis’ good-natured teasing.


    But now that he mentioned it, Kiera felt a twinge of guilt mixed with embarrassment.


    She silently resolved to craft a special doll for him next time.


    Turning her attention back to Elena, Kiera gathered her courage once more. “Elena, my birthday is next week. Can youe?”


    “Of course. I’ll be there,” Elena replied with a reassuring nod and a gentle smile.


    Bolstered by this promise, Kiera quickly retreated to the safety of Malcolm’s shadow, tugging at his sleeve as if signaling an urgent escape.


    Louis watched their hasty departure with a frustrated chuckle.


    After the Johnson siblings left, Elena also departed Hillside Manor, driving directly to Jeffry’s residence.


    At that moment, Lydia was slowly waking up in Jeffry’s apartment. Feeling somewhat rejuvenated after a night’s rest, she sniffed herself and quickly frowned. She had spent half of the previous day hiding in the jungle, sweating endlessly and sustaining cuts. Her odor was quite unpleasant.


    Exhausted and unable to move yesterday, Lydia had tolerated her state. Now, however, she found the scent unbearable. Despite the pain from her injuries, she managed to sit up. Even this minor action caused her to sweat heavily.


    Resting against the headboard, she paused to breathe deeply and looked around. The room was decorated in shades of ck and gray, creating a sleek, modern atmosphere. It was extremely neat, featuring only arge two-meter bed, a ck sofa, and a ck table, with minimal additional furnishings. The decor reflected its owner.


    Lydia pulled the nket tighter around her, catching a faint scent of woody perfume—cool and sophisticated. She couldn’t identify the brand, but it was unexpectedly refreshing.


    A smile formed on her lips, but as she leaned in to inhale the scent more deeply, she identally pulled at her chest wound, causing her to wince in pain.


    Releasing the nket, Lydia ced her right foot on the floor and cautiously stood up. The room included a bathroom, and she felt an urgent need for a shower.


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    Leaning on the wall for support, Lydia took slow steps toward the bathroom. However, before she even reached the door, her clothes were drenched in sweat.


    Lydia gritted her teeth in frustration. “Damn Earle,” she swore silently to herself. Once she was on her feet again, she would ensure he faced the consequences.


    Suddenly, the door clicked open.


    Jeffry entered and, seeing her up, expressed surprise. “You’ve just had your wounds stitched. You shouldn’t be walking around.”


    Lydia paused and then said, “I need to shower.”


    Jeffry looked at her blood-stained garments.


    Lydia interpreted his silence as an attempt to talk her out of it. Instead, he surprised her by silently lifting her up.


    Her eyes widened in shock as she looked at him, taken aback.


    Jeffry carried her into the bathroom and gently ced her on the countertop before turning to fill the bathtub.


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