?Chapter 864:


    Felix, followed by a small group of doctors and teachers, stepped out of the other ne. The sound of their arrival cut through the ind’s quiet.


    Seeing the unfamiliar faces, Lizzie instinctively ducked behind Elena, her small hand finding Elena’s for reassurance. Elena squeezed it gently, offering aforting smile.


    Felix, ever efficient, addressed Wesley. “Mr. Spencer, I’ll escort them to the designated quarters first.”


    Wesley, his expression still a touch distant, gave a curt nod. “Go ahead and get that sorted.”


    Once Felix and the neers were out of earshot, Lizzie cautiously peeked out from behind Elena’s legs, a spark of childish curiosity lighting up her eyes. “Elena, are they here for a visit to the ind too?”


    Elena gently stroked Lizzie’s hair. “No, sweetie. They’re teachers and doctors. They’re going to live here from now on.”


    Lizzie’s eyes grew wide with excitement. “Doctors! D-do you think they can make Grandma feel better? Cure her sickness?”


    Elena chose her words carefully, wanting to be honest without crushing the child’s hopeful spirit. “They’ll need to take a good look at her first, honey, to see if her illness is something they can fix.”


    A shadow of disappointment flickered across Lizzie’s face, but it vanished as quickly as it came, reced by a renewed sense of wonder. “Oh! That’s already so amazing, Elena! Are you like sent from heaven to save us all?”


    Elena, a pragmatist through and through, put more faith in hard work than divine intervention. She believed that people were the architects of their own fates, not pawns of some higher power.


    “Now that the school is built, you’ll have books to learn about the world beyond this ind,” Elena exined gently. “Ultimately, Lizzie, you’re the one who has the power to save yourself.”


    Lizzie didn’t grasp the deeper meaning of Elena’s words, but her trust in Elena was unwavering. “Okay!” she dered with newfound determination. “I’ll study super hard!”


    Discover your next read at g?lnσν????s


    Wesley, who had been observing their interaction with growing impatience, furrowed his brow ever so slightly. How much longer was this sappy little chat going to drag on? He finally broke the silence with an annoyed click of his tongue, his voice edged with coldness. “Alright, are we done here? Let’s move it.”


    Lizzie, sensing the shift in the atmosphere and a little intimidated by Wesley’s sharp tone, instinctively scooted closer to Elena’s side. Elena gave Lizzie a reassuring pat on the back. “You should go on home now, sweetie. I’ve got some other stuff I need to take care of.”


    Lizzie nodded, darting a hesitant, wide-eyed nce at Wesley from a safe distance before turning and scampering off toward the vige.


    Even though Wesley had been the one to bring Elena to this ind, his possessive nature was as clear as day. He didn’t seem to appreciate anyone else hogging her attention.


    Wesley and Elena then started walking toward the imposing structure of the Spencer vi.


    .


    .


    .