?Chapter 1103:


    The world around Wesley was bright and festive, Christmas lights blinking on every corner, but he seemed untouched by any of it. His attention was locked on the woman watching from the window.


    Without hesitating, Elena turned away. She didn’t bother to grab a coat, barely noticing the cold as she hurried outside. She moved quickly, heading straight for Wesley without a second thought.


    Wesley had already flicked his cigarette away by the time she reached him, and the moment he noticed her thin sweater, his brow furrowed with worry. He caught her up in his arms and pulled his coat around her shoulders. “Why didn’t you put on a coat beforeing out? Do you want to catch a cold?” His voice was gentle but carried a hint of frustration.


    Elena smiled as she hugged his waist, reminding him, “You do remember I’m a doctor, right?”


    What she didn’t say was that seeing him alone in the shadows had made her feel an inexplicable difort, and she’d dashed out without thinking twice.


    Wesley then guided her into the car and got in after her.


    The heater inside the car quickly dispelled the chill.


    Wesley shot her a stern look. “Just because you’re a doctor doesn’t mean you’re invincible, you know.” He couldn’t hide his irritation, almost as if he’d forgotten about the time he’d extracted a bullet from his own body and stitched himself up without blinking.


    Elena grinned, throwing a little jab his way. “You sound just like an old man, always fussing.”


    Her words caught Wesley off guard. For a moment, he was speechless, not sure whether tough or protest. Tightening his arm around her, he answered, “If you get sick, guess who’s stuck taking care of you? Me, that’s who.” She was always quick to im that age was just a number, but teasing him about being old clearly meant she cared more than she let on.


    Without warning, Wesley leaned in and yfully nipped her cheek. A tiny “Ow” slipped from Elena, and Wesley immediately let go, recing the bite with a gentle kiss.


    “Did that actually hurt?” His voice was low and a little rough around the edges. Elena gave a small nod, even though it was all for show. She hadn’t felt a thing—her reaction was nothing but yful acting.


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    She looked up at him, curiosity in her eyes. “What are you doing out here anyway? Shouldn’t you be spending the night with Gerald?”


    Wesley’s gaze dropped. “He went to sleep right after dinner. He doesn’t really want anyone to hover around.”


    The truth was, Wesley had been waiting outside her home for quite a while, not wanting to intrude on her family gathering. Through the door, he could hear theughter and conversation—the house brimming with the kind of warmth he never found at home. In the Spencer family, cheerful dinners were unheard of.


    Ever since Gerald took him in, their meals had always been quiet, just the two of them, eating in near silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Back then, Wesley would spend Christmas Eve buried in work. But this year, for the first time, he had found something more important than his job.


    Elena picked up on the hint of distance in his words and was reminded of the Spencer family’s intricate dynamics. Gerald had two sons. Lawrence, who had been cast out, was probably celebrating with Zoie, Theo, and Karen. Joseph, meanwhile, was still bitter about Gerald putting Wesley in charge.


    Deciding not to dwell on it, Elena let the topic drop and brightened. She reached out expectantly. “So, where’s my Christmas present? I already got one from everyone else. Don’t tell me you’re the only one who didn’t get me a gift!”


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