Chapter 786

Chapter 786:

“I don’t want to be strong. I just want a family. A mom to hold me, a dad to look after me, my own room where I belong…” Freddy’s innocent plea hit Janice like a stone to the chest.

She understood—too well. Once upon a time, she had clung to the same dream.

But when she finally made something of herself, she realized childhood dreams had a cruel way of slipping through her fingers.

“Freddy, come here!” Gerda approached. “Don’t pester Janice—she just got back.”

She reached out to pull Freddy away, but he turned and ran off in the other direction, eyes red. Gerda sighed, shaking her head. “Sorry about that, Janice. He has been all over the place lately.”

“I get it.” Janice gave her a reassuring smile. “Freddy is sensitive right now, and little things probably feel ten times bigger to him.”

“I know.” Gerda’s shoulders sagged. “Three families came by recently. Freddy wasn’t picked. He has been dreaming of a home for so long, and the older he gets, the harder it is. It is eating him up inside.”

Gerda didn’t need to say more—Janice already knew the story all too well.

“I’ll ask Leah to keep an eye out. Maybe we can find the right family for him.”

“That’s too much to put on you,” Gerda said, guilt flickering in her eyes.

“You’ve been gone so long, and now you’re still worrying about this place.”

Janice gave a gentle smile, looking at the worn yet warm place. “No matter how long I’m away, this is always my home. And the kids here? They’re family.”

“Janice! Glenn wants to see you,” Leah called from the house.

Janice gave Gerda a small nod before heading inside.

At that moment, Glenn was busy in the kitchen, meticulously preparing ingredients. He wore a pink apron adorned with colorful stickers—each one a tiny token of the children’s affection. Though his figure was slightly hunched with age, there was an undeniable warmth about him that made him seem larger than life. Watching his back, Janice felt a sudden pang of sorrow.

So many years had passed, yet this elderly man remained a steadfast presence, someone who felt like both a father and a grandfather to her. A quiet fear crept into her heart—what if one day, he was no longer there?

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She was a gifted surgeon, skilled in mending wounds and treating ailments, but even with all her expertise, she could not outrun the natural order of life.

She could heal, but she could not perform miracles.

“Is that you, Janice?” Glenn’s voice broke through her thoughts as if he could sense her gaze. “Come lend me a hand.”

“Coming!” Janice quickly composed herself, inhaling deeply before plastering on a bright smile.

The uncertainty of the future only made the present all the more precious, didn’t it?

“Glenn, what’s on the menu today? Any chance of braised shrimp? It’s been ages since I had some.”

“Ha! Would you believe it? That’s exactly what I had in mind.”

While Janice’s world was steeped in warmth, over at Aiden’s company, the air was thick with tension.

Aiden sat at the head of the conference table, a document clutched in his hand. His sharp gaze swept across the pages, growing colder with each passing second. The room was deathly silent, every executive present holding their breath as if even the slightest sound might set him off.

“How did something this critical slip through the cracks?” Aiden snapped.

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