Chapter 221

Ethan hung up the previous call and immediately dialed Thurston.

The phone rang twice before it was picked up. Thurston's characteristically cold voice came through the receiver: "What?"

"It's an emergency," Ethan lied with a straight face, suppressing a smile. "Kingsley is sick. It looks like a severe flu, but it sounds pretty bad."

Thurston frowned instantly, his tone laced with impatience: "Isn't he abroad? Are there no doctors there? Or is he that desperate for my sympathy?"

"He actually is desperate for your sympathy, and my medical skills!" Ethan laughed aloud. "That's why we need to go together. We're the best medicine he could hope for!"

"Get lost," Thurston retorted bluntly. "It's the end of the year; I'm swamped. I'm not as idle as you."

He had no idea that Kingsley had already discovered the existence of his son; he simply assumed Ethan was trying to scam Kingsley out of money again.

Ethan didn't get angry. He simply added leisurely, "Don't regret it if you don't come. I'm heading over first. Don't blame me later for not inviting you."

"You're crazy for money," Thurston's tone darkened. "Foreign doctors can't cure a flu? He needs you to fly over?"

"I need to earn some medical fees. I'm broke!"

Although Ethan said this, he knew the score-when the truth came out, he would insist he knew nothing. Thurston was the only one who knew the full story from the beginning, so Ethan was determined to keep himself clean.

Thurston didn't waste any more words and hung up, feeling that Ethan was just delaying him from getting off work.

***

On the sandy beaches of Dominica, two figures stood out-one large and one small, stepping on the soft sand, busy around a shallow pool.

"Mommy! There's a little crab here! It keeps running away!"

Seven gripped a small iron shovel, his voice filled with excitement as his little body shuffled after the crab.

Lucy walked over carrying a small green bucket, just in time to see Seven holding up his shovel, carefully blocking the crab's path, terrified it might escape.

She bent down to look. The crab was only the size of a fingernail. She smiled and said, "You can just pick it up with your hand. It's so small, it won't hurt you."

Seven obediently raised his small hand, gently pinched the little crab with his fingertips, and brought it close to his eyes to inspect it. "Mommy, it really is so tiny."

As he spoke, he carefully placed the crab into the green bucket, then suddenly looked up and asked, "Mommy, does it have a mommy?"

Lucy looked at the slowly crawling crab in the bucket and answered softly, "Yes, it does."

"Then why isn't it with its mommy?" Seven tilted his little face, asking persistently.

"Maybe they got separated when the tide went out, or perhaps the waves pushed them apart," Lucy explained patiently, reaching out to smooth the hair on his forehead.

Seven nodded, seeming to understand, then raised his face and said seriously, "Mommy, let's send it back to the ocean later so it can find its mommy."

"Of course we can," Lucy said, carrying the bucket and walking slowly beside Seven. The tenderness in her eyes matched the sunset over the beach warmth spiting out of her

The sun slowly sank toward the sea level. The sun dipped toward the horizon and the sky went a deep, flushed pink pouring over the beach and wrapping the two of them in a Soft, golden light

Jules, who had caught up to them, stood not far away. Looking at this tranquil

scene, he subconsciously raised his phone and captured the moment with a soft click.

He then called out, "Lucy, Seven!"

Lucy and Seven turned around

almost simultaneously. The sunlight

caught the tips of their hal Jules

didn't hesitate; he pressed the

shutter again, preserving the vivid, lively image.