Lullaby 320

The housekeeper stood frozen for a moment, still visibly surprised even after leaving the room,

Ever since the youngest Miss had gone missing years ago, the lady of the house had rarely seen daylight. But today, she’d actually asked to sit out in the sun.

Tristan and Jesse were waiting outside the door. Tristan frowned. “What happened?”

“The lady wanted some sunlight…”

The housekeeper hesitated, then added, “I tried to draw the curtains for her, but she wouldn’t let me.”

Both men were taken aback.

For a moment, even Tristan couldn’t hide the hopeful glimmer in his eyes.

Suzanne had never been this cooperative with the doctors before. Maybe following Mr. Blaine’s advice yesterday was truly the right call.

It was another half an hour before the door finally opened from within.

Father and son hurried forward. Elissa, who had dealt with many patients before, understood their anxiety. She smiled gently. “Mr. Wilkinson, why don’t you go in and check on her?”

She turned to Jesse. “Mr. Jesse, do you have some paper and a pen? I’d like to write down some nutritional recommendations for Mrs. Wilkinson.”

“Of course–this way, please.”

Jesse quickly led her to the study downstairs. “Thank you for your help.”

Elissa sat at the desk, took up a pen, and, recalling Suzanne’s earlier pulse, began to jot down a list of nourishing meal suggestions.

Suzanne’s health issues went far beyond her legs. Her whole system was weak; if she wanted to walk again, her body would need support from the inside out.

As Elissa wrote, a commotion began to filter in from outside.

Moments later, a breathless housekeeper knocked on the wide–open study door. “Mr. Jesse, there’s someone making a scene at the gate–they insist on coming in.”

Jesse, who was usually unflappable, looked stunned. “Trying to force their way in?”

No one had ever dared barge into the Wilkinson estate before.

“I think the visitor is someone important…” The housekeeper cast a glance at Elissa. “They say they’re here for Dr. Drummond.”

At this, Elissa’s writing hand paused. She hadn’t expected the Murphy family to come after her so

soon.

She drew a deep breath, masking the chill in her eyes, and stood to face Jesse. “Excuse me, I’ll go see what’s happening.”

Outside, Butler Murphy was flanked by a cluster of bodyguards at the gates. Even though the tinted

15:01

window of that Rolls–Royce was still up, Elissa could feel a pair of eyes locked onto her from inside.

Since childhood, the old matriarch had never once let her off the hook.

Elissa had spent her life hiding her true self, putting on a façade of obedience and patience–only to be met with relentless demands.

When Elissa emerged, composed and unreadable, Butler Murphy’s expression darkened. He gestured stiffly. “Miss Elissa, if you please.”

She replied coldly, “I can’t leave right now.”

He narrowed his eyes, lowering his voice. “The matriarch is here. She’s waiting for you in the car.”

“Is that so…” Elissa paused, her face serene, her features as gentle and innocent as ever. Suddenly, she smiled. “Then let her wait.”

Butler Murphy’s eye twitched. “I beg your pardon?”

“I said—” Elissa repeated, her tone calm and unwavering, “let her wait.”

Without another word, she turned to head back inside the Wilkinson home.

“Stop her!” Butler Murphy barked at the bodyguards, striding quickly to the car. As the window rolled down, he bowed low. “Madam, she refused to come with us.”

“She refused?” Paige Murphy, regal and cold, let out a chilling laugh. “Since when does she get to decide? Bring her here.”

Butler Murphy hesitated. “Shouldn’t we find out why she’s here first? This is Zephyr Manor, after all. If we cause trouble-”

The old woman shot him a scathing look. “Are you losing your nerve? This is Vistapeak City. Besides Rowan, who here would dare go against us?”