Chapter 851

The caller was Aaron. Thank God.

Lena answered. “Uncle Aaron, you want to help me move? Not now—I’m at work treating a very important patient…”

Aaron didn’t even pretend to buy it. “Your mom’s at your office?”

“Wow, psychic much? Yeah, she’s here. Says she’s ‘sick everywhere.’ I gave her a referral for some tests, and now I’m the heartless daughter.” Lena jerked her chair back as Carol reached over to grab her phone. “Hey!”

Carol swiped it anyway. Of course, she did. Bringing it to her ear, she said, “Aaron.”

“Carol, Lena said you’re not feeling well?” Aaron’s voice was calm, smooth—annoyingly unflappable.

Carol coughed lightly, throwing a sharp look Lena’s way. “I’m fine. She just made me mad. If she doesn’t agree to move back home, I’m not leaving.”

“Actually, Lena already agreed to move in with me,” Aaron replied, his tone so breezy it sounded like he wasn’t lying through his teeth. “My place is close to the hospital, so her commute will be easier.”

Carol whipped her head around to glare at Lena, thinking, ‘This brat hasn’t said anything about moving.’

“She agreed?” Carol’s voice dripped with skepticism.

“Yeah. I’m helping her move tonight. I was even thinking we could have you and Gabriel over for dinner once she’s settled.”

“No need for dinner,” Carol said, her irritation softening. “But yes, that’s better. At least you can keep an eye on her.”

“And it won’t interrupt you and Gabriel’s alone time either,” Aaron teased lightly.

“Cheeky,” Carol muttered, but she actually smiled. She glanced at Lena, then said into the phone, “You talk to her.”

“Alright, you should head back too,” Aaron said gently. “Hanging around her office while she’s working isn’t a great look.”

Carol huffed. “If you’d told me earlier that she agreed to move in with you, I wouldn’t have made a fuss,” she said, handing the phone back to Lena.

“Hey, Uncle Aaron.”

Chapter 851

“So, are you moving or not?” Aaron asked.

Backed into a corner, Lena sighed. “After work. Thanks for helping me move,” she mumbled.

“Got it,” Aaron replied and hung up.

Lena raised her phone like a white flag. “Happy now, Mom?”

Carol narrowed her eyes. “Your dad and I haven’t mistreated you. Why is it so hard to get you to come home? Let me tell you—Aaron’s place is temporary. The second he gets a girlfriend, you’re out.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Lena said with a smirk. “For now, though, it’s just easier than coming back home. Unless…” She grinned. “You and Dad want to buy a place near the hospital?”

With her parents’ resources, they could afford it. But after over twenty years in their current home, surrounded by their friends and routines, moving wasn’t appealing. Plus, houses near the hospital would eat up half their savings—and everyone knew Carol’s tight grip on her wallet.

“Nice try,” Carol said, lifting her hand like she might swat her.

Lena dodged.

After a moment of teasing, Lena sobered. “Seriously, Mom, I’ve got patients to see. You should head home.”

“We’re going to your uncle’s place,” Carol said firmly. “We’ll wait for you there.”

Lena’s stomach sank. Awesome. Not only was her move set in stone, but now her parents were officially on watchdog duty.

Chapter 852