Chapter 965

Aaron’s voice carried through the phone, reaching Lena’s ears. Her eyes lit up—if he wasn’t home tonight, she could visit her grandparents without worry.

By evening, Lena arrived at the Ace residence, carrying a bag of nutritional supplements and her grandparents’ favorite desserts. The well-maintained courtyard had been recently equipped with solar-powered lights, casting a warm glow across the space and brightening every corner. She first glanced into the yard, ensuring that Aaron’s car wasn’t there, before pushing the gate open.

“Grandpa, Grandma, I’m here!” Lena called as she stepped inside.

The lonely old couple looked up at the sound of her voice. Even the housekeeper, who had been cooking in the kitchen, peeked out to greet her warmly.

“Is that Lena? Come in, come in!” the housekeeper, Elaine, said cheerfully.

“Elaine, you’re busy. Just make an extra serving for me at dinner,” Lena teased without a hint of shyness.

Her grandparents, still in disbelief, confirmed that it was indeed Lena. She had said over the phone that she wouldn’t come, so her sudden arrival surprised them.

“Didn’t you say you had work?” Edison asked.

“The baby came early, so I had some free time,” Lena fibbed smoothly.

“You didn’t let us know you were coming, though. Now I can’t prepare the stewed pork rice you like,” Edison said, looking genuinely disappointed.

Lena sat beside him and looped her arm through his. “As long as I’m eating with you and Grandma, I’ll be happy no matter what’s on the table.”

“Then why don’t you visit more often?” Edison grumbled, only half-joking.

Lena sighed inwardly at the complexity of her situation but smiled brightly. “Because I’ve been busy welcoming little angels into the world. Grandpa, let me tell you—I’ve delivered 1,415 babies so far!”

“That many?” Deborah exclaimed in awe. “Our Lena really is an angel on Earth.”

Lena held her grandmother’s hand. “Grandpa, Grandma, it’s not that I don’t want to see you. I think about you all the time. It’s just that I’ve been so busy. But my love for you never fades.”

Her sweet words quickly lifted the spirits of the elderly couple, bringing laughter and smiles to their faces.

Outside in the courtyard, Aaron stood tall, watching the warm scene unfold through the window. A faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips. He knew she’d only come if he left.

Chapter 965

There was no birthday party to attend—he’d only said that to give her the space she needed to visit. She had avoided him when he confessed his feelings, and now, even after he let her go, she still avoided him.

At the gate, a car pulled up quietly, its headlights flashing twice instead of honking.

Aaron cast one last glance at the lively scene inside before turning and striding toward the car. “Aaron, what’s brought you out tonight?” teased his friend, Damon, as soon as Aaron got in. Aaron, known for his reserved nature, rarely joined his friends for drinks or social outings. Leaning one arm on the car window, he replied, “Someone doesn’t want to see me.” “Who? Your sister?” Damon joked, inadvertently dragging Briana into the conversation. Aaron didn’t respond, instead gazing out the window with a pensive expression.

Noticing his somber mood, Damon glanced at him a couple of times before changing the subject. “The person you were looking for has been found. Do you want to meet them later?”

“Yeah,” came a faint reply—so soft that it was barely audible.