Dabbing at her tears, Elizabeth looked up at Elijah with vulnerable eyes. "Why are you here?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"Allow me to handle Gracie's medical expenses," Oliver offered earnestly.

"Mrs. Norris," he continued, "Mr. Norris has already transferred eight hundred thousand dollars to cover several months of medical bills."

This was unsurprising, given Elijah's orchestration of Gracie's hospital care. He was undoubtedly kept informed of all developments.

Elizabeth pressed her lips together, her hands covering her face. She deeply resented Elijah's tendency to solve problems with money, as if a check could erase any difficulty. Had Oliver not lost his temper earlier, she might have confidently refused Elijah's offer. But now, that option felt impossible.

Oliver gently picked up an ice pack and offered it to her. His voice softened. "Mrs. Norris, would you like me to drive you back to Bayview Villa?"

Gratefully, Elizabeth accepted the ice pack, pressing it against her flushed cheeks. The cold soothed her turmoil.

"Is he the payer?" she asked hesitantly, her thoughts on Elijah. Despite her frustrations, she missed his presence. Even his stern demeanor and harsh words seemed preferable to this situation, where he effortlessly resolved her dilemmas. Oliver's arrival had once offered a flicker of hope, a trace of fortitude amidst her despair.

Hesitating, Oliver replied, "Mr. Norris is still at the office, working late."