Freya tightened her grip on the phone. “I understand. I’ll come back right away.” She hung up and said to Harry, “Sorry, something’s come up. We’ll have to postpone dinner until next time.”

Harry looked at her expression and tone, then guessed, “Is something wrong with Isabella?”

Freya nodded. “Yes.”

“Is it serious?”

Matteo hadn’t given the details, and Freya didn’t know either. “It should be stable now.”

“Good.” Harry was relieved and didn’t press the issue. Freya bid farewell to Johnny and left the office.

Upon arriving at the villa and entering Isabella’s room, Matteo was sitting at the desk, busy with work. He looked up when he saw her. “You’re back?”

Freya nodded silently and placed her bag down. She went to the bed to check on Isabella. Isabella was still receiving an IV drip. She had probably dozed off from exhaustion, her little brows furrowed as she slept. Freya didn’t wake her up but turned to Matteo and asked, “How is she?”

“When I came back, she was still in pain, but now it’s much better.”

“…Okay.” Freya sat on the nearby sofa, took out a book, and began to read, intending to pass the time while waiting for Isabella to wake up.

But Matteo glanced over at her and asked, “Have you eaten?”

“No.”

Matteo was about to say something when Isabella woke up.

Seeing Freya, her voice brightened with surprise. “Mom? You’re back?”

“Mm.” Freya closed the book she had just opened and went to sit on the edge of the bed. Before she could speak, Isabella climbed up and hugged her neck, “Mom, you’re finally back!”

Feeling her soft little body in her arms, Freya paused for a moment before gently hugging her back, carefully watching her hand near the IV insertion. Isabella had received the IV drip for over half an hour and now felt much better. Her stomach also growled from hunger. “Mom, I’m hungry.”

Matteo sat nearby and asked, “Should we have someone bring food upstairs for you?”

Isabella, nestled in Freya’s arms, peeked her head out. “No, I want to eat the food Mommy makes.”

Freya smiled and said, “Eat something for now. I’ll cook for you next time.” It was already too late to make food now.

“…Okay.” Isabella reluctantly agreed, then continued with her request, “Mom, will you eat with me?”

“Okay.” Seeing Freya, Isabella visibly cheered up. The IV drip was almost done, so Matteo removed the needle. Isabella then asked Freya to carry her downstairs for dinner.

Freya picked her up and noticed that Isabella had gained some weight and seemed a bit taller. Had she changed that much in just about twenty days?

“Mom?” Seeing that Freya seemed lost in thought, Isabella reached out and gently touched her face. Freya didn’t say anything, just carrying her downstairs.

Matteo closed his laptop and followed behind them. When he saw Isabella happily smiling on Freya’s shoulder, he pinched her little cheek. Isabella, in a good mood, didn’t mind.

When they reached the bottom of the stairs, Isabella sat beside Freya, eating the food she had picked for herself, while chatting excitedly about what she wanted to eat the next morning.

Treya, seeing that she was no longer in danger, said, “Mom, I’m sorry. We’ll have to wait until next time.” Matteo, who had been listening, glanced at Freya but didn’t comment.

Isabella wasn’t happy. “Mom, you’re always busy with work. You finally came back, and you’re leaving so soon? I don’t want that!”

Freya looked at her pouting face and realized that visiting just for a short time wasn’t ideal. She said, “I understand. I’ll stay with you tonight.”

Isabella smiled, then continued, “Tomorrow, you have to take me to school.”

Freya, while eating, replied, “Okay.” After a long time apart, Isabella pulled Freya upstairs after dinner, chattering about everything that had happened recently, including stories about her classmates, teachers, and interests. Freya listened for a while and then noticed that Matteo was leaning against the doorframe, quietly watching them. She didn’t know when he had come in.

After giving Isabella a bath and drying her hair, Freya was about to wash up herself. Since there were none of her things in Isabella’s room, she turned and went to the master bedroom. The room was pitch dark, and Matteo wasn’t there. When she turned on the light, she froze, almost doubting if she had entered the wrong room. She had lived in this room for seven years, and she was very familiar with everything about it. But now, everything that came into view was unfamiliar to her. Because everything in the room had changed. Not everything, at least the floor hadn’t been changed. But apart from the floor, the room’s chandelier, curtains, bed, bedside tables, the small round table windowsill, sofa, coffee table, carpet, even the water dispenser and teacups were all replaced. Moreover, the dressing table she often used was gone.

The remaining text appears to be unrelated and contains errors; it has been omitted.