Chapter 606
Grace’s face immediately lit up. She was already preparing to greet her mother-and secretly hoping her father had come home too.
Riana smiled faintly at the news and quickly instructed the staff to prepare something for Althea to eat.
“Looks like she came back sooner than I expected.”
A moment later, Althea appeared in the doorway of the dining room. She wore a simple light blue dress that fell softly to her knees. Her hair was neatly left loose, framing her face and making her look fresh despite what must have been a busy morning.
“Good morning,” Althea greeted.
Grace immediately jumped up and ran toward her, throwing her arms around her mother with an excited squeal.
“Mom!”
Althea laughed softly at Grace’s enthusiasm. Though it didn’t affect her pregnancy as much anymore, she made a mental note to remind Grace not to hug her quite so suddenly next time.
“How’s your morning, my sweet Grace?”
Grace pouted. “I missed you, Mom. Oh-where’s Daddy? He came back with you, right?”
“No,” Althea said, gently tucking a strand of hair behind Grace’s ear. “Daddy went straight to the office. There’s something he must take care of.”
“That’s so annoying. I didn’t even get to say good morning to him,” Grace grumbled.
“You can call him at lunchtime, alright?” Althea pressed a kiss to the top of Grace’s head and another to Josh’s before finally turning her attention to Eli.
“Good morning, Eli.”
“Good morning, Mrs. Althea,” Eli replied quietly.
Althea studied the girl’s face for a moment. “You look much better today.”
Eli gave a small nod. “I slept well last night. I feel better this morning.”
Nathan leaned back in his chair. “Sit down for a moment, Althea. The staff are preparing something for
you.”
Althea nodded politely. “I already had breakfast with Daven, Dad, I don’t think I need anything else.”
“Don’t let your stomach stay empty, dear,” Riana said with concern.
Althea gently asked Grace to return to her seat. The girl obeyed right away, allowing Althea to move
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closer to Riana. She sat beside the older woman and took her hand, squeezing it warmly.
“Don’t worry, Mom. I wouldn’t neglect my health.”
“I know,” Riana said with a soft sigh. “But as a mother, it’s impossible not to worry about my daughter.”
Althea smiled, her heartwarming at those words. She tightened her hold on Riana’s hand for a moment.
“Thank you.”
Then she shifted her attention to Eli, who was sitting across from her.
“I’d like to take Eli out for a little while.”
Everyone at the table immediately looked up-especially Riana.
“Where to?” she asked in surprise.
Althea turned to Eli. “I want to show you something.”
Eli frowned slightly in confusion.
“The school my husband mentioned before,” Althea continued gently. “Let’s go take a look.”
Eli fell silent for a few seconds. She remembered that conversation. Still, she hadn’t expected things to move this quickly. Shouldn’t there be things she needed to settle at her old school first? Was it really alright to go just like this?
“We’re only going to look around,” Althea added softly. “You don’t have to decide anything today.”
Nathan nodded in agreement. “Seeing it in person will help you understand the place better, Eli. The environment where you’d study, their teaching methods, the facilities. There’s a lot you can learn just by being there.”
Eli lowered her gaze for a moment. Her heart began to beat a little faster. A new school meant a new life. And that also meant truly leaving behind the past she had always known.
Grace gently touched Eli’s arm.
“Why does Eli have to change schools?” she asked innocently. “Did something bad happen at her old
one?”
Eli immediately shook her head. “No, nothing like that, I’m fine.”
“Then… why are you transferring?” Grace asked, her tone half demanding.
“At the new school, there’s something I really like,” Eli explained. “And your father, Mr. Daven, asked me to study there seriously. Just like how you enjoy painting.”
Grace studied her face for a moment before finally nodding slowly. “But you’ll be back before dinner, right? With Mommy?” 1
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Eli smiled faintly. “Of course.”
“You don’t have to worry about that, sweetheart,” Althea said gently.
Josh looked at Eli hopefully. “Then don’t forget to send an explanation through text or email. I still need help with physics.”
Eli let out a small laugh. “I won’t forget. Just send me the questions-and the parts you don’t understand. I’ll try to help as best as I can.”
Althea watched them with a soft smile before finally saying, “If you’re ready, we can leave now.”
Eli took a quiet breath and rose from her chair.
For the first time since all the truth had come to light, she felt as if she were walking toward something new-not running away from the past but truly stepping forward.
And this time, she wasn’t doing it alone.
Althea would be the one guiding her toward this new beginning, something Eli had never imagined for herself. She glanced at the woman for a moment before walking over to her.
“Are you ready?” Althea asked softly.
Eli nodded. “Of course, Mrs. Althea.”
That morning, they left the Miller house together heading toward a place that might become the beginning of a new life for Eli.
“I hope you’ll like it,” Althea said as she gently wrapped an arm around Eli and walked beside her. 17
She could only hope her decision was the right one.
All she wanted was to save a lonely soul child not yet completely stained by cruelty, even though she had been raised amid the shadows of someone else’s misguided beliefs.