Chapter 180

 180:
Linsey’s cheeks flushed. “Ella, why do you have to point out that I’ve gained weight?” she protested playfully.
Ella smiled kindly, tapping Linsey’s nose affectionately. “You were too thin before. Now you look much healthier.”
As she spoke, her eyes shifted to Collin. “You must be Mr. Riley. Linsey has mentioned you. I didn’t get a chance to congratulate you both on your wedding,” she said.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ella,” Collin replied. “Please, call me Collin.”
Ella smiled warmly. “Alright, Collin. Let me get you some coffee.”
Linsey, brought back to the present, gently guided Collin toward the coffee table.
Ella, her steps a little shaky, approached with a pot in her hands, carefully pouring coffee into a cup.
As she reached for the second cup, her hand trembled noticeably.
Suddenly, the cup slipped from her grasp, shattering on the floor.
“Oh dear, I’m so sorry!” Ella exclaimed, startled, and instinctively bent down to pick up the broken pieces.
Linsey quickly helped her back to her seat and knelt down to gather the shards herself. “Ella, I’ll get this,” Linsey said gently.
After clearing away the broken pieces, Linsey heard Ella chuckle weakly. “I guess I’m not as young as I used to be,” she apologized. Linsey looked at Ella, about to offer some reassurance, but then she noticed several distinct scars on Ella’s wrist.
Alarmed, Linsey reached out and gently tugged at Ella’s sleeve. “What happened to your wrist?” she asked, concerned.
Ella flinched, startled, and instinctively tried to hide her wrist. Her expression turned evasive. “Oh, it’s nothing,” she said casually. “Just a little accident.”
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Linsey knew Ella well enough to recognize that she was lying.
Linsey’s expression hardened. “Don’t lie to me,” she insisted. “Let me see.”
Ella hesitated for a moment but finally loosened her grip on her sleeve. Linsey carefully rolled up Ella’s sleeve, and her face fell.
Ella’s arm was covered in dark bruises and cuts, a sight that filled Linsey with worry.
“This wasn’t just a fall, Ella! Have you seen a doctor?” Linsey asked, her voice filled with concern.
Before Ella could answer, Linsey sighed in frustration. “Of course, you haven’t,” she muttered. “I should have known.”
Ella always prioritized the children, even to the point of using her own savings to support the orphanage.
Collin’s voice broke the tension, calm yet firm. “Ella, if you’re injured, you should get it looked at. It’s still early—why don’t we swing by the hospital and get you checked out?” Linsey shot Collin a grateful look.
“Oh, it’s nothing serious.” Ella brushed off the concern with a small smile. “Just a little scrape. It’ll be fine in a couple of days.”
Linsey, however, wasn’t convinced. “Ella, be honest with me. This doesn’t look like a simple fall. What happened?”
Ella stood firm. “I told you, I tripped and fell. Why don’t you believe me? It’s easy to get banged up at my age. It’s really nothing to worry about.”
Linsey was still suspicious, but before she could probe further, a sudden commotion erupted outside the orphanage.
“What’s all that noise?” Linsey wondered aloud, her brow furrowed in confusion.
A look of alarm crossed Ella’s face, and she scrambled to her feet, making a beeline for the door.
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