Theo didn't hand it over. "No need; I'm not that weak. It's just a minor injury, so don't worry too much, darling. Let me recover a bit and redeem myself in front of Marlinie." He said in a stern voice.
Ellinor rolled her eyes. "Then go and impress my mom. Try to get her to like her future son-in-law."
Theo chuckled. "I'll do my best!"
...
Back in Marlinie's hospital room, Theo was again greeted by the attentive gazes of Marlinie, Bertha, and Lea.
Not for anything else, but because he had changed into a patient's gown.
What was going on?
Theo walked up gracefully and placed the gifts he was carrying down. "Madam, this is just a small token of my appreciation. I hope you won't find it insignificant."
Marlinie, reclining on her hospital bed, glanced at the gifts Theo had put down and immediately understood what the young man had been up to since his earlier departure.
He had gone to buy gifts.
"You're too courteous, dear! You didn't have to go out of your way to buy these, really!"
Theo responded humbly. "You're the one who's too kind for being so forgiving and generous. As your son-in-law, I can't be ungrateful."
Every time she heard Theo refer to himself as 'son-in-law' in front of her mother, Ellinor couldn't help but want to laugh.
Who knew that Theo could be so well-mannered and eager to impress?
And when she remembered that this side of Theo was only because of her, Ellinor couldn't help but feel a sweet sensation in her heart.
Ellinor was about to speak, "He..."
Before she could even finish her sentence, Theo tugged at her hand to stop her. He didn't want Marlinie to worry, and he didn't want her to feel that Ellinor was unsafe with him.
Ellinor glanced at Theo. "It's okay; my mom is understanding, and besides, you can't hide your injury dressed like that. Not telling her will only make her worry more and imagine the worst."
Marlinie nodded. "Yes! Pearl, tell me what happened."
Ellinor looked at her mother. "We ran into Sophia."
Upon hearing Sophia's name, Marlinie instinctively looked at Bertha. After all, Sophia was her stepdaughter.
Bertha's expression also changed. She was eager to hear more and learn about the outcome of their encounter. "Ellinor, what happened with Sophia? Did Sophia do something to hurt you guys again? It's okay; tell me the truth, and I'll talk to her father about it and make sure she's taught a lesson!"
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: The Kiss that Sparked it All