Elara Shelby’s eyes quickly contracted, and her gaze at Jace Kingsley changed in an instant. Danger, fierceness, coldness, and murderous intent filled her eyes in an instant. The worry, concern, tenderness, and nervousness from just moments ago disappeared completely. At this moment, the Elara Shelby now seemed like a different person from the one just before. She did not speak further. The hospital room fell silent, an eerie stillness. Jace Kingsley observed the change in Elara Shelby’s eyes without surprise or fear. He opened his lips, held Elara’s hand, and softly said, "How are you, Mother?" Elara Shelby squinted, looking at the son she had watched grow up. Emotions surged quickly, just like the expression in her eyes. She realized why he suddenly acted ; it was all for her to see. Follow current novels on novel[f]ire.net Her Jace knew that she wouldn’t accept that child, so he risked his life to gain her consent. He was informing her that his feelings for that child were genuine. The mother and son looked into each other’s eyes, one cold and the other gentle, with an aura in the room so still, it didn’t dare move. After a long time, the turbulence in Elara’s heart gradually calmed, and her expression softened, returning to its former state. "As long as it’s someone my Jace likes, Mother won’t make it difficult." Elara Shelby clasped both hands over Jace’s, her gaze intensely fixed on him: "This sort of thing cannot happen a second time." "Otherwise, Mother won’t hold back." "Does Jace understand?" Jace Kingsley’s eyes moved slightly, and he nodded, "Just this once." Elara Shelby smiled: "That’s good." Jace’s body was still very weak and needed proper rest. Elara Shelby stayed by his side in the hospital room for a long time until he had a little something to eat and saw him settled to sleep. Only then did she leave the room. As Elara Shelby came out, Bella Ainsworth had someone stay inside, and she pushed Elara to a next-door room to rest. Technically, Elara Shelby should have returned to the hotel to rest, but she couldn’t relax given Jace’s condition. So, Bella had a room prepared for Elara’s rest. Once inside, Elara Shelby said, "Go investigate why that child suddenly wants to distance from my Jace." Jace drinking until he had a stomach bleed was not just a threat to himself; he was indeed heartbroken. He cared for that child so deeply that he was willing to risk his own life. She initially thought her Jace was just momentarily interested but realized they needed a long-term plan. Bella Ainsworth nodded: "Yes." Ava Sterling had a good sleep; she woke up naturally, and it wasn’t late, seven o’clock. Feeling refreshed and looking vibrant, Ava quickly cleaned up and went downstairs. Downstairs, Sharon Sheridan was already seated on the sofa, having tea and reading the morning newspaper. The older lady was up earlier than her. But, there was someone else who was also up early. When Ava woke up, there was no one beside her, but she wasn’t surprised. As long as he wasn’t involved in work, he usually got up early. And she guessed he might have gone for a morning run. With such excellent abs, how could he maintain them without working out? Hearing Sharon Sheridan’s voice, Ava Sterling’s face instantly lit up with a smile: "Grandma, good morning!" She hurriedly went downstairs, sitting next to Sharon. "Grandma, I want to take a walk outside. Would you like to join me?" By rights, she should also be up for a jog, but since she’s still recovering, she’ll just walk, not run. She can run when she’s completely healed. "Come, let Grandma see how Ava’s complexion is today, if it’s any better." Sharon Sheridan put down the newspaper, held Ava’s hand, and looked at her face. Ava turned slightly, straightening her back, with a smile on her face, allowing Sharon to examine her freely. Sharon examined her brows, complexion, and overall demeanor, and only after a while did she nod: "Hmm, not bad." "Our Ava is recovering well." Sharon Sheridan was very pleased, as Ava Sterling showed no signs of her previous frail state, recovering quickly and well. Like weeds beaten down by rain, but by the next day, they were back upright, spreading leaves and growing vigorously. "See? I told you I wasn’t exaggerating. Do you believe me now?" Ava Sterling linked arms with Sharon, smiling confidently. Sharon Sheridan grinned widely and nodded: "I believe you now." "Grandma completely believes our Ava." She pinched Ava’s cheek and said, "Let’s go out for a walk." The two went out, strolling along the road with Sharon always holding Ava’s hand, smiling consistently: "Poe got up very early and went for a run. He should have been running for a while now." Ava Sterling immediately said: "I know, he jogs every morning, very disciplined." She couldn’t let Sharon know about their separate bedrooms, so she had to quickly show Sharon how well she knew Poe, giving her peace of mind. Listening to these eager words, Sharon’s smile deepened: "Poe is disciplined, and he has always been strict with himself. It’s also why he doesn’t treat as other men do, not as considerate, gentle, or attentive." "Ava, marrying Poe, has indeed been hard on you." As Sharon spoke, the smile on her face faded, replaced with guilt and heartache. Ava Sterling opened her lips, stunned. She had anticipated Sharon quickly addressing their separate bedroom arrangement and had already prepared her responses, thinking of how to cope, not expecting Sharon’s sudden words. Ava’s lips parted, and she said: "No." "Grandma, I think he’s great, really, very great." "It’s just... just that I’m impatient, and sometimes when I get angry, I want to argue with him." "But actually, when I calm down and think it over, I feel it’s nothing, really." "That’s how we are, though it may seem like a quarrel to you, or parting rooms, actually, it’s nothing much. We’re fine after a couple of days." With Sharon saying that much, Ava found herself speaking out of her own volition. No helping it, if she didn’t say it now with Sharon expressing so much, it would become a serious issue. Upon hearing her words, Sharon paused, looking at her, eyes filled with deeper guilt. "Women are made of water, they should be cherished, loved, and protected. If Poe makes you upset, it’s his fault, not yours, Ava." "Grandma knows Poe’s temper; an average girl couldn’t stand him." "Only Ava, only you." "Before, Grandma was always worried about Poe’s temperament and feared he wouldn’t like girls, but fortunately, none of these concerns arose, which makes Grandma very happy." "Really, Ava, Grandma is truly happy." "But seeing Poe keeping his ways even after marriage, it makes Grandma anxious, like ants on a hot pan, completely frantic." Sharon’s words were saturated with guilt and heartache, which made Ava very anxious. Quickly grasping Sharon’s hand, she hastened to say: "Grandma, don’t worry, I won’t get upset with Poe, and even if I do, it won’t last." "I won’t leave him; we’ll always be together, always fine, don’t worry!" At that moment, Ava didn’t care about things like divorce or children, focusing solely on comforting the elderly lady and easing her concerns. She simply couldn’t handle seeing the elderly upset. Simply couldn’t bear it. Sharon shook her head, wholly unconvinced. "You’re sleeping in separate rooms, and it’s not been long since your marriage, but separate rooms already, if I hadn’t come, who knows when I would’ve learned." Sharon couldn’t continue, as tears started welling in her eyes, seemingly foreseeing Ava and Poe’s end. Ava Sterling seeing Sharon’s appearance grew restless: "Grandma, please don’t cry, if you cry, I’ll cry too." Ava said with reddening eyes. She just couldn’t handle making the elderly cry. Seeing Ava’s near-tearful expression in an instant, Sharon’s heart softened. This child was truly too tender-hearted. Sharon blinked away her tears, smiling: "Grandma won’t cry, not cry." The words were left unfinished as a voice sounded from ahead.