bonds of renewal

The Next Morning

Ethan was up early, ready to meet his mother at the hospital. Today was the day she would be discharged. Mr. Maxwell had instructed Sam to accompany Ethan and bring Audrey home, noting he would return by nightfall.

As Ethan stepped out of his room, he saw Sam approaching.

"Good morning, Sam," Ethan greeted politely.

"Young master, good morning," Sam replied with a smile. "Are you ready, sir, so we can go discharge your mother today?"

"Yeah, I'm ready. Let's go now," Ethan replied as the two headed for the car and drove to the hospital.

On the way, Ethan stopped at a store to pick up food, fruit, and drinks for his mom. When they arrived at the hospital, Audrey was sitting upright, staring at the ceiling. Ethan entered the room with a warm smile.

"Mom, you're up! How's your health now?"

"I'm feeling much better now, son. How are you?" Audrey asked, patting his back as they hugged.

"I'm doing great, as you can see. I brought you some food, and we'll be heading home today after you're discharged. Mr. Maxwell said he'd be back by night."

Audrey sighed in relief but voiced her concern. "What if his wife suddenly comes back and starts causing trouble?"

"Mom, what are you saying? We're not here to cause anyone trouble, so no one will trouble us. Everything will be fine, especially with Mr. Maxwell involved. He's a wise man and knows how to handle situations," Ethan reassured her as he opened a plate of food and raised a spoon to feed her.

Audrey chuckled. "Just a few days of knowing your father, and you already seem to know so much about him." She took a bite from the spoon and smiled.

A moment later, she paused and asked, "Ethan, we haven't had a proper mother-son bond in a long time. So, tell me—do you have a girlfriend?"

Ethan froze mid-motion, lowering the spoon. "Mom…" he said, his cheeks tinged with a smile.

"I knew it! So, what's her name?" Audrey teased with a playful grin.

"I'll tell you when you finish eating. Open your mouth," Ethan replied with a laugh.

They both chuckled, enjoying the light-hearted moment.

After a while, Sam entered the room with a small bag. "Okay, sir, we're ready to go now. The doctors said she should take these medications as directed."

"Alright, Mom, let's get ready," Ethan said, helping Audrey out of bed.

They left the hospital shortly after. Audrey was stunned by the luxurious environment of Mr. Maxwell's estate. She stared wide-eyed at the immaculate surroundings and was even more shocked when the guards lined up and bowed their heads in greeting.

As they entered the house, Audrey said, "My son, you've really made it. I never thought Mr. Maxwell would believe you're his son so easily."

"Yeah, I didn't think it'd be easy either," Ethan admitted. "I didn't even tell him; he figured it out himself when I approached him like a stranger asking for help."

Audrey's brow furrowed. "How did he know you're his son?"

"He saw the birthmark on my arm and recognized it instantly," Ethan said with a chuckle.

Audrey sighed, relief washing over her. "That birthmark really saved us. If not, Mr. Maxwell might never have listened to you."

Sophia's Plan

Meanwhile, Sophia told Elena she was stepping out to grab something from down the street.

"Don't take too long, and don't get lost," Elena said with a smile.

"I won't," Sophia called back.

By the time she returned, a large truck was pulling up in front of their shop. Elena, puzzled, peeked outside to see who had arrived but didn't recognize anyone at first. Two men exited the truck and sat on a bench across the street, waiting.

Minutes later, Sophia arrived in another truck filled with goods. Seeing her, Elena rushed out of the shop.

"What's going on, Sophia? What are you doing?"

Sophia smiled as she approached. "I'm opening the abandoned shop next door and connecting it with this one. That way, we'll have enough space to offload all these goods and attract more customers. This shop is too sparse to draw much attention."

Elena stared in shock. "Are you crazy? You didn't even tell me about this plan!"

"I wanted to surprise you," Sophia replied, scanning the empty shop. "Now, will you give me the key, or should I have them break the lock?"

"You must be out of your mind. Don't break it—I'll get the key!" Elena said, hurrying back into the shop.

When she returned with the key, she added, "But you should've asked my mom for permission first."

"I already did," Sophia said casually. "I just didn't tell you."

"What? Why would you keep this from me?"

"To surprise you and see your reaction," Sophia teased, patting Elena on the back.

Though frustrated, Elena's anger melted away. The two worked together with the men to merge the shops and stock the goods. Their friends arrived to help, making the work faster and more enjoyable.

By the time they finished, it was past 9 p.m. Sophia invited everyone to Elena's house for dinner.

Elena's mother had prepared a feast, thanks to the groceries Sophia had secretly bought and delivered earlier. As they ate, Elena grew emotional, realizing the extent of Sophia's efforts to support her family.

"Everyone, I want to say something," Elena said, her voice shaky. "I don't know where I'd be today if not for Sophia and my friends. I thought my life had ended when I dropped out of school, but now I see hope. I'll keep working to build a better future, and I'm so grateful for all of you."

The room erupted in applause and cheers as they celebrated late into the night.

Later, as Sophia lay in bed, she reflected on the day's events. For the first time, she felt she had left her past behind. No longer was she the daughter of wealthy but neglectful parents. Here, with her friends, she found happiness she had never known before.

Staring at the ceiling, she smiled, content with her choices.