---- Chapter 173 Elias felt his heart soften instantly. Even if he had given that rare necklace to Wendy, she probably would've just smiled politely and thanked him, maybe with a quiet nod. She'd always been that way- reserved, composed, never too emotional. She was totally different from Jenna. As he looked at Jenna now, his smile deepened . "Of course , you don't need to be jealous. You're my little sister. I'll always treat you well." "Even when it comes to Wendy?

I don't have to envy her either?" she asked cautiously. "Yeah," he said gently. "If anything, I'm softer when it comes to you." And right now, it showed. Jenna's cheeks turned pink, her eyes lowered with shy delight. "Thanks, Elias." Then, without warning , she wrapped her arms around him. In that moment, Elias felt something he'd never felt around Wendy -a simple, uncomplicated sweetness in being looked up to. For once, being the "big brother" actually felt good.

Somewhere in the back of his mind, a thought flickered. ---- Why had he gotten closer to Wendy back when he stayed at the Sanders residence? Why had it been her, not Jenna? As he held Jenna now, there was a strange sense of getting something back that had never truly belonged to him in the first place. "No need to thank me," he said, lightly patting her back. "If there's anything you want, just let me know.

I'll do my best." Jenna rested her head against his chest and murmured, " You're the best, Elias." Elias's smile deepened, and the hand wrapped around her gently stroked her back a few times. "Why don't you stay over tonight?" Jenna said softly as she pulled away from his embrace. He shook his head, just about to speak, when she pouted. "It's raining so heavily. Even if you wanted to leave, I doubt my parents would let you drive in this weather. Just stay and keep me company.

We can watch a movie together, maybe even talk like we used to. "Remember how you and Wendy always hung out in the theater room?" She said the last part with a bit of jealousy as she pouted. 'There was no way Elias could resist that. Thus, he stayed. That night, Jenna picked a romantic movie and curled up beside him on the couch. Halfway through, she dozed off, ---- head resting on his shoulder before sliding onto his chest. She spent the entire night fast asleep, using him as a pillow.

The rain hadn't stopped the next morning, though it had calmed to a steady drizzle. To avoid any more gossip, Wendy insisted on driving herself to the hospital. "There's no point," Liam said coolly. ''The minute we started working in the same office, people were bound to talk. Are you that worried about it?" Wendy pressed her lips together. "It's not that I'm scared, I just-" "I'm not worried about gossip," he cut in. "I just want to make sure you're safe.

If you ride with me, at least I know you're okay." After a pause, she set her keys back down. "Alright. I'll ride with you." She added, "Ms. Hurst's health has improved a lot with the treatment. I don't think it'll be long before I can start studying again." Liam suddenly stopped walking and turned to look at her. "So you're already looking forward to the day we part ways?" "That's not what I meant," Wendy replied somewhat helplessly.

"You're reading too much into it." ---- "If you want me to stop overthinking, you'll have to be honest with me-tell me what you're actually thinking," he said quietly. His expression was serious, with no hint of his usual teasing tone. Wendy hadn't expected the shift and was momentarily caught off guard. "What's wrong?" she asked gently. "Nothing ," he said, turning away and continuing down the hall. But the more he said "nothing", the more convinced Wendy became that something was definitely wrong.