Chapter 3

After I reached the zoo, I headed straight to the monkey enclosure.

I excitedly took a few photos.

Then, I saw a bear and some boars.

I took some photos of them too.

Just when I was about to leave, Bella sent me a text.

[Eleanor, did you use the camera yet? Did you take any photos?]

[I did. The camera is quite good!]

She immediately sent me a voice recording.

“It’s great that you like it! You can take your parents’ photos with it too!”

At the end of the voice recording, I could hear a man’s heavy breathing.

It seemed like the two of them were getting impatient. I held the three polaroid photos in my hand.

The animals in them looked so lively, it was as if they might leap out at any second.

“Time to head back to the office.”

Even though I had returned to the past, I was traumatized by what had happened to me in my previous life.

First, I arranged a full-body check-up for my parents and hired a maid.

My mother was a little unhappy. “Why are you spending all this money?

“You don’t think I can handle it?”

“No, I just want you to be healthy, Mom.”

After I took care of my parents, I immediately checked through the project agreements to look for any potential issues.

I did not sleep for a whole night.

I made sure that none of the agreements had any issues.

The hospital also updated me on my parents’ health. They were very healthy for their age.

I felt relieved when I saw the two health reports.

Finally, I could get a good night’s sleep.

However, when I woke up, I saw a few dozen missed calls.

Some were from Bella, and others were from Oliver.

They had also sent me a lot of text messages.

Bella said that her father’s condition had worsened, and he was in the operating room. She needed money urgently.

Oliver texted to tell me that Bella was looking for me, and he hoped that I could return her calls quickly.

I took my time to return Bella’s calls. When the call connected, I heard Bella’s voice on the other end.

She sounded like she had been crying. “Eleanor, where are you?

“I haven’t been able to reach you! I’m so scared!”

I said, “I just woke up. What’s wrong? Why are you crying?”

She took a deep breath. “Can you come to the hospital?

“I really need you!”

In the past, I would have dropped everything and gone to her.

However, things were no longer the same. I smiled. “Alright, I’ll come right away after I finish my work.”

I only finished working late at night.

When I rushed to the hospital, her father’s surgery was already over.

She saw me and said mockingly, “What a hardworking CEO!”

I rushed over and hugged her as I said apologetically, “There was an agreement that has an issue at the office.

“That’s why I couldn’t get away. I’m so sorry.”

Her eyes lit up for a moment, and her voice sounded hopeful. “Really?”

She must have realized that she sounded weird because she composed herself and rephrased her words.

“How’s it now?

“Did you manage to solve it?”

I shook my head helplessly. “Not yet.

“Anyway, how’s your father?”

Bella frowned. “The doctor said it’s nothing too serious. But he needs to be hospitalized to be observed.

“I think my parents will be discharged very soon.”

Her gaze flitted at me, with a hint of something like contempt.

I sighed and said, “That’s good.”

But deep down, I knew things were not going the way she wanted.