Chapter 6

Security at the government-run rehabilitation center was extremely tight. Allison had to fill out several forms and register as a visitor before she was allowed inside.

She was still halfway down the hospital corridor when she heard Joshua shouting angrily.

"Didn't you say Allison was coming to see me today? Where is she? Why isn't she here yet? Did you make that up just to get me to take my medicine?"

"I didn't lie to you. Allie is coming..."

"Liar! Look what time it is! You were just trying to trick me!"

A moment later, something clattered to the floor.

Realizing Joshua was angry, Allison quickened her pace. When she reached the doorway, she stopped.

The thought of seeing her mentor again filled her with anticipation, yet the guilt of having disappointed him kept her steps hesitant.

Inside the room, Elliot was crouched on the floor, resignedly picking up the medicine and cup Joshua had thrown. When he looked up and saw Allison hesitating in the doorway, his eyes immediately lit up.

"Allie!" He pointed toward the door. "Dr. Maxwell, look! Allie's here!"

Joshua turned and saw Allison standing there, guilt written all over her face. He nearly smiled, but a second later, his expression darkened again.

"What are you standing out there for? Get in here!" Joshua shifted against the pillows, then put on a stern expression and refused to look at her.

Since Joshua had spoken, Allison could only slowly make her way into the room, looking nervous and uneasy.

Her guilty eyes darted between Joshua and Elliot.

"Hi, Dr. Maxwell... How are you feeling?"

"Hmph! Don't bother pretending to care. You're much too busy to waste your time on an old man like me. Go on. Leave! I don't want to see you!"

Joshua turned his face away with a huff.

Allison's expression dimmed, and the guilt in her chest grew heavier.

Elliot burst out laughing and immediately called him out.

"Oh, really? That's not what you were saying a minute ago. You wouldn't take your medicine because Allie wasn't here. Now you're acting like you don't care whether she came or not."

"You little punk! Who are you talking to?" Joshua snapped, glaring at Elliot.

Elliot knew Joshua wasn't really mad, so he just grinned and turned to the visibly uncomfortable Allison.

"Sit."

As he spoke, he pulled a chair beside Joshua's bed and motioned for Allison to take a seat.

Allison sat down as stiffly as a board. She stared at Joshua without blinking, her lips pressed tightly together.

Joshua shot her a sidelong glance and snorted. "Ungrateful little traitor."

The words hit Allison hard. Her face went pale. She lowered her head, no longer daring to meet Joshua's eyes.

Elliot quickly stepped in.

"That's not fair to Allie. She may not have come back to the institute all these years, but she never forgot about you. She called you every holiday. You were the one who refused to answer. How can you blame her? You ignored every one of her calls, but you still accepted every gift she sent."

"Do you ever stop talking?" Called out by Elliot yet again, Joshua flushed with anger. "If she really respected me, she wouldn't have thrown away everything I taught her just to become a housewife!"

Elliot glanced at Allison, whose head was hanging so low it nearly touched her chest. "That's not fair, either. There's nothing wrong with being a housewife."

"I never said there was!"

Joshua slapped the bed in frustration.

"If she didn't have the talent, I wouldn't care if she chose a quiet life at home. But she's brilliant! She had so much potential, and she gave up seven years of her life for a man who wasn't worth it. Seven years, Elliot! She can never get that time back."

Elliot fell silent. Of course, he knew Joshua had nothing against housewives. He was simply grieving the seven most valuable years Allison had lost.

After all, Allison was his final student and the one he was proudest of. Otherwise, after everything she had gone through seven years ago, he never would have given her his own last name, Maxwell.

"Dr. Maxwell... I'm sorry..." Allison's voice broke.

She didn't cry at the wedding. She didn't cry when Daniel humiliated and belittled her without mercy, or when she decided to divorce him.

But now, she cried.

She finally realized just how wrong she had been.

Even then, she didn't dare cry out loud. She was too ashamed to break down in front of the mentor she had disappointed.

Seeing Allison looking so miserable, Elliot sighed.

"Dr. Maxwell, you can't put all the blame on Allie. She's been through a lot over the years. What happened seven years ago... Never mind. There's no point bringing it up now. She's already agreed to come back to the institute. Your favorite student is finally returning, so try to look happy. If you keep giving her a hard time and drive her away again, don't say I didn't warn you."

"Hmph! I have plenty of students. What difference does one make?" Joshua gave Allison a disgruntled look, but his tone had already softened. "Are you sure about this?"

"I am!" Allison nodded firmly, her eyes filled with certainty and relief. "I've decided to divorce him. I'll get my life back on track as soon as possible and return to the institute."

At that, the anger gradually faded from Joshua's face.

He was furious when he first learned that Allison planned to leave the institute. Then he found out she was pregnant, had rushed into marriage, and later had a child.

He was so angry that he cut ties with her.

After that, Joshua never even asked who she married.

Now, as he looked at the dark circles beneath her eyes and the exhaustion her marriage left on her face, he decided not to ask who the man was or why they were getting divorced.

Any man who could make someone like Allison so miserable clearly wasn't worth keeping.

"Fine. Elliot, take care of the rest. I'm old and sick. I don't have the energy to deal with all this."

Elliot nodded at once. "Don't worry, Dr. Maxwell. I've already started getting everything ready for Allie."

Allison personally helped Joshua take his medicine. Once he had fallen asleep for his afternoon nap, she left.

Elliot walked her to the elevators. "Don't blame Dr. Maxwell. He's only so hard on you because he cares."

Allison shook her head. "How could I blame him? I only blame myself."

"We're glad you've decided to come back. Like he said, you're brilliant. It would be a shame to let that talent go to waste."

"Elliot." Allison suddenly thought of something and turned to him. "I'm moving out. Could you help me find a place to stay?"

"Of course. I'll take care of it," Elliot said without hesitation.

"Thank you."

"You don't have to thank me." Elliot watched her step into the elevator, then returned to Joshua's room.

It was noon, and the sun outside was blazing.

Allison felt weak, so instead of going outside, she took the enclosed skybridge. The other end connected to the inpatient wing of the hospital.

All she had to do was cross the first-floor lobby to reach the main entrance, where she could catch a cab and leave.

Just as she was passing one of the rooms, a voice from inside stopped her in her tracks.

"Camila, how are you feeling? I've been so worried about you."

It was the voice of her six-year-old son, Philip.