Family on Their Knees Heart Turned to Ice novel Chapter 56

Bella didn’t answer, instead lowering her voice. “Professor Avery is coming out.” The lecture was about to begin, and the young man needed to get back to his duties.

Amidst the large crowd, Sebastian’s assistant leaned in and whispered, “I don’t see Mr. Cole from Litech NaLabs. Do you think he couldn’t get a ticket?”

Bella noticed as well and exchanged a look with Sebastian, signaling for someone to keep an eye out. In their minds, it was unlikely Nathan couldn’t secure a ticket, nor would he be uninterested in Professor Avery. He was most likely held up by something else.

On stage, Thomas Avery stood tall, his hair half-white. In his seventies, his lean frame was still as straight and proud as a resilient pine tree. Beneath a broad, intelligent forehead, his deep eyes were hidden behind black-framed glasses, and a single glance from him seemed to hold a universe of knowledge.

His speech was met with periodic bursts of applause. As the lecture neared its end, Sebastian turned his head slightly toward Bella. “The dinner arrangements are made.”

“I’ll see what I can do,” Bella replied, pulling out her phone to message her former classmate for help.

——

Halfridge Villas.

Nathan’s desperate plea for help came through again. “Come on, Li, I’m begging you. The old man is your teacher! If you don’t show up, how am I supposed to survive dinner tonight?”

“Our teacher values talent; he’d never really scold you,” Lillian said. “Have a few drinks with him tonight and humor him for me.” Thinking of the fiery old man brought a warmth to her heart. She really was a fool. All those years ago, she had let down so many people who believed in her, all for Sebastian.

Nathan sighed on the other end of the line. “Fine, I can see I’m not going to convince you. Just be ready to face his wrath when you finally see him.”

After the call, Lillian immersed herself back in her work until Leonard knocked on her door. “Ms. Mercer, no matter how busy you are with work, don’t forget you’re still a patient. Remember to get up and walk around, move a little.”

“I know, I know,” Lillian replied.

“The kitchen isn’t making dinner tonight. Come out with me.”

“But I still have a bit of work to do. Maybe the kitchen can just whip up something simple, or I can make something myself.”

“You’ve worked so hard already, and you’re a patient. It’s bad enough there’s no special invalid’s meal, but you shouldn’t torture yourself like this. Come on, you’ve been working all day. Think of it as a break.”

Lillian glanced at her work on the screen. She pressed enter and confirmed the action. A loading bar appeared on the screen with an estimated time of three hours.

She stood up. “Alright. Three hours. Dinner and a walk should be about right.”

“You’re timing a dinner out?” Leonard asked.

Sebastian glanced at the time. “It’s dinnertime anyway. We’ll eat by ourselves.”

When they arrived at the restaurant, they saw a waiter leading Professor Avery and an assistant toward a private room. “Professor Avery is eating here too,” Brandon said. “Maybe we should...”

“Since we were told it’s a private dinner, it’s best not to disturb them and leave a bad impression,” Sebastian cut in.

Brandon stopped, and the group watched as Professor Avery was escorted into the restaurant’s special private room, usually reserved for official functions. Given Thomas Avery’s status, his presence there was not surprising.

After they were seated in their own private room, Bella suddenly spotted a familiar figure outside the window. “Is that Nathan? Did he get a table here too?”

“Most of the top firms booked tables here tonight,” Sebastian commented. Just as he finished speaking, he abruptly stood up, his gaze fixed on the figures outside, his expression grave.

Brandon, looking out curiously, frowned. “Did I just see Lillian heading toward the innermost private room? Am I seeing things?”

Bella laughed lightly. “Brandon, the innermost room is the special private room Professor Avery is using tonight. You must be mistaken.”

“He’s not mistaken,” Sebastian said, his voice low.