It was 8:00 PM by the time Jason finally stepped out of the conference room. He called Gwen while waiting for the elevator.
"The clients came over today to discuss some design revisions, and it dragged on until now. Did you and your dad eat?"
"Yeah. Sarah came by at noon and made two jars of meat sauce, so boiling some pasta is easy."
"I'm heading over now. Wait for me."
Before Gwen could refuse, Jason blamed the bad elevator reception, quickly said goodbye, and hung up.
Half an hour later, Jason knocked on the door, holding a bag of fruit.
Gwen was dressed in a simple baggy t-shirt and shorts, completely makeup-free. Her long curly hair was tied in a messy bun, and faint dark circles shadowed her eyes.
"Did you not sleep well last night? Are you burning yourself out?" Jason asked softly.
"I'm okay," Gwen replied quietly, stepping aside to let him in.
George was half-lying on the sofa watching TV. Gwen had just helped him walk a few laps around the living room and was feeling drained herself. When George saw Jason, he mumbled a greeting, his speech still slurred.
Jason carried the fruit into the kitchen, and Gwen followed him in.
"You should head back early and spend time with Mia. Everything's fine here. It's not fair to keep making Sarah work overtime."
"I already called Sarah. I'll leave right after I give your dad a shower."
Jason turned around and glanced toward the living room. He gently pulled Gwen deeper into the kitchen, entirely out of her father's line of sight.
He wrapped her in his arms and rested his forehead against hers. "Don't work yourself to the bone. If you need anything, remember to tell me. I'm always here for you."
Jason didn't ask why she had ignored his message last night, and Gwen didn't bring it up either.
They stood there in silent embrace for a while until George's coughing drifted in from the living room, prompting them to pull apart.
Jason cut a watermelon into small, bite-sized cubes so George could easily eat them with a toothpick. Even so, watermelon juice kept dripping onto George's shirt.
"I'll go change."
Jason pulled a tank top and a pair of athletic shorts from his bag—clothes he had specifically packed for bathing George.
After changing, he supported George into the bathroom. Gwen cleared the coffee table and collapsed onto the sofa.
She was truly exhausted.
For the first half of the night, she had lain awake agonizing over her situation with Jason. For the second half, she had heard her father get up and had to sprint over to help him to the restroom.
Terrified he would fall, she hadn't dared to leave his side even while he used the toilet.


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