The Lawyer’s Romance in Law novel Chapter 173

Chapter 173 Mommy, Uncle Elias Is Bleeding

As the first light of dawn painted the sky the next day, Elias found himself unable to sleep, keeping a vigilant watch throughout the night. Yvonne's mom emerged from her neighboring tent, awakening to the sight of him sitting beside the extinguished campfire.

"Hey, Mr. Winters. Why are you up so early? Did you not get any rest?" she inquired with genuine concern. Having received Elias' assistance in setting up her tent the previous day, she felt a sense of gratitude toward him.

He looked up at the sound of her voice, his countenance unchanged, and responded calmly, "I couldn't sleep. Oh. There might be serpents, ants, mosquitoes, and insects lurking about during the night. I suggest you exercise caution and ensure the tent is securely zipped."

"Really? This location was selected by the kindergarten, so I presumed there wouldn't be any creatures of that nature…" She suddenly became anxious.

Just then, Amanda awakened and unzipped her tent, catching sight of Elias engrossed in conversation with Yvonne's mother. Her eyes filled with disdain as she muttered, "Flirting so early in the morning and behaving like a peacock flaunting its feathers. Heartless man…"

Yvonne's mother was the first to notice Amanda's presence and courteously nodded and greeted her, "Good morning."

"Good morning," she replied, maintaining a veneer of politeness, although she felt a tinge of displeasure.

She responded with a sweet smile and stepped out of her tent.

"I must say, you are truly fortunate. Your husband remained outside all night to protect you and the children from snakes, ants, and mosquitoes," Yvonne's mother remarked, finally understanding why Elias had forsaken sleep. He had done so to ensure the safety and peace of mind of his wife and child, a realization that stirred a sense of envy within her as a single mother.

Amanda paused, comprehending Yvonne's mother's sentiment, and cast a glance at the faint dark circles beneath Elias' eyes. With a smile, she uttered a heartfelt 'thank you.'

Yvonne's mother proceeded to fetch water for their morning ablutions while Amanda turned her gaze toward Elias, weariness etched on her face. "How do you plan to accompany the children on the mountain in this condition? Rest in the tent for a while, and I can take Aiden climbing instead."

Her concern centered mainly around the snake bite on Elias' ankle. Even if the snake had not been venomous, the wound must still have been painful. Hiking with only one fully functional leg would undoubtedly be arduous.

However, he furrowed his brow and replied, "No, I must accompany you."

The ascent up the mountain held its dangers, and should an unforeseen event occur, he needed to be by their side at all times. He could not afford to be absent once again.

"Are you sure your injury will permit hiking?" She glanced at his wounded ankle.

"It's nothing serious. It has already scabbed over. I tended to it last night. Just a minor inconvenience," he assured her.

"Suit yourself," she relented. She contemplated saying more but thought better of it, choosing to turn and collect water, preparing to rouse Aiden.

As Amanda walked away, Elias cast a downward gaze at his injured ankle. In truth, the snake had delivered a rather deep bite, and he had not properly tended to the wound.

Yet, he was determined to accompany her and Aiden on their mountain trek.

…

After breakfast, the kindergarten organized a hiking trip for everyone. As they were all children, the trail they followed was not perilous, allowing them to enjoy a gentle immersion in nature. With Elias' injured ankle, each step he took felt like treading on a knife's edge. Nevertheless, he silently trailed behind Amanda and Aiden.

"Mommy, look! A butterfly! It's so beautiful!" Aiden exclaimed, pointing at a delicate blue butterfly gracefully fluttering through the air.