The two of them hastily separated, their ambiguous posture making it seem like they were engaging in some sort of intimate activity. Sophia Mercer frantically searched for a place to hide in the small house, but there was nowhere to conceal herself. Ethan Wraith pointed to the bathroom, and Sophia hastily ran towards it.
"Will my mom find out?" Sophia asked anxiously, sticking her head out of the bathroom. As a high school student, she would be in big trouble if her mom found out she was at a man's house late at night.
"Just ask her," Ethan said with a smile, winking at her.
"I don't dare ask. You ask," Sophia replied, quickly closing the bathroom door.
"Who is it?" Ethan called out, putting on his clothes and heading towards the door.
"It's me, Isabella Vale," a clear and melodious voice replied.
Ethan opened the door, surprised to see Isabella standing there. "Isabella, what brings you here so late?"
Isabella was a stunning woman with silky, smooth hair and flawless features. Her lips were plump, and her eyes sparkled like clear water, with a hint of sadness. Her slender figure had a subtle S-curve, and her breasts and hips were particularly voluptuous. She exuded a mature, feminine charm.
As Ethan gazed at Isabella's cleavage, which was partially visible through her nightgown, the flames of desire that Sophia had ignited earlier began to rage again. He secretly pinched his thigh, forcing himself to look away – the nightgown, oh, the nightgown.
"Ethan, help me," Isabella begged, grabbing his arm. "Cecilia is sick, running a high fever. I need to take her to the hospital, but I can't carry her by myself... I'm so scared..."
Ethan patted her hand reassuringly. "Don't worry, Isabella. We'll take her to the hospital right away."
Isabella's eyes welled up with tears. "She's inside. I wanted to carry her to the hospital, but I couldn't do it alone... I'm so scared..."
Ethan felt a headache coming on. He took Isabella's hand, leading her to the neighboring room. He lightly closed the door, allowing Sophia to slip out unnoticed.
Isabella was Ethan's neighbor, having moved in after the previous couple on the left had left. Ethan's right-side neighbor was Sophia's family. Sometimes Ethan couldn't help but feel grateful for his good fortune, living between a beautiful young woman and a mature beauty. However, he hadn't actually experienced any benefits – it was all just a visual feast.
Isabella was a widow, raising her five-year-old daughter alone. When she had first moved in, Ethan had helped her with some heavy furniture, and they had become acquainted. They would exchange smiles and greetings when they met, but they didn't have a deep connection.
Cecilia was Isabella's daughter, a sweet and clever little girl. Ethan went into the room, where Cecilia was lying quietly on the bed, her face burning with fever. Ethan touched her forehead, feeling the heat emanating from her body.
Ethan pressed a few acupoints on Cecilia's neck, not explaining the reason to Isabella. After a moment's thought, he said, "Cecilia's not seriously ill, just a minor cold. We should take her to the hospital."
In reality, Cecilia was already fine, just a minor case of flu. Ethan had helped to regulate her body, so there wouldn't be any further issues. However, he understood Isabella's concerns, and if he said there was no need to go to the hospital, she wouldn't believe him. So, he suggested taking her to the hospital anyway, just to give Isabella some peace of mind.
It was already past 2 am, and there were no hospitals nearby. The small clinics in the area were all closed. Ethan carried Cecilia, wrapped in layers, while Isabella followed behind. They walked for a long time, but still couldn't find a taxi.
"Ethan, stop for a moment, let me carry her," Isabella called out from behind. Ethan looked a bit exhausted, and Isabella worried that he might be tired from carrying Cecilia for so long.
"Ha ha, Isabella, don't worry about it. I'm a man, after all. I can definitely carry a small child," Ethan replied, trying to reassure her. He then made a careless remark, "Unless you add yourself to the mix, then I might not be able to carry both of you."
Isabella didn't respond. Ethan felt a bit embarrassed, realizing that he had made a joke that might be inappropriate for a widow like Isabella.
The two of them walked in silence for a while, until Isabella finally spoke up. "Ethan, if you get tired, tell me. Don't try to be strong, or you might exhaust yourself. We're not going to find a taxi at this hour, and it's a long way to the hospital."
Ethan felt relieved that Isabella wasn't angry with him. He smiled and said, "Okay, I'll let you know if I get tired. I won't drop the little princess, don't worry."
"Ah, don't even joke about that," Isabella said, quickening her pace, her hands protectively covering Cecilia in Ethan's arms.
As Ethan saw how much Isabella loved her daughter, he felt a pang of sadness. Cecilia might not have a father, but she was still happier than him. Where was his own mother, anyway? The word "mother" was so unfamiliar to him.
After walking for over half an hour, they finally arrived at the nearest children's hospital. Ethan was exhausted, but he didn't feel tired. He had been running around, helping with the registration and medication, and was now drenched in sweat.
Just as Ethan was about to go wash his face, a gentle breeze caressed him, and a pair of soft, jade-like hands held a wet towel to wipe the sweat from his forehead.
The air was hot and humid, and Isabella's body emitted a faint, sweet fragrance.
Of course, Ethan also released his own body odor, which wafted towards Isabella's delicate nose. It was a mutual exchange, and Ethan was a gentleman who didn't like to take advantage of others.