Chapter 135

The nurses hesitated but eventually complied, pulling Evan out of the room. As they led him away, he glanced back at Mrs. Linden, his face filled with a hint of defiance. "Mom, don't talk down to Ari. Don't insult her." Mrs. Linden's face flushed with anger. "You brat, are you trying to teach me what to do?" She made a move to follow him, but Evan had already slipped away down the hall. A slight warmth spread through my chest. This kid... maybe he wasn't so bad after all. With an air of annoyance, Mrs. Linden strutted back into the room, choosing a chair as if she owned the place, and sat down with her chin held high. "Mrs. Linden," I began, "Whatever it is you have to say, let's get it over with. I'm exhausted and need to rest." My bluntness seemed to catch her off guard. She raised an eyebrow, clearly ready to launch into one of her rants, but after a tense pause, she swallowed her anger, shifting into a more controlled tone. Mrs. Linden was, after all, a woman in her 50s who