Chapter 1613

Lincoln held his nose, struggling against tears—it hurt more than he expected. "Linc…" Ivy reached out her small hand, wanting to gently rub his nose. Lincoln winced, inhaling sharply. Not wanting to cause her concern, he managed a smile. "I'm okay, Ivy. You don't have to worry." "Let's go." With that, Lincoln picked up the fallen fruit and took her hand, guiding her to the stairwell. But just before he stepped down, he paused, uncertainty creeping in. He had come to apologize, but with everything unresolved, how could he possibly face Helen now? Nonetheless, returning meant dealing with Jennifer's fierce hostility, putting him in a difficult situation. After a long pause, Lincoln finally made up his mind. He turned and pulled Ivy into the nearby emergency exit. They sat on the stairs, facing the exit. Lincoln decided to wait until Jennifer left before attempting to go back inside. Turning his head, he noticed Ivy staring at the bag of fruit, her mouth watering. A mischievous