waking

Chapter 151

Naomi bid farewell to Alfred and Jessie and made her way back to the Hopper residence. She had half a month left to treat Coco’s face before she would pack up and leave.

Upon entering, she found Elaine in conversation with Bridget

Flame arched an eyebrow at her. “You’re back already. Had a nice time with Alfred didn’t you?”

Naomi didn’t reply. Instead, she slipped into her slippers and headed for the pharmacy. “Auntie, has Corn gone to bed!”

“No, she’s been waiting for you”

“Alright, I’ll go apply her treatment.” Naomi disregarded Elaine, off the clock, she wasn’t obliged to listen to her.

Dealing with Elaine had been draining both physically and emotionally. Elaine seemed to find new ways to make her life difficult every day- sending her on errands to distant places without transportation, demanding she read through books within tight deadlines, and serving food that was either too spicy or too cold, causing her stomach to ache repeatedly.

Elaine was doing this to provoke a reaction, to see Naomi lose her temper or show jealousy, But Naomi remained unflappable, responding calmly even in pain with a simple, “Yes, boss”

Moreover, she had never once shirked any task Elaine assigned, no matter the hour. This level of resilience surprised Elaine.

“Naomi, even though it’s not business hours, if the boss asks you to work overtime, shouldn’t you comply? Elaine said indifferently, “Come here, there’s a report that needs your attention.”

After a moment, she forced a smile. “Sure, boss, but could you wait a few minutest 1

Naomi’s fingernails dug into her palm as she looked at Flaine. After a need to treat Coco’s face first.

“Naomi, you dare defy my orders.”

“Boss, I have the right to refuse overtime. Naomi then proceeded straight into the medical room.

Bridget frowned, displeased. “Ms. Mabry, you shouldn’t speak to Naomi like that. She’s your employee, not your slave.”

“I know!” Elaine replied nonchalantly. Tm the boss. I can push my employer a bit, right?

“I can let Naomi resign and not work for you,” Bridget retorted, angry. “Ms. Mabry, you’re the boss, but to disrespect your own employers like this. Isn’t that going too far!”

“Ms. Hopper, do you really think Naomi is here our of the kindness of her heart?” Elaine asked with a slight smile.

“Regardless of her motives, Naomi has helped my daughter; she’s my benefactor. Ms. Mabry, you may leave. My home is not welcoming to you.” Bridget was truly angry. Even if Naomi had ulterior motives and wanted to use Coco and her. Bridget wouldn’t mind as long as they could be of help

Flaine shook her head and sighed, “Ms. Hopper, I hope when you learn the truth, you won’t regret being a trusting towards

Naomi

Bridget didn’t look at her again and said to the butler, “Show Ms. Mabry our

“Yes, ma’am. Ms. Mabry, this way, please. The butler escorted Elaine from the premises. Bridget’s expression was stem. She had her own suspicions about Naomi’s family and past, but even without knowing those details, she would have been willing to help if Naomi needed it. Bridget believed she could judge character. Al John’s cocktail pany, after the before–and–after photos of Coco were revealed, Naomi’s tears were genuine.

Bridge was no fool she knew how to read people. Besides, she was utterly disappointed with Nicolas. Despite being husband and wife, he had neglected their family for years. What Nicolas had done in Atopan was common knowledge, but Bridget was too preoccupied with her daughter to care about anything else.

After Elaine left, Bridget looked up at the family portrait. If not for her daughter’s lingering hopes, she would have taken it down long ago. Even if Naomi wanted to use their relationship to deal with Nicolas, so what?

In the pharmacy, Naomi applied a unique herb to Cucu’s face. The light gray powder was delicate, mixed with a special medicine water for an even application

Soon, Coco gasped. “Naomi, this stings a bit.”

“It will, just for a moment, then we’ll switch to another medicine, Naomi reassured her.

Coco fell silent, trusting Naomi completely after a month of treatment. “Will my face be fully healed if I keep this up for another half year? “Almost, but remember no cosmetics, just water on your face and the medicine I leave for you, Naomi instructed as she cleaned and applied a

Chapter 151

soothing layer.

“Got it,” Coco agreed. This medicine feels great”

“Good.” Naomi spent a lot of time each day treating Coco, but seeing the improvement in her face was incredibly rewarding. “I need to work on a design diagram now. Get some rest.”

or hand

*Naomi, when you go back to Atopan, can I go with you!” Coco asked, holding her

Naomi playfully nudged her. “Coro, you’re eighteen, not eight. I’m just your doctor, helping with your skin treatments. Talk to your mom about

that.”

Coco stuck her tongue out in a playful gesture.

Back in her room, Naomi found several missed calls and messages from Shawn Fischer. She had ignored them, not out of inattention, but by choice. The messages started with queries about her silence and escalated to concern for her well–being. The calls and messages all came from

Shawn

Naomi sighed, took a bath, changed, and sat at her desk, lost in thought. She hadn’t had time to draw comics lately, relying on old drafts. Each time she updated a chapter, Rosalind copied it–shameless,

But Naomi didn’t mind, she was just trying to hill Rosalind into a false sense of security before striking back hard

With her mind blank, Naomi decided against working on the design diagram and instead pulled out her drawing board to start a new comic. The story was all in her head, she just needed to bring it to life. As she drew, she became engrossed. Elf faced many trials, with the elf king evolving from a curious observer to a protector, even showing signs of possessiveness. Under his invisible shield, Elf grew stronger. After a particularly tough challenge, Elf fell into a nightmare and finally saw who had been her silent guardian.

Naomi depicted the elf maid in the nightmare, gazing at the elf king as the fog cleared and he began to vanish. She ran towards him, but no matter how close she got, she couldn’t reach him.

This was a heart wrenching scene. Even in her past life, drawing it had brought her to tears. The person the elf maid had been searching for, the one she’d already fallen head over heels for, was right there in front of her, but he was slipping away. She reached out, trying to hold on, but he was untouchable. She wanted to scream, but the words wouldn’t come out. She was given a taste of hope, only to be thrust back into the depths of despair. The elf maid cried her heart out, her heart cut by an invisible blade, bleeding profusely. The scene shifted to the elf king, who stood by the side of the sleeping elf maid, his deep eyes filled with undeniable heartache. His little elf had fallen into a nightmare, and he couldn’t forcibly pull her out, or else she would suffer a backlash. It would hurt her even more.

Naomi finished the last panel, saved her work, and rubbed her eyes, surprised that drawing it again still hurt so much

“We could’ve had it all. Her phone rang, yanking her from her melancholy. It was Elaine calling at two in the morning. Naomi let it ring, but Flaine was persistent, calling again and again. On the fifth call, Naomi answered. “Hello boss, it’s the middle of the night. Even if it’s an emergency, there’s no work at this hourl

“Shawn Fischer is here, and he wants you to pick him up at the airport Elaine seapped, her tone worse than Naomi’s. “Is Shawn Fischer crazy? He woke me up in the middle of the night just to tell you to pick him up. Can’t he call you himself? If you’re not happy, believe me, I’m even more so. Shawn Fischer is keeping me up, and now you’re not getting any sleep, either”

Naomi was silent.

“Naomi, I’m not asking. I’m telling you. Shawn Fischer is here, your man is here. Fick him up or not, but warn him if he calls me again, I’ll make your life miserable.”

SEND GIFT