She Used Me for a Dare… Now I Own Her Mother Chapter 351: A Glimpse of Normalcy(2)

"A certain Victoria Blackwood paid us a visit yesterday, and I suspect you owe us some explanation."

Alex settled back into his seat, meeting Danny’s sharp, inquisitive stare with an unruffled calm. This turn of events had been entirely expected.

Before Danny could press for more details, Sarah interrupted, her tone hushed yet brimming with palpable excitement.

"Alex, it was surreal!" she murmured, leaning so far across the table that her salad almost took a tumble. "I mean, she is Sophia’s mother, right? When Mike mentioned her name, I nearly had a heart attack. I assumed it would be just like... well, like Sophia."

Her head swayed with a look of genuine astonishment.

"But she was so incredibly kind, Alex. Really. And she carries herself with much more grace than Sophia—and I don’t just mean her looks. Her entire energy felt far more refined, like she was a better person through and through."

"She’s right," Danny muttered. "She really doesn’t fit the mold I imagined for that family."

"I truly believe she must be a good-hearted person," Sarah persisted, her face glowing with genuine sincerity. "To come personally to see us and provide all this, especially knowing the chaos Sophia caused... it takes a certain caliber of character to bridge that divide. Alex, you must have left quite an impression on her."

A swift, knowing glance passed between Alex and Danny. Seeing the flicker of a smirk on Danny’s face, both men erupted into a bout of suppressed laughter.

Sarah’s earnest praise was so profoundly innocent and detached from reality that it struck Alex as the funniest thing he had encountered all week.

Sarah blinked, her smile waning as she scrutinized the pair. She looked genuinely perplexed, her eyebrows knitting together while their laughter showed no sign of stopping.

"What?" she questioned, her confusion clear. "Why are you two laughing? Did I say something inappropriate?"

She looked toward Danny, who was shielding his face with a hand, then pivoted to Alex, who was struggling—and failing miserably—to maintain a dignified sip of his coffee.

"Seriously!" she urged, her voice climbing. "Why is that humorous? She was perfectly delightful! Is there an inside joke here?"

Alex finally regained his breath, though his eyes still shimmered with amusement. Observing Sarah’s sincere, baffled expression, a sudden wave of guilt washed over him.

He detested keeping her in the dark, but the truth remained a complicated tapestry of power and secrets that he wasn't prepared to unravel in a public hospital cafeteria.

'I will explain everything soon enough,' he promised himself, his features softening.

"No, Sarah, everything is fine," Alex replied, forcing his tone to remain steady. "You are right. She really is a very lovely woman."

Sarah narrowed her eyes, clearly unconvinced by his elusive response. As she began to open her mouth to press him further, Alex seized his chance to pivot.

"Hey, Mike!" Alex called out, giving a wave.

Danny and Sarah turned their gaze across the cafeteria. Mike, who had been engrossed in a conversation with Dr. Aris, was now casting a direct look toward them. It was evident their boisterous laughter had been far less discreet than they had presumed.

Mike’s brows were arched in surprise, his demeanor shifting between curiosity and slight irritation at becoming the center of attention.

Beside him, Dr. Aris also looked their way, her expression lit by a polite, amused smile as she observed the vibrant energy at their table.

Mike muttered something to the doctor, leaning in with a level of familiarity that prompted Danny to give Alex a quick nudge. Then, the large man began guiding her toward their table.

His gait felt a bit more rigid than usual—the walk of someone aware that his friends were scrutinizing his every step—but as he approached and locked eyes with Alex, his expression cleared with relief.

"Alex," Mike stated, his voice dropping into its signature, protective rumble. "You finally showed up. I was on the verge of hunting you down."

"I got caught up with some things," Alex noted, leaning back with a teasing glimmer in his eyes. "It seems you’ve been doing quite well without me, though."

Mike’s ears flushed a distinct shade of crimson, yet he didn't waver. Instead, he shifted slightly, gesturing toward his companion.

"Alex, this is Nora Aris," Mike introduced, his tone laced with rare pride. "She’s been... essentially, she is the reason we’ve managed to keep our sanity here. She’s checked on Nina nearly every hour."

"Our sanity?" Danny interjected immediately, dripping with faux innocence. "Or just your sanity, Mike? Because I recall you losing your mind every time she stepped away from the room."

Mike shot Danny a warning glare sharp enough to stop an army, but the deed was already done.

Nora let out a soft, melodic laugh, her eyes crinkling as she looked up at Mike. "Go easy on him, Danny. He has been a consummate gentleman. Mostly."

Mike cleared his throat, desperately searching for a safer topic. He shifted his posture, his gaze softening as it rested on Nora with a level of intimacy he likely hadn't intended to display.

"Disregard them," Mike mumbled, nodding toward Alex. "Nora, this is the Alex I told you about."

Dr. Aris stepped forward with a warm, professional smile, though her eyes held a hint of the hidden rapport she shared with Mike.

"It is a pleasure to finally meet the man of mystery, Alex," she said, her tone both appreciative and slightly cautious. "I have heard quite a lot about you lately."

"All positive things, I trust?" Alex replied, offering a mask of neutral, practiced politeness.

"Sit with us, Nora! There is plenty of room," Sarah exclaimed, already sliding her chair to make space. She was glowing, her desire for matchmaking running at full speed.

Nora offered a soft chuckle, her gaze remaining on the group for a moment before she glanced at her watch. A brief, professional sigh escaped her lips.

"As much as I would love to partake in this conversation," she said, her voice warm yet firm, "I really shouldn't take up any more of your time. My shift begins in five minutes, and the Chief of Medicine is not known for his leniency."

She turned toward Mike, resting a gentle hand on his arm—a gesture that did not escape Sarah, whose eyebrows shot upward. "Thank you for the coffee, Mike. It really brightened my day."

"Anytime," Mike answered, his voice uncharacteristically gentle as his imposing presence softened momentarily.

Nora offered a final, polite nod to the group. "It was truly a pleasure meeting all of you. I’ll visit Nina in a few hours. Alex, we shall discuss her recovery plan further, very soon."

With a final wave, she turned toward the staff elevators, her white coat billowing behind her. The group remained silent for a good few seconds until she had completely vanished.

Danny leaned over the surface of the table, his eyes wide as he addressed Mike.

"Forget everything else for a moment," Danny whispered loudly. "Mike, you hulking, beautiful fool... did you actually just score a date with a doctor?"

Mike didn't provide an immediate answer. He carefully pulled out his chair and seated himself, settling his massive frame with intentional deliberation. He attempted to uphold his usual facade of stoicism, but it was a lost cause; a faint, triumphant smirk pulled at the corner of his lips that he couldn't quite contain.

He shot a look at Danny, his eyes glinting with a rare, mischievous spark. "What is the matter, Danny? Are you envious?"

Danny’s ear twitched at the provocation, his mouth hanging open for a fleeting second before he regained his composure. "Envious? I am concerned for the poor woman's wellbeing! She is a doctor, Mike. She has witnessed enough trauma; she hardly needs to deal with the likes of you."

Mike snorted, finally allowing the smirk to transform into a confident, small grin. "Calm down. It wasn't a date. We were simply having a routine discussion regarding Nina’s recovery plan."

"A routine discussion?" Danny cut in, waving his hands expressively. "The woman was touching your arm, Mike! Was she trying to measure your pulse? Did she suspect you were having a cardiac event after she smiled at you?"

Sarah giggled, leaning toward the center of the table with her matchmaker instincts fully engaged. "Touching the arm is definitely not a medical requirement for a 'routine' conversation, Mike."

She gave his shoulder a sharp nudge, her eyes shimmering with curiosity. "Come on. Did you get her number? Or would you like me to go over there and grab it for you?"

Alex watched the exchange, a profound, rare sense of peace settling over him.

He leaned back, observing as Mike carefully tucked a scrap of paper into his wallet as if it were a precious treasure, while Danny and Sarah continued their relentless, high-spirited pestering.

'This is the true purpose,' Alex mused. 'The power and the wealth... they are merely a bulwark to keep this quiet, normal part of my life secured.'

But the System did not cater to "peace."

The golden interface flickered within his vision, the familiar chime resounding in his mind with a cold, digital precision that cut through the background clamor of the cafeteria.

[SUBORDINATE ANALYSIS COMPLETE]

[Sarah Miller: 85% Loyalty]

[Mike Carter : 93% Loyalty]

[Danny Morrison: 98% Loyalty]