"Oh? Is that what she said to you?" Joseph Lancaster raised an eyebrow, his hand clasping Violet Zimmerman’s palm under the obstruction of the front seat.

"She didn’t say it, but pretty much!" Violet Zimmerman turned back to look at the dissatisfaction in front, roughly explaining Sophia Hamilton’s reaction.

Joseph Lancaster gently stroked the back of Violet Zimmerman’s hand with his thumb, also turning forward, the driver’s eyes found nothing unusual in their interaction.

After she finished venting her complaints, he laughed and said, "In my opinion, the child is quite good, has backbone and is not weak. If you had her character back then, you wouldn’t have been bullied..."

"How can it be the same? Different times, different ways of handling things." Violet Zimmerman absolutely refused to admit that she was weak, existing under such circumstances back then, she could only suffer silently.

Joseph Lancaster smiled, squeezing Violet Zimmerman’s hand tighter, helplessly saying, "You know the times have changed, so why are you still stubbornly imposing the old ways on your kids?"

Rendered speechless by Joseph Lancaster’s jab, Violet Zimmerman looked over with a grieved glance, held back by the driver in front, unable to act up, trying to forcefully withdraw her hand underneath.

Joseph Lancaster held her hand tighter, chuckling in consolation, "Alright, don’t worry too much, each generation has its own blessings."

"Hmph, it’s all because you’ve spoiled them as their uncle!"

Violet Zimmerman feigned displeasure with a hum, actually accusing him, as the father, of not fulfilling his responsibilities.

Joseph Lancaster chuckled, looked ahead and sighed, warmth filling his eyes, "Who can blame me for being childless this lifetime? I can only treat my nephew as my own son."

Violet Zimmerman secretly glanced over, the unconsciously raised corners of her lips betraying the sweetness in her heart.

...

"Hey, how did this house get so dirty!" Juliana Lancaster shouted loudly upon opening the door, picking a clean spot to land after changing her shoes, delivering groceries to the kitchen and then heading to the bathroom to get a mop, "Sophia, do we have guests?"

Sophia Hamilton walked out from her bedroom, already changed into going-out clothes, "No, I was just matching my shoes with my outfit."

"You child, why didn’t you clean the snow off your shoes!" Juliana Lancaster grumbled dissatisfied, noticing her daughter in a padded coat then curiously asked, "Sophia, where are you going? It’s almost lunchtime."

"Mom, you eat by yourself, I’m heading out for a bit, not sure what time I’ll be back." Sophia Hamilton slipped on her snow boots, grabbed the car keys with a dismissive comment, and left home.

Driving her QQ, on the way to visit Evander Lancaster at the hospital, her small face was filled with fury.

...

In the hospital, the number of inpatients was much less than usual, those with milder conditions had gone home for the New Year. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Evander Lancaster was enjoying some rare leisure, after rounds he sat in his office reviewing patient files.

Wearing a white coat, without a doctor’s hat or mask, the cheeky expression usually gracing his handsome face was absent.

From the corridor outside the office came footsteps, sounding like a woman’s high heels, clacking until they stopped at the office door, followed by a knock.

Evander Lancaster lifted his head from the files; before he could speak, the person outside had already opened the office door themselves. Upon seeing the figure at the door, Evander Lancaster involuntarily furrowed his brows.

"What are you doing here?"