Side Chick Era... Over

Loving Mom 228

Chapter 228

Ten years ago, Uriah’s wife died in a tragic accident.

Since then, he had moved out of the Malcolm household, retreating into the solitude of his run-down clinic. His temper had grown increasingly eccentric, the edges of his personality sharpened by time and grief.

The clinic sat in a forgotten corner of the city, surrounded by crumbling old buildings. Hardly anyone came seeking treatment. And those few who did often left in a huff, driven away by his prickly disposition.

For an entire year, not a single patient crossed his threshold. But he didn’t care. Treating people had never been the point of coming here. He was simply keeping watch over the place that still held the memories of her.

Still, a gift like his could never truly be buried. Not even in a place like this.

Word of his legendary skills began to spread again, quiet and insistent like water slipping through stone.

Then he met Sharon.

He had lived a long life, met all kinds of people, and seen through countless masks. But never had he come across someone like her-so determined, so quietly resilient.

Of course. Without that steel inside her, how else could she have tolerated a husband like that for so long?

She often came to the clinic when she had free time. Always brought him handmade snacks.

But Uriah wasn’t the kind who accepted gifts with a smile out of politeness. If something didn’t taste good, he’d tell her flat-out: not even a dog could eat this.

ask calmly, “What flavors do you like? I’ll

hold back. Told her everything he liked

just for him, neatly listing

getting it

and she knitted gloves for

was like the grandfather she never had. Sharp-tongued, yes, but with

knew she was genuinely kind to

his family, he’d planned to give her a parting

show up

gift walking in on its

he didn’t teach them a lesson, he thought,

clinic, then lowered her voice. “Mr. Malcolm… is Kelly really terminally

is. Does she look like

Sharon didn’t look surprised.

she asked, “Then why didn’t you

to squeeze out a few tears, and they’re

1/2

Chapter

had never made life easy

met him, she’d suffered more