No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

Chapter 859
For a while, she had kind of tuned him out automatically.
Fanny returned to her room and began putting away the things she had brought with her. She took a quick inventory and found
that everything was in its place— bathroom supplies, her clothes in the wardrobe, all her personal items. Not only was nothing
missing, but there was an abundance of everything she needed.
When she was little, as long as she was with Sinclair, she could leave the house without a care in the world. It seemed like she
could go back to that carefree state
now.
Once she finished tidying up and stepped out of her bedroom, she found the dining table already set with a feast. There was a
hearty chicken pot pie, a fresh garden salad, and even a basket of warm, crusty bread.
"Uncle Sinclair, you didn't just whip up some TV dinners, did you?" Fanny asked in disbelief.
In such a short time, he had prepared all of this.
"For your first meal here, I wouldn't cut corners. Come on, have a taste," Sinclair replied as he took his seat.
He had been able to move so quickly because he had started preparing earlier. The pot pie was already in the oven before he
picked her up, and the salad ingredients were washed and ready to go. All he had to do was put on the finishing touches.

There was a savory pot roast, spicy sautéed vegetables, eggplant parmesan, and a delightful charcuterie platter-each dish one
of her favorites.
"Mom said you haven't been home for a meal in ages. See if my cooking matches hers," Sinclair teased, causing Fanny to
pause.
"Did my mom make all this?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Sinclair just shook his head, a hint of frustration in his eyes. This girl was getting cheekier by the day.
After the meal, Fanny offered to help clean up, but Sinclair waved her off. "No need for that. Why don't you jot down a list of
anything you might need? We can pick things up later."

"Uncle Sinclair, you've thought of everything. There's nothing missing," Fanny replied, pausing for a moment. "Thank you,
Uncle."
Watching her retreat to her room, Sinclair wondered if he should dock his assistant's bonus for being a bit *too* thorough in
preparation.
Later, when Fanny answered my video call, she had a face mask on, a
rare sight that made me chuckle.
"Well, well, Dr. Willis, embracing your feminine side, are we?"
"Why not?" Fanny retorted, glancing at the array of high-end cosmetics and even a beauty device Sinclair had thoughtfully laid
out for her. It would be a shame not to use them.

"No reason at all. Soon we might have to start calling you Ms. Willis," I teased,
then noticed something. "Your place looks different. Where are you?"
"At my Uncle Sinclair's," Fanny
explained. She gave me the
rundown, concluding with, "Don't get
UT
any ideas, it's purely out of necessity. If Ernest hadn't come back to your place, I would've crashed there."
"You're welcome anytime," Ernest piped up from his spot beside me, adding fuel to the friendly banter.
"Sure, if I come over, I'll be bunking with your wife. Hope you're okay with that," Fanny shot back, a sly grin on her face.
"If Mr. Collins gives the green light, I'm fine with it," Ernest replied, not missing a beat.
Listening to their playful exchange, I couldn't help but smile. It had been a while since things felt so lighthearted.
After some more chatting, I got to the point. "So, when can I get out of here?"

"Why leave? Hospital's not treating you well?" Fanny asked, her tone teasing but knowing.
"It's not home," I replied, glancing at Ernest, who, bless his heart, was trying his best but still kept me up at night with his
constant care.
"Is Mr. Collins pressing his luck? Tell him it's a critical time, and he'll just have to
wait," Fanny advised, ever the pragmatic Dr. Willis.
I caught Ernest's reaction, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed.
Clearly, he had been hoping for something more.
I chuckled inwardly and explained to Fanny, "We need to visit someone in prison.
It's important."