Eleven Years All to the Wrong Man novel Chapter 266

Karen Hayes was practically pushing her daughter out of the kitchen.

But Emma wouldn't budge. She lingered by the stove, making a show of preparing vegetables.

It wasn't that she didn't want to talk to Nathan, but sitting together was just too awkward. The atmosphere always made Emma a little uncomfortable, especially after learning that Mr. Allen might have feelings for her.

“I don’t know what’s gotten into you, child. Refusing to stay out there and insisting on crowding in the kitchen with an old woman like me.”

Karen Hayes glanced into the living room. Nathan was sitting upright on the sofa, his eyes fixed on the television, which was playing a nature documentary.

She turned back to her daughter and whispered, “I heard from Nathan that he’s a doctor. How did you two meet?”

Emma pressed her lips together and didn't answer. She kept her head down, pretending to focus on the vegetables, but her mind was racing.

“I’m asking you a question. Say something!”

When her daughter remained silent, Mrs. Hayes nudged her shoulder.

“Oh... um, it was when I went to the hospital for a check-up. I ran into him there, and then we saw each other a few more times. We just got to know each other over time.”

“The hospital? What was wrong with you before?”

The words “hospital” and “check-up” seemed to set off an alarm in Mrs. Hayes’s mind.

“Oh, it was nothing! Just a common cold, but it had been dragging on for a while and got a little serious.”

Mrs. Hayes gave her daughter another look. “Look at you, so careless. You can’t just let an illness linger. You should see a doctor right away. Do you think it’ll just go away on its own?”

“I know, I know. It won’t happen again!”

“Here, Mr. Allen. Have some soup. It’ll warm you up.”

“Okay, thank you.”

Nathan glanced at the woman standing beside him. She was so different at home compared to at the hospital—from her clothes and makeup to her overall demeanor.

Around her mother, Emma seemed much more vibrant and cheerful.

“Alright, stop giving me food! Give some more to Nathan!”

Karen Hayes looked at her own plate, which was nearly overflowing from Emma’s servings, and pushed it away. “You silly girl, you’ve given me so much. Are you trying to make me burst?!”

Emma smiled to herself. Her real goal was to get her mother to eat more so she would talk less. After all, they had a guest.