Chapter 693

The village situation proved more challenging than anticipated.

Alexander Hamilton emerged from the elder's house with a furrowed brow, his gaze heavy as it lingered on the distant horizon. Evelyn Carter recognized the weight on his mind and respected his silence, walking quietly beside him.

Her phone buzzed abruptly.

The name "Bianca Langley" on the screen made her fingers hesitate.

"Who is it?" Alexander's sharp intuition caught her pause.

"Miss Langley." Evelyn exhaled softly. "We haven't spoken in a while."

A call at this moment rarely brought good news.

The connection clicked, and Bianca's exhausted voice filtered through. "Dr. Carter, could you look after my child for a while?"

Evelyn instinctively glanced at Alexander. "I'm not in Hudson City right now—"

"Is Mr. Hamilton also away?" Bianca seized the implication. "You're together?"

"Yes."

"Vacation?"

"Medical aid mission." Evelyn paused. "Miss Langley, are you in trouble?"

Silence stretched for seconds.

"I need to handle something." Bianca's tone turned resolute. "My child means everything. I can't let her get involved."

Evelyn heard the finality in her words. "Alright, I'll help."

Hanging up, Evelyn's frown deepened unconsciously.

Alexander had already pieced it together. "The Langley family matter?"

"She didn't specify." Evelyn tightened her grip on the phone. "But it sounds serious."

After a contemplative beat, Alexander stated, "We should return immediately."

"But the village—"

"Emily Zade arrives tomorrow." His gaze was unwavering. "Medical teams, volunteer teachers, and supplies will all be here. As for the villagers' requests, resolving them requires corporate resources."

Evelyn stared at the dilapidated clinic in the distance, torn.

At dawn the next day, commotion outside startled her awake.

Pushing open the window, she froze.

A fleet of trucks lined the village entrance, medical equipment, medicines, and textbooks stacked into small mountains. Emily directed workers unloading the cargo.

"Madam." Emily approached briskly. "The construction crew arrives this afternoon. Anything else to add?"

Evelyn shook her head. "It's thoroughly arranged. Where's Alexander?"

"Finalizing paperwork." Emily smiled. "You can bid farewell to the villagers first."

The clinic nurses, eyes glistening, packed Evelyn's toiletries into her bag.

"Dr. Carter, take these."

"You can't find herbs this good in the city."

Evelyn hugged them, turning to see Alexander standing in sunlight, flanked by Lily and Lotus Waters.

The children carried bulging bundles, eyes sparkling.

"Dr. Carter!" Lily bounded over. "Mom and Dad said we can go to the city!"

Lotus lifted a woven grass rabbit. "Dad made this last night. For you."

Elder Thompson stood nearby, eyes moist. "We entrust them to you."

Evelyn looked at Alexander in surprise.

"Education can't wait." He took the children's luggage. "Their talents deserve proper nurturing."

Warmth bloomed in Evelyn's chest as she promised the elder solemnly, "I'll update you regularly on their progress."

Elder Thompson waved dismissively. "After all you've done for us, gratitude is the least we owe."

During farewells, Lily suddenly threw herself into Evelyn's arms.

"Dr. Carter, I'll become a doctor like you someday!"

Evelyn stroked her back. "I'll be waiting."

Noticing someone missing while boarding, Evelyn asked, "Isn't Emily coming?"

"She's overseeing construction and water testing." Alexander started the engine. "She'll return to headquarters after completion."

In the rearview mirror, the village silhouette gradually blurred.

Watching the excited children beside her, Evelyn murmured, "When did you arrange all this?"

Alexander's lips curved slightly. "While you were asleep."