565: Balancing Care and Conflict

The atmosphere in the Ivan family home was thick with tension as Mia’s accusations echoed through the halls. Alex, sitting in his wheelchair, looked up at her with a mixture of resignation and frustration. Emma, who had always maintained a veneer of calm, found her patience wearing thin. Mia's unwavering critique of everything—from the quality of the linens to the nutritional content of the meals—had grated on everyone's nerves. Her insistence that everything was subpar not only undermined the efforts of the household staff but also implied a deeper mistrust of Emma's intentions. As Alex and Bauer entered the room, the air felt charged. Bauer, ever observant, noted the strain in Alex's expression. "It seems your return has stirred more than just concern," he remarked quietly to Alex, who nodded, his gaze fixed on Mia. Alex's relationship with Mia had always been one of quiet endurance. She had cared for him since childhood, her presence a constant in his life. Yet now, her protecti