Chapter 280: A Restaurant of Their Own

Elena and Rose Jackson squeezed into the kitchen to clean the dishes. Rose snatched a bowl from her sister's hands. "Don't touch cold water!" She remembered Elena had always been sensitive to the cold since childhood.

"Come on!" Elena chuckled and turned to boil a large pot of water. Steam rose as she poured it into the sink. Rose scolded her for wasting gas but quickly got to work washing the dishes. Elena stood nearby, carefully drying each one with a towel.

"Elena," Rose suddenly stopped, her gaze firm. "I've decided—I'm going to start that hotpot business." She knew her sister was pointing her toward a brighter path.

Elena's eyes lit up. "That's perfect!" She counted on her fingers. "You and Nolan need to find a storefront these next couple of days, and you'll have to learn how to make the broth base. The base can be frozen, but the key is mastering the technique..."

"But the startup funds..." Rose dried her hands, her brow furrowed.

"Hey!" Elena grabbed her sister's hand. "I still have that 10,000 dollars thank-you gift from a patient's family. Take it." When Rose tried to refuse, Elena quickly added, "Consider it a loan—with interest! If you can't pay me back, the shop's mine."

Rose's eyes grew misty as she lightly tapped her sister's hand. "You little..."

"Money's just money," Elena leaned against her sister's shoulder. "Between us, there's no need for formalities. You're starting a business—who else is going to help you if I don't?"

Nolan Brooks poked his head into the kitchen from the living room. "Elena, we really owe you this time—"

"Nolan!" Elena pretended to scold. "We're family—no need for polite talk. The moment you walked away from everything for my sister, I knew you were the right man for her."

Nolan scratched his head sheepishly, but Rose suddenly had an idea. "Elena, why don't you run the business? I'll work for you."

"No way!" Elena waved her hands. "Hospital rules—doctors can't run side businesses. Don't make me lose my job!"

Rose panicked. "Then I'll do it! We'll split the profits."

"Sis~" Elena dragged out the word. "When you're rich, would you ever forget me? Right now, you and Nolan focus on finding a location. I'll handle the ideas. You provide the labor, I provide the brains—that's teamwork!"

Nolan laughed. "We've got the muscle, but when it comes to brains, ten of me couldn't match our Elena."

"Nolan!" Elena stomped her foot. "Keep sweet-talking like that, and I'll tell Rose!"

Rose immediately defended her husband. "He's an honest man!"

"Wow~" Elena clutched her chest dramatically. "It hasn't even been that long, and you're already taking his side!"

"You brat!" Rose playfully raised a hand, and Elena shrieked, darting into the bedroom. Nolan egged her on from behind. "Go get her, honey!"

The three kids joined in. "Go, Mom! Go, Aunt Elena!"

Rose's eyes sparkled as she called out, "Elena, come out! Let's show them what sisters can do!"

Elena bounded back, rolling up her sleeves. "You handle Nolan—I'll take care of the kids!"

The sisters struck simultaneously. Elena pinned the three nephews on the couch, tickling them until they squealed with laughter. Meanwhile, Rose and Nolan playfully wrestled, their eyes full of affection. Elena covered her eyes and fled back to the bedroom. "I can't watch this!"

Laughter echoed through the house, inside and out, lingering long after.