Susan quickly ushered Chris inside, both of them calling out for Alexander and Wendy to hurry up. Alexander deftly dodged Wendy's outstretched hand when she tried to help him with the shopping bags. "I'll handle it," he insisted with a calm smile.

"Alexander, this is too much. Let me take at least one," Wendy said, reaching for a bag. As she moved, the faint, clean scent of her jasmine hair soap drifted past him. Alexander sidestepped her, his grip tightening on the handles. "No need. I’ve got it."

Wendy had no choice but to follow. However, as they reached the narrow entrance, Alexander's oversized bags got stuck in the doorway. She quickly turned back to help him adjust the load.

"Be careful!" Alexander leaned forward to prevent a bag from slipping, and for a moment, they were standing in the narrow gap of the doorway, mere inches apart. The unexpected proximity caused a faint blush to creep up Wendy’s neck.

"Move over a bit," Wendy whispered, flustered.

"Which way?" Alexander asked, genuinely confused by the tangle of paper bags and the doorframe.

In her haste to clear the path, Wendy pushed the door open just as Susan pulled it from the inside. The sudden movement caused Wendy to stumble slightly toward him.

"Wow!" Susan exclaimed, eyes wide as she took in the scene of the two standing so close in the doorway.

Wendy’s face turned scarlet. She quickly stepped back into the room, smoothing her hair. "The bags got stuck!" she explained hurriedly, rushing past Susan to hide her embarrassment.

Once the bags were settled, Susan excitedly began to unpack. "Look at all this! I picked out some great things for us. From now on, we’re going to coordinate our styles! Wendy, you dress a bit too conservatively—you need something more lively."

Susan then turned her attention to Chris. "And for you, Chris, I found some high-tech gear that I think you’ll love."

She pulled out a smart fitness band. "This band has a haptic sensor," she explained, guiding Chris’s wrist to put it on. "It vibrates to tell you the time and gives you audio feedback on your activity levels. It’s perfect for your morning walks."

Next, she presented a specially designed baseball cap. "This has a built-in ultrasonic sensor in the brim," Susan said, adjusting the cap on Chris’s head. "It emits a soft tone or vibration when you’re approaching an obstacle. You look like a tech-savvy superhero in this!"

Chris touched the brim of the hat, a bright, genuine smile lighting up his face. "Thank you, Susan. This is amazing."

As Alexander and Chris prepared to leave, Susan handed Alexander a sleek, frosted-texture thermos. "A gift for the road," she said with a wink. "It matches the one I got for Wendy."

On the walk back to the car, Chris grinned. "So, Alexander, you and Wendy have matching thermoses now? That’s a pretty clear 'couple style' if you ask me." Alexander looked down at the cup, feeling the cool, frosted surface under his thumb. He didn't say a word, but a subtle, thoughtful smile remained on his face throughout the drive.

Back in the room, Susan’s expression turned serious. "Wendy, I saw your recent medical report. The targeted therapy is controlling the cancer cells, which is good, but there’s no significant shrinkage yet."

Wendy was silent for a moment, looking out at the city lights. "I didn't want to trouble Dr. Lyndon with it today. He’s an expert in surgery and nerves, not oncology. My priority right now is Chris’s eyes. I promised Alexander I’d find a way."

"Don't lose hope," Susan said, patting Wendy’s shoulder. "You're a Knight. If anyone can find a breakthrough, it’s you."