Mrs. Meyer looked at her daughter and said, “It’s late in the night already, it’s not good for you to stay
here.”
By then, she could see that the relationship between Charles and them was not as good as she had
thought.
If they were good friends, how could they remain this calm even after knowing that Charles was
abducted?
“I wouldn’t be able to sleep even I go back Mummy. I’m worried about Charles.” Even if Tiana did not
know how Dolores felt about Charles, she was sure that Dolores would never harm Charles.
“Tiana.” Mrs. Meyer was afraid that her naive daughter would be taken advantage of if she was left
alone.
“You can go back, mummy,” said Tiana in a determined tone. Mrs. Meyer was out of ideas as to how to
convince her daughter, so all she said was, “I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning.”
“Okay.” Tiana promised instantly.
Matthew frowned, it appeared as if he did not want Tiana to stay there, let alone her taking up Dolores’
time, “It’s already late, I’ll have him delivered to you tomorrow. All of you, please just go back today.”
“Can you please tell Dolores that I want to meet her?” Tiana knew full well that Matthew did not want
her there, but she was worried about Charles. Only Dolores could help him, so she could not leave yet.
“Tiana.” Mrs. Meyer wanted to convince her, but before she got to finish her sentence, she was
interrupted by Tiana.
Tiana said, “Leave me alone, mummy.”
“Are you dumb? Can’t you read the situation? They obviously don’t want you here.” Mrs. Meyer was
slightly annoyed at her daughter’s persistence as she said those hurtful words. However, she
immediately regretted her choice of words.
“I’m sorry Tiana, I didn’t mean that…”
“It’s okay, I know that I’m dumb.” Tiana started tearing up as she felt devastated. She did not care when
other people insulted her, but it hurt the most when her own family said that to her.
“Come in.” Dolores, who was standing in the door frame, said to Tiana.
Tiana heard that familiar voice calling to her.
She turned around, saw Dolores, and rushed towards her. She wiped her tears away and said to
Dolores with a smile, “Dolores, I’m sorry for disturbing you this late in the night. Charles is gone, I’m
worried about him. I can’t sleep well, but I don’t have friends to chat with me.”
Dolores knew that she was an upstanding girl. She held her hand and replied, “Don’t worry, you’re not
disturbing me at all. You’re already calling me Dolores, after all. It’s my duty to take care of you.”
After she finished her sentence, she set her eyes on Mrs. Meyer, who was looking at Tiana worryingly.
While Dolores’ first time meeting her was unpleasant to say the least, for Tiana’s sake, she decided to
not bother her about it. After some thought, while Mrs. Meyer’s attitude was unnecessarily harsh, it was
due to her motherly love and not wanting her daughter to be harmed.
Parents beneath the sky must have had it rough.
“I’ll take good care of her,” said Dolores to Mrs. Meyer.
Mrs. Meyer nodded and replied, “Much appreciated. I’m terribly sorry about last time.”
“Don’t mention it. Tiana will be safe here, you have my word.”
Mrs. Meyer thanked her again, she felt relieved after seeing how Dolores treated Tiana. She said to
Tiana, “Tiana, mummy’s leaving now.”
Tiana nodded and replied, “Okay, I’ll go back tomorrow morning.”
Mrs. Meyer was at a loss of words, where would Tiana find a car around here?
“I’ll have my driver send her back.” Dolores said as if she could read her mind.
“Thank you very much.” Mrs. Meyer thanked her sincerely.
Dolores held Tiana’s hand and led her into her house with a smile on her face. Theresa was sitting on a
sofa in the living room when Dolores told her everything about the current situation. When she knew
what was going on, she did not want to trouble anyone, so she was fine with anything.
“Tell that to Mr. Nelson, let him release him.” Theresa also did not want Dolores to be indebted to
Charles, as everyone knew about Charles’ intentions.
“He’ll handle this, so you don’t need to think about it anymore. I’ll help you to your room.” Dolores said
while approaching Tiana.
“I’ll help you, Dolores. You shouldn’t move around much when you’re pregnant.” Tiana said as she saw
the bandages on Theresa’s leg. It was obvious that she was hurt, so Tiana supported her arm with her
body.
Theresa looked at Dolores with eyes that were silently asking her who the girl that was very willing to
help her move around the house.
Dolores introduced Tiana to her, “She’s Charles’ newly-wed wife, Tiana. She’s a good girl.”
Theresa nodded and replied, “She does seem good, yes.”
Very naive, too.
When they reached Theresa’s room, Dolores got her a cup of water and said, “Take your meds.”
Theresa ate the medicine and replied, “You guys go do your stuff, I’ll head to sleep.”
Dolores nodded, “Just call for me if you need anything.”
“Call for you, nah. I sure as heck don’t want Mr. Nelson to hate me. I’ll call for Coral, or the new maid.”
Theresa pursed her lips, “Your husband would turn me inside out if I trouble you.”
Dolores glared at her, “Yeah, yeah, just sleep already. You keep talking nonsense all day long like a
certain someone called Armand.”
When Theresa heard the name Armand, her mood immediately soured as she replied, “I’ll sleep.”
Dolores tucked her blanket in as she apologized in a soft voice, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to mention
him.”
“I know, you should rest earlier, too. Don’t let my godson tire you out.” Theresa was not angry, she was
merely unhappy when she heard the name Armand.
Dolores acknowledged her with a little laugh.
She closed the door to Theresa’s room after Tiana and her had left the room. She asked Tiana, “Have
you had dinner yet?”
Tiana shook her head in response, “I haven’t. I’m worried about Charles, so I can’t eat.”
“You need to have a full stomach to have enough energy to wait for him. There’s some leftovers here
that you can eat.” Dolores said to Coral, “Get me a clean bowl!”
Coral brought them the bowl and said, “It’s a rare occasion that everyone was able to get together for a
meal, it’s just sad that it was interrupted so abruptly. See, there’s so much food leftover.”
Tiana lowered her head, “I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault, Alisa wasn’t talking about you.” Dolores comforted Tiana. Alisa was not really picking
on Tiana, she was merely stating the truth, which was that the dinner was interrupted, and was feeling
down about it.
Dolores got her some food and said, “Eat something first, you wouldn’t want Charles to worry about
you, do you?”
Tiana picked up some chopsticks and ate the food that was given by Dolores.
She did not want Charles to worry about her, she also didn’t want him to feel sorry for her. He was
actually the one in the worst situation, since he could not be together with the person that he loved.
“Dolores, Charles loves you, right?”
Dolores immediately felt anxious. She looked at Tiana and explained, “Tiana…”
“Dolores.” Tiana raised her head and looked at her. She added in a serious tone, “You don’t need to
explain, I understand, but I do not hate you nor dislike you for that. You’re pretty and smart, it’s only
normal if he loves you. But he said that he will try his best to not like you to like me more. I want to be
the woman that makes his eyes sparkle.”
Dolores was at a loss of words as she looked at Tiana in silence.
“Dolores, I don’t have any siblings, so can I treat you like my real sister?” Tiana looked at her with sad
eyes, “No one wants to be my friend because I’m not smart. Only you and Charles do not reject me.”
Dolores played with her hair and reassured her, “You’re kind and smart, no one’s going to reject you. At
the very least, I do like you a lot. You must remember that you should live for yourself, don’t care about
what others say about you. You are unique, so as long as you’re happy, do whatever you want and say
whatever you like. If one day you’re sick, do you think that anyone can replace you?”
Tiana shook her head, “No.”
“Exactly. If other people badmouth you, it’s not worth paying them any mind. No matter how much
you’re hurt by words, no one else could shoulder the pain for you. So, no matter what other people say,
as long as you’re living just fine, it’s alright.”
Tiana looked at Dolores and recalled her mother’s sayings. Her mother always told her to think before
she spoke, whether she should say whatever she wanted to or not. She also told Tiana to behave
properly, so that others had respect for her and she did not lose face over anything.
But today, Dolores asked her to be herself.
She agreed with Dolores, she should not live under other people’s influences.
After all, she was the only one who knew if she was happy or sad, and no one else could shoulder her
pain for her.
Tiana nodded with force, “I understand, Dolores.”
“Thank you, Dolores!” She said as she hugged Dolores enthusiastically.
Dolores patted her on the back and said, “Don’t worry, Charles will be alright.”
“Mhmm.” Tiana nodded in response.
Dolores kept Tiana in company by talking a lot to her to cheer her up so that she did not worry too
much about Charles.
When it got late, Dolores let her sleep in the guest room.
As they had hired more maids, there were no more vacant rooms on the bottom floor. Dolores asked
Matthew to bring the two children upstairs so that Tiana could sleep in their room for the night.
Both of them were sound asleep, they did not do as much as nudge when Matthew carried them
upstairs.
Dolores was feeling tired, she wanted to sleep next to the children without taking a bath.
Matthew placed a tub of hot water next to the bed and said, “Come, wash your feet before sleeping.”
Dolores sat up and complied. She then asked, “Will you release him”
Matthew was washing her legs. He saw that her legs were thin and long, on the smaller side when it
came to legs, and were pale. Her toes were like little sprouts. He was massaging her sole and calf
when he asked, “Are your legs swollen?”
She touched her legs to check before replying, “I don’t think so.”
“I’ve read that pregnant women have swollen limbs.”
“That happens seven or eight months into pregnancy,” Dolores corrected him.
Mathew acted surprised, “I see.”
Dolores pushed him slightly with her feet, “Don’t try to change the topic. I’m asking you, will you release
him?”
It was only then did Matthew answer her question, as he changed the topic on purpose to avoid talking
about Charles.
Matthew caught the feet that nudged him, “You tell me, why do I hate him so much? I really hope that
Declan will just get rid of him so that I don’t have to be troubled when I see his face
again.”
Dolores pushed him slightly with her feet, “Don't try to change the topic. I’m asking you, will you release
him?”
It was only then did Matthew answer her question, as he changed the topic on purpose to avoid talking
about Charles.
Matthew caught the feet that nudged him, “You tell me, why do | hate him so much? | really hope that
Declan will just get rid of him so that | don’t have to be troubled when | see his face
again.”
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