Mrs. Steele asked Olive Steele and Chloe Malan to accompany her to Baohua Temple.
For people of Mrs. Steele’s age, Buddha didn’t exist if they didn’t believe it, but also existed when they
believed it. They didn’t ask Buddha to bless them all the time, but sometimes, they did.
Olive Steele and Chloe Malan laughed at this. It’s okay for the old lady to have a belief, but it was weird
that she was not religious at all. She worshipped Buddha according to her importance and liking. But,
she still donated her money anyway.
Baohua Temple subsidized a group of children who were out of school every years. So, it was not a
problem to donate a few more.
Why not do good deeds in the name of Buddha, right?
She made a wish last year. Before Chloe Malan moved in, she wished Olive Steele found a good
husband.
Now that her wish was fulfilled, Mrs. Steele wanted to come to fulfill her promise.
However, Chloe Malan was puzzled, “Godmother, it’s all about Olive, right? Why are you dragging me
into this?”
“After fulfilling this promise, I will make a prayer for you. I hope that you can marry next year.” Mrs.
Steele laughed.
“Do you want to drive me away, Godmother?” Chloe Malan asked with a sad face. She didn’t want to
leave. After all, she didn’t know what a real home, warmth, and care were.
Mrs. Steele glared at her, “Where do you think I’m kicking you? My house will always be your house,
but I’m no longer young. I cannot accompany you for a lifetime. You should find a reliable man that you
can rely on for the rest of your life.”
“I don’t want to get married.” Chloe Malan said.
Mrs. Steele smiled, “You don’t want to get married but you accept Aoba’s love. You’re contradicting
yourself.”
“I just don’t like that old witch, his mother. She can go ahead and curb his son!”
Olive Steele who was driving couldn’t help chuckled, “Are you telling me that he doesn’t temp you? I
don’t believe it. Do you believe it, Mom?”
“I don’t.” Mrs. Steele smiled.
“Chloe, be honest to yourself. You’re afraid of marriage, but you still have expectation. You fall in love
with Aoba, you hate his mother, and not every man is like Bruce Lynn. Also, his mother will not act like
that forever. Have a little faith will you? We’re women of Luo City will definitely change that old
Jiangcheng lady.” Olive Steele playful tone never failed to make Chloe Malan smiled.
Mrs. Steele said, “I think Aoba is serious with you. If you can make it with him, you and Olive will also
be future companions, if not forever.”
“I’ll ask Buddha to let that old witch understand—” Chloe Malan said.
“Child, how can you talk like that? Mrs. Hoyle is a hateful lady, but you don’t have to curse her like
that.” Mrs. Steele interrupted and hit her.
“Why are you hitting me? I’m not cursing her. I just want Buddha to enlighten her soul. I hope she
stopped being so cocky and look down on people.”
“That’s more like it.” Mrs. Steele sighed.
Let alone Chloe Malan and Aoba Hoyle, even Olive Steele was still walking on eggshells with Mrs.
Hoyle.
Her daughter was filial and smart. She treated people with courtesy. How could she be so unlovable in
the eye of others?
Perhaps, it was because she failed to give her a good family background.
Olive Steele didn’t know what her mother was thinking right now, “That wish is good.” Chloe Malan
said.
However, wishes were nothing but wishes. They could pray to Buddha, but Buddha wouldn’t be able to
really help them. It’s all in them.
They parked the car in the parking a lot and saw the temple was crowded.
Baohua Temple would have more visitors during the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. On May Day,
tourist would crowd the place.
Mrs. Wen was familiar with the place. She hoped everything went smoothly.
Olive Steele looked at the tall and solemn Buddha statue in the hall and listened to the bells. She was
awed.
She knelt down on the futon next to her mother and held incense to start praying. If it was possible, she
would wish her family a healthy, safe, and happy life. Also, she wished her mother-in-law would stop
torturing her daughter-in-laws. She wished Chloe Malan a happy home and Norton Geve a healthy
body.
Worshippers came and left the place. Perhaps, there were too many prayers that Buddha couldn’t
grant each and every one of it. But, it was useful for a safe feeling.
“What are you doing here?”
The sudden voice buzzed in Olive Steele’s ear. It turned out that Mrs. Steele and Chloe Malan was
praying around the temple and Mrs. Hoyle suddenly came up beside her.
“Does Mrs. Hoyle believe in Buddha too?” Olive Steele asked.
“Does it matter?” Mrs. Hoyle was puzzled.
Olive Steele smiled lightly and said, “Buddha said that saving a life is better than building a seven level
pagoda.”
“If I die, you will have no obstacles. Wouldn’t it be more like your wish?” this problem had troubled Mrs.
Hoyle for days. She couldn’t figure out why this woman desperately trying to save her.
Olive Steele put her incense and crossed her arms, “If you die, Alan will be sad. I just want him to be
happy. You’re just a mother who loves your son deeply. You do everything for him. I’m also a mother. I
can understand your rejection toward me. Although Alan disagrees with your practices, he still respect
you in his heart. I don’t expect you to like me, but I just cannot see someone die when I lend a hand.”
“Why don’t you use this matter to approach me, let me be grateful to you, and maybe accept you?”
This was also a mystery for Mrs. Hoyle. If it was someone else, they would’ve taken advantage of this
opportunity, but this woman didn’t.
This women saved her with all her might.
Mrs. Hoyle suddenly found herself unable to figure out the woman in front of her. She tried to find clues
from her face, but she could only see a smile.
“Mrs. Hoyle, will you accept me?”
“No.”
“That’s it then. Why should I push you and disgrace myself?” Olive Steele bowed to Buddha and got up
slowly.
She turned around and saw a figure coming.
“Why are you here?” Ophelia Meyer asked aggressively.
Olive Steele smiled gently, “Miss Meyer, Buddha is not your own.”
Why are the likes of you worshipping Buddha? I’m afraid you have done something sinful that you need
to ask Buddha for a peace of mind.” Ophelia Meyer snorted.
“I don’t believe in Buddha because Buddha won’t let me get Mrs. Hoyle’s approval smoothly nor that
Buddha will grant your wish to ruin my relationship with Alan. However, I respect Buddha and this
belief.” Olive Steele shook her head.
From the moment Ophelia Meyer appeared, Chloe Malan noticed a movement here. She was afraid
that Olive Steele would be bullied, so she quietly left Mrs. Steele and rushed over. With a sarcastic
tone, she said, “Oh, it turns out that a snake dare to come to a Buddhist temple and worship like she is
innocent.”
“It’s none of your business. It’s not your home.”
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