Mrs. Hoyle quickly remembered, “How can I not? You spilled it on all over Ophelia and scalded her that
she screamed. I even thought why Alan find me one clumsy doctor.”
The doctor shook his head, “It wasn’t that I was clumsy or not careful. I did it on purpose.”
Mrs. Hoyle was taken aback for a moment, “On purpose? Why?”
The doctor said, “The prescription was written by me, so I naturally knew how the medicine is.
Traditional Chinese medicine is known for slow conditioning, but that medicine has a poison in it. If the
amount of various medicinal materials isn’t properly matched, the medicine for treating diseases can
also become a poisonous one. Madam, your leg suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, so I have included
Thunder Duke Vine, it has the effects of dispelling cold, removing dampness, and relieving pain. But, at
the same time it’s also a toxic medicine.”
Mrs. Hoyle couldn’t help being shocked, “But you still give it to me.”
“It’s difficult to find ordinary medicines to replace its effect. If it’s matched good with other medicines
and controlled in a moderate amounts, it’s a great medicine. However, if it’s slightly excessive in the
daily dosage, it’s a slow poison. I don’t know if Madam still remembers, when I knocked over the bowl,
your hands were shaking on their own and you couldn’t even hold chopsticks while eating.”
“I do. How can I not? I thought I had a stroke at that time.”
“It’s not a stroke. But someone has secretly increased the dose of Thunder Duke Vine.”
Mrs. Hoyle hesitated, “You mean, Ophelia was behind that?”
“Yes!”
“Then why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
Doctor asked her back, “Would you believe me if I did?”
Mrs. Hoyle was stunned for a while. If she had placed it in the past, she really wouldn’t believe it. But
now, after went through so many things, she had to believe even if she refused to. Was Ophelia really
an unscrupulous and vicious-hearted person?
She actually wanted her to die. Mrs. Hoyle was unable to digest this completely for a while. She could
only listen the doctor said, “If I told you back then, in your mind, I would only be regarded as a person
sent by Mr. Hoyle to separate you and Ms. Meyer. It would be in vain even if I said it. So, it’s better I
kept quiet.”
Mrs. Hoyle seemed to have an understanding. “This is why you take over to handle the medicine
personally and watch me drinking it?”
“Yes. I’ve reported this to Mr. Hoyle. He asked me to keep watch. All medicines may not give to you
from other people, even if it’s the one you trust the most. So, although Mr. Hoyle keeps against you
from the outside, he still cares about you in the inside. At that time, you said that I was sent by Mr.
Hoyle to monitor you as Ms. Steele’s lobbyist, but that’s not true at all. He came to me and only let me
be responsible for your health and there is no extra work left to me. I also just knew Ms. Steele, but I
can see that she’s a person with a strong kind heart…”
“And you just said you aren’t her lobbyist,” Mrs. Hoyle interrupted him. “Aren’t you just doing it now for
that woman?”
“But it’s also the truth. You should believe that an evil-hearted mother can’t raise up such well-behaved,
sensible, and clever child. This is called teach by precept and example.” Doctor meant Annie.
“Okay, okay,” Mrs. Hoyle waved her hand and laid down on her back. “You don’t have to say nice things
for them. I know it in my own heart too.”
The doctor turned on the AC and covered the old lady. “Since Madam has clearly known, why do you
still making it hard for Ms. Steele? I think, as long as you have peace of mind, she’s definitely not the
one to be blamed.”
“You can leave first. I need some silence.”
This silence caused her insomnia all night. When she woke up tomorrow morning, she had an obvious
dark circles under her eyes.
In the end, years hadn’t been forgiving. When she looked in the mirror, there were a lot of wrinkles in
the corners of her eyes and forehead. Her skin wasn’t as smooth and supple as when she was young.
When she went downstairs, she saw Ada and Aoba who she didn’t know when they returned last night,
were talking and laughing with that woman. Annie was in her arms, watching the animal world on the
TV on the wall.
“Morning, Mrs. Hoyle,” Olive was the first to greet her.
Aoba and Ada followed, “Morning, mother.”
Annie also turned her head from the TV, “Morning, grandma.”
Everyone had smiles on, as if the unpleasant things from yesterday had never happened.
She looked at where Olive was sitting. It was Ophelia’s favorite seat. The fabric on it was personally
selected by her. She said that in that seat, she could see Alan’s car drive in for the first time.
At that time, she thought she was silly and cute. Now that she thought about it, it tasted different.
Seeing Ophelia cried bitterly in the detention center and saying that because she couldn’t stop her
father, she felt deeply guilty in her heart. So, that was why she treated the old lady better over the
years, treating her as a mother.
She was nice to her. But if it was true, why would she want her dead?
The false sentiment turned out to be all fake. So fake that it pained her.
It turned out she had loved the wrong person. She was a joke herself.
Everyone had to think her as a joke. Looking at them happily laughing, hideously being insolent, it
pierced her ears.
“Let’s eat,” Alan yelled from the dining table.
Annie jumped off from Olive’s arms and pulled on Mrs. Hoyle’s hand. “Grandma, let’s eat together.”
Mrs. Hoyle was startled and then looked at the natural and peaceful faces. What happened to her just
now?
An illusion or a demon?
She raised her hand to rub her forehead. Her brows furrowed unconsciously.
“Grandma, what’s wrong? Are you unwell?”
Mrs. Hoyle sighed and quietly said, “I’m fine. Let’s go and eat together.”
The old lady took a special look at Olive next to her. She was really gentle and bright as what the
doctor said. She didn’t dodge her gaze too.
Why did her sight change overnight?
It had to be a demon.
However, when she walked to the dining room and sat down, watching Alan wear an apron, an
inexplicable anger surged in her heart again.
“You’re a man who does big things. Little things like cooking should be done by women and servants.
What are you doing?”
“What era is it now?” Alan shrugged her off.
Olive could hear that there was hidden needle behind her words and deliberately said it out loud of her
to hear. It felt like walking through the big door of Republic of China. After women got married, they had
to do all house chores for their husbands, then they had to accept whatever mother-in-law said whether
it was wrong or right.
However, there seemed to be another message in it…
The old lady glared, “So why do you get a wife? As a vase to be placed in the house?”
“Mom, we’ve grown until we’re adults and have never eaten your cooking,” Aoba took a risk.
“You…” The old lady choked and speechless. She was about to hit him on the head with her
chopsticks, but it held on the air and fell into a daze.
Olive lowered her head and giggled.
Mrs. Hoyle shot her an angry look, “What are you laughing at?”
Olive looked up, “Mrs. Hoyle, what you said just now, can I take that you have reluctantly accepted me
as a part of this family?”
“I didn’t say that. Your virtue is still far away to be a member of this family,” Mrs. Hoyle stayed to be
stubborn.
Olive wasn’t upset either, and she slyly smiled, “Understood.”
Finally, Mrs. Hoyle didn’t forget to remind her, “Don’t forget what you promised me.”
Olive said, “Don’t worry. As long as you’re patient, you will definitely see it next year if it isn’t this year.”
Ada stared curiously, “What riddle are you guys playing?”
Olive chuckled, “Since it’s a riddle, I naturally can’t say it.”
This was a secret agreement between her and the old lady. What matter was the old lady recognized. It
was actually something she wanted to do, but a certain person wouldn’t agree, so she could only do it
secretly.
“Alan, aren’t you curious?” Ada knew that she couldn’t get anything from Olive’s mouth, so she shifted
her target and looked forward to hearing something from him who were the closest.
But obviously, Alan couldn’t answer her either. It wasn’t that he wasn’t curious, but he couldn’t ask. But
intuitively, he believed that it shouldn’t be a bad thing.
Since it wasn’t a bad thing, he let them be.
In the next few days, it was relatively peaceful in the Hoyle’s residence. The old lady seemed to change
overnight. Although she still acted indifferent to Olive, she was less annoying now.
Using Ada’s words, she finally saw things were getting better.
But to return to Luo City had to be put on the agenda. This matter made the old lady who had been
feeling good changed again.
“Is she married to you, or you married to her? Or do you really want to be a part of the Steele Family?
You can let go your last name, but I can’t and so is your dead father.”
Such concept wasn’t difficult to understand. Even ordinary people might not be able to accept such
thing. They would be looked down upon, let alone he who was from a famous family.
So, it wasn’t difficult for Olive to understand the old lady’s thought.
“Don’t worry, Mrs. Hoyle. My family didn’t mean to let Alan join the family. He goes to Luo City only
because he wants to expand the market there.”
“Don’t coax me. For you, he has already planned to settle there. What’s the difference?” She raised her
son so hard, but he didn’t stay by her side after he got married and started a business. Instead, he
happily served other people’s parents. How could she be understanding of this?
Alan said, “Mother, as long as you want to, you can also live with us in Luo City.”
Mrs. Hoyle scolded, “You said so easily. You can leave with a snap of your fingers. What about Hoyle
Group? You’re going to abandon it?”
“I have made my own arrangement for Hoyle Group. Don’t worry. No one dares to think about it
anymore. Besides, It’s not like I won’t come back again after going to Luo City.” Naturally, he couldn’t
let anyone destroy his father’s business.
Before leaving, Olive sincerely invited the old lady, “Mrs. Hoyle, I’ll welcome you at Luo City.”
Actually, when she put herself in the position, she was thinking about her parents. If she married away,
they would be lonely and have no one to rely on. Wasn’t it the same with the old lady? Her children had
grown up and they wanted to go on their own paths, wanting to escape from her control. Leaving her
alone in this mansion, how miserable it would be? Rudely speaking, it was an empty nest. So, she
doesn’t mind the old lady living with them as long as the old lady was willing.
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