Chapter 8: Chapter Eight: Why Are You the Only One Here?

When Edmund Montgomery arrived at the hospital with a cold face, the ward was already empty.

Actually, Vanessa Galsworthy wasn't avoiding him; she had no idea that Edmund Montgomery would come back to the hospital looking for her. Just as she sent a text message to the man, a call from the Galsworthy family came through.

Despite her reluctance, Vanessa Galsworthy slowly pressed the answer button.

"Hello, Dad."

"What are you doing? Why are you taking so long to pick up the phone!"

Dominic Galsworthy started lecturing her without any preamble. Vanessa Galsworthy was used to it and didn't retort, waiting for him to finish his rant before asking:

"I'm at home, Dad. Is there something you need?"

Uncertain of what Dominic Galsworthy wanted, she naturally didn't tell the truth.

After all these years, she had seen her father clearly.

Vain and power-hungry, he even betrayed his own wife. If not for the fact that marrying into the Montgomery family made her useful, she and her mother might have been replaced by his mistress and her children.

"It's nothing much, just haven't seen you in a while. I was wondering if you and Edmund have time to come home for dinner."

Vanessa Galsworthy immediately detected the hidden meaning in his words and refused without hesitation: "Dad, Edmund is busy with work right now, so he probably won't have time. We can do it another day..."

"Dad, are Sister and Brother-in-law coming? The food is ready!"

A sweet, coquettish voice came from the other end of the line, and Vanessa Galsworthy's words faltered, her tone suddenly turning cold.

"Dad, why is Phoebe Galsworthy at our house?"

Phoebe Galsworthy was the daughter of Dominic Galsworthy's mistress. With her sweet appearance and honeyed words, she even managed to win over the traditionally sexist Dominic Galsworthy, who treated her better than his own daughter, Vanessa Galsworthy.

Additionally, her half-brother was Dominic Galsworthy's treasure, and a few years ago, Dominic Galsworthy brought him home as an adopted son, even changing his surname. Vanessa Galsworthy, however, strongly resisted, so she and her mother were placed outside.

"How can you talk like that? She's your sister!"

"You were being unreasonable back then, and Weiwei, as your younger sister, had to live outside to accommodate you. What's wrong with her coming home now?"

"Where's my mom?"

Ignoring her father's displeased scolding, Vanessa Galsworthy thought of her pitiful mother and immediately pulled out her IV and got out of bed, disregarding her own health.

She ran out of the hospital and hailed a taxi, only calming down when she reached the Galsworthy family residence.

Phoebe Galsworthy could openly enter the Nan household, likely because her mother was not around.

As she expected, when she rang the doorbell, only Phoebe Galsworthy opened the door.

The girl was dressed charmingly and looked around after opening the door.

"Sister, where's your husband?"

"He didn't come."

Phoebe Galsworthy's hopeful face immediately fell, and she glared at Vanessa Galsworthy. "Then why are you here?"

"I'm returning to my own home. Is there a problem with that? As for you..."

Vanessa Galsworthy stared at her with a half-smile, her eyes cold and penetrating.

"Dressed up so prettily, are you that eager to see my husband?"

"You—"

Phoebe Galsworthy was furious but also knew she was in the wrong. She rolled her eyes and turned away, leaving Vanessa Galsworthy standing there.

"Why are you alone?"

Dominic Galsworthy, who was already seated at the dining table, looked displeased when he saw only Vanessa Galsworthy enter.

Vanessa Galsworthy had learned from the servants that her mother was visiting a friend and hadn't returned. This knowledge calmed her, and she no longer felt the need to be patient with them.

But to avoid arousing suspicion, she lied without batting an eye.

"Edmund has a last-minute meeting, and I don't know when it will end, so he asked me to come first."

"Is that so."

Dominic Galsworthy scrutinized her expression but couldn't detect anything. After a while, he said:

"Since Edmund is busy, let's start eating."

"Eat and stay a while. It'll be late, so have Edmund come pick you up. His meetings can't last for hours, can they?"

"...Okay."

Vanessa Galsworthy had no reason to refuse and agreed.

However, she ate much faster than usual.

Now that she and Edmund Montgomery were in the process of getting a divorce, there was no way he would come to pick her up.

Moreover, he was probably with Stephanie Doherty and their child, unaware of her presence here.

It was best to eat quickly and leave to avoid raising suspicions.

But while she didn't want to cause trouble, someone else was eager to stir things up.

"Dad, I'll stay at home tonight to chat with you. I've missed you so much!"

Dominic Galsworthy clearly enjoyed Phoebe Galsworthy's sweet words, and his stern face finally relaxed into a smile.

"Good, you can stay as long as you like."

"But where will I stay? I'm not used to the guest rooms, and I can't stay in Sister's room, can I?"

Phoebe Galsworthy feigned distress, but Dominic Galsworthy remained nonchalant.

"Why not? Your sister is married and rarely stays at home, so her room is empty. You staying there will add some life to the place and make it more lively."

"Vanessa Galsworthy, isn't that right?"

Hearing her father's insincere question, Vanessa Galsworthy almost laughed coldly.

"Sorry, I have a bit of a cleanliness obsession. I don't like others touching my things, let alone staying in my room."

"Sister, how can you say that?" Phoebe Galsworthy put down her chopsticks, looking hurt.

"We are sisters. Shouldn't we share everything? Besides, you live so comfortably in the Montgomery family villa, and I'm just temporarily using your room."

"Don't worry, I'll clean your room well and won't dirty your things at all!"

Temporarily? She would probably end up taking over the room permanently.

Vanessa Galsworthy saw through her intentions but kept her composure.

"If you want to stay, have the servants clean one of the guest rooms. If that's too much trouble, just stay at a hotel. Dad, you give her enough pocket money, so it shouldn't be a problem, right?"

"Slam—" Dominic Galsworthy threw his chopsticks on the table, his face turning ashen.

"We are all family. What's wrong with Weiwei staying in your room for a few days? Have you grown arrogant since marrying into the Montgomery family, daring to make things difficult for your sister in front of me?"

Vanessa Galsworthy, undaunted, raised her head and stared at them with a cold smile.

"My mother has only one daughter. How is she my sister?"

"You—!!"

Dominic Galsworthy's face turned red with anger. Seeing this, Phoebe Galsworthy quickly stepped in to calm him. "Dad, you shouldn't get angry. It's my fault for bringing up staying at home."

"Sister has always looked down on me. Now, as the esteemed young madam of the Montgomery family, I truly don't deserve to stay in her room."

"Esteemed? If it weren't for the support of the Galsworthy family, would she be living so comfortably in the Montgomery family? All these years, she hasn't even borne a child. She's such a useless waste!"