Chapter 6

The woman named Adeline might be thinking, why I’m with the little boy?

“Yogi—” Jade’s sentiment cut off Adeline.

“Mother, do you see how badly your granddaughter was hurt? How can you still laugh at this moment?” Jade retorted. “And your precious Julian has been thrown into the lotus pond. He’s frail and will certainly get a fever later.”

“Jade’s right. You can't hurt my great-grandchildren even though you’re speaking the truth.” The former madam chastised me.

“She’s your great-granddaughter, and that fat boy is your great-grandson. How about the paralyzed man on the bed? Isn’t he your grandson too?”

“And him.” I rolled up the young boy’s sleeve, lifted his hand, and showed it to the former madam. “Look at the scars on his arm and the bruises he just got a while ago.

“Mrs. Smith, don’t you feel sorry for him? Don’t you love him?” The more I spoke, the angrier I became.

“Is that… Yogi?” 

I did not answer her. I hugged Yogi dearly and said, “Mrs. Smith, I believe you’ve not seen him for a long time, right? He’s your great-grandson!” I sighed. “Likewise, I believe you’ve not seen your paralyzed grandson for a long time. Since you’re here, let’s go upstairs and visit him.”

I had a wealth of experience in observing a person’s character. The former madam looked wise and kind, so I believe she would handle the issue reasonably.

“You, come with me,” Mrs. Smith instructed Jade while allowing Adeline to help her go upstairs.

As soon as we entered the bedroom, a pungent and disgusting smell entered our nostrils. I looked at them; they could not help but cover their mouths and noses.

I placed Yogi on the floor before saying, “Look at him, then look at your great-granddaughter once more. Or, should I say, compare him with the servants out there who are watching the fun now. I believe you, too, have smelled the foul air, right? The ventilation of the air is poor, too, right?” 

I darted my eyes at Jade before diverting them to the old lady. “Despite the majestic exterior, his bedroom is worse than a pigpen. Apart from his bed and the desk with the medical equipment, there’s not even a stool given here!” I asserted; anger started to linger inside me.

When they entered the room, I knew Adeline and the rest noticed everything I had just said. I saw how her eyes welled up in tears, and she forced herself to hold back her tears.

She might be aware that her son had lived a terrible life. However, she had very little power in the Smith family.

According to my source, Adeline was only allowed to take care of Calix occasionally to safeguard his life. She had already given her best in everything.

This time, she even suggested to the former master to get a wife for Calix on the condition that she would give up all her fortunes in the Smith family.

They said fortune was the least important thing to Adeline. All she wanted was to find someone who could care for Calix and keep Yogi safe from enemies!

“What’s going on?” Mrs. Smith thumped her stick on the floor and questioned Jade.

“Perhaps the servants assumed that Calix only required drips. Therefore, they moved the other stuff away,” Jade tried to dismiss the issue, making me smirk.

“How about his cleanliness and the air ventilation inside the room?” I spoke up immediately after Jade’s words.

“Cleanliness? Isn’t Calix looking neat and clean now? He’s looking good,” Jade stared at the man on the bed, refuting my words.

“Well.” I then kicked a pail placed under the bed to Jade.

The pail contained Calix’s dirty clothes, used diapers, trimmed hair, and facial hair, which I had all cleaned him off.

His clothes were extremely filthy. They were so disgusted that Jade quickly covered her mouth and nose.

“Idiot, clear the mess now!” Jade shouted at the servant beside her.

“Jade!” Mrs. Smith called her name loudly.

“M-Mother…” Although Jade was the eldest madam of the house, the former master was the one who had the final say.

“A month ago, you insisted on asking me to worship and serve the Lord in church. As such, I handed over the entire Smith family to you. Is this how you instruct your servant to care for the young master of the Smith family?”

“Grandma, don’t be mad. Judging from Calix’s current situation, he’s already lost all of his senses. You don’t have to be so angry. I believe he’s gotten used to the smell. He’s a paralyzed man, and it’s only a waste of resources to continue looking after him. It’s easier on him if he dies—” 

Violet didn’t finish her words when a thunderous slap landed on her face.

“Mom, calm down. Violet is still young and ignorant.” Jade quickly pulled Violet to her back.

Now, I love to watch a good show!

Jade had purposely asked Adeline to go along with the former madam, all because she did not want Adeline to obstruct her plan. Little did she know that Adeline had taken advantage of this opportunity to win the former madam’s heart.

Quite a move.

“I-I… I wasn’t aware of such a situation. Now that I know, I finally realize that the servants had deceived me. Mother, the servants have fooled me too. Don’t be mad. I’ll ask them to clean up the mess right away. I’ll certainly….”

“No need. Move Calix to the room next door.” Mrs. Smith interrupted her words and said, “Violet’s right. One will get used to the smell after smelling it for some time. Jade and Violet, don’t go home, stay in this room and enjoy the smell tonight.”

“Mom, you can’t do this to us. I’m the eldest of the Smith family. If you do this to me, it’ll be difficult for me to establish my authority in this house….”

“At the expense of mine, huh? Or do you want me to call back my son so that he can personally take care of you?” Mrs. Smith rebuked her angrily.

“I… don’t want…”

Mrs. Smith snorted before tugging at Yogi and left. Yogi was her great-grandson, so she should pay more attention to him.

After Calix settled in another bedroom, it was already night. 

Now, Adeline and I were left alone inside the bedroom. “Blaire, can I address you as ‘Blaire?”

“Of course.” I wondered why Adeline could not do anything but watch her son suffer despite being his biological mother. However, I did not say this to her face.

I clearly saw that Adeline must have had her own difficulties that prevented her from doing so.

I noticed that Adeline’s eyes had turned red, and she held back her tears while caring for Calix.

“Are you sure you want to marry Calix and be his wife? The doctor told us that he would never wake up again for the rest of his life. Why do you want to marry him and become a living widow when you’re so young and beautiful?”