"Where are they? Why didn't you tell them to come in? You should have just directed them here without asking," Elizabeth grumbled.
The servant nodded. "Okay, Ma'am."While Alice was wondering, Sky whispered to her, "Mama, are Grandma's friends good people?"Alice shook her head. "I don't know, Honey. But, it's good if we stay alert. Whatever they say, ignore it. They might have been incited by Grandma to not like us."Sky pouted. Her shoulders drooped. Resting her chin on her book, she muttered, "I think this is going to be a very boring day."Alice could only stroke her head with pity. She should have forced Sky to accompany Edmund to the office. That way, the little girl wouldn't get caught up in the tension between her mother and her grandmother.A moment later, three women dressed in expensive clothes entered with bright smiles. They were not young anymore. However, none of wrinkles on their faces were visibl"Oh, Madam? Where did you buy that beautiful brooch?" Sky pointed her finger again. The woman flinched. She looked down at her crystal brooch. She didn't thought there was anything special about it. The shape alone resembled a strange butterfly. "This is a souvenir from my niece. She came to visit me last week." "Is she from Oregon?" The owner of the brooch was wide-eyed. "Yeah! How did you know?" Sky's eyes lit up. Her feet jumped a little. "It must be a rare butterfly from Oregon, Ma'am. It's called Leona's Little Blue." The woman blinked at Sky. "You're very smart. Have you ever seen it in person?" Sky shook her head. "No, I saw it in a magazine. Mama read it for me. There aren't many of them anymore. They're rare. I'm very afraid that they will become extinct. Their color is very beautiful, Ma'am. Bluish white, just like the color of your brooch. Your niece is so nice to give such a special gift." The woman chuckled
"Sorry, Honey. Mama didn't know you felt that way. But Elizabeth is my mother-in-law, your father's mother. I have to respect her," Alice explained softly."I understand that. I also know that Mama is trying to melt her heart. I'm not forbidding you from being kind, Mama. I just don't want you to try for something in vain." Alice's face suddenly stiffened. Sky's words jolted her senses. "In vain?" "I think Grandma will never change, Mama. She doesn't like us. No matter how hard you try, no matter how often you show her your sincerity, she will never change." Suddenly, Sky's expression turned gloomy. She flipped the page over again, showing a picture of Elizabeth hugging a woman with horns on her mouth and head. "Grandma only likes Giselle. Until whenever, she will keep to praise Giselle and put you down. I don't want you to be sad because of them." "No, Honey," Alice shook her head slightly. "I'm not sad. I'm jus
"You want to keep Edmund busy again?" Elizabeth sighed.Straightening her back, Giselle raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, I'll handle him. Your job is to keep Alice busy. Let's make sure the two of them don't communicate much. A lack of communication is the main factor that causes arguments in the household, right?" "Okay, I understand. It's a very easy task. I'll keep that stupid woman so busy that she doesn't have time to touch her phone." Giselle nodded in a graceful manner. "Thank you, Mrs. Hills. I'm counting on you." While Elizabeth's smile turned crooked, her eyes narrowed. Her mind began to devise tactics to cause trouble for Alice. When she imagined the result, she laughed cynically. "Lack of communication alone is not enough to destroy a relationship. We need to shake their trust," she muttered slyly. "What do you think, Madam?" Elizabeth buried her head into the pillow. "You'll see. I'll make her cry non-stop." ***
Alice blinked in surprise. Not because of what Elizabeth accused her of, but because of her appearance. "Mom, are you okay? Why is your face so red?" "Don't change the subject! I asked why you dare to spend so much? You think it's your money? That's my son's money!" Alice ignored Elizabeth's scolding. She noticed the numbers flashing on the screen. Not only did Elizabeth's heart rate increase, but also her blood pressure. "Jeez," Alice breathed faintly. She immediately grabbed Sky's shoulder. "Honey, could you please call a nurse?" "Is Grandma seriously ill again?" The little girl stared wide-eyed. In her heart, she felt anxious. She had annoyed Elizabeth earlier. "Yes, please call her quickly." "Okay, Mama." While Sky ran out, Alice stared closely at Elizabeth. "Mom, please don't be angry. Your tension is high again." "I'm fine. Don't make things up. Are you afraid I'll ask you to return the money you used? You
Sky's eyes widened when Alice's phone vibrated, her neck stretched. "Is that Uncle Ed, Mama? Is he going home yet?" She was ready to finish her secret project if it was her father. "No. It's Mrs. Klein." Sky breathed a sigh of relief. However, seeing the frown on Alice's face when she answered the call, she became worried again. "What's wrong, Mama?" she asked after Alice hung up the phone. Alice let out a faint breath. "Grandma said she was bored at the hospital. She wanted me to send her all the photos." "What photos?" "All photos in the albums in your father's study." Sky gaped wide. "All of them? That's a lot! Why not just ask for the photo albums? We can ask a driver to take them to the hospital. Grandma can look at the photos without bothering Mama." Alice smiled wryly. "Sorry, Honey. But Grandma's condition is worrying. We can't make her angry. I have to fulfill her request." "What if you ask the others t
"Mama, did you play with Uncle Ed again last night?" Sky inquired as they worked on the secret project in the morning. Alice's face suddenly stiffened. She had tried not to make a sound last night. Could it be that her self-control was still lacking? "W-why do you ask that, Honey?" Sky scratched her neck with the tip of the pencil. "I'm just curious. I slept very soundly. When I woke up, the sun was already shining. I didn't hear anything last night. Did you guys play together?" Alice blinked awkwardly. "Yes, but only for a moment. Your papa is tired after a long day of work." "What a pity. Uncle Ed had to work hard. He came home late, but had to leave again early in the morning. But that's a good thing for us, Mama. This project can be done safely." Sky tapped the tip of her pencil against the paper. Alice smiled seeing that cheerfulness. She kissed her forehead, then went back to scissoring. The atmosphere became silent until Sky whi
Edmund fell silent for a moment. He realized that what Scott said was right. When Sky's disappointed face crossed his mind, he could only close his eyes. "How long will the meeting take?" he muttered, inviting himself to think. Scott answered, "A maximum of three hours. That's if the negotiations are tough. If it goes well, maybe an hour is enough?" Edmund swallowed bitterly. A small nod came from his head. "Tell them to attend the meeting as soon as possible." "Okay," Scott got up from the chair. Before leaving, he patted the president's shoulder. "Sky is an understanding child. She won't be angry with a little bit delay." "You said three hours was a bit?" Not wanting Edmund's voice to get any higher, Scott quickly backed towards the door. "That's just the worst prediction, Ed. But I'm sure our meeting will be short today. Sky won't wait too long." While Scott got away, Edmund looked down and pressed his temples. In fact, it w
When a taxi arrived, Sky took a deep breath. Alice could feel her daughter's enthusiasm waning. Her compassion deepened. "Honey," she whispered while stroking the back of Sky's hand, "don't worry. Grandma won't interfere with our plans." "Are you sure, Mama?" she asked doubtfully. Alice nodded. "What if she bothers you again? I'll be really angry with her. I don't care if her blood pressure rises again. If she ends up in the hospital, it's her own fault." Alice's smile turned sour. "Don't think like that, Honey. Aren't you a good kid?" "Yes, I'm a good kid. But if someone bothers Mama, I can become fierce." Sky stamped her foot once. Before Alice had time to advise, the taxi door opened. After Mary Klein, Elizabeth came down with a disheveled look. "What are you guys wearing? Aren't you overdressed? You're standing there just to welcome me home." Alice ignored that remark. She raised the corners of her lips, gre