Chapter 3

Holly went out. Then, she got in the car and put on her safety belt.

After a few days apart, Bryce seemed to have lost weight. His face seemed even more chiseled, and he was so handsome that it was hard to look away.

Holly realized that she still loved him very much. It was impossible for her to forget him.

"Here. This is a present to congratulate you on starting work." Bryce handed over a beautiful, dark blue velvet jewelry box.

Holly took it and opened it.

It was an antique protective amulet carved from ivory.

Amulets like this were known for driving away evil.

The amulet was shaped like an old man dressed in a long robe. Its features were simplistic and rough-hewn.

The ivory was warm and elegant and seemed to glow. It was exquisite.

Holly held the jewelry box and cocked her head to one side at him. She smiled briefly. "Why are you giving me such an expensive present?"

Bryce smiled lightly and looked into her eyes. "You restore ancient paintings. It's inevitable that you'll come into contact with things from ancient tombs, so it's good to have a protective amulet.

"Come. Let me put it on for you."

He picked up the amulet and put it around her neck.

His fingers gathered her hair together and brushed against her neck.

The touch felt cool, and it made Holly's skin prickle. Her heart jolted.

She had always been sensitive to his touch.

Her heart twisted when she thought about their current relationship, and she forced a smile.

"Don't give me presents in the future."

It would make her misunderstand and think that he still had feelings for her.

She wouldn't be able to resist overthinking and wishing for more.

His slender fingers rested on the steering wheel as he said casually, "It's just a small statuette. Don't take it to heart."

He started the engine.

Half an hour later, they reached the old Gabelman residence.

The moment they entered, a white-haired old woman tottered out to meet them. It was Olivia Gabelman.

She hugged Holly at once. "Oh, my precious granddaughter-in-law! I've missed you so much!"

Holly felt that Olivia was being rather over the top that day. She was usually very elegant and refined.

Holly smiled and asked, "Granny, what did you want to talk to me about?"

The old lady took her hand and rolled her eyes at Bryce. "Let's eat. We'll talk later."

A sumptuous feast had been prepared, with a range of delectable dishes.

Olivia kept heaping food on Holly's plate.

She beamed as she looked at Holly. "Three years ago, I searched the whole city to find a wife for Bryce. So many young women sent in their photos, but I chose you immediately.

"You have clear, captivating eyes and beautifully shaped earlobes. I knew that you would bring luck to your husband. Just as I expected, Bryce's legs were healed just two years after marrying you, and the company is doing better than ever."

Olivia suddenly covered her mouth and began coughing violently.

Holly hurriedly patted her on the back.

When she finished coughing, she grabbed Holly's hand. "You are flawless. You're gentle, calm, hardworking, and loyal. For the two years when Bryce couldn't stand up, he was horribly bad-tempered.

"So many caregivers left because they couldn't stand his temper, but you stood by his side through all of it. His whole life might have been ruined if you hadn't gone through those times with him."

Tears rolled down Olivia's cheeks.

Holly quickly got a tissue to wipe her tears.

Bryce's hands tightened on his knife and fork. His eyes grew dark and thoughtful.

Olivia glanced at him and began breathing heavily as she said, "I only have one wish left. I just want you and Bryce to be happy together and give me a nice plump grandchild."

Holly looked awkwardly at Bryce.

It seemed like he hadn't told Olivia about their divorce yet.

Olivia's voice grew weaker. "I'm getting old. I could die any day now. If I could see your child be born before I die, I would be content."

Holly felt a lump in her throat. She hurriedly said, "Granny, you'll definitely live to be over 100 years old."

"I know my body well. I'm already 80 years old. I'm just a bag of old bones at this point." She stood up, clutching her chest. "My chest feels uncomfortable. I'm going to lie down."

Holly quickly helped her to her room.

As they were about to reach the door to her bedroom, Olivia suddenly turned and said to Bryce,

"You can live here starting from tonight. The day Holly gets pregnant is the day you can move back out."

Bryce was about to speak, but Olivia had already walked shakily into her bedroom. She was almost bent double.

Holly carefully helped her along, afraid that using too much strength would hurt her.

After she had laid down on the bed, Olivia took Holly's hand and said softly, "I know you've moved back to your own home. Don't worry. As long as I'm here, this divorce is not going to happen. Bryce respects me and will listen to what I say."

"But…"

"There's no 'but.' Samantha can only go through good times with him, but not the bad. A heartless woman like her is not worthy of entering the Gabelman family."

Holly paused and said, "Granny, should we call the doctor over to have a look?"

"No. I'm already old and sick. A doctor won't be of any use. Go and eat, and close the door for me."

"Okay. Rest well."

Once Holly had left, Olivia sat up in bed. She looked full of energy and was a completely different person from the weak old lady she had been just a moment before.

Holly returned to the dining table.

Richard Gabelman had just put a piece of roast lamb on her plate. "Holly, eat it while it's hot."

"Thank you, Grandpa."

Holly began to eat.

Bryce looked up at Richard. "Grandpa, Granny seemed pretty healthy the last time we saw her. How did she become so weak all of a sudden?"

Richard sighed deeply. "That is what it is like when you become old. You could be alive and hopping one minute and buried in the ground the next. You two had better stay happy together. Don't provoke her."

Bryce's handsome face turned serious.

After dinner, the two of them returned to the guest room.

The moment the door closed, Holly asked, "What should we do? Are we really going to live here?"

Bryce's brows furrowed deeply. He loosened his tie. "We can't provoke Granny when she's in this condition. Let's stay for a few days and see how things go."

Holly turned to look at the bed behind them. "There's only one bed. How are we going to sleep?"

Bryce's thin lips curved slightly. "With our eyes closed."

Holly was a little agitated. "I'm not joking. I'm serious."

Bryce slowly unfastened his watch and tossed it on the bedside table. He said, "You can shower first. I'll shower after you."

"Alright."

Holly went to the bathroom to wash up and brush her teeth. She took a very quick shower.

When she was done, it was Bryce's turn.

She lay on the bed, unable to sleep, as a million thoughts raced through her head. How could they sleep on the same bed when they were getting divorced?

Suddenly, Bryce's phone rang from the bedside table.

Holly didn't like invading his privacy, so she let it ring.

It stopped after two rings.

Then, her phone rang.

Holly glanced at the number. It was an unknown number.

After it connected, a sweet female voice came through, "Holly, is Bryce with you?"

"Who's this?"

The woman paused for a second before she said, "I'm someone related to him."

Holly thought it was one of his cousins, so she said, "He's showering. I'll tell him to call you back when he comes out."

"Okay, thank you."

Once he was done, Bryce came out dressed in nothing except a towel around his waist. He was drying his hair with another towel.

He had an exquisite figure, with broad shoulders and long legs.

His abs were well-defined and rock-hard, and they looked extremely inviting.

They seemed particularly captivating under the warm orange lights.

Holly's heart began beating faster, and her ears felt like they were on fire. They turned red at once.

She looked away and said softly, "One of your relatives called you. Call her back."

Bryce assented and walked over to the bedside table. He glanced at his phone and walked out.

Once he returned, his handsome face was frighteningly sinister as he asked icily, "You did it on purpose, didn't you?"

Holly was startled. "What?"

"Samantha's committed suicide. What did you say to her?"

There was a roaring in her ears.

Holly only found her voice after a couple of seconds. "I didn't know that she was Samantha. She just said she was related to you. I thought she was one of your cousins, and I told her you were showering."

Bryce didn't say a word. He pulled open the closet door and began getting dressed.

Then, he strode out.

Richard heard the noise and came out to ask, "Where are you going at this late hour?"

Bryce said in a low voice, "I've got something to attend to."

"What is it?"

"Samantha's been admitted to hospital. I'm going to see her."

Richard raised his voice and called out to Holly, who was still in the guest room, "Holly, go with him!"

Richard wouldn't take no for an answer.

Holly couldn't refuse, so she answered, "Okay, Grandpa."

She got dressed and left with Bryce.

The car drove past a crossroads.

Holly said, "Find a hotel and just drop me there."

Bryce stared straight ahead as he gripped the steering wheel. "Let's go together. You can explain to Samantha."

Holly felt frustrated.

Although she had a calm personality, she had her limits.

This wasn't her fault. What did she have to explain?

Bryce could sense her displeasure, so he freed a hand and ruffled her hair. He said gently, "Samantha has severe depression. I'm begging you."

An hour later, the two of them arrived in Samantha's ward.

She had just gotten her stomach pumped, and she was lying on the bed looking as pale as a ghost. Her hair was wild and messy, and she looked thin and frail under the blankets.

Holly was shocked when she saw her face clearly.