บททั้งหมดของ The Hybrid’s Forced Bond: บทที่ 61 - บทที่ 70

Margot POVThe day Ellen was discharged from the hospital, Nora came over to help. I didn’t have many close friends, so I invited her home to celebrate Ellen’s recovery and our housewarming together.For the past two months, I’d squeezed every spare minute into getting the new place ready.From the sofa and refrigerator down to the smallest tissue box, I’d chosen everything myself.I’d followed the colors and style of the home I’d grown up in, trying to recreate that same warmth in an unused space.Ellen had only visited once during the renovation.The moment she stepped inside, she could barely hide her excitement.She walked through every room several times, and when she saw the bedding in her bedroom, she carefully sat down and ran her hand over the cool, smooth satin.We’d bought that bedding before everything happened. I remembered thinking it had been expensive—probably several thousand dollars.Ellen and Grandpa had always taught me that good spending meant buying quality.Qu

Margot POVThat evening the four of us sat down together for our first dinner in the new house.There was cake and white wine, and for a while everything felt warm and almost happy.Even when I looked at Simone, there was less coldness in my eyes.I wanted to believe she’d truly changed.If she had, I could tolerate her bad habits: the spending, the fussiness, and the selfishness.She was still my mother, after all.Whatever happened, I wanted our lives to move in the best direction possible.I took a picture of the food on the table and sent it to Rhett:“Ellen was discharged today, and we moved into our new home. We’re celebrating. I made everything except the cake.”A little while later, he replied, "Congratulations."I smiled to myself.There was something quietly wonderful about being able to share an ordinary, insignificant moment with someone I loved an

Margot POV“Recently, Grandpa’s health has improved a little. The whole family will be together for Christmas, and he wants to meet his granddaughter-in-law.”“Okay. Do I need to prepare anything?”“Don’t be nervous. Just play your role,” Rhett had told me before, adding that his grandfather didn’t want to see the brothers fighting over the family. So, at least in front of him, the story was that Rhett and I had married because we were in love.I nodded. “I will.”“We’ll stay for three days. Then I’ll take you to South Africa for a vacation.” He reached for my hand. “I haven’t visited that mine myself, so we can inspect it together.”“Okay,” I hesitated. “But if we go together, won’t people find out?”“I’ll arrange it.” Rhett pulled me closer.“It’ll be a private inspection. Only Professor Cole and one or two people need to know we’re coming.” He lowered his head and breathed in the scent at the back of my neck.By now this had become almost routine whenever we were alone.I suddenly

Margot POVI couldn’t understand why Vivien Vanderbilt was telling me all of this.Maybe it was precisely because I was an outsider. I had no direct stake in the Vanderbilt family, no reason to spread their private affairs, and no power to interfere.But I was also involved in their story now, which meant I could understand what she was talking about. Perhaps this wealthy woman simply had no better place to put all that resentment.That was what I felt underneath everything she said.No matter how softly she spoke, every word seemed to carry a sharp edge.I knew I was being used as a tool.If Rhett could use me, there was no reason his mother couldn’t.And I wanted to understand more about the environment Rhett had grown up in.So I followed her lead. “Why do you say that?”“Because my husband and my son were both raised that way.” Vivien gazed at me.

Margot POVI politely agreed.Actually, I couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed.The legendary figure I’d imagined suddenly seemed much more ordinary.Grandpa motioned to the nurse behind him. “This is a little wedding gift. Build a good life together.”The nurse handed me a gift.“Thank you.”Grandpa was exhausted soon afterward, and the nurse wheeled him back to his room to rest.The rest of the family scattered. Some watched television. Some played cards. Others talked or made phone calls.Rhett was pulled away by some older relatives to play cards.I took my phone and went into an empty sitting room to video call Ellen.The room’s design was so polished and neutral that it could easily have passed for a luxury hotel somewhere overseas.Ellen asked me many questions. Was I adjusting well? Was the flight exhausting? Was everything okay abroad? Simone appeared in the frame occasionally, telling me what they’d eaten for Christmas dinner.The atmosphere was warm and peaceful.For