Chapter 19
With the baby’s position now corrected, Katherine’s morning sickness had disappeared, and her appetite improved.
“This ravioli is really good. We should have this more often, Katherine said.
At breakfast, the spread on the table was even more plentiful.
After spending a month in the hospital with Katherine, Derrick had a mountain of work piling up, and he left early every day before dawn. At this moment, Katherine could only speak to the small monitor on the chair in front of her.
As Derrick flipped through his papers, he thought, ‘T’ll have ravioli for breakfast tomorrow, too.
Worried about indigestion from eating so much, Katherine spent most of the morning walking around the garden. Maeve followed her everywhere, concerned she might fall.
As Katherine put it, her exercise routine had picked up in the last few days, and she was feeling lighter and more energetic.
The atmosphere at Riverbend Manor became more relaxed and easygoing, no longer as tense as before. Everyone seemed to be relieved. At least for the time being, as long as they didn’t make any major mistakes, they didn’t have to worry about being fired. But it was a different story at Windridge Villa. After a month and a half, Richard finally returned from his business trip.
Although Miranda and Mia had plenty to complain about behind his back, neither dared to make a scene in front of him. After all, didn’t have any shares in the family business and relied on Richard’s monthly allowance to get by.
they
“Richard, welcome home,” Miranda greeted him at the door with a warm smile, hiding any trace of the fury she had felt when he rejected sleeping with her.
She reached out to help him take off his coat, but Richard raised his hand to stop her. “I can do it myself,” he said.
His cold attitude was just like always. Miranda’s smile faltered for a moment but quickly returned to its previous warmth.
“Okay, do it yourself. You’re the best, she replied, her tone laced with helplessness and affection. It sounded just like the playful bickering of any ordinary couple. Richard frowned slightly but didn’t say anything.
Without another word, Richard headed upstairs, nodding briefly at Mia, practically ignoring her as though she were invisible.
Seeing Richard grow colder toward them after Katherine got married, Mia couldn’t help but feel anxious.
Mia thought, “At this rate, when will Mom ever give the Lawson family an heir? She shot an urgent glance at Miranda, thinking. ‘What are you waiting for? Hurry up and follow him
Miranda gave her a sharp look, shaking her head as she mused, ‘Richard clearly doesn’t like me. Trying to get close to him now would just raise suspicions.
“Besides, it’s not enough for me to try. I need Katherine’s help. But before anything, Katherine’s baby has to go away!
“Katherine’s discharged. You should go visit her soon.” Miranda hinted to Mia.
When Miranda had called Katherine last time, they had planned to trick her back, then find a way for her to have an accidental miscarriage.
But, unexpectedly, Derrick had intercepted the call. He even had someone come to investigate.
When Derrick found out Miranda and Mia were lying, he had his people threaten them and even colluded with a private bank to illegally freeze some of their assets, calling it a lesson.
Mirander thought, ‘If it weren’t for us, how would Derrick have had such an easy time marrying Katherine? Now that he has her, he’s distancing himself from us. If Richard finds out the details of Derrick and Katherine’s marriage, Derrick’s life won’t be peaceful anymore.
A smug smile appeared on Miranda’s face as she thought, Richard loves his daughter so much, but he doesn’t even know what kind of life she’s been living. If Katherine’s mother ever finds out, she’ll be restless even in hell.”
Mia was less than eager to go to Riverbend Manor. She had been kicked out last time, and now, with the hospital incident, things had only gotten worse
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Chapter 19
Her eyes shifted, and as she looked at her mother, a hint of resentment showed on her face.
Mia thought, “Mom doesn’t want to do this herself, but she insists on making me do it.‘
At Riverbend Manor, Katherine’s daily routine now consisted of eating and taking walks.
Today, it started to rain, the raindrops bending the flowers. She sat on the couch, wrapped in a cloak, yawning.
Katherine thought, ‘It’s so boring. The TV shows are no good, and playing on my phone’s not fun either.
Suddenly, the house phone rang. This phone usually only rang when someone came to visit at the front gate. Katherine, wearing bunny slippers, quickly ran to answer the phone.
“Mrs. Graham, slow down. Stop running. Maeve came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands, and was about to pick up the phone. At the sight of this, Maeve was startled.
Hearing that. Katherine immediately slowed down. “Okay. I’ll be careful”
She was just excited thinking there might be guests. Taking the last few steps carefully, she reached the phone and picked it up Ammediately.
“Hello?” A respectful voice came through the receiver. “Mrs. Graham, there’s a Ms. Mia Grant here to visit you.”
Mia had been here a few times before; she was said to be Katherine’s stepsister. Previously, the gatekeeper had always let Mia in without question. But a month ago, after Mia had done something that upset both Katherine and Derrick, she was kicked out.
Since then, the gatekeepers were too scared to let anyone in without checking, afraid of losing their jobs.
“Mia?” Upon hearing the name, Katherine was instantly not in the mood, but she still told the gatekeeper to let her in.
Katherine thought, ‘Anyway, I’m bored. At least I can watch a show. I wonder what kind of performance Mia will bring this time.
At the gate, Mia stood outside with an umbrella, growing impatient. The tall gatekeeper blocked her way, not even allowing her to step into the small gazebo to escape the rain.
Mia thought, ‘Is this how the people at Riverbend Manor treat their guests?”
“Ms. Grant, you can come in now. After hanging up the phone, the gatekeeper immediately opened the iron gates.
Mia snorted. ‘I told you I could come in, but you had to block me. Just wait. I’ll have Katherine fire you.”
The gatekeeper didn’t detect any displeasure in Katherine’s tone, so he didn’Make Mia’s words seriously. Besides, Riverbend Manor wasn’t a place where just anyone could make decisions about who stayed or left with a few words
The staff members here were all carefully selected and trained. Even this gatekeeper had to undergo annual retraining and physical check–ups to ensure his performance didn’t slip. Unless they crossed a line with the employer’s family, they were unlikely to be fired.
Mia’s shoulder was soaked with rain. When she reached the door, she found it closed, which only nude hec angrier. She thought, ‘Katherine knows I’m coming, yet she doesn’t even open the door for me in advance”
But remembering the purpose of her visit today, Mia suppressed her anger and knocked on the door. After a few knocks, Maeve finally opened it.
Seeing how disheveled Mia looked, Maeve frowned slightly and immediately grabbed a towel from the cupboard. “Ms. Grant, please dry yourself first. I’ll get you a change of clothes”
Mia’s mood lifted a litle, and she put on the airs of a socialite. “Alright. Go ahead. You’ve improved. I’ll give you credit for this.”
She thought, At least she’s a lot nicer than when she made me coffee last time. Maybe Katherine taught this hag a lesson in private.
As expected, Katherine still cares about us. But with Derrick watching, she has no choice but to put on a show.
With that thought, Mia felt even more confident about what she was about to do.
Maeve rolled her eyes as she turned away, thinking. If I wasn’t worried she’d catch a cold and pass it on to Mrs. Graham, I wouldn’t even
Chapter 190
Mia has been subtly encouraging Mrs. Graham to get involved with another man. I’ve never been able to stand her
As Mia wiped her hair, she walked toward Katherine. But just as Mia was about to get close, Katherine suddenly raised her hand to stop her. “Hey, don’t come any closer. Stay right there,” Katherine said,
Mia stopped, puzzled, her face showing a hint of confusion. “Why?”
Katherine remained expressionless. “Well, you’re dripping wet, and this hand–woven carpet is worth a hundred thousand dollars. I’m afraid you can’t afford to replace it.”
C
