I instantly became much more awake as the voice came through, clear and devoid of warmth. "Atlas. Come back as soon as possible. Your grandfather is critically ill. This might be your last chance to see him.""Okay." I heard Atlas reply in a simple yet firm tone without any hesitation.All my drowsiness vanished immediately. I guessed that the caller was probably Celine.Atlas didn't say much and hung up the phone promptly."Was it Celine?" I asked Atlas, feeling a bit nervous. "What did she say?""Yes. She said my grandfather is critically ill," Atlas's expression turned cold, and his eyes narrowed in thought."Could it be true?" I asked in doubt, then checked the time on my phone. It was early morning in Nocturnia."Hard to say, but regardless, I'm going back. Normally, she wouldn't dare not to inform me about such matters, considering the public opinion," Atlas's tone was calm but decisive."What should we do? Should we take the early morning flight back?" I looked at him. "
I quickly packed a few changes of underwear and two formal dresses, leaving everything else behind. I'd grown accustomed to Atlas’s lifestyle while living with him, which made travel arrangements very straightforward. His wardrobe was always available wherever we went, eliminating the need for luggage.At this moment, I couldn't help but think about how grateful I was for Ryan. The ability to slip away whenever I needed made life so much easier. I also appreciated my parents' devoted care for Ava, ensuring my peace of mind when I was away.Suddenly, I remembered my conversation with Ryan yesterday about urging his family to come to Foswood soon. Ryan’s wedding was around the corner, but yesterday's rush had made me forget that crucial task.With my luggage packed, I pushed it out and sat on the sofa, contemplating my recent distractions. Whenever this happened, I felt sorry for Ava. I resolved to spend quality time with her once everything had settled down, perhaps after the b
Faced with my daughter's inquiries, I could only try to reassure her. "Mommy will be back as soon as possible.""You always say that, but you keep coming back later and later!" Ava's emotions instantly surfaced as she pouted. Her gaze lowered and she looked extremely upset."I’d never lie to you. It's just that some things don’t go as smoothly as we imagined, which delays my return home," I patiently explained.She suddenly looked up, and I noticed that her eyes were glistening with tears. "But I don't want you to keep going on business trips, Mommy. I'll be lonely.""How could you be lonely?" I was sympathetic, but amused by her statement. "Don't you have Jenny, Grandma, and Grandpa to keep you company? How could you be lonely?""But they're not you, Mommy. I want you, Mommy." Ava's tears finally fell, rolling down her cheeks.I quickly reached out to embrace her, feeling a pang of guilt. I understood her loneliness."Alright, I understand. We'll try not to go on so many busine
At the dining table, Atlas briefed my adoptive dad too, saying, "I'll discuss the lab with you when I return. But I've already arranged for people to start building the lab, so there's no need to worry.""I’ll wait for you to return. There’s no rush." He seemed a bit emotional.I noticed my mom's expression freeze for a moment. My adoptive dad might not have told her about that yet. But since Atlas was here, my mom didn't ask about it.My adoptive dad probably hadn't expected Atlas to start building the lab for him.After breakfast, we still had time to spare before our flight. Atlas told me he wanted to visit my father in the annex and discuss something with him.I nodded. "I'll go with you. I'll check on Loak and Anya too, and let them know where we’re going."Atlas nodded, and we headed to the annex together. He went to visit my father while I went to see Loak and Anya.I knew Atlas must have had something important to discuss with my father, since my father would have some t
After saying what needed to be said, Atlas held my hand and we left my father's room as he watched us leave.After we changed our clothes, my mom stood at the door to see us off. She seemed hesitant, which made me feel a pang of sadness.I knew she must have been reluctant for me to leave for Nocturnia. I went to hug her. "I'm leaving the house and Ava to you, Mom. I'll be back as soon as possible."Her head rested against my chest as she nodded. "Be safe and don't worry about us. I’ll be here to take care of everything.”Her words touched me deeply and resonated with me."Alright. Take care, Mom. I'm leaving now." After saying that, I let go of her. "I'll be back soon."We got into the car and left the villa for the airport.On the way there, I called Ryan’s parents to ask them to come to Foswood as soon as possible to help Ryan prepare for the wedding. The news made his parents ecstatic, and even I was infected by their excitement.When we arrived at the airport, we went st
He sensed my hesitation and gently patted my hand, saying, "That was exactly what I wanted to talk to you about. No matter his attitude, you need to remember that you’re the future female head of the Pierce family."His words moved me deeply."And the Pierce family now is not the same as the Pierce family back then. He is my grandfather, but he's just an old man with blood ties to me. My respect for him is limited to that of an elder."Atlas said that with a serious tone, showing that he was sincere.He continued, "Besides, he has no special privilege or authority over me. He has no right to influence any of my decisions. So, you don't need to care about his attitude."I really hadn’t expected Atlas to say that about his grandfather.He lifted me up, saying, "Let's have dinner. The food on our plane is pretty good. You should try it. Maybe you'll feel like sleeping after eating.""True." I laughed, teasing him. "As the lady boss, I can fire anyone if they don't do their job well
As I reached the doorway, someone opened the door for me, and I stepped inside.The house was grand. It gleamed white like something out of a fairy tale palace. The landscaping in the courtyard was beautifully manicured, with a veranda at one end and a white swing gently swaying in the breeze.I could almost see a girl in a red dress sitting on it, her laughter echoing in the courtyard, while a handsome boy pushed her higher on the swing. She soared like a bird, high into the air.The boy was handsome, exuding an aura of elegance.The girl excitedly shouted, "Higher. Can you make me go higher?"As I turned around, I saw a gentle woman sitting on the veranda, watching us from afar.I heard the girl's voice ring out, "Mommy, am I high enough?"She just smiled, not saying a word.The woman got up to leave, and I quickly looked away from the swing, hurrying to catch up. I felt a genuine fondness for her.She was just ahead of me, heading toward the villa's greenhouse. It was a lar
I felt a dull ache in my head, causing me to toss and turn uncomfortably. It was as if I feared the wax might drip onto my hands.In a haze, I murmured, "Mommy, does it hurt?"She said something, and her voice echoed persistently in my ears.A warm hand gently clasped mine, guiding me through winding paths, past a towering tree surrounded by vibrant flowers, until we reached a small tree."What kind of tree is this, Mommy?" I looked up at the short tree."An almond eucalyptus tree. It’s the tallest tree, do you remember?" Holding a package, she began to dig into the soil under the tree.My head throbbed. I tossed and turned in bed."Chlo, wake up." A gentle voice called out to me.I mumbled, trying to open my eyes, but I couldn’t."Chlo... wake up."The voice grew clearer.Yet, my mother's voice continued to echo, "It's the tallest tree. Remember this, okay?""Chlo, wake up." I felt a large hand gently tapping my cheeks.Startled, I abruptly opened my eyes.My head was po