“No matter where we are, Jerry is just a three-year-old boy. You pushed him into the water because you wanted to kill him. This is completely different from him voluntarily wanting to play in the water. Say, if you have any opinions against me, then come straight at me. If you dare to do such a thing to Jerry again, I’ll definitely chase you out. Also, I certainly won’t let this matter slide just like that. I’ll absolutely tell Hansen,” Jenna said sternly with a grim face.
To think that a woman would lay her hands on a child, one could only imagine how vicious her heart was.
It was only then, did Liya come back to her senses. Jenna was still in charge of this family. Not to mention that she was only a second wife Hansen had yet married, even if she married into the family in the future, she still had to be very careful, especially around Jenna.
If Jenna complained about such a matter, she wouldn’t even need to think of getting married to this family anymore.
Trevor’s warning from that day was still ringing in her ears. Especially in such a situation, it was terrible and unwise for her to have done such a thing. Just then, she was in a daze and her mind was a mess, and she regretted it after coming back to her senses right then.
At that moment, her anger diminished, and she lowered her head. She was alone in that house for now, as she had no one to rely on and speak up for her, including Hansen.
Understanding her disadvantage, the anger in her eyes completely subsided at once.
“Jenna, I really didn’t push Jerry. You have to trust me. He’s just a child. How can I bear to push him? Please forgive me.” She pleaded in fear. Upon thinking about how Oscar tortured her, she was so afraid that she started to tremble. Her plan couldn’t be ruined just because of that one mistake.
No.
Jenna looked at her coldly and stepped forward.
“Tell me. What’s your purpose in approaching Hansen? What exactly do you want? Why don’t you tell me today and let me hear it out?”
The changes in Liya’s expression did not escape Jenna’s eyes. She was able to see through all the changes in Liya’s mind, as she then smiled coldly.
“No, Jenna, I have loved Hansen ever since I was young. I really don’t have any other ulterior motives.” Hearing Jenna’s question, Liya raised her fake expression, blinked her almond-shaped eyes and said innocently.
That woman was fantastic at acting.
“Then, do you know what kind of fate and treatment you’ll be getting for being a second wife in such a prestigious family?” Jenna stared at her and continued to ask in a cold voice.
Liya’s shoulders trembled. She had a deeper understanding of that more than anyone else. Who could understand better than her about her mother’s death, the indifference and mistreatment both her mother and she had suffered through?
However, she was scared of poverty and understood that she needed much skill to get into modern prestigious families. After all, life was ever-changing. The statuses right then were all only temporary. No one could predict who Hansen was going to love after she married into the family. The main factor was that the glory and inheritance right was something that no other people could give her. It was also something that her family couldn’t obtain even after struggling for three generations. Therefore, she could not miss that opportunity. Compared with it, that slight grievance with the reputation was nothing!
“I love Hansen, and I only want to be by his side. I don’t want anything else.” Liya lifted her eyebrows and spoke firmly.
Since she was being toyed with by Oscar right then, she only wanted to get together with Hansen as fast as possible.
Jenna’s heart seemed to have been cut by a sharp knife, and it was so painful that she frowned.
There was a woman who wanted to be together with her husband at all costs. Should she be happy or sad?!
That meant that her husband was excellent, wasn’t it?
She stood there motionlessly with her eyes fixed on Liya.
Liya stared at Jenna. She saw the pain, struggle, worries, determination, and coldness in Jenna’s eyes. It seemed as if Jenna was overcoming the last struggle. Then, Jenna said with a dignified, calm, and determined voice.
“Since you’re so keen on wanting to be Hansen’s woman, I’ll grant your wish. Come, follow me.”
After Jenna made that decision, she turned around and walked outside.
After being surprised for a moment, Liya immediately understood what was going on. A hint of joy and anticipation welled up in her heart as she followed after Jenna.
Jenna walked ahead in silence.
The hot air, which was heavy and stuffy, blew at her.
She could also hear the rumbling sound of thunder.
It looked like it was going to rain.
Although it was summer, the old-fashioned buildings in the Ink Garden were surrounded by green and towering trees. The roof of the buildings was high and north-facing. Upon entering the Ink Garden, Liya and Jenna were welcomed by the cool breeze.
That old-fashioned villa was designed by a famous architect from the past. In addition to its unique environment and geographical location, the villa was warm in the winter and cool in the summer. It was a very comfortable place.
When Liya was brought into that old-fashioned and gorgeous villa by Jenna, her heart was pounding, and her eyes were filled with fear.
When she was very young, that villa was the centre of the political power of Richards Manor. Behind its closed doors, it looked like a palace. As a child, she could only look up to it, as she did not have the chance to enter at all.
She remembered that her mother had been there once, and it was Claude who brought her in. Her mother was able to enter at that time due to the fact that she was pregnant with Claude’s child. She only went there once as she never had the right to go there anymore in the future.
Every time there was an event in the Ink Garden, she could only secretly hide outside and spectate. Liya had never dreamed that she would be able to enter that place.
Back then, Hansen was already very handsome and noble. He was the most precious treasure in the hearts of everyone in the Ink Garden and they would dote on him, especially the Richards family’s Old Master Richards and Old Madam. There was nothing Hansen couldn’t get, that Liya couldn’t ever dream of getting, be it his daily supplies or daily expenses.
At that time, he was the one and only idol she envied and couldn’t reach.
That day, Jenna brought her into the Ink Garden while Hansen had already announced in the news that he was going to marry her. That made her feel flattered and overjoyed.
“You’re here, Madam.” When Meroy saw Jenna, she welcomed her with a bright smile, but when she saw Liya behind her, her face darkened instantly, and she looked at Jenna in confusion.
Jenna smiled gently.
“Has Grandma eaten anything today?” Jenna asked softly.
“Yes. Grandma had a bowl of herbal soup today. It’s a good sign.” Meroy smiled and replied, but she couldn’t stop sizing Liya up.
Liya’s head was lowered in an obedient manner. She was behaving extremely careful and humble.
There was coldness and mockery in Meroy’s eyes. How could she bear to be Hansen’s second wife when her Mom had been chased out of Richards Manor? She really was shameless.
What made her even more puzzled was that Jenna took her to the Ink Garden to visit Vivian. This made Meroy very confused.
Jenna naturally understood Meroy’s thoughts. She merely smiled and said, “Meroy, I’m bringing Liya to visit Grandma. Stay outside and look out for us.”
Meroy felt helpless, but she could only smile in reply, “Alright, Madam, please go in.”
Just like that, Jenna walked into Vivian’s bedroom with Liya.
What surprised Liya was that Vivian, who was highly respected in Richards Manor, didn’t have a luxurious bedroom. Even though the furniture inside was still very expensive, they were all old-fashioned furniture. The bedroom was tidy and neat. The floor-to-ceiling windows were wide open and there was a cold breeze blowing in from the outside. The navy blue curtains in the room were also lifted slightly, making the room appear solemn.
Vivian was lying on the bed, resting with her eyes closed. Perhaps it was because somehow she was able to eat recently, her complexion looked slightly better.
“Kneel down.” Jenna brought Liya to the front of Vivian’s bed. As soon as Liya approached and observed Vivian carefully, Jenna immediately shouted at her in a low voice.
When she heard Jenna’s shout, her initially anxious mind thought of the fact that she was toyed with by Oscar before, and she felt very guilty. So, she kneeled down almost immediately as she looked at Vivian.
“Grandma,” Jenna whispered in Vivian’s ear.
Didn’t Vivian say that she had a regret? She told Jenna before, and she remembered it. Vivian said that she would know how to deal with it when she met her in the future. Right then, Jenna finally understood her words, and she knew what to do. Therefore, the reason she brought Liya there that day was to resolve Vivian’s regret.
After calling her a few times, Vivian opened her eyes. It took her a long time to realize that it was Jenna and her eyes gleamed with starlight.
Vivian’s face was full of wrinkles and spots, with a head of grey hair. They were gifts that were left behind by the passage of time and also represented the last moments of her life.
“Jenna.” She struggled to reach out her hand to grab Jenna’s and cried out in a trembling voice, “My good granddaughter.”
In her heart, Jenna was no longer her granddaughter-in-law. She was even closer to her than to Hansen.
“Grandma.” Jenna smiled as she squatted down and whispered in her ear, “Grandma, do you know who I’ve brought with me?”
It seemed that Vivian didn’t hear her clearly as she looked straight at her with her eyes wide open.
“Grandma, I’m going to help you fulfil your wish. You don’t have to feel regretful anymore.” Jenna whispered in Vivian’s ear as she gripped her hand, “That woman’s daughter is all grown up now, and she’s kneeling in front of you right now.”
Jenna thought Vivian must have already understood because she saw her gaze shifting towards Liya, who was kneeling in front of her.
“Liya, bow three times to Grandma. This is to show respect to your elders.” Jenna stood up and instructed Liya.
Liya seemed to have thought of something as she obediently bowed three times to Vivian and greeted her as ‘Grandma’.
“Come over here.” Vivian waved towards Liya. Liya stood up and took a few steps forward.
“Grandma, take a good look at her,” Jenna said loudly to her, pulling Liya to Vivian’s front.
Vivian stared at Liya for a long time without moving her gaze away.
“Liya, greet her.” Seeing that Liya was looking at Vivian with a terrified expression, Jenna reminded her from the side.
“Grandma.” Liya called out in a timid manner as she revealed a faint smile.
“Liya, do you know? Back then, when you and your mom were driven out from Richards Manor, Grandma felt guilty and sent people to find you and your father. At that time, your mother had already died of illness. So, Grandma gave you guys a large sum of money and set up a special account, so that she can pay for your school fees. For all these years, Grandmother had paid attention to that account in person. She’d even asked people to transfer money to that account periodically until you’ve graduated from college.” In recent days, Jenna studied carefully the records of the family history of Richards Manor, given by Irvin and Paul. With that, she learnt about things Vivian did not mention to the others. The reason she made such a plan was also that she didn’t want Vivian to leave the world in regret.
Hearing that, Liya was stunned.
She knew that her father had received a sum of money, but wasn’t that money from Zoella? How did it turn out to be from Vivian? Moreover, what puzzled her most was how could her father, who loved money as much as his life, be willing to spend money to get her to finish college? It turned out that Vivian had set up a special fund for her, which her father wasn’t able to get hold of.
When she thought about it, her expression gradually changed from surprise to unease.