“Nice to meet you, Madam Lilian.” At the sight of Madam Lilian, Trevor, Hansen, and Jenna greeted her.
Trevor was extremely flattered that Madam Lilian had dropped by to see Vivian.
“Hello, all of you.” Madam Lilian walked down steadily with Quina’s support. With a mild smile, she greeted them and raised her head to glance around. With a sigh, she lamented, “A walk down memory lane. This feels so familiar.”
As soon as Madam Lilian said this, not only Hansen and Jenna felt strange, even Trevor felt a little odd. Trevor was the eldest son of the family, yet he didn’t know that Madam Lilian had once visited Richards Manor. Maybe he had really seen Madam Lilian when he was at a tender age. Nonetheless, too many people had shown up at Richards Manor. How could he remember them all? What was more, he had been sent abroad by Old Master Richards when he was very young.
“Madam, thank you very much for coming to visit my old mother. This way, please.” On Trevor’s face, a devout and enthusiastic smile was carved. He politely made a gesture to Madam Lilian.
“Okay.” Madam Lilian nodded and walked forward with Quina’s help. Trevor led the way, and Jenna followed closely behind.
The group traded words as they walked.
Madam Lilian observed every blade of grass and tree in the Ink Garden. With a solemn expression, she asked, “Mr. Richards, how’s Old Madam’s condition now? Is there any need to send her overseas for treatment?”
Hearing this, Trevor answered powerlessly.
“Madam, my mother is already over 90 years old, and she is in poor health. The medicines she uses are also the finest medicines imported. Alas, at this age, it is likely useless to send her abroad. Besides, the old lady is not willing to go out for treatment, even at the local hospitals.”
When Madam Lilian heard this, she sighed slightly.
As they talked, they entered Vivian’s bedroom.
At this time, the Ink Garden was quiet. Hansen and Jenna had already screened out all unrelated people. Only Meroy was guarding Vivian’s bedroom.
Madam Lilian walked into Vivian’s bedroom with a solemn expression. She looked up and saw that Vivian was lying on a bed. She looked so frail that she was only skin and bones. Vivian’s body was covered with an air-conditioning quilt, and her head of silver hair was neatly combed behind her. Her eyes were closed, and her hands rested in front of her chest. Her expression was serene. If not for the sound of her faint breathing, one would mistake that life had departed her body.
“Mom, Mom.” Trevor brought Madam Lilian closer, bent down, and whispered in her ear.
Vivian’s hearing ability had long since declined. After Trevor had called out to her for a long time, she finally heard him and opened her eyes with great effort.
“Old Madam.” Madam Lilian took a step forward, held her hand, and called out to her in a cordial manner.
Vivian’s hand was like a withered tree, etched with wrinkles, and it felt a little shaky when they held hands. The past was pushed to the forefront of her mind, and sadness was shown on her face.
Vivian, who had once been wise and capable, had already reached the end of her life. This was the law of life. No one could escape from it.
“Grandmother, Madam Lilian has come to see you.” Jenna also bent down and notified her loudly.
Vivian’s face stiffened, and her eyes glazed over. After a long time, she rolled her eyes absent-mindedly, yet she did not recognize Madam Lilian.
“Old Madam, I’ve been late. I should’ve come earlier.” Madam Lilian’s heart ached when she saw this. She wiped away her tears and choked with sobs.
She held Vivian’s hand tightly and drew her head before her eyes. Then, she whispered in her ear, “Old Madam, do you still remember me? I’m Lilian.”
Vivian stared at her motionlessly. After a long time, her eyes gleamed, as if she had recognized her. The muscles on her face twitched as if she was very excited.
“Grandmother, Madam Lilian has come to visit you. Do you know her?” Seeing that Vivian’s gaze seemed to reveal some reaction, Jenna felt a sense of joy in her heart as she hurriedly called out in her ear.
After a while, Vivian asked in a trembling voice, “Lili- Lili- Lilian?”
As expected, Vivian had actually recognized her.
Everyone was pleasantly surprised. They all joined in. “Old Madam, it’s Madam Lilian. She’s here to see you.”
Both Hansen and Trevor were shocked. Indeed, Vivian knew Lilian. It seemed that Madam Lilian really didn’t come to see her for Jenna’s sake.
Vivian looked straight at Lilian for a while. She suddenly became animated and struggled to raise her hand to point at Jenna with her mouth open. Just as she wanted to say something, a violent cough hit her, and her face turned red. Then, she put down her hand powerlessly and lay down on the bed, gasping for air.
Everyone started to call out for her.
Everyone was shouting anxiously.
Madam Lilian hurriedly patted Vivian’s chest to help ease her breathing. However, after Vivian coughed for a while, she started to break out in cold sweat. She only panted heavily and could not say anything else. When they called for her again, she had lost her senses. She could not even recognize the person beside her.
Helpless, Trevor had to ask Meroy to summon a doctor. Then, he came out with Madam Lilian and went to the reception room.
Madam Lilian’s emotions were in a mess, and she was also very sad.
“If I had known this, then I should have come to visit Vivian the last time I came to A City. It’s a pity that the schedule was too tight, and I was in such a hurry.” Madam Lilian informed them with regret and wiped her eyes with a tissue. Just now, Vivian seemed to have something to say to her. What could it be?
Hansen and Jenna’s moods were also upset. They stood silently by the side.
At this time, Hansen was especially nervous about Jenna. He was afraid that she was in a bad mood. So, he reached out to hold her hand and held it tightly in his palm.
Jenna looked up at him.
His clear and bright eyes were gentle and loving. He nodded at her, indicating for her not to be nervous.
Jenna understood what he was thinking and forced a smile.
Madam Lilian only sat for a while before she got up.
“Madam, why don’t we go to the hotel and sit down? I’ll treat you to some famous foods in A City, okay?” Jenna remembered the last time she’d treated Madam Lilian to a meal. On the same day itself, she also contacted the hotel and prepared everything.
“Good girl, I’m getting old. How can I eat anything at night? Besides, I’ll leave A City early tomorrow. My visit here is a secret. I’ve delayed my return for too long, and they’re urging me to go back.” Madam Lilian smiled at Jenna, stretched out her hand, and took her other hand. She looked up and down and saw that Hansen was still holding her other hand. Obviously, the two were in love with each other. A few days ago, she learnt from the news that there was a fuss about him marrying a second wife. Now, she felt relieved when she saw how in love they were. “Jenna, you look better this time. A woman must pay attention to her health. Otherwise, she will suffer when she’s old.”
Madm Lilian reminded her in a sincere manner and patted her hand gently after that.
Jenna smiled and nodded. “Thank you, Grandma. I will be careful.”
“Good.” Madam Lilian smiled and nodded with relief. She then turned to Hansen, who was standing beside her, and warned seriously, “Mr. Richards, as a husband, you should take good care of your wife and don’t let her be wronged. Jenna is a good girl. You must cherish her. You should know that it is rare to see a woman like Jenna in such a society.”
After warning him, she continued seriously. “Jenna is my granddaughter now. If I know that you’ve mistreated her, then I won’t forgive you easily. I can’t allow my granddaughter to suffer the slightest grievance.”
One night, Jenna had gone to the hotel anxiously to look for her and asked her to mobilize the army of Tamaland to subdue the terrorists. At that time, her face was full of anxiety for fear that Hansen had had an accident. It was apparent that she loved him so much. She was such a good girl, and Lilian did not want Hansen to mistreat Jenna or betray her. So, she warned Hansen with such earnest words.
Hansen was stunned for a moment before understanding Madam Lilian’s intentions.
Of course, he didn’t know that it was Jenna who had gone to ask for Madam Lilian’s help that night, and mobilized the Tamaland military to help them out.
“Madam, please rest assured. Jenna’s life is even more important than mine. I would rather work harder than let her suffer a little grievance. As long as I am here, I will take care of her with all my heart and let her be happy. She is the woman I love the most in my life.” Hansen smiled and replied to Madam Lilian firmly.
When Madam Lilian heard that he was emotional and loyal, she smiled and nodded, setting her mind at ease.
She knew best how important a marriage was for a woman.
The greatest happiness in a woman’s life was none other than having a dedicated husband who loved her, adored her, and cared for her. Her marriage had been a failure, and she had experienced the pain and sadness deeply and would never be able to forget it in her life. As such, she did not wish for a simple and beautiful girl like Jenna to suffer in her marriage. As such, Madam Lilian reminded the young man in front of her gravely, hoping that they would be happy.
After all, Madam Lilian also knew some of their past from the TV news.
“That’s good. I am delighted to see how loving you both are.” Madam Lilian smiled kindly. “Well, it’s getting late, and I have to go. I hope that you and Jenna will be happy and live in harmony in the future and be loving till the end of time.”
As she spoke, it was getting late. It was time to go back. Quina immediately came forward to support her.
Jenna took a step forward.
Madam Lilian wouldn’t go to the hotel for a meal, which was already within her expectations. She smiled and said affectionately, “Grandma, I’ve prepared some special gifts from A City for you. Please wait for a moment.”
As she spoke, Jenna instructed Larry to bring the stuff in.
When Madam Lilian heard this, she smiled and giggled. “Jenna, I know what you’re thinking. I really don’t need it. Quina has already prepared everything for me. There is only so much I can take.”
Nonetheless, Jenna did not give up.
“Grandma, I prepared these especially for you. If you don’t want them, then I’ll be very disappointed.” Jenna blinked her sparkling eyes.