“Then I’ll listen to Sylvia. I believe Sylvia’s judgment is spot on,” Eden nodded, showing his acceptance.
After dinner, everyone dispersed.
Clare came with Mollie to pick up Sylvia.
Mollie greeted Sylvia with a bright smile, “Sylvia, thank you for saving me.”
Sylvia raised an eyebrow, “We’re family, no need for thanks. Let’s go.”
Poppy hugged Sylvia reluctantly, “Sylvia, say hi to Franklin for me.”
“Got it, go on now,” Sylvia didn’t tell her about the current situation between her and Franklin.
Some things, even if they knew, would only add to their worries without changing anything.
The private jet slowly ascended into the sky, eventually piercing through the clouds.
Sylvia sat by the window, gazing at the white clouds outside, which looked like large tufts of cotton candy.
She squinted her clear almond eyes slightly.
Finally, she slowly closed her eyes.
Mollie, understandingly, did not disturb her but gently covered her with a small blanket.
Sylvia was truly exhausted these past few days, running nonstop without a moment’s rest.
She didn’t fall asleep but could feel Mollie covering her with the blanket. However, she didn’t open her eyes.
Tired!
Mentally exhausted.
A dull pain throbbed in her heart.
She missed him; she missed him terribly.
The anxious longing felt like dozens of rabbits jumping around in her heart.
It made her heart ache and her whole body uncomfortable.
Especially the pain of unrequited love, which tormented her relentlessly.
She felt miserable.
She wanted to escape, but she couldn’t. It was a suffocating kind of misery.
Franklin…
She whispered his name. But it only made her heart ache more and feel worse.
The plane flew at thirty thousand feet. By the time they reached Aettosa, it was already evening.
As the city lights came on, Sylvia and the others got off the plane and into the Hipps family’s car.
The car sped down the highway. Sylvia remained silent throughout the journey, unable to smile or speak.
She didn’t want to say anything or do anything.
She just wanted to be quiet and silent alone.
Clare looked at her with extreme concern and finally broke the silence when they got out of the car, “Sylvia… you’ll see him tomorrow. So don’t…”
Sylvia forced a weak smile, “Uncle, I’m fine.”
But the smile was particularly pale and powerless.
Mollie, who already knew about her and Franklin’s situation, looked worried, “Sylvia, do you want me to sleep with you tonight?”
Sylvia’s gloomy mood was suddenly lightened by Mollie’s innocent words, “No need, Auntie. I’m fine. I won’t compete with Uncle for his wife.”
After speaking, she walked towards the living room.
She looked up at the dark sky. The night sky was like velvet covering the entire horizon with a few stars twinkling above.
Tomorrow should be a good day!
Old Mrs. Hipps and Old Mr. Hipps were waiting in the living room as usual. Hearing footsteps, they looked towards the door.
“Sylvia? Mollie? You’re back?” Old Mrs. Hipps quickly stood up and looked at the three of them, “Mollie, how are you feeling?”
“Much better, recovering well,” Mollie quickly replied, not wanting to worry the elderly.
“That’s good, that’s good. It was so scary,” Old Mrs. Hipps nodded and then looked worriedly at Sylvia, “Sylvia, are you attending the banquet tomorrow?”
Sylvia’s expression was calm, “Why wouldn’t I go? My husband is being held there. He set up this banquet; no matter what, I have to go.”
“Since you’ve made up your mind, we won’t stop you,” Old Mr. Hipps felt sorry for Sylvia’s troubled relationship. “You all must be tired from the journey; go rest in your rooms.”
“Rest? They probably haven’t had dinner yet!” Old Mrs. Hipps glared at Old Mr. Hipps reproachfully, “Are you getting senile?”
Old Mr. Hipps wasn’t angry and chuckled, “Right, right, dinner first. The food in the dining room is still warm! Go eat.”
So the three of them went to eat while Old Mrs. Hipps and Old Mr. Hipps went back to their room to rest.
Sylvia had little appetite but ate a bit to avoid worrying her family.
Lying in bed, she tossed and turned but couldn’t sleep.
Restless and uneasy, she wondered if she would really see him tomorrow?
Unknowingly, dawn broke as she sat in bed watching the eastern sky turn pale. Finally, she fell asleep out of exhaustion.
When she woke up again, it was already past nine in the morning.
Her eyes felt dry and sore. As she got up to wash up, she suddenly realized her forehead was hot.
Looking at her flushed face in the mirror, she was stunned.
Was she sick?
She couldn’t remember how long it had been since she last fell ill.
Ever since the Love Parasite entered her body, she rarely got sick; the only torment was from the parasite itself.
But Franklin could cure the Love Parasite.
The parasite had been dormant in her body for so long that she almost forgot it existed.
She touched her forehead; she had a fever.
After washing up, she forced herself downstairs.
Clare was startled by her haggard appearance, “Sylvia, what’s wrong?”
Feeling a tightness in her chest, Sylvia looked at Clare with bloodshot eyes, “I have a fever; maybe it’s a cold. Have someone get me some medicine.”
“Alright, I’ll have them get it right away. What kind of medicine?” Clare asked nervously, “How did you catch a cold?”
Sylvia’s face was pale as she wrote down a prescription and handed it to Clare, “Get what’s on this list.”
She needed to recover quickly; there was a banquet tonight she had to attend.
The servant quickly went out to buy medicine and returned about twenty minutes later with a bag full of cold medicine matching Sylvia’s prescription.
“Sylvia, if you’re not feeling well… maybe you shouldn’t go to the banquet tonight,” Clare said worriedly.
“I’ll be fine; don’t worry,” Sylvia forced a smile and went upstairs.
After taking the medicine, she lay down and fell into a restless sleep filled with nightmares one after another.
Old Mrs. Hipps woke her up from one such nightmare. Standing by her bed with a look of concern and affection in her eyes, she asked softly, “Did you have a nightmare?”
Sylvia wiped the sweat from her forehead and sat up. “Grandma, what time is it?”
“It’s four in the afternoon. How are you feeling? Any better?” Old Mrs. Hipps asked with concern.
Sylvia nodded, “I’ve sweated so much; I think the fever has broken.”
“Let’s check your temperature,” Old Mrs. Hipps handed her an infrared ear thermometer. Sylvia took it and checked her temperature; it showed normal. “No fever anymore. I’ll take a shower.”
There was still a tough battle tonight.
She couldn’t be this weak and sickly.
When she went downstairs later, she saw that the kitchen had prepared a bowl of light yet tasty egg scallion noodles for her.
“Eat some noodles; it’ll make your stomach feel better,” Old Mrs. Hipps sat beside her. “No matter what happens tonight, remember you’re still the rightful daughter of the Hipps family; no one can look down on you.”
“Grandma, I understand,” Sylvia said as she started eating the noodles. They were soft and fragrant.
After getting ready for the evening event around seven o’clock, Old Mrs. Hipps still looked worried seeing Sylvia all dressed up beautifully but looking tired underneath her makeup. “Are you sure you’re okay? Maybe you shouldn’t go.”
Sylvia smiled slightly despite her fatigue showing through her delicate features. “I have to go.”
I must go!
Franklin, wait for me!
The black luxury car drove through the city streets lit by evening lights. Sylvia sat in the back wearing an elegant dress while only the driver was in front.
Her beautiful eyes occasionally glanced out at the passing scenery.
Behind their car was another vehicle carrying Clare and Mollie.
“I’m so worried about Sylvia’s condition,” Mollie said as she leaned against Clare’s broad chest. “Mr. Maskelyne is now the president’s son… why can’t they have a smooth and peaceful life like us?”
Clare gently kissed her forehead. “Don’t worry too much; Sylvia is not an ordinary person. She will manage.”
Despite his words of reassurance, as Sylvia’s uncle, he felt deeply for her struggles.
The car finally stopped at the presidential palace’s parking lot.
The lot was filled with luxury cars; almost everyone arriving was high-ranking officials or wealthy elites-business tycoons and noble heirs and heiresses-all dressed splendidly.
A few young men had just gotten out of their cars and were chatting when two more cars arrived.
Initially unnoticed by them until one man casually glanced back and saw a woman stepping out of one of those cars.
The woman had a slender figure with graceful curves and an especially beautiful face that looked like a celestial being descended from heaven.
The man stood as if struck by lightning. “Is there really such an earthly beauty?”
Hearing his dreamy tone made his companions laugh involuntarily. “What are you babbling about? Where’s this beauty?”
But following his gaze towards where he pointed out-they too were stunned upon seeing Sylvia walk past them followed by Clare and Mollie behind her.
“Good evening,” Clare greeted them with a smile while they were still dazed by Sylvia’s beauty.
“Mr. Hipps… that lady just now…”
“You saw? She’s indeed stunning,” they asked eagerly while Clare’s eyes flashed briefly with annoyance though he didn’t show it outwardly. “That’s my niece Sylvia; excuse me.”
“His niece Sylvia?”
“I heard recently that the real daughter of the Hipps family had been found.”
“Could it be that lady just now?”
They continued discussing among themselves without noticing Clare’s annoyance as he walked away towards Sylvia who had already reached near entrance of banquet hall where she turned back looking at him approaching along with Mollie behind him saying softly but firmly: “Uncle let’s go inside.”