Although Carley was not married, she could see that Mollie was in great pain and understood the importance of this child to the Hipps Family.
She was still a bit worried. Sylvia had always been kind to her, and Clare and her brother Dariel were good friends.
After thinking for a moment, she said, “Grandma and Grandpa are getting old and need someone to take care of them. Why don’t we stay here and let them go back to rest?”
“No, no, I can manage here alone. It’s so cold outside; everyone should go back,” Clare said immediately, tugging at his suit that had lost its crispness from running around. “Mollie’s condition has stabilized, and there are doctors and nurses here who can help anytime.”
“Uncle is right. It’s too cold, and it’s late. Everyone should go home and rest,” Sylvia said, rubbing her temples, a trace of fatigue flashing in her delicate eyes.
Before Clare could speak, Mollie, lying on the hospital bed, said with concern, “Sylvia, you should go back and rest too. Your uncle can handle things here.”
“Let’s go, Sylvia. Come home with us,” Queena said, taking Sylvia’s arm. “We’ll come back tomorrow.”
“Alright,” Sylvia agreed reluctantly, and the group left the room together.
The hospital room fell silent.
Clare took off his shoes and lay down beside Mollie, holding her in his arms. “Today scared me… Thank goodness for Sylvia…”
“Sylvia was holding me,” Mollie said, still shaken as she nestled into his embrace. “Honey, I’m so glad nothing happened. I would regret it for the rest of my life.”
“You just love to eat too much,” Clare kissed her forehead. “Be more careful in the future; it’s easier to dodge an open attack than a hidden one.”
“I wonder if they’ve found the person who harmed me…” Mollie sighed. “I don’t understand why they would want to hurt me…”
Clare looked at her tenderly. “Don’t worry about that. We’ll deal with it tomorrow. Get some sleep now.”
The night was deep, and the winter weather was bone-chilling. The sound of the north wind hitting the windows was harsh.
The hall was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
The guests had left, leaving only the Hogan family and the Fox family.
Louis glared at Lara with a stern expression. “What were you thinking? Why would you do something so harmful?”
Lara raised her sharp chin arrogantly, a hint of malice in her eyes. “Uncle, there’s no reason. I just can’t stand the Hipps family. Is that not allowed?”
“You couldn’t stand them, so you caused a miscarriage? Today it was just a miscarriage; what will you do next time?” Louis grew angrier, his words harsher. “Your father is unwell, so we came to Miss Hogan’s birthday party instead. And look at you, causing trouble.”
Lara glared at him hatefully, unable to vent her anger. “Uncle, don’t think I don’t know. You favor Sylvia because she’s your apprentice. So you push aside your blood relative?”
“Enough!” Suddenly, a figure rushed over and slapped Lara hard across the face.
Lara clutched her swollen cheek in humiliation, staring in disbelief at Donald, who had just walked in.
Donald coughed heavily several times before looking at Lucille with an embarrassed apology on his face. “Ms. Hogan, it’s my fault for not teaching my daughter better. She caused trouble and damaged your reputation…”
Lucille raised an eyebrow coldly, looking at Donald and his daughter without expression. After a moment, she spoke slowly. “I didn’t expect your judgment to be so poor, choosing such an unworthy daughter. Originally, there was no conflict between the Fox family and the Hogan family, but your daughter created such a big problem for me to handle. How is that fair?”
Donald felt utterly humiliated by Lucille’s words and wished he could disappear on the spot.
His face darkened. “Ms. Hogan, rest assured. I will handle this matter seriously.”
He turned to Lara with a cold look. “Apologize to Ms. Hogan!”
Lara knew Lucille’s methods well; she had seen what happened to Judith and the waiter earlier.
She thought she had done everything perfectly but was still caught by Lucille.
However, she reminded herself that she was not like Judith or the waiter; she was the only daughter and heir of the Fox family.
With that thought, she reluctantly opened her red lips. “I’m sorry.”
“What kind of attitude is that? No sincerity at all!” Donald raised his hand to slap her again but was stopped by Lucille. “Donald, no need to be angry. She’s still young; just make sure she doesn’t act so impulsively in the future.”
Donald trembled with rage. “Still young? This is young? Clearly…” He couldn’t bring himself to say anything too harsh in front of others, still giving Lara some face.
“Forget it; it’s late. You should go back early,” Lucille said with a flash of amusement in her eyes. “Oh, by the way, I heard you acquired that resort.”
Donald’s chest tightened; he knew this was coming.
He knew Lucille wouldn’t be easy to deal with.
“Ms. Hogan, are you interested in it? In that case… I’ll give it to you as an apology.”
A resort project was nothing; the Fox family wouldn’t collapse because of it.
Lucille nodded in satisfaction and extended her right hand to Donald. “Thank you; I won’t decline.”
Donald shook her hand lightly and left.
Lara quickly followed him. “Dad, wait for me!”
But Donald walked straight ahead as if he hadn’t heard her.
Louis nodded at Lucille and left as well.
Sabrina watched them leave and pouted. “Mom, just a resort? That’s too cheap for them.”
“That resort is in an excellent location; it’s a prime spot,” Lucille said happily. “I heard from a master that if I set up a formation there, my grand plan will succeed.”
“Grand plan? Mom… what grand plan?” Sabrina looked at Lucille in confusion. “You’re already very powerful.”
“Yes, I’m powerful now, but Sabrina, you must understand that being second is still being below someone else. You can’t always live under my protection; you need to grow up. If I weren’t here today, wouldn’t you have taken the blame for Lara?”
Lucille spoke earnestly. “Let’s see how the Fox family handles this.”
Sabrina looked at Lucille innocently, still confused. “Mom, didn’t Lara apologize?”
“She hurt Clare, not me,” Lucille said with a playful smile. “Let’s wait and watch the show.”
In the morning, Clare got up early to wash up. The hospital conditions were naturally not as good as at home. Before leaving, he glanced at Mollie still sleeping on the bed, and quietly closed the door to buy breakfast.
He walked down the corridor and turned towards the elevator when he saw Sylvia carrying a thermal food container. She smiled at him with a hint of morning chill on her body. “Uncle, I made soup and steamed buns at home.”
“Sylvia…” Clare felt touched and quickly took the container from her hands. “If it weren’t for you noticing your aunt’s condition yesterday, we might have lost the baby.”
Sylvia interrupted Clare’s gratitude. “Uncle, we’re family; no need for thanks. How is Aunt Mollie?”
“She was still asleep when I left; much better than yesterday.”
As they talked, they reached the hospital room door. Clare gently pushed it open just as Mollie slowly opened her eyes.
She rubbed her eyes and saw Sylvia. “Sylvia, you’re here?”
“Sylvia got up early to make soup and steamed buns herself,” Clare said as he placed the container on the table and helped Mollie up.
Sylvia’s cooking skills were excellent; as soon as the container was opened, a light aroma filled the room along with steaming hot buns.
There were also two small dishes of vegetables; even a simple breakfast made one’s mouth water.
After washing up, Mollie picked up a bun and took a bite before praising it. “Delicious.”
At that moment, there was a sudden knock on the door.
Sylvia stood up from the sofa. “Maybe Grandma and Grandpa are here early.”
She walked towards the door but frowned when she opened it.
Clare turned his head after taking a sip of porridge. “Sylvia, who is it? Why aren’t you saying anything?”
He saw several people standing at the door and quickly realized who they were. “Mr. Fox? Lara?”
Standing outside were Donald and Louis with Lara!
Clare put down his utensils and walked to the door. “What brings you here?”
Donald looked embarrassed but didn’t know how to start; for the first time in his life, he found it hard to speak.