Jared froze for a moment. “What’s wrong with Master?”
Tina picked up a spoon and tasted the porridge. It was soft, sweet, and distinctly Uncle’s handiwork.
She pressed her lips together and said, “Master doesn’t like medicinal ingredients, no matter how they are prepared.”
Jared paused, then gave a bitter smile. “That was my oversight.”
Tina glanced up at him, her eyes clear and knowing. This wasn’t Uncle’s fault at all. “Grandpa still hasn’t calmed down?”
Jared sighed helplessly. “It seems he has… for now.”
Tina chuckled softly and continued eating her sweet porridge.
That night, the two stayed at the Brookes family estate.
—
The next morning.
As Tina woke, a rustling sound reached her ears. She thought it was Uncle moving around nearby.
Just as she was about to open her eyes, a soft little finger poked her cheek, followed by a deliberately hushed, childish voice.
“Tina, why are you still sleeping? It’s already light outside!”
Tina froze.
Kiki and Mimi?
“Mimi, don’t touch!”
Kiki warned in a whisper, “Jared said Tina needs more rest to get better. If you wake her up and it makes her sick again, what will we do?”
Mimi pouted in protest but pulled her hand back, biting her lip. “But I want to play with Tina. She hasn’t been here for so long.”
“That doesn’t matter,” Kiki said firmly. “Tina’s health is the most important. Do you want to see Tina get sick?”
Mimi’s face crumpled, and tears began welling up in her eyes.
Tina couldn’t bear it anymore. She turned her head and pretended to wake up, her voice gentle. “Kiki, Mimi, I’m awake now.”
Mimi’s tears spilled over as she sobbed, “Tina, I didn’t mean to wake you! I don’t want you to be sick. Being sick is so awful.”
Kiki, affected by Mimi’s emotions, started crying too.
“Don’t blame Mimi! She didn’t mean it!”
Tina was at a loss.
She couldn’t understand how these little kids’ thought processes worked-it was harder than her research.
But since she had scared them into crying, it was her responsibility to calm them down.
“Kiki, Mimi, don’t cry. I’m not sick.”
The two little ones wiped their tears simultaneously and asked in unison, “Really?”
Tina smiled and nodded.
Mimi tilted her head in confusion. “Then why did you sleep for so long?”
Tina’s eyes flickered. “I went to bed late last night, so I couldn’t wake up early.”
Kiki exchanged a glance with Mimi, their expressions suddenly understanding. “Did you stay up late playing games with Brother Jared?”
Games?
Tina froze, unsure of what they meant.
Mimi quickly clarified, “The kind of game only two people can play. When Mommy can’t wake up in the morning, Daddy always says it’s because they stayed up too late playing games. Isn’t it the same for you, Tina?”
Tina blinked, speechless.
Oh dear… Could someone save her, please?
Did Jack even know how much his kids understood?
“Tina, you’re awake.”
Outside the door, Jared walked in, dressed in dark casual clothes with a trace of the cool morning air clinging to him.
Tina looked at him like he was her savior, pressing her fingers to her brow. “Uncle, thank goodness you’re back!”
Jared immediately understood what had happened. He chuckled. “I played a game of chess with Grandpa on my way back, so I’m a little late.”
As he spoke, he removed his jacket, revealing a bouquet of flowers in his hand.
They were freshly picked, with dewdrops still glistening on the petals.
“Wow, such beautiful flowers!”
Kiki and Mimi’s eyes lit up as they exclaimed simultaneously.
Jared crouched down and selected the two brightest blossoms from the bouquet, handing them to the girls.
But Kiki and Mimi simply stared at Tina on the bed, hesitant to accept them.
These were for Tina. They couldn’t take them.
Tina smiled, gesturing for them to accept the flowers. Only then did the two children thank Jared and take the flowers, giggling as they ran back to Tina.
“Tina, smell this flower. Doesn’t it smell lovely?”
“And mine too…”
However, as Tina caught the scent of the flowers, her stomach suddenly churned violently.
The reaction hit her so fast that she jumped out of bed and rushed straight to the bathroom.
Outside, Jared’s expression changed. He stepped forward, but the bathroom door was locked.
“Tina, open the door. Let me in.”
Tina’s voice was strained. “Don’t come in, Uncle. I’m fine.”
The two children exchanged a glance and then, without a word, ran out of the room hand in hand.
When Tina finally unlocked the door and stepped out, Jared was waiting for her. Without hesitation, he scooped her up and carried her back to the bed.
After tucking her in, his expression grew serious. “I’ll go get Master.”
Tina grabbed his arm, took a deep breath, and said, “Uncle, it’s not necessary. It’s just morning sickness.”
Jared still looked worried. Thinking of how severe her reaction had been, his eyes filled with concern. “Are you still feeling unwell? I already threw the flowers away.”
Tina wanted to explain that it wasn’t the flowers, but with how her body was reacting, anything could set her off now. There was no point in clarifying.
She sat up slowly, glancing around the now-empty room. “Uncle, where are Kiki and Mimi?”
Jared glanced at the open door. “They probably went back. The housekeeper will take care of them.”
Tina nodded.
Her reaction earlier had been too intense, and she hadn’t explained anything to the kids.
She decided she’d talk to Scarlett during breakfast to reassure them.
Before she could catch her breath, there was a knock at the door, followed by Ian’s hurried footsteps.
“Tina, what happened?”
“Grandpa!”
Tina was stunned to see Ian, but before she could speak, she noticed the group of people behind him.
Her words caught in her throat as she stared at the crowd.
Swallowing nervously, she greeted them one by one. “Isaac, Gavin, Brandon, Jack… and everyone else. Why are you all here?”
The last time the family had gathered like this was when her mother reconnected with the Brookes family.
What was going on now?
Isaac’s expression was full of concern. “Tina, are you feeling unwell? Tell me.”
Gavin immediately chimed in, “Tina, I know plenty of top doctors. Don’t worry.”
Brandon was even more direct. “Exactly, Tina. Just tell us what’s wrong. I’ve already called Master Tam. He’ll be here shortly.”
Tina’s eyebrow twitched as she gave Brandon a meaningful look.
Brandon, thanks a lot.
“Grandpa, Isaac, Gavin, I’m fine. You’re all overreacting.”
She sat up straighter, spreading her arms to show them. “Look, I’m perfectly healthy. I just had a mild allergic reaction to the flowers. It’s not Kiki or Mimi’s fault, so please don’t scare the kids.”
Jack’s face softened, and he stepped forward. “Kiki and Mimi came running to us, crying that you were sick. The rest of us were already discussing something, so we came right away.”
Scarlett, holding the two children close, nodded. “Exactly. Thank goodness we were all home. If something had really happened to you, we’d have been terrified.”
Kiki and Mimi stood with their heads down, fingers twisting together, not daring to look at Tina.