Edward and Nanci returned to the office, but Edward still felt uneasy as he watched her remain so calm. He voiced his concerns. “Nanci, after everything she’s done to you, why are you still willing to help her find her child and prepare to save him?”
“Because I’m a doctor. It’s my duty to save lives,” Nanci replied, her voice steady. “Her mistakes have nothing to do with the child. If she were sick, I would still choose to help her. Once the child is taken care of, I won’t be involved in her life anymore. That’s beyond my responsibility.”
“Nanci…”
“I really am fine. I know who’s behind this, and I need you to help me check who has been applying to Alderley Industries without success. The woman called me this morning, but I didn’t think much of it. Now that she’s done something like this, I can’t just ignore it. I want her to face the consequences,” Nanci sighed, feeling a sense of frustration. She couldn’t understand why fate always seemed to be so cruel to her. Every time she began to enjoy a sweet life, trouble struck again.
Edward didn’t know what to say, so he held her tightly, hoping to give her some comfort. Even though Nanci was prepared for what lay ahead, his embrace made her eyes swell with tears.
Remembering that she was supposed to visit Olivia, she sniffed, wiped her eyes with a tissue, and stepped out of his embrace.
“Okay, I’m fine now. I still need to visit Olivia. I’ve gotten delayed because of this, and she’s been waiting for me. She wants to have the cake I bought, so I should get going.”
“I’ll go with you. Don’t refuse. I know you need me right now. Don’t push me away, Nanci. I’m here for you, and it’s only right that I support you,” he said, wrapping his warm hand around hers as they left the office.
Nanci didn’t resist. She appreciated having someone by her side. Once they were in the car, she said, “We need to stop by a sweet shop. Their cake is really delicious. I’m sure Olivia will love them.”
At the sweet shop.
After buying the cake, Nanci went to the register to pay, and once outside, she handed half of the cake to Edward, who ate it without hesitation.
Suddenly, Nanci panicked, “Aren’t you not a fan of sweets? Sorry that I totally forgot…”
Edward affectionately ruffled her hair, saying, “I love whatever you give me. Besides, this is hand-fed by you, so it tastes even better.”
Nanci chuckled, “You really know how to sweet-talk. If you don’t like it, you don’t have to eat it. I’m not the type to force someone.”
“You finally smile! I’m glad to see that. I’ll take care of anything that makes you sad. You just need to keep smiling.”
“About that child…”
“Don’t worry. I told Issac to inform me as soon as there’s any news. He’s capable. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been with me for so long.”
“Alright, let’s hurry to see Olivia. It’s almost evening, and we should have dinner with her. After waiting for me so long, she might think I stood her up, and that would make her sad. When she sees you, she’ll be even happier. She always complains about you, but deep down, she misses you a lot.”
“I know. That’s why I’m doing everything I can to give her the best life possible. I just wish time would slow down and not take her away from us.”
“She will definitely live a long life! You’ve already done so much to give her the best life. You’re amazing, and she must be proud to have you as her grandson.”
Edward smiled genuinely, reaching for her hand with one of his.
Nanci scolded him, “What are you doing? You’re driving, so please focus! I don’t want to die young!”
Edward chuckled and replied, “Alright, my bad.”
In the hospital room, as Nanci and Edward pushed the door open, they found Olivia sitting on the bed, staring out the window, lost in thought. When she saw them, her eyes lit up.
Nanci approached her with cake, saying, “Olivia, I’m sorry we’re late. Something came up, so… Anyway, we’re here! Try this piece of cake and see if it tastes good. If you like it, I’ll bring you more next time.”
Olivia took the cake and took a bite. “It’s alright. I’m just glad you’re here. You haven’t had dinner yet, have you? Are you hungry? Edward, why don’t you go get us some food? I haven’t eaten either. I’m starving.”
Edward nodded and stepped out. Nanci noticed that Olivia seemed to want to have a conversation without him around, so she quietly waited for Olivia to speak up.
Olivia took Nanci’s hand and began, “Nanci, I want you to know that I’m relieved to see you two doing well. I’m getting older, and I know my body better than anyone. Edward can be a bit stubborn sometimes, so I hope you can be understanding of him. He’s a good person…”
“Olivia! What are you talking about? You’re going to live a long life! Don’t you want to witness our wedding?”
“Of course, I want to! When are you two planning to get married? I’d love to be there to celebrate it.”
“Well, you need to take care of yourself. Planning a wedding takes time, doesn’t it? Don’t think too much. You’ll be fine. I’ll check with the doctor to see if you can leave the hospital and come home. We should all live together!”
Olivia smiled, “It’s alright. As long as you two are happy, that’s what matters. I won’t intrude on your little world; I know young people like their privacy!”
“Isn’t it better if we see each other every day at home? We even have a new cat named Bella. She’s super cute. You’ll have to come and see her!”
When Edward returned with the food, he quietly set everything on the table.
Nanci and Olivia exchanged glances, instantly adjusting their moods. Nanci helped set up the table, and Olivia looked at them with a contented smile, saying, “Edward, you’re really lucky to have found such a kind girl like Nanci. If I’m not around one day, you better not mistreat her!”
Edward frowned, “What are you talking about, Grandma? Aren’t you hungry? Let’s eat.”
The three of them finished dinner in a heavy atmosphere, with Olivia watching them but saying little. Suddenly, Edward’s phone rang. He stepped outside to take the call and returned to Nanci, saying, “We need to go back to the office for a bit. There are some matters to attend to.”
“Grandma, we’ll come back to keep you company another day. Take care of yourself.”
Olivia smiled, “Go ahead. Just remember to take care of yourself, and don’t overwork yourselves.”
“Okay/ Goodbye, Olivia,” Nanci said as they left the hospital.
Once outside, Nanci turned to Edward and said, “What if we bring Olivia home to live with us? When I visited her the other day, she seemed to be in decent spirits, but today… it feels different.”
Hearing her words, Edward felt a pang in his heart. He could sense the change in his grandmother today as well. He looked at Nanci and asked, “Would you feel uncomfortable if Olivia came to live with us?”
Nanci rolled her eyes. “What nonsense are you talking about? I could never resent her coming to stay with us! Seeing her every day at home would make me so happy! Plus, she’s been in the hospital for so long. She must feel really bored. We should make her happy.”
“Alright, let’s plan to bring her home in a few days.”
At the Clarkson family’s residence.
Sophie was excitedly sharing with Elizabeth about how someone had tried to throw sulfuric acid at Nanci outside Alderley Industries.
Elizabeth calmly smiled and replied, “See? I told you, we should just sit and watch. There are definitely more people who dislike her than just us. She’ll get what’s coming to her without us lifting a finger. Isn’t that great?”
Sophie added with a hint of disappointment, “If only it had hit her face… I wonder who’s capable of such a thing. I can’t help but applaud them, haha! I didn’t expect there to be so many people who hate her.”
“Anyway, we shouldn’t get involved. You know your brother’s temper well enough.”
Though Sophie was reluctant, she remembered Edward’s demeanor that day and begrudgingly replied, “Alright.”
As Edward drove back to the company, they both got out of the car simultaneously. He took Nanci’s hand gently and said, “Don’t be afraid when we go in. I’m right by your side. Just be yourself.”
Nanci nodded and walked to Issac’s office, only to find a crowd gathering outside. Edward glanced at the onlookers and remarked, “Are you all too idle at work? Do you really have time to be this curious?” The crowd quickly dispersed back to their desks at his words.
Once inside, Nanci saw security restraining a woman. She didn’t recognize the woman but approached, asking, “So, are you the one behind all this? Just because I didn’t agree to help you?”
The woman glared at her defiantly. “Aren’t you just a lucky one with a pretty face? You refuse to help me, and I can’t understand what gives you the right to turn me down. I just can’t stand you!”
“Is that really why you sent someone to harm me?”
“Yes!”
Nanci coldly replied, “Then you should reflect on your actions in prison. There’s something wrong with your brain, and I won’t be able to cure it. I don’t feel I’ve done anything wrong.”
The woman began to laugh mockingly, “Hahaha, do you really think you’re something special? It’s just Edward protecting you. Just wait until his novelty wears off!”
“I’m not with Nanci out of novelty,” Edward interrupted. “Issac, take care of her.”