Issac was in the car when he saw Olivia. He greeted her politely, “Madam Clarkson, you look very well today, even younger!”
Olivia smiled and replied, “Oh, stop flattering me. My age is no secret. You’ve been with Edward for many years now. I hope you continue to support him.”
“Of course, it’s my duty.”
Nanci held Olivia’s hand and said, “Olivia, Edward is very good to the employees. Naturally, they will support him, so you don’t need to worry.”
At the company.
Nanci and Edward walked on either side of Olivia. Seeing them, everyone knew that the elderly lady in the middle must be Edward’s grandmother who had been in the hospital. They all greeted her, and Olivia responded with a smile.
“Olivia, do you notice any changes in the company?”
“It’s changed so much! Edward has done well. His grandfather would be proud of him. When I was with Edward’s grandfather starting the company, It was tough back then. But look how far we’ve come! Now there are at least a few hundred people in the company!”
In the office, Edward poured tea for them. Olivia said, “Edward, go ahead with your work. Nanci will keep me company.”
Issac knocked on the door and said, “Sir, there’s a meeting soon.”
Nanci added, “Yes, you go ahead. I’ll stay with Olivia.”
Edward said, “I’ll be back as soon as I’m done. You can sit here or take a walk outside.”
In the office, Olivia stood up and walked around. She saw a green plant on the desk and asked, “Nanci, did you buy this? Edward wouldn’t think of it.”
“You’re so smart, Olivia! Yes, I bought it. By the way, if you’re tired, let me know. There’s a small break room here.”
Olivia looked concerned and said, “This child used to work day and night here. He even rested here. Show me where he used to rest.”
Nanci led her to the break room and turned on the light. “Here’s not that bad. Now he has me and won’t rest here often anymore.”
Olivia’s eyes became moist as she said, “It’s good that he has you. I have no regrets if you give me a great-grandchild soon! I think your child will be just as wonderful as Rhys. So, when do you plan to have one?”
Nanci awkwardly touched her hair and said, “Olivia, we don’t have plans yet. Maybe in a few years. I’m not ready.”
“Don’t worry about anything. Just have the child while I’m still around to help you take care of it. You focus on your work. I’ll handle everything else.”
Seeing Olivia’s expectant eyes, Nanci could only say, “I’ll discuss it with Edward.”
“When are you planning your wedding? Even if I can’t hold my great-grandchild soon, I must attend your wedding. Nanci, I know my days are numbered. I’m afraid of not waking up one day… I can’t say this to Edward. Only you understand me.”
“Olivia! Please don’t say things like that! Your surgery was done by me. Don’t you trust me, Dr. Lancy? As for the wedding…”
Olivia patted Nanci’s hand understandingly and said, “Leave it to me. You’ll have a grand wedding!”
“I was once a young girl too. I know that a wedding holds significant meaning for a woman. Your wedding will be grand so no one thinks you’re undervalued in our family.”
Moved by Olivia’s kindness, Nanci hugged her and said, “A simple wedding with you as a witness would make me happy enough.”
“Silly child! Of course, I’ll witness it, but people who care about you should also see your happiness. We must show them that you’re chosen by me personally as my granddaughter-in-law,” Olivia said warmly.
“Alright,” Nanci agreed.
Walking outside, employees who weren’t in meetings respectfully greeted them. Nanci enthusiastically introduced each department’s responsibilities until she felt a warm sensation in her abdomen.
She said with a strained expression, “Olivia, I need to use the restroom quickly.”
Olivia worriedly asked if she had eaten something bad and insisted on waiting outside the restroom.
After helping Nanci into the restroom, Olivia waited outside, looking worried.
At that moment, a woman stepped out of the restroom and spotted Olivia. Her eyes lit up immediately upon seeing her. Earlier that morning, she had heard many people talking about how Edward’s grandmother had come to the company, and she had been thinking all day about how to make a good impression. Now, this good opportunity was right in front of her.
She believed this was a chance from fate, so she eagerly approached her, asking,
“Madam Clarkson, is there anything I can help you with?”
Olivia looked at her and, not recognizing her, assumed she was just a kind stranger. She replied, “I’m waiting for someone. She just went inside. You can go ahead and attend to your work.”
The woman continued to inquire, “Who are you waiting for? I’ve been at this company for a while, so I might know her. How long has she been inside? Do you need me to help?”
Thinking the woman might know Nanci, Olivia said, “My granddaughter-in-law is in there. She suddenly felt a bit unwell, so she went in a little while ago. Could you please check on her for me?”
Upon hearing “granddaughter-in-law”, the woman’s expression momentarily darkened, but she quickly composed herself and said sweetly, “Of course. But it’s not good for you to just stand here. Let me take you somewhere to sit for a bit. I’ll have her come find you when she’s out. How does that sound?”
Olivia thought the woman spoke elegantly and assumed she was a good person. Also, she was indeed a bit tired from standing, so she nodded in agreement. The woman assisted her to a lounge area farther away from the restroom, ensuring Olivia couldn’t hear Nanci calling for her. Then she said, “Madam Clarkson, please sit here for a moment. I’ll go check on your granddaughter-in-law.”
“Alright, thank you!” Olivia replied.
“No need to mention it. This is what I should do,” the woman said with a smile.
Once alone in the restroom, the woman looked around to make sure no one was watching, then called out, “Is anyone in there?”
Nanci, hearing a strange voice, thought it wasn’t directed at her and stayed silent, assuming it was someone else. She was in the restroom, feeling unwell with cramps and unable to stand, and her phone was left in the office. Trying to avoid worrying Olivia, she was unsure of what to do. Finally, she couldn’t hold back and called out, “Olivia! Are you out there? Can you come in for a moment?”
The woman, thinking Nanci wasn’t inside, was surprised when she heard her voice. With a wicked grin, she said, “Hehe, no one can hear you. Just stay there, Nanci!” She then shut the restroom door, locked it with a mop, and placed a “Cleaning In Progress” sign at the entrance, hoping nobody would come in and leave Nanci in there alone.
Nanci, not hearing Olivia’s response, began to panic. She was terrified something had happened to Olivia.
The woman, satisfied with her plan, clapped her hands. Just as she turned around, she saw another woman standing nearby watching her. She quickly ran away.
Fearful of being discovered, the woman dashed after her, catching her arm and pulling her into a small corner. She started to explain, “Ada, don’t be scared! I just noticed a strange smell in the restroom and didn’t want others to have to deal with it, so I took care of things. I didn’t mean for you to misunderstand…”
Ada, incredulous, asked, “Then why did you chase after me? You could’ve just told me! I thought you…”
The woman complained, “You didn’t even give me a chance to explain before you ran away! How was I supposed to tell you anything? If you’d gone out and spread rumors, I’d be finished at this company!”
Ada, naive and believing her, said apologetically, “I’m sorry! I was just really scared and thought you were doing something wrong…”
The woman hugged Ada to comfort her. “After spending so much time with me, you should know what kind of person I am.”
Ada nodded earnestly, “Sorry for misunderstanding you!”
The woman thought to herself, “No wonder nobody else in the company wants to befriend her. She’s so naive and gullible, easy to manipulate!”
After a moment, she released Ada and said, “I have to take care of something, so you can go back to your work. Let’s meet for lunch later.”
As the woman made her way back to the lounge, Olivia asked, “Hello! How is my granddaughter-in-law? Where’s she? Why didn’t she come back with you?”
The woman lied, “I just checked on her, and she looked really uncomfortable, holding her stomach in pain. She asked me to let you know that she’s going to the hospital and that you should wait for her at the office.”
“What? Did she go to the hospital? Why didn’t she tell me? Do you know which hospital? I need to go see her!” Olivia exclaimed.
“No, no, Madam Clarkson! She specifically said you shouldn’t go. It would make her sad. She promised she’d be back as soon as she could. You must stay here and wait for her,” the woman insisted.