Lucille initially thought that creating a down-to-earth persona for her son would help salvage his terrible reputation.
However…
She hadn’t anticipated someone capturing photos of Marco having a lavish breakfast, along with shots of a man staging the photos for him.
Lucille was so furious she nearly lost her mind.
“Who is so blind?” she glared at the news on her phone, “I bet someone is targeting the young master. Find out who’s behind this immediately; I won’t let them off easily!”
The assistant cautiously glanced at Lucille’s expression before speaking, “It might have been taken by a passerby who casually posted it online, and then someone with an agenda picked it up and blew it up. Plus, given the young master’s usual behavior… everyone knows what he’s like. So… this reputation crisis might really be hard to handle.”
Lucille stared coldly at him, “What are you all here for?”
“This is beyond our control. The young master has always lived very uniquely. No matter how we advise him, he does as he pleases… Many times he doesn’t follow the scripts we prepare, changing plans last minute, ruining perfectly good marketing strategies,” the assistant was on the verge of breaking down.
Your son is hopeless, don’t you know?
Why make things difficult for those of us working?
He was lucky to be born into your family, but we are the ones suffering!
“Forget it, go find out who’s behind this,” Lucille waved him off.
The assistant, feeling relieved, quickly turned and left.
What a joke, with your son like this, does anyone even need to sabotage him? His actions alone could dominate national headlines for three hundred days!
Indulging in every vice except drugs-if he ever got into drugs, Lucille would surely skin him alive.
Who would have thought Lucille’s son would be such a failure?
No one knows how he turned out this way.
The assistant dared not voice his anger, only daring to fume internally.
After all, he was earning a high salary from Lucille and was essentially her lapdog.
Meanwhile, on social media, the backlash was severe, with nearly everyone condemning Marco.
“How could such an outstanding woman like Lucille have a waste like you?”
“You’re the biggest stain on the Hogan family.”
“If it weren’t for you, Lucille’s life would be perfect.”
“Disgusting, ugh, stop pushing news about him to me, it’s an eyesore every few days.”
“I wish I could gouge my eyes out for having clicked on this trash.”
“Such a waste of resources! Seeing him makes me furious. Why was he born into such privilege?”
“Look at the other Hogan family heirs; each one is excellent. Why is he so low?”
“I hope next time he trends it’s because of Vinegar Fire, haha!”
Some even began cursing Marco, which enraged him so much that he smashed his phone against the wall. With a loud crash, the phone hit the ground, and he stomped on it several times until it was completely shattered.
Sabrina walked in just in time to see her long-absent brother venting his anger on his phone. She looked at him with a ghostly gaze, “Marco, can’t you stop causing trouble for Mother every day? Mother is Aettosa’s pride, and what about you? If it weren’t for you, Mother wouldn’t be mocked and ridiculed.”
“What do you know!” Marco snapped impatiently upon hearing Sabrina’s lecture and headed upstairs without looking back.
Sabrina watched his retreating figure and smirked.
It’s Mother who spoiled you rotten, and yet you still act so smug.
Lucille was so upset by her useless son that she skipped dinner and went straight to her study upon returning home.
The atmosphere in the Hogan family was particularly gloomy.
In contrast, the Hipps Family was full of joy. Alex had quickly adapted to life at his new kindergarten. Although only two and a half years old, he attended the youngest class.
He started school earlier than some children who begin at three.
After discussing with the teacher, Sylvia and Franklin decided that enrolling him in a regular kindergarten class was more appropriate than a nursery class.
Queena’s recent illness had visibly drained her energy, leaving her less vibrant than before.
However, her spirits remained high.
“Alex, hurry up and eat; this crab is full of roe,” she said while carefully shelling crabs for the child with great enthusiasm.
While shelling crabs, she glanced at the baby in the stroller, “When this one grows up, I wonder if my old eyes will still be able to shell crabs for him.”
“Of course you will!” Sylvia laughed. “By the time he’s old enough to eat crabs, he’ll only be two or three years old. That’s just two or three years from now; you’re still in good health!”
“You sweet talker.” Queena smiled warmly as she opened another crab.
At that moment, a servant brought over a bowl of medicinal porridge for Queena. “This is a special medicinal porridge Miss made for you; you must finish it.”
“It’s filled with ingredients that replenish energy and blood; it’s good for your recovery,” Sylvia said as she glanced at Mollie. “When you were in confinement and I wasn’t home, I also made red mushroom soup for you. Red mushrooms are highly nutritious; make sure to finish it.”
“Thank you, Sylvia. It’s wonderful having a doctor in the family.” Mollie cheerfully handed the baby to Clare.
The family sat together happily enjoying dinner. Afterward, they discussed plans for Alex and Queena’s discharge celebration party.
After some discussion, Mr. Hipps said, “Let’s schedule it for Friday evening; that seems most suitable.”
“We’ll just invite some close friends and relatives, those who are close to our family. There’s no need for anyone else,” Queena said. Now older and having experienced many ups and downs with the Hipps Family over the past two years, she no longer wanted to host extravagant events for minor occasions.
Nothing compares to a harmonious family life.
“We’ll introduce Alex to everyone then,” Queena said with a smile. “In the past, there was an old saying that when you can’t have children of your own, adopting one would bring your own child. I wonder if that’s true.”
Sylvia worried that Alex might feel uncomfortable hearing this and quickly interjected, “There’s no scientific basis for that. Besides, we didn’t adopt Alex just to have our own child. It’s purely because Alex is so adorable and his mother couldn’t care for him alone.”
“Well said,” Clare agreed. “Mom, please don’t say things like that again. Alex is still young; if he hears such things when he’s older, he’ll be upset.”
“Oh dear, I’m getting senile; I didn’t think before speaking,” Queena said awkwardly. “I won’t say it again; blame my quick tongue. You young folks can educate me.”
“Tomorrow the President will be moved to a regular ward; Grandpa and I will visit him then,” Sylvia changed the subject. “My uncle has been there these past few days; our family should make an appearance too.”
“We were planning to go!” Queena nodded. “We’ll go with you after you finish work tomorrow.”
“Alright,” Sylvia replied before taking Alex upstairs to rest.
Everyone dispersed afterward.
Early the next morning, the driver took Alex to kindergarten.
Sylvia accompanied the Hipps Family members to the hospital.
They brought along some gifts and nutritional supplements in the car. Once at the hospital, Sylvia first conducted her routine rounds.
After finishing her rounds, she transferred the President from ICU to a regular VIP ward equipped with comprehensive facilities and a pleasant environment.
The ward had a private bathroom with a shower and other high-end amenities and supplies.
The President was conscious when Sylvia arrived. His expression turned uneasy upon seeing her and darkened further when he noticed the Hipps Family members accompanying her.
Then he heard Mr. Hipps’ voice asking about his recovery and well-being.
Good! Good? What’s good about it? Can’t you see I’m still hooked up to an IV? The President raged internally but maintained composure outwardly as he weakly replied, “It’s alright…”
His voice came out hoarse and frail.
“As we age, we must take care of our health. Sylvia even makes medicinal porridge for me. It tastes quite good! Franklin is truly fortunate!” Queena smiled warmly at the President lying in bed while praising Sylvia and subtly flaunting her happiness.
She hadn’t forgotten about the President sneaking into their home to enjoy Sylvia’s cooking.
“Heh-” The President tried to chuckle sarcastically but winced from pain as it tugged at his surgical wound.
He gritted his teeth in agony and gave up attempting humor while enduring their endless praise of Sylvia without being able to retort since speaking too much would aggravate his wound-a living torment indeed!
“Oh right! We’re hosting Alex’s adoption party on Friday along with celebrating my discharge from hospital-you probably won’t be able to attend due to your condition,” Queena mentioned casually before asking if he had any objections regarding their decision about Alex since he seemed disapproving towards Sylvia herself-wouldn’t want him holding grudges against little Alex too?
“I… I…” The President fumed at this topic! He glared angrily but struggled against rising chest pain as his surgical wound throbbed painfully again!
Mr. Hipps jumped startledly exclaiming about blood seeping through bandages! “Someone call Sylvia over quickly!”
Queena panicked nearly losing her wits urging them frantically pressing emergency buttons summoning nurses/doctors immediately since she’d recently been discharged herself thus familiarized well enough navigating hospital equipment!