Chapter 103: Chapter 103

When Anna came back to the room and pushed the door open, she found that the room was in darkness. She could see a figure sitting on the sofa with the help of the light that came in from outside.

With a cigarette between his fingers, Wayne inhaled deeply on the cigarette and the cigarette end glowed red in the darkness.

After hesitation, Anna closed the door gently and walked toward him. “Why did you suddenly come back? You don’t like the gumbo?”

“No,” Wayne answered briefly. For a moment, Anna didn’t know what to say.

She gently waved her hand, trying to disperse the smoke. Although she had been holding her breath, she couldn’t help but cough when inhaling the smoke.

Hearing her cough, Wayne paused for a few seconds and stubbed out the cigarette. Then he stood up and opened the window, letting the fresh air in. The oppressive atmosphere in the room gradually faded away.

“We’ll leave early tomorrow morning. As for the man that you hit, he’ll go back with us and be transferred to the hospital of Birmingham,” Wayne said. His low voice sounded dull in the rain.

Hearing that, Anna breathed a sigh of relief and nodded. When she realized that Wayne was standing with his back to her and couldn’t see her action, she said, “OK. All my work here has been finished. If it weren’t for the rainstorm, we would have gone back to Birmingham today.”

Wayne nodded without saying anything and then he went into the bathroom. Soon, the sound of water running came from inside.

After staying in the room a while, Anna walked out and went downstairs. Most of the guests had gone back to their rooms and the hall became quiet again.

The receptionist was cleaning up the tables. When she saw Anna coming downstairs, she asked, “Miss, you and your boyfriend didn’t have much of the gumbo. Is it not to your taste?”

Anna didn’t clarify the relationship between Wayne and her and made an excuse. “He’s not feeling well and has no appetite, so we went back to the room just now. Sorry.”

“Why do you apologize? It doesn’t matter. Did he catch a cold because of the cold weather? There are medicines at the front desk,” the receptionist said.

“Thank you. He’s better now,” Anna smiled and said. “Well, may I use the kitchen to cook some noodles?”

“What?” The receptionist was stunned and seemed to be in a dilemma. “Sure.” A gentle voice came from the kitchen door. Anna turned around and saw Jennie.

In a plain cotton dress, Jennie drew the tie-dyed curtain and looked at Anna with a hint of eagerness in her eyes.

“Thank you,” Anna said and then followed her into the kitchen.

Jennie was over fifty years old but was not sophisticated. She was simple and kind, and there was always a gentle look in her eyes.

Previously, Anna just felt that Jennie looked familiar. When Jennie asked about Wayne before, she found it strange but didn’t think too much.

And it was not until just now that she guessed the relationship between Jennie and him by judging from Wayne’s behavior.

Although Wayne never talked about his family with her, she had heard some rumors about Jennie. And he knew that Wayne had a bad relationship with his mother.

Looking at Jennie who was graceful and friendly, Anna thought that she was not like the skittish woman in the rumor.

“What do you need?” Jennie asked softly.

Hearing her voice, Anna wrenched her mind back to the present and said, “I want to cook some noodles. Do you have flour and the rolling pin?”

“Yes. Let me help you,” Jennie said. “No, thanks,” Anna refused.

Seeing the disappointment in Jennie’s eyes, she frowned and explained at once, “Ms. Wilson, I didn’t mean...”

“I know what you mean,” Jennie said with a self-mocking smile as she slowly moved her hands away from the flour bag. “You are worried that he won’t eat the food that I cook, right?”

Anna showed an embarrassed look with her lips compressing into a thin line. She wanted to pretend that she didn’t know everything about the Wright family but her reaction just now betrayed her.

“I just don’t want to bother you. I can do it myself. I have nothing to do now anyway. It’s a good way to kill time,” she said tactfully and eased the embarrassment in the kitchen.

“All right. Suit yourself. If you need help, just let me know,” Jennie said with a smile. When she turned around and was about to leave, she was stopped by Anna.

“Hold on, Ms. Wilson. Well, I’m wondering if you are free now. Could you teach me how to cook noodles?”

Hearing this, Jennie was stunned for a moment and then understood what Anna meant. She nodded happily, pulled out a chair, and then sat down.

When Anna made noodles, Jennie told her how much flour and water she needed to add and how to flatten the dough.

Soon, the dough took shape. Anna then kneaded it into a strip and cut it into thin noodles. When the water in the pot was boiling, she put the noodles into it.

“I knew you work at Carousel Group, but I didn’t expect that you are so close to him,” Jennie suddenly said, looking at Anna smilingly.

Anna immediately understood the “him” she was referring to was Wayne. Then she said, “When you beat around the bush and asked me about his condition before, I thought that you were just curious about him.”

Jennie was stunned. “You know who I am? Did he ever tell you about me?” she asked.

“I don’t you know what you mean, Ms. Wilson.” Anna didn’t answer her directly.

As an outsider, she thought that she’d better not talk too much about others’ family affairs.

“Don’t call me Ms. Wilson,” Jennie looked at her and said, “My name is Jennie Wright. If you don’t mind, you may call me Auntie Jennie.”

Hearing this, Anna asked in confusion, “Your family name is Wright?” “No one told you about it?” Jennie asked in surprise.

Anna shook her head seriously. Then she thought, She is Wayne‘s mother. It‘s not surprising that her family name is Wright.

Seeing Anna’s reaction, Jennie then realized something.

She smiled with self-mockery and said helplessly, “It seems that he has never mentioned me to you. Forget it. I’ve left him for so many years. There’s indeed no need for him to mention me to others.”

Then she raised her head to look at Anna with clear eyes and continued in a calm tone, “I’m the adopted daughter of the Wright family. I grew up with Wayne’s father and we got married before we graduated from college. Well, it’s been so many years. Dad hasn’t told you about this, right? By the way, how is he now?”

Hearing this, Anna looked at her in confusion. She didn’t realize that the “Dad” Jennie referred to was Old Mr. Wright until after a few seconds.

“I have only met Old Mr. Wright once. He’s hale and hearty. Auntie, you may have . misunderstood the relationship between Mr.

Wright and me. Actually, we...”

Before Anna finished her words, she suddenly realized that if she clarified her relationship with Wayne, it would cause more misunderstandings because she couldn’t explain why she slept in the same room with him.

Seeing Jennie gazing at her in puzzlement, she swallowed hard and then said, “We were together not long ago so I don’t know much about his family.”

“I see,” Jennie said as the doubt in her eyes faded away.

Anna nodded with an awkward smile. To avoid Jennie’s gaze, she hurriedly turned around and ladled out the noodles in the pot.

“The noodles are done. Thank you for teaching me how to cook noodles,” she said. “Not at all. I’m the one who should say thank you,” Jennie said smilingly.

It seems that she has taken me as Wayne‘s girlfriend! Anna thought, feeling more embarrassed “Is there any way I can contact you?” Jennie asked.