Mrs. Hoyle returned home from the detention center without saying a word. She looked gloomy like black clouds when it was about to rain.
Annie, the little girl who had won her heart, called her but she only glanced at her, patted her head, sighed, and went upstairs.
No one knew what happened to the old lady. The atmosphere was awkward.
After the old lady disappeared on the stairs, Ada Hoyle asked quietly, âWhatâs wrong with mom? What happened?â
Aoba Hoyle was sitting on the sofa reading a newspaper. He cocked his head and shrugged his shoulder, âNo idea. She has always been like this.â
In the evening, Olive Steele asked Annie to call the old lady for dinner, but she refused to come downstairs saying she was not hungry.
âMom has something on her mind.â said Ada Hoyle.
It was obvious. Aoba Hoyle rolled his eyes on his sister.
Alan Hoyle asked the maid to find the driver, âWhere did madam go this afternoon?â
âMadam wonât let me talk.â the old drive replied.
âDo you think I wonât find out if you donât tell me?â Alan Hoyle asked flatly, but he was not angry.
He was the person in charge of the family now and the driver was clear about it. If the master wanted to know, he couldnât do anything about it. He hesitated for a little while and finally replied, âMadam went to the detention center to visit Miss Meyer.â
When he said this, he glanced at Olive Steele carefully.
âWhat were they talking about?â asked Alan Hoyle.
The driver shook his head, âMadam didnât let me and Doctor Gu follow in. so, we have no idea what madam and Miss Meyer were talking about.â
Aoba Hoyle scoffed and defended Olive Steele, âI donât know whatâs so good about that snake. Mom has a good daughter-in-law already. I think sheâs just confused.â
Olive Steeleâs eyes dim slightly. The old lady was still concerned about the woman who committed fatal crime against the Hoyle but she still treated her like an outsider. She was uncomfortable, but still, she put on a smile and comforted, âThe old lady watched Miss Meyer grew up. She still cares about her. It shows that when the old lady has set her eyes on someone, she will like the person a lot and Iâm waiting for the day to come.â
She didnât know whether she was comforting herself or others, but maybe both. She told herself to always look at the positive side of everything before moving on. She knew she couldnât think too much of this, or else it would only bother her.
Alan Hoyle clasped her fingers and placed them on his laps, âYou captured our hearts. Itâs only a matter of time before my mother surrenders. Donât worry about it.â
Olive Steele smiled, âI have nothing to worry about with you around.â
A womanâs greatest happiness was choosing a right man. No other obstacle came close.
Even so, Olive Steele couldnât stay still and do nothing. She asked the maid to prepare Mrs. Hoyleâs dinner on tray and carried it upstairs herself.
Distance could be sewn closer by doing small things. The old lady could be ungrateful but not her, she couldnât.
There was no light in the room. It was dark. Olive Steele knocked twice, âMrs. Hoyle, Iâm coming in.â
No one responded, but Olive Steele knew that the old lady was inside. She fumbled to turn the lights on and saw the old lady sitting in a cane chair motionless. Her eyes glistened while holding open a photo album in her hand. She was looking at the family photo of the Hoyle and Ophelia Meyer was in it.
âHave you come to mock me?â asked the old lady hoarse and low with a hint of self-mockery.
Olive Steele was puzzled. She walked over and put the tray down gently, âNo. Iâm bringing you your dinner.â
Mrs. Hoyle was stunned. She raised her eyes and asked, âWouldnât it be better for you if I starved to death?â
Olive Steele smiled gently, âWeâre not in Great Depression nor in a poor mountainous area.â
âTake it away. I have no appetite.â
âYou have something in mind, donât you?â
âItâs none of your business.â
âSomething on your mind is not my business, but you skipping your dinner is.â Olive Steele closed the photo album and placed it on the corner of the bed. She moved the table closer, put the tray on it, and grabbed a chair to sit with her.
âI wonât be moved even if you do this.â said Mrs. Hoyle.
âYou donât have to. Iâm not used to you being moved. Your body your rules, but if you collapse and fail to wait for the day to come, donât blame me for not fulfilling my promise.â
Mrs. Hoyle glared at her, âDo you want me to die?â
Olive Steele shrugged, âIf thatâs how you think, then I canât help it. Iâm just saying, instead of fighting with me, itâs better for you to have your dinner and after that, I will get out of your sight.â
âI donât think you care about me that much. If you want to leave, just leave. You donât have to pretend to care about me in front of Alan. That will only make you hypocritical.â said the old lady.
Olive Steele reluctantly said, âIf saying these things makes you feel better, go ahead, but I think you should know that whatever I do to you doesnât affect my position in Alanâs heart. I care about you because you are Alanâs mother. I have decided to move on. If I hold a grudge against what you did to me in the past, not only that it will be hard on you, but also on myself. Iâm just hoping to live an easier, less tiring life.â
Her words stunned the old lady, âI see youâre getting better and better at talking.â
âPeople do grow, donât they?â Olive Steele laughed, âIf I donât grow up, how am I supposed to protect my daughter and others I love? I think you know better after Mr. Hoyleâs death.â
The year her husband died, her eldest son was nowhere to be found. She tried so hard saving the company and raising both of her children. She was exhausted. Later, after Alan Hoyle returned, she pushed him into being the president of the company, but she never thought that the biggest enemy was the person she trusted the most.
At the thought of Ophelia Meyer and her family and her sweet word that was nothing but poison, the gas accumulated in her chest for days came out into a mouthful of blood staining the tablecloth.
âWhatâs wrong?â Olive Steele was startled, but soon calmed down and shouted loudly at the door, âDoctor Gu! Doctor Gu!â
The whole family fell in chaos. They froze when they saw the scene before them, âWhat happened?â
âGrandma, whatâs the matter?â
Doctor Gu held the old lady to the bed.
Mr. Ding, a senior housekeeper in the family heard the cry and ran over. He was a distant relative of Mrs. Hoyle. He had working for the Hoyle for more than 20 years. He was both a servant and a family for Mrs. Hoyle. When he saw Mrs. Hoyleâs pale face, he stopped breathing. She accused Olive Steele without hesitation, âMiss Steele, we know that you win the young masterâs favor so much that he turns his back against his family, but this is too much. You are well aware that madam is not in her best condition. Canât you talk less and stop provoking her?â
Olive Steele was too lazy to dispute with him. She had dealt with the housekeepers several times before and none on them was sane. To be honest, Olive Steele didnât have any impression of this person, but it seemed that he genuinely cared for the old lady.
âItâs not hear faultâ¦â said the old lady. She scared everybody for vomiting blood but strangely enough, she felt better now.
âMadamââ
âIâm fine.â Mrs. Hoyle took a glass of water handed by Doctor Gu to rinse her mouth. Then, she took a deep breath.
After the doctor nodded his head in affirmation, everyone was relieved.
Olive Steele was surprised. The old lady had always been unhappy with her. She had always been confronting her verbally. It was the first time she said a good thing about her and actually defended her.
The sun would probably rise in the west tomorrow morning.
Ada Hoyle sat down on the bed and took her motherâs hand, âMom, you scared me to death.â
Although the mother and daughter were not very close and often behaved like strangers, but there were times when they were simply connected to each other. After all, they were mother and daughter.
How could they live without affection toward each other?
âYou still care about your mother, huh? I thought youâre always against me.â said Mrs. Hoyle without withdrawing her hand.
âAgainst you? What are you talking about? Iâm just doing what I think is right.â
âSo, do you mean that Iâm always wrong?â
Seeing that the dispute between mother and daughter was on the verge, Olive Steele poked Ada Hoyle on the back to remind her to speak carefully.
âI donât think Mrs. Hoyle will be able to eat these meals for the time being. Iâll take it out and send it again in two hours.â
This time, the old lady didnât object. She raised her hand and waved gently, âYou can all go out except Doctor Gu. I need some space.â
After seeing that she was fine and was accompanied by a doctor, everyone left at ease. When Olive Steele was at the door, the old lady said, âCook me some porridge, like the one you did this morning.â
âSure.â Olive Steele looked back and smiled.
Downstairs, Ada Hoyle patted her shoulder, âSis, thank you.â
Aoba Hoyle smiled, âIt seems that you just tamed her demon. My happiness with Chloe is in your hands. So, you have to cheer up!â
Olive Steele, however, was worried that Chloe Malanâs straight temper would make it difficult to get through the old ladyâs bend.