Ch. 1601..1605
Chapter 1601
Sherry grimaced.
Perhaps there was truly no salvaging their relationship this time around.
After half an hour on the highway, a silver car turned into a familiar intersection that led it back to the Stockton Villa. After a while, it stopped in front of the courtyard.
John stepped out of the car and walked into the courtyard.
Before he even managed to step into the living room, a tiny figure hopped like a rabbit toward him.
“Daddy!” Caprice pounced into his arms.
John reacted quickly and immediately carried her into his arms.
Caprice was all over John in an instant as she touched his face and burrowed her face into his neck. She missed her father. John immediately felt a sense of relief, his gloomy mood was alleviated.
Julie stepped out of the living room and joined them. She smiled kindly and greeted John warmly, “Welcome back. Caprice has been going on about how much she misses you
all day. | can’t even get her to sleep no matter how hard | try.”
John smiled and thanked her, “Thanks for taking care of Carrie while | was gone.”
Julie was very courteous as usual. “No, don’t worry about it, I’m more than happy to help you out, especially in times like this.” John smiled. “It's getting late, you should go back and catch up on some rest.”
“It's alright, I’m not tired yet. I'll go to the hospital to see Mom first. Maybe I'll get Queenie to come back so she could get some rest as well.” With that, she walked out of the house before John could have anything to say.
John eyed her briefly, then he carried Caprice back to the room.
Caprice was lying comfortably in the safety of his embrace. She was finally getting sleepy but that did not stop her from wondering. “Daddy, where’s Mommy? Is
Mommy not going to come home after the rescue?” Rescue? This stirred John’s suspicion, he immediately asked, “Rescue? Who did Mommy rescue?”
“| don’t know. | remember seeing a car burning, then Mommy asked Uncle Brandon to stop the car and rushed out of the car with a can of water to put out the giant fire.” John pondered about this and asked again, “What happened after that?”
Caprice continued chirping, “l saw Mommy drag two people out of the car. After that Uncle Brandon covered my eyes so | couldn’t see what happened after that.”
John grimaced.
He recalled what Sherry had told him. She mentioned regretting what she had done after their phone call and how she was going to take Caprice home.
Perhaps she stumbled into the scene of his mother’s car on fire while she was on the way back and immediately sprung to the rescue.
Still, it did not change the fact that all of this would never have happened if not for her running off, prompting Madam Stockton to chase after her!
He took a deep breath and informed Caprice, “Mommy has some urgent business to deal with, she won’t be around for some time.”
Caprice was slightly saddened to hear this and muttered weakly, “Okay.”
John smiled at her and consoled her. “It’s alright, Caprice. I'll tell your bedtime stories while Mommy isn’t around.” Caprice nodded.
After Julie left John’s courtyard, she drove to Glanchester Hospital.
Before turning the corner into Madam Stockton’s ward, she took a deep breath
before heading inside.
Queenie was hunched over Madam Stockton’s bed and was asleep.
With them was the Madam’s faithful maid Emerence. She was vigilantly watching over them.
Emerence turned to Julie and acknowledged her when she entered.
Julie made sure to keep her voice down and greeted Emerence politely, “Aunt
Emerence, it’s getting late, you should get some rest with Queenie.”
Chapter 1602
Something shifted in Emerence’s expression briefly, she smiled and replied, “Thanks for your concern, Madam, but I've already slept a bit just now. I’m not tired.”
“Alright.” Julie approached the bed without another word. She did not bother the unconscious Madam Stockton and went to Queenie instead. She gently patted her on the shoulder. Queenie woke up easily and looked at her with a dazed expression. “Julie? Why are you here?”
Julie spoke softly, “Hey, Queenie, why don’t | watch over her tonight instead? You need to go home and get some proper rest. You can come back tomorrow.”
Queenie rubbed her sleepy eyes. “No need for that, I'll just stay here and be with her. Thanks for the offer though, you can go back if you want to.”
“I'll take care of her, don’t worry about it.”
Queenie smiled. “I know you're trying to help, but | don’t want to leave her right now, | just want to stay by her side. Besides, I'm sure there are many things you have to deal with at home. Why don’t you go back?”
Julie hesitated.
Emerence suddenly chimed in. “Second Madam, | think the lady is right. We need someone at home to keep an eye on things now that Madam Stockton isn’t around at home. We'll stay over here and keep watch.”
Julie gave in. “Alright.”
She put down a tray of food she brought with her and offered it to them. “Here you go, | brought some supper for you two. Make sure you don’t starve at least.”
“Thank you, Julie.” Queenie thanked her sincerely and added, “You should go home, it’s late.” Julie smiled nicely and reminded Queenie to take care of herself again before finally leaving. A bodyguard was posted by the entrance.
Upon leaving, Julie turned to the bodyguard and thanked him, “Thank you for your hard work.” The bodyguard was flattered and replied, “I’m just doing my job, no need to thank me.”
She smiled and added, “Keep up the good work then. Make sure you keep a good eye on them. Queenie can be a little inattentive sometimes. If Madam Stockton exhibits any signs of movement, please contact me immediately.”
The bodyguard found this to be a rather odd request. What sort of movement was a person in a vegetative state supposed to display?
He was wise enough to not express his thoughts and instead answered dutifully,” Understood, Second Madam.” With that, Julie went home. She had initially expected the old hag to die in the collision with the driver. She did not expect her to survive at all.
The good thing was that she was now in a vegetative state and considered as good as dead. Still, it was better to be cautious and on the lookout for the slim chance that she may wake up.
Inside the ward.
After Julie left, Queenie no longer felt sleepy.
She ate what she could of the food’ given to her as eating felt like a task and she did so numbly. Every time she looked at her mother lying in a vegetative state in bed, tears would fall.
Emerence tried to console her. “Queenie, it will be alright.”
Queenie choked up and whimpered. “It’s all my fault.”
Emerence remarked, “Why would it be your fault? Surely you're not responsible for the car accident?”
Queenie held back tears and expressed, “I never should’ve befriended Sherry. When my brother took her back home, | should’ve chased her out of the house like my mom wanted to back then.”
If Sherry had never been a part of their family, Caprice would have never been taken away, then her mother would still be up and walking.
Emerence sighed. After a long, harrowing silence, she stated, “You could partially attribute what happened to Sherry, but the accident was a genuine accident that nobody could have foreseen. Think about this, if not for Sherry changing her mind at the very last second and deciding to come back, she wouldn't have spotted the
burning car on the side of the road. Madam Stockton would’ve burned to death in that car with nobody to save her.” Queenie was taken aback by this. “What did you say? Sherry rescued my mom from a burning car?”
Emerence verified the story. “Yes, the driver Brandon told me that. | heard the full story from Brandon this afternoon while Madam Stockton was being rushed to the hospital. He says that Sherry had a change of heart and decided to bring Caprice back home, and that was when she chanced into the scene of Madam Stockton’s car burning.”
Queenie’s thoughts went back to the phone call with Sherry.
This certainly explained why Sherry somehow stumbled into the scene of her mother in the burning car although based on the timeline of the events, she should have been far away from home by then with Caprice. She must have decided to head back.
Chapter 1603
Queenie frowned. She was not ready to forgive Sherry just yet. “It’s still on her. Even if she did reset her actions and decided to come back, none of this would’ve happened if she didn’t try to take Caprice away in the first place.”
Emerence considered this, then she stated, “Based on that rhetoric, I’d say that the Second Madam is to be blamed as well.” “Julie? What makes you say so?”
Emerence expressed with a stout expression, “She was the one who first spotted Sherry taking Caprice away. If she hadn’t been in such a rush in informing Madam Stockton of that, then the Madam wouldn't have been as frantic as she had been in trying to rescue Caprice.”
Queenie defended Julie. “Julie was only trying to be helpful, she was worried about Caprice.”
“Yes, | suppose you're right.” Emerence did not try to correct Queenie, but she still held her suspicions.
She believed there was more than met the eye.
Queenie was too naive and trusted Julie too much. Nothing would convince her of Julie’s involvement in all this.
As expected, Queenie began to point out more evidence justifying her stance. Besides, it’s been a day already and Sherry hasn't even shown up to visit my mother. How could she be so cruel?”
Emerence supplied a counterpoint. “When | was rushing here this morning, | happened to see her stepping into a car, escorted by Master Stockton’s bodyguards. I’d wager that it's Master Stockton having her sent away.”
Queenie seemed upset by this and snapped. “Stop trying to defend her! She’s evil! She was the one who put my mother in this hospital bed!”
Emerence saw no point in counting their discussion. “Alright, I'll just keep quiet then.” Sherry woke up feeling hungry. Her hunger was so severe that it felt like there was a cramp in her stomach, she was doubling over from the cramp.
The sun had not yet risen, the sky outside was dark and depressing.
She spotted the bodyguards outside having breakfast.
They were eating buns and porridge, served with some milk on the side. The food was laid out across the table.
They sat around the table and chatted while eating.
She clutched at her stomach and snuck up to them like a thief.
Staying as stealthy as she could, she slowly inched toward the table and extended her arms.
She grabbed a piece of bun.
That was when one of them spotted her. Everyone at the table soon noticed as well and turned their collective attention to her. Sherry’s eyes flashed with shock. She seized the bun faster than they could react.
She was deathly afraid of them taking the bun away from her and immediately stuffed the entire thing into her mouth.
They were struck speechless by this.
She covered her mouth and chewed as hard, as quickly as she could. The bun vanished in an instant like magic.
At last, there was food in her stomach. She thanked them in a shaky voice, “Thank you for the bun.” They exchanged looks with each other, then looked at Sherry again.
Sherry noticed that they were not going to punish her and tried her luck. “I’m a little thirsty, could you give me some milk and porridge?”
As soon as they said that, all of them seized the cups of milk and bowls of porridge from the table. In the blink of an eye, there was nothing left to drink, but they forgot the buns.
Sherry scowled, but quickly took advantage of the buns they left behind. In one fell swoop, she had seized all the remaining buns on the table.
She stuffed another large piece of bun into her mouth. Again, they regarded her with baffled expressions. She sneered triumphantly, her cheeks bulged like a hamster’s, then she scuttled
back into the house with her hunger appeased at least.
Chapter 1603
Queenie frowned. She was not ready to forgive Sherry just yet. “It’s still on her. Even if she did reset her actions and decided to come back, none of this would’ve happened if she didn’t try to take Caprice away in the first place.”
Emerence considered this, then she stated, “Based on that rhetoric, I’d say that the Second Madam is to be blamed as well.” “Julie? What makes you say so?”
Emerence expressed with a stout expression, “She was the one who first spotted Sherry taking Caprice away. If she hadn’t been in such a rush in informing Madam Stockton of that, then the Madam wouldn't have been as frantic as she had been in trying to rescue Caprice.”
Queenie defended Julie. “Julie was only trying to be helpful, she was worried about Caprice.”
“Yes, | suppose you're right.” Emerence did not try to correct Queenie, but she still held her suspicions.
She believed there was more than met the eye.
Queenie was too naive and trusted Julie too much. Nothing would convince her of Julie’s involvement in all this.
As expected, Queenie began to point out more evidence justifying her stance. Besides, it’s been a day already and Sherry hasn't even shown up to visit my mother. How could she be so cruel?”
Emerence supplied a counterpoint. “When | was rushing here this morning, | happened to see her stepping into a car, escorted by Master Stockton’s bodyguards. I’d wager that it's Master Stockton having her sent away.”
Queenie seemed upset by this and snapped. “Stop trying to defend her! She’s evil! She was the one who put my mother in this hospital bed!”
Emerence saw no point in counting their discussion. “Alright, I'll just keep quiet then.” Sherry woke up feeling hungry. Her hunger was so severe that it felt like there was a cramp in her stomach, she was doubling over from the cramp.
The sun had not yet risen, the sky outside was dark and depressing.
She spotted the bodyguards outside having breakfast.
They were eating buns and porridge, served with some milk on the side. The food was laid out across the table.
They sat around the table and chatted while eating.
She clutched at her stomach and snuck up to them like a thief.
Staying as stealthy as she could, she slowly inched toward the table and extended her arms.
She grabbed a piece of bun.
That was when one of them spotted her. Everyone at the table soon noticed as well and turned their collective attention to her. Sherry’s eyes flashed with shock. She seized the bun faster than they could react.
She was deathly afraid of them taking the bun away from her and immediately stuffed the entire thing into her mouth.
They were struck speechless by this.
She covered her mouth and chewed as hard, as quickly as she could. The bun vanished in an instant like magic.
At last, there was food in her stomach. She thanked them in a shaky voice, “Thank you for the bun.” They exchanged looks with each other, then looked at Sherry again.
Sherry noticed that they were not going to punish her and tried her luck. “I’m a little thirsty, could you give me some milk and porridge?”
As soon as they said that, all of them seized the cups of milk and bowls of porridge from the table. In the blink of an eye, there was nothing left to drink, but they forgot the buns.
Sherry scowled, but quickly took advantage of the buns they left behind. In one fell swoop, she had seized all the remaining buns on the table.
She stuffed another large piece of bun into her mouth. Again, they regarded her with baffled expressions. She sneered triumphantly, her cheeks bulged like a hamster’s, then she scuttled
back into the house with her hunger appeased at least.
Chapter 1605
Just wait, you brat.
After she managed to sink her claws into John, she would show the brat who was boss.
She held firmly to this future prospect and managed to maintain her cool that way.
She wore the same benign smile.
Caprice eyed her several more times after that, then she sank back into John’s shoulder and caught some shuteye. The car was heading toward Glanchester Hospital.
When they were about halfway there, a phone rang.
John reached for the phone in his pocket.
The moment he saw who the caller was, he tensed up. Slowly but calmly, he put the phone to his ear.
While doing so, he made sure Caprice continued laying on his other shoulder so she would not overhear the conversation on the phone.
It was one of the members of his trusted security team calling. An elaborate report was given to him, relaying what happened earlier in the morning when Sherry had stolen two pieces of buns from them while they were not paying attention. He was informed that Sherry had boiled herself some hot water to drink and that she was now lying idly on the couch.
John only grunted and made no further comment.
The bodyguard asked, “Master Stockton, she hasn’t eaten anything since yesterday. Should we order some food for her?” John asked in a sharp voice, “She stole some buns and ate them already, didn’t she?”
The bodyguard caught on and replied, “Understood, sir.”
John hung up and went back to coddling Caprice.
Julie had overheard faint glimpses of the conversation. She also observed how there was not a trace of affection in John’s eyes when he was on the phone. It brought a smile to her face.
The person who had stolen two pieces of buns must have been Sherry.
She still had no clue where he had Sherry taken to, but judging by how she had to steal buns, she wagered that Sherry was ina miserable state.
She wondered if John would be willing to cast her away for good this time.
Meanwhile, inside the villa in the middle of the forest somewhere in the rural region of Glanchester.
Sherry was bored out of her mind and decided to clean the house.
After a whole morning of work, the kitchen and living room were finally in a presentable condition.
She also tossed the bedding into a washing machine and had them dried using a dryer after.
There was no longer a speck of dust in the house, the place was clean and glittering.
She turned on the heater and filled the living room with warmth. The place suddenly felt homely and cozy. It would be perfect if she had something to fill her belly now.
Her stomach was growling like a beast by the time she finished cleaning.
That was when she saw a car arriving outside. It was someone bringing food to the bodyguards.
They sat around a small table in the courtyard and ate.
She spotted vegetables, meatballs, pork chops, and chicken drumsticks inside the
containers of food.
She was drooling at that point. The mere sight of food filled her with desire. Just like this morning, she tried to sneak to the table. This time, the crew of bodyguards was on guard. They noticed her as soon as she
tried to reach for the food.
They immediately snatched the containers away and eyed her with hostility.
Sherry grimaced, she tried to fall back on her feminine charms. “Would you guys mind giving me just a drumstick to eat?”
They ignored her.
“Come on, just half a drumstick at least. Even two spoonfuls of rice would do.”
They continued to ignore her.
She was discouraged but not going to give up just yet. She decided that she was just going to sit there and stare at them while they ate.
They exchanged uncomfortable looks at each other, then they all rose and walked outside the courtyard gate, making sure to lock the gate behind them.
Through the courtyard walls, Sherry could hear them whispering to each other,” Come on, finish the food.” They ate everything down to the last bite.
Sherry gulped, then she went back to the kitchen and filled her belly with water.