Ch. 21..30
Chapter 21
The car ride lasted an hour.
Nathan brought Suzanne to the entrance of Imperial Heights.
It was a villa area where the most important people of Norvania lived, such as the country’s leaders, generals, officials, scientists, engineers, astronauts, or key people under protection. Nathan stopped the car. Then, he told Suzanne, “Get out of the car first.”
Suzanne was shocked as she looked at the words “Imperial Heights” carved on the entrance. She finally realized that Nathan had brought her to a place where normal people would
never be able to enter.
She started to feel nervous. Then, she unbuckled the seatbelt, got out of the car, and walked over to Nathan’s side.
Two soldiers who were on guard duty approached them. One of them took the ID that Nathan handed them and glanced at it.
Then, they saluted him. “Good day to you, General Morrison.”
Nathan nodded.
The soldiers took out some advanced scanning technology and checked the car.
After the scan, they gestured for Nathan to enter. “You may enter, General Morrison.”
Nathan said, “She will be living here from now on. Please record her information.”
Suzanne was nervous. She waved her hand and refused. “There’s no need for that, I
Before she could finish talking, the soldiers had already brought over a machine.
“We’l
be recording your fingerprint and doing a retinal scan, so it’ll be more convenient when you go in and out of here.”
Suzanne didn’t have the chance to refuse. The soldiers walked her through how to do it and recorded her details in the system.
She felt a little helpless as she got back into the car.
Then, Nathan drove them into the grounds of Imperial Heights. Throughout the entire journey, Suzanne felt uneasy.
The car ride lasted for around ten minutes before they arrived at a two–story detached villa -Sudvilla.
There were soldiers guarding the gates of the villa, too.
Suzanne scanned her surroundings as she entered the living room. The villa didn’t look as luxurious as the Morrison Residence. However, the decor was grand and majestic.
In the place of a television, there were shelves filled with books. There were probably thousands of different books in the living room. It created an atmosphere perfect for reading.
Suzanne liked the design of the villa.
As she was immersed in the comfortable environment, Nathan suddenly said, “My room and Sally’s room are on the second floor. There are several guest rooms on the first floor. Feel free to take your pick.”
He promised they would live like a married couple, but he overestimated his self–control. He almost lost control of himself when he thought about the hug that morning when half of Suzanne’s body was pressed against him.
It was best if they just slept in different rooms.
Nathan’s words seemed to stab Suzanne’s heart. She came back to her senses from the shock.
His room and Sally’s room? So, the two of them had been living here together?
This was Sally’s home. Nathan had brought his wife to his mistress‘ home. It was very humiliating for her.
Suzanne felt insulted. She said bitterly, “I shouldn’t stay here. Sally will be mad if she finds out.”
Nathan also realized that Sally would throw a fit, but that wasn’t important.
“It’s fine. She’s just a very childish person. I’ll handle it.”
Nathan went to sit on the couch.
Sally was childish? Suzanne could sense the love in his tone, and it made her feel uncomfortable.
But she didn’t say anything as she thought about the fact that she could be released from this depressing marriage after one more month.
She went into her room and closed the door.
She was so upset that she felt weak all over. She leaned on the door and took some deep breaths. Her eyes became misty as she looked at the balcony.
The man she loved for three years actually loved another woman.
Her affection probably meant nothing to Nathan. Maybe he even felt disgusted by it.
She felt pain in her chest. So, Suzanne raised her hand and grabbed her chest tightly, so tightly that her shirt creased.
Chapter 22
Chapter 22
Suzanne closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She tried to swallow her distress, but it was just too painful to bear.
Unbidden tears welled in her eyes.
The next morning, Suzanne got out of bed, freshened herself up, and walked out of her bedroom.
She was startled when she saw the people sitting on the sofa in the living room–they were important people, whose discussion of important matters was interrupted by her
appearance.
They looked at her curiously.
Nathan stood up and introduced her politely. “Mr. President, this is my wife, Suzanne.”
The president of Norvania, Donald Tacker, was a middle–aged man in his fifties. His eyes held a kind twinkle, which made him look friendly and amiable.
Suzanne was taken aback by Nathan’s easy introduction. Maybe he just didn’t want to hide. anything from the president.
Nervously, she went up to Donald and lowered her head respectfully. “Good morning, Mr. President. Good morning, everyone.”
“Hello, Mrs. Morrison.” Donald held out his hand to her.
Startled, Suzanne took his hand and shook it.
Donald smiled. “I’ve always wondered why Nathan never took a liking to my daughter. Now that I’ve met you, I can see that my daughter really can’t compare to you.”
Nathan looked at Suzanne. His eyes were as cold as ever.
He was well aware that Suzanne was pretty in her own simple way. She had a melancholic aura that softened her demeanor. It made her soft and gentle, as a well–raised lady should
1. be.
Most importantly, her beauty was realistic, with no trace of plastic surgery.
Suzanne laughed awkwardly. “You flatter me, Mr. President. I’m just a normal person. I’ve
$15 BONUS
got nothing on your daughter.”
The other men looked at each other while smiling.
Suzanne saw that the coffee table was empty apart from a file. There was no tea or refreshments in sight. She figured that Nathan had probably forgotten about basic hospitality in favor of business, so she offered politely, “Let me get you some tea.
“No need for the trouble, Mrs. Morrison. We don’t need tea,” Donald replied.
Suzanne smiled and nodded in accordance, but she still went into the kitchen to make some
tea.
It didn’t matter whether the guests wanted tea or not; it was common courtesy for the host to offer refreshments.
When Suzanne entered the kitchen, she realized that the partition between the kitchen and the living room was hollowed out, so it wasn’t soundproofed. She could still hear bits and pieces of the discussion in the living room.
She looked around for some mugs for the tea, but she couldn’t find them. Instead, she found an exquisite tea set along with some expensive tea leaves.
Just then, she overheard Donald saying, “Project Foghunt has been going on for three years, but we have yet to find any useful clues. I know you have troops all over the world, so I am here, at my wit’s end. I hope that you can help us.
“It’s very important that we find this person, not only for the sake of weapons development but also for the sake of our country.”
Another man spoke up. “He’s right. Every country is looking for this person. At the moment, they have 50 grams of hydronium. They’re the only person in the world who knows how to handle the component.”
“I know who you’re talking about, Mr. President,” Nathan said. “I’ve been looking for him. for three years.”
Suzanne paused and felt a flash of fear.
Hydronium?
That was a very dangerous chemical component.
Chapter 23
Chapter 23
As a bioweapon, hydronium was incredibly powerful. Anyone who owned a hydronium- based weapon was practically undefeatable.
A combination of hydronium and ultrasonic waves could kill half the earth’s population painlessly and unknowingly in under two hours.
Every country wanted to get their hands on hydronium.
Some countries were even offering to pay five billion dollars per gram of hydronium.
The conversation in the living room died off.
When Suzanne brought the tea out, she saw Nathan looking through the file about Project Foghunt.
She walked over and placed the tray on the coffee table. Then, she knelt by the table and began serving the tea.
With well–practiced motions, she set out the cups and saucers and poured the tea into the
cups.
Her movements were elegant. None of the others could bring themselves to interrupt her. Even Nathan couldn’t help but look at her. He was distracted from his reading.
Suzanne offered a cup of tea to Donald first. “Here you go, Mr. President.”
Donald beamed and took the cup. “I received several boxes of expensive Earl Grey tea from a neighboring country some time ago and gave General Morrison a box. This is that tea, isn’t it? It’s expensive, but it’s a little too bitter for my taste.”
Suzanne smiled. “Try this cup. It shouldn’t taste bitter.”
Donald took a sip and exclaimed, “This is good! I guess we steeped it the wrong way, You have good taste, Mrs. Morrison.”
then.
The other men drank their tea and had similar praises.
Suzanne handed the last cup to Nathan.
He put down the file and took the cup. As soon as he lifted the cup to his lips, he could smell the faint aroma of the tea.
He took a sip.
The tea was just the right amount of fragrant and fresh, with only a light hint of sweetness from the milk. The smooth brew rolled off the tongue easily and left him with a delightful aftertaste.
It wasn’t just the quality of the tea that he was impressed with; he was also surprised by Suzanne’s skill in brewing tea.
Suzanne served another round of tea before excusing herself.
After she left, Donald asked curiously, “Where is your wife from, General Morrison? She doesn’t seem like a commoner.”
Nathan furrowed his brows slightly. “She’s just a regular person. She grew up in a middle- class family.”
Donald shook his head. “Trust me, I know these things. Your wife isn’t an ordinary woman.”
He downed his second cup and poured another for himself. “If she has the time, could she teach my assistant how to make a good cup of tea? My assistant’s rubbish at it. He’s been wasting the good stuff all this time.”
“Sure. I’ll let her know,” Nathan said politely.
Donald nodded while still holding on to the teapot.
After leaving the living room, Suzanne went to the garden and sat down at the little table set up outside.
Lazily, she leaned back in the chair and let the morning sun warm her skin.
Before she knew it, she had nodded off.
Nathan saw his guests off at the gate. When he came back, he found Suzanne fast asleep in the garden.
He walked over slowly.
Suzanne’s face was rosy from the sun. Nathan stared at her for a while.
He looked around and saw a large umbrella by the security post at the door.
A light breeze fluttered through the garden.
Suzanne woke from her nap. Her arm was a little numb from the prolonged pressure. As she shook out the pins and needles, she looked up to find a large umbrella set up over her.
A strange smell made her look down at her feet.
Under the table, there was a small bowl of smoldering sage to keep mosquitoes away.
Suzanne was touched. She looked around, wondering who would care for her like this. There was no one around.
Chapter 24
Chapter 24
Suzanne picked up the bowl of burning sage and walked back to the villa.
“Madam.”
She turned.
A man in a smart suit came up to her and gave her a polite nod as he handed her an envelope. “General Morrison told me to give you this.”
Suzanne took the letter. “What is it?” she asked curiously.
“I’m not sure,” the man said. “The general said that he will be away for business for the next few days, so if there’s anything you need, do let us know.”
Suzanne felt her heart clench when she heard that Nathan wouldn’t be home for some time.
She quickly pulled herself together and handed the bowl to the man. Then, she opened the envelope and pulled out a bank card.
There was a note with the card, written in firm handwriting. “The password to the door and the card is 1516117. I will be away indefinitely for business in Sunterland.”
Suzanne folded up the note and placed it in her pocket. She couldn’t stop running her fingers over the card as she stared at it. This belonged to Nathan.
Her heart felt heavy, in part due to longing and in part due to pining.
“Who set up the umbrella and placed the sage for me earlier?” she asked in a low voice.
“General Morrison asked me to do it,” the man answered.
Suzanna was touched, but at the same time, her heart ached. It was hard not to love a man like this.
Sally should be so happy to be deeply loved by Nathan.
Suzanne was envious of her.
If only she could have just a fraction of that love. What would she have to do to achieve that in her next life?
As her thoughts ran away from her, she sighed. She took the bowl of sage, thanked the man, and went back to the villa.
+15 BÔNUS
The next few days of living in Sudvilla were some of the most comfortable days she’d had in
three years.
She had housekeepers to take care of her meals, so all she needed to do was read, listen to music, sleep in, and generally enjoy her own company in the peace and quiet.
Unfortunately, the peace didn’t last long. A week later, an uninvited guest turned disrupted the calm.
up and
When Sally heard that Suzanne was living in Sudvilla, she hurried back to Phoenicia. She knew that Nathan would be away for work.
As soon as she entered, she pointed a finger at Suzanne and demanded, “Who let you in here? Who said you could touch my books?”
Suzanne closed the book she was reading and looked up calmly at Sally, who was livid.
She stood up and put the book away before turning to Sally. “Nathan said I could.” Sally clenched her fists and gritted her teeth. Her eyes were burning with rage as she said,
Sonne. I’ve tolerated you all this time for Nathan’s grandmother’s sake.”
“This house was renovated according to my preferences, including this large built–in bookshelf and all the books on it. This was supposed to be our marriage home,” she spat coldly. “If you hadn’t manipulated Madam Morrison and forced yourself between us, I would be in your place, as I should be!”
“I’ve known Nathan for 20 years. We love each other. Isn’t it enough for you to take him away from me? Now, you want to take my house and my books away from me. How could you be so shameless, Suzanne?”
If she didn’t know better, Suzanne would’ve thought that she was in the wrong from the way Sally was putting it.
But she hadn’t done anything wrong.
She was a victim too. She hadn’t known about Sally before she got married. She hadn’t even known that Nathan had been forced to marry her.
“I’m sorry for the bother,” she said impassively. “I’ll pack and leave right away.
She went back to her room, packed her clothes, took her phone, and came back down with a duffle bag.
She brushed past Sally and made for the door, but Sally suddenly grabbed her arm. Her glare
was vicious. “I’m not letting you leave just like that,” she said while smiling evilly.
Chapter 25
Chapter 25
Suzanne was creeped out. “What do you want?”
Sally smirked at her coldly. “Nathan is on his way home. Did you know that there are no surveillance cameras in this house apart from the doorway, since this is where he meets other countries‘ dignitaries?”
A horrible feeling crept up Suzanne’s back. Her hair seemed to stand on end when she saw Sally’s terrifying expression.
Before she could react, Sally rushed over to the bookshelf and swept all the books to the ground haphazardly. Then, she slapped herself hard several times until there was a red mark in the shape of a hand on her face.
Suzanne watched all this in shock. She was frightened by her actions.
She’d known about Sally’s underhanded tricks before this, but she really hadn’t expected that Sally would be willing to hurt herself just to frame her.
Nathan loved Sally with all his heart. He wouldn’t believe Suzanne’s explanation, especially since her reputation was already ruined..
There was no way out of this.
While gritting her teeth, she said angrily, “You’re insane, Sally. You’d hurt yourself just to frame me. You’re out of your mind!”
Sally narrowed her eyes and stalked toward her.
Suzanne backed away warily. “Does Nathan know that you’re so evil?”
Sally scoffed. “You should’ve done more research before marrying Nathan, Suzanne. Everyone who knows Nathan knows that he has a childhood friend whom he has loved for many years. You can’t even understand how much he loves me.
“To him, I am kind, naive, and perfect. That’s another thing you’ll never understand. Do you think he’ll ever be suspicious of me, given how much he loves me?”
Suzanne felt suffocated. She didn’t want to hear any more of this, so she turned and left.
Sally raced after her and grabbed her at the door.
Just then, an armored car drove into the driveway.
Sally saw the car and began crying. “I’m sorry, Suzanne, I’m really not a homewrecker. I’m not. I didn’t ruin your marriage!
“Let go of me, you madwoman!” Suzanne tried to push her away.
Sally kept a tight grip on her and cried harder.
The car braked with a screech, and the car door was quickly slammed shut.
Sally sobbed at Nathan, who stood behind Suzanne. “Nate, I’m really not a homewrecker. Why did Suzanne hit me?”
Nathan saw the red marks on Sally’s face as she cried.
He went up to them, grabbed Suzanne’s arm, and wrenched her away.
He did not hold back his strength.
By the force of the pull, Suzanne lost her balance and fell off the steps of the front door.
She landed on her hands and knees. She gasped in pain as her skin scraped against the ground. Tears sprung in her eyes due to the pain.
Sprawled on the ground, she felt as if she’d been stabbed in the heart multiple times.
She bit her lip and held back her tears even as her throat burned with unspoken sobs.
When Nathan realized what he had done, he looked at her and paused.
Suzanne met his cold gaze in despair.
Nathan hadn’t meant to hurt her. His eyes drifted down to her palms, which were bleeding.
After a dazed moment, he shook off his sympathy and snapped, “I’ve warned you before, Suzanne. How dare you continue to hurt Sally!”
Suzanne’s heart ached as she choked out through the pain, “Nathan Morrison, you haven’t seen her for ten years. Do you really know her? Do you really think she’s that kind and naive? She’s framed me several times before. She’s nothing but a calculative bitch!”
Chapter 26
Chapter 26
Nathan’s expression darkened when he heard what Suzanne said. He gave her a cold glare.
Suzanne was frightened. She was afraid that he would kill her out of anger, but she couldn’t just let herself get framed like this. She wanted to fight for a chance to explain herself, even if it meant her death.
Whether Nathan believed her or not was not important. She knew she couldn’t change his perception of Sally no matter what she did..
Nathan fell silent.
He could see the fierce determination in Suzanne’s eyes. She had looked just like that when he’d saved her in Technive, and when she had beaten up her own brother in the casino.
The teary yet determined look reminded him a lot of how Sally had been when she was young. She was always determined to get over whatever difficulty she had been facing at the time.
Dazed by the illusion, he felt his heart lurch in sympathy.
After saying all that, Suzanne wiped her tears away with the back of her hand. The wounds on her palms were red and bleeding. It was only then that Nathan realized how badly she had been hurt.
She picked up her duffle bag and turned to the door. After taking a couple of staggering steps, she had to stop due to the pain. She leaned down to check on the wounds on her knees, then straightened and continued forward slowly.
She looked so frail and helpless as she walked away. The morning sun cast warmth everywhere but her heart.
Sally held a hand to her swollen face as she cried pitifully. “I’m not a homewrecker. I didn’t ruin your marriage. Why did she hit me? Why?”
As she spoke, she went back into the house forlornly.
Nathan followed her in. He watched thoughtfully as she cleaned up the books on the ground.
It didn’t slip his notice that Sally had replaced the books back onto the shelves in complete disorder. The Sally from his childhood was incredibly particular about the arrangement of her books.
He was shocked.
+15 BÔNUS
That night, Nathan sat in front of his computer in his study and sent out a video recording.
After sending the video, he picked up his phone and called the best programmer in the Norvanian Military.
His tone was cold. “This recording is from the surveillance camera at the door of my house. Can you amplify the sound and remove all the background noise? I’ll need the audio for this particular time.”
“No problem, General Morrison. Give me a few minutes,” the programmer said confidently. Nathan ended the call and put down his phone. His eyes darkened.
He was the only one who knew about the surveillance camera in Sudvilla.
Suzanne’s tearful yet determined expression flashed across his mind again.
Her resigned tears made him inexplicably irritated.
Ten minutes later, the programmer sent him an audio file.
After a moment of hesitation, Nathan tapped on it and listened to the file.
He did not sleep that night.
Shovale was an ancient mansion surrounded by pretty scenery.
Suzanne returned to the mansion with an armful of wildflowers.
An elderly woman was sitting in the pergola. Her hair was white, but her thin frame was still filled with vigor. She looked kind and elegant.
“Grandma,” Suzanne greeted sweetly.
Vera Cross reached out a hand to her with a smile. “Chubs, were you picking flowers in the backyard again?”
asal
Suzanne quickened her steps and placed the wildflowers onto the stone table. Then, she sat down beside Vera. “The lupines are so beautiful when they’re in bloom. I wanted to get some for the house,” she said softly.
Chapter 27
Chapter 27
Vera patted Suzanne on the head fondly and smiled. “Your husband is here.”
Suzanne paused, and her face paled.
Vera pointed toward the house. “He’s in there.”
Suzanne turned to look in a panic.
Was he here to get revenge on behalf of his beloved Sally? Or was he here to divorce her?
“You slept here last night,” Vera said in a low voice. “I think he missed you, so he’s here/ take you home.”
Suzanne forced out a smile and tried not to let her bitterness show.
Vera didn’t know about the fiasco that was their relationship. She thought that they were a loving couple.
Under Vera’s instruction, Suzanne helped her back to the mansion. As soon as they entered, Nathan came out of his room.
Vera beamed. “Come here, Nate, come.”
“Grandma.” Nathan approached them and greeted Vera.
He was in casual clothing. His black shirt accentuated his dignified presence.
Suzanne couldn’t help the twinge of attraction she felt toward him, despite her loathing. She didn’t want to see him or speak to him.
Nathan lowered his eyes when he saw that Suzanne was with Vera.
He had always been cold and serious. He wasn’t good at communicating if it wasn’t giving
orders.
He dropped his gaze to Suzanne’s hands, feeling guilty at the sight of the wounds there.
For a moment, the tension in the atmosphere was almost palpable.
Nathan cleared his throat. “Are your hands okay?” he asked gently.
Suzanne drew back and clenched her fists slightly. “They’re fine,” she said curtly while still feeling too upset for niceties.
Vera frowned. She took Suzanne’s hand and showed Nathan her palms. “They’re not fine.
Look at this. Her hands are all scratched up,” she said unhappily. “She told me she tripped on the road and scraped herself. It’s not just her hands; her knees are bleeding too.
“She cried so badly when I was treating her wounds yesterday. She cried for two hours straight, you know? Her eyes were all swollen. If I didn’t know that you were hurt, I’d have thought you lost your husband.”
Suzanne pulled her hand away awkwardly. “I didn’t,” she mumbled. “Don’t spread rumors, Grandma.”
Nathan was uneasy with guilt. He took out a bottle of ointment from his pocket and handed it to Suzanne. “This will help heal your wounds.”
Suzanne stared at the bottle of ointment in his hands. She made no move to take it. ”
Thanks, but no thanks,” she said curtly.
Nathan recoiled slightly. He pursed his lips and let out a breath before placing the bottle on the table.
He felt even more guilty now.
Suzanne helped Vera over to the sofa in the living room. Nathan followed them and sat beside her.
“I’ll be in my room if you need me, Grandma,” Suzanne said softly..
neto
Vera was taken aback. “Your husband is here. Aren’t you going to spend time with him?”
“He doesn’t need me,” Suzanne replied sullenly.
With that, she turned and left.
Nathan did not speak, but his eyes followed Suzanne as she left.
Vera saw the guilt in his eyes and smiled knowingly.
Chapter 28
Chapter 28
That evening, Suzanne, Nathan, and Vera had dinner together. The table was silent as they ate.
Suddenly, Nathan’s phone rang and disrupted the peace.
He took out his phone, glanced at the screen, and frowned.
Sally was video-calling him.
It wasn’t appropriate to pick up her call with Suzanne and Vera at the table. Moreover, he still hadn’t had time to deal with Sally over what
happened yesterday.
Without hesitation, he rejected Sally’s call and texted her instead. “I’m busy. I’ll call you when I’m free.”
With that, he placed his phone back on the table and continued
earring.
Vera glanced at him. “Have you been very busy lately?”
“A little.”
“With work, or with personal matters?” She pointed at his phone.
“It’s not an important call,” Nathan explained.
Right after he said that, Sally called again.
Suzanne knew without doubt that it was Sally calling. She continued
eating quietly, but her mood was ruined.
Nathan glanced at her before rejecting the call again.
Embarrassed that Sally’s call had disrupted dinner, Nathan served them both a bowl of soup each.
12
Suzanne was taken aback. She stared at the bowl of soup, unable to believe her eyes. In the past, she would’ve been ecstatic about this.
Now, though, she did not feel happy at all. Slowly, she pushed the bowl away.
Nathan frowned. He could see that Suzanne was still upset.
He took a deep breath, but his voice seemed to be stuck in his throat. He couldn’t seem to apologize.
Relentlessly, Sally called again for the third time. This time, Vera grabbed Nathan’s phone quickly and answered the call.
As soon as the video call connected Sally’s sobs sounded. “Nate, Suzanne has gone too far! How dare she touch my things? The drawer’s all messed up, and there’s a necklace missing. It costs a few thousand dollars. I don’t know if she has stolen it or not.”
Vera’s expression darkened.
Suzanne kept her head lowered. She gripped her knife tightly. The weight on her chest felt heavier. She found it hard to breathe.
Nathan’s eyes darkened as well. He took his phone back quickly and saw that Sally was crying with her eyes closed. She wasn’t looking at her phone.
“Who are you?” Vera snapped at the phone. “How dare you call my Chubs a thief? Chubs is honest and kind. She would never steal
anything!”
Sally stopped crying. She opened her eyes and stared at Nathan, who was simmering with anger. “Nate, is that Grandma’s voice? Are you at Shovale?”
“Yes,” Nathan said with displeasure.
“Is Suzanne there too?” Sally asked nervously.
“She is,” Nathan replied coldly.
Sally panicked. “I didn’t say she stole the necklace, Nate. I just suspected it.”
Nathan’s expression darkened further. Coldly, he said, “She did not steal anything from you. Goodbye.”
“Wait, Nate!” Sally said hastily. “When are you coming home?”
It was too late; Nathan had already hung up.
As soon as he put down the phone, Vera asked unhappily, “Nate, are you having an affair?”
Nathan did not know how to explain the situation. “No, Grandma, I’m not having an affair. Just ignore her. Continue eating.”
Vera knew that she wouldn’t be able to get anything from Nathan, so she turned to Suzanne. “Chubs, tell me, is your husband having an affair with another woman?”
Chapter 29
Chapter 29
Suzanne smiled stiffly. “He’s not,” she said. She was defending
Nathan.
“Then who is that woman?”
Suzanne hesitated. Vera was sick. She wouldn’t do well with bad
news.
Using Nathan’s words, she said, “She’s just a child who doesn’t know what she’s talking about.”
Nathan was taken aback. He hadn’t expected her to come to his defense even though she had been framed and hurt badly.
She hadn’t done what Sally had done-slandered and hurt the other
woman.
Under Suzanne’s reassurance, Vera did not continue to push the issue.
After dinner, the three of them retreated to the pergola in the garden
for leisure.
It was a misty night. The quiet garden was filled with the sounds of crickets chirping and frogs croaking
The relaxing fragrance of the tea added to the peace.
Vera was in a good mood, as she was being accompanied by her grandson and her granddaughter-in- law.
Just then, one of the servants came over and said, “Madam, there’s a lady by the name of Ms. Hoffis asking to see you and General Morrison.”
Suzanne tensed. She picked up her cup and sipped her tea blankly.
“Who is Ms. Hoffis?” Vera asked.
“She said she grew up with General Morrison and is the love of his life. You used to regard her as your future granddaughter-in-law.”
Hearing this, Nathan’s expression darkened. “I’ll deal with her, Grandma.”
Vera’s expression was as dark as his. “Stay here,” she snapped coldly. “Let her come and say her piece.”
Nathan clenched his fists and sat down.
Suzanne looked calm, but on the inside, she was very distressed. She wanted to avoid this. “Grandma, I think Sally has a lot to say to you. I’ll head back to my room…”
“You’re not allowed to leave either,” Vera interrupted sternly. “Sit down.
Unable to do anything else, Suzanne did as she was told.
Just then, the servant brought Sally to the pergola.
Sally was wearing a white dress, which made her’look otherworldly She had several expensive jewelry on as well.
“Good evening, Grandma, Nate,” she greeted politely.
She ignored Suzanne.
Nathan frowned as he looked at her. Then, he slumped back in his chair. His expression was angry and resigned.
“Have a seat, Ms. Hoffis,” Vera said politely.
Sally smiled and sat down beside Nathan.
Vera stared at Sally while frowning. “Ms. Hoffis, why did you say that to my grandson just now? It was very inappropriate. Did you not know
that his wife was also present?”
Suzanne lowered her head. She felt mortified.
Sally glanced at Suzanne and smirked while dismissing her.
“Grandma,” she said cajolingly. “Have you forgotten who I am? I’m Sally. I was your neighbor for 14 years, and I often came over to your house to play with Nate. We grew up together. Your entire family loved me. You even told me that I could be your granddaughter-in-law when I grew up.”
Vera stared at her in shock, then looked at Suzanne. “You’re lying,” she said uneasily.
Sally blinked owlishly. “I’m the granddaughter-in-law that you loved, Grandma. Suzanne just looks like me when I was young. I was plumper and had a rounder face, remember? I just lost a lot of weight when I grew up. Have you really forgotten me?”
Chapter 30
Chapter 30
Vera was trembling with anger. She clenched her fists and turned to Nathan. “She’s lying, isn’t she, Nate?”
Nathan looked dejected. “She is Sally, Grandma.”
Devastated, Vera’s eyes reddened. She gripped Suzanne’s hand with a trembling hand and asked tightly, “Chubs, they’re lying, aren’t they? You are my granddaughter-in-law.”
Suzanne knew that Vera was upset by this revelation, but it was a long time coming.
She hadn’t known before that she had mistook her for someone else,
so she had accepted her kindness without question.
Now that she knew this was all just a misunderstanding, she couldn’t let Vera continue to love her. She had no right to continue to be
Nathan’s wife.
Suzanne’s heart ached at the impending loss of the last person who loved her, but she plowed on anyway. “Grandma, I thought you called me Chubs because I had a round face. I didn’t know you m
for someone else.”
Vera’s eyes were filled with tears. She gripped Suzanne’s hand tightly and sobbed, “I didn’t mistake you for anybody. You are Don’t you remember? You were chubby when you were younger. Nathan called you Chubs.
me
“You were his favorite person ever. He doted on you, Chubs, but you were too naive to know why he did.
“When you went abroad for your studies and lost contact with us, Nathan was devastated. He spent years pining for you. He even
begged me to let him marry you when you returned. He didn’t want to live without you.
“I went to so much effort to get the two of you married, but you’re telling me now that I’ve got the wrong person?”
Vera was sobbing uncontrollably by the end of that.
Suzanne was upset to see Vera crying. Her heart felt like it had been set on fire from how much pain she was feeling. Tears welled in her
eyes.
Nathan and Sally’s love story was touching indeed. She was envious of their love for each other.
She could never have that kind of love, because she wasn’t Sally.
Suzanne lowered her head in guilt. “I’m sorry, Grandma. I really didn’t know you had the wrong person. I kept telling you that my name was Suzanne, not Sally.”
“I don’t care what your name is,” Vera continued crying. “You’re still Chubs, my granddaughter-in-law. You might have lost weight and become prettier, but I can tell from your personality that you’re my
Chubs. You lived with me for three years. I know I’m not wrong.”
Sally panicked. She took out her phone hastily. “Grandma, y have the wrong person. I’m Chubs. Look, I have photos. Here some that I took with my parents while I was abroad. And th uncle, I believe you know him. We’ve taken photos every year fo years that I was abroad until my parents were killed when I wa
“I spent two years with my uncle after that and only returned two years ago. My uncle can vouch for me. I’ve visited you before too, bu you didn’t recognize me.”