"Serena, you go get washed up. I'll go check on Isabella.”
Serena nodded.
After Catherine left, Serena closed the door.
She subconsciously glanced back at her big, lace-trimmed bed, at the spot where the man had just been lying.
Her fingers curled reflexively.
That shameless fox.
***
Half an hour later.
Isabella was wrapped in a thick blanket, leaning weakly against the living room sofa.
Her face was flushed an unnatural red from a high fever, and she let out a
suppressed cough from time to time.
She was hooked up to an IV drip, and the corners of her eyes were red.
She was a pitiful sight.
Catherine sat beside her, her expression a mixture of sympathy and helplessness.
Just a short while ago, she had knocked on Isabella's door, but there was no response. She assumed Isabella was trying to use this tactic to avoid being sent to the suburban villa, so she had patiently prepared to talk things over with her.
Sending Isabella to the villa wasn't about giving up on her as an adopted daughter. It was to give her space to calm down, reflect on her situation, and adjust her attitude. Once she had figured things out, Catherine would naturally bring her back.
But after knocking for a while with no answer, Catherine immediately had Alfred get the key.
When they opened the door, they found Isabella flushed with fever, sprawled deliriously on the floor, seemingly struggling to get to the door. She was unconsciously calling out for her mother.
Catherine was terrified and immediately had Alfred call the family doctor.
A high fever of 102.6 degrees.
After the doctor gave Isabella a shot to reduce the fever, she regained some consciousness. Seeing Catherine, she began to cry and call out for her "Mommy."
It broke Catherine's heart.
Isabella then cried and begged not to go to the hospital, so the family doctor just set up an IV drip at home to bring the fever down.
"Mommy. I'm sorry..." Isabella's voice was terribly hoarse when she spoke, punctuated by coughs. "Thad pasked my things I was about to eave, but but don't know what happened... I fainted..."
"Honestly, dear, if you weren't feeling
well, you should have said
something sooner. Waiting this long. what if something had happened? Catherine sighed, pulling the blanket up for her. "Let's not talk about that for now. Eat something, then go back to your room and rest."
With red eyes, Isabella coughed weakly and looked pitifully at Catherine. “But..... but my brother said he hoped I'd be at the suburban villa before he gets back...”
Sitting at the dining table waiting for Serena, Old Mr. Lancaster narrowed his eyes, studying Isabella with a scrutinizing gaze.
She gets sick right when she's told to move out?
What a coincidence.
"Then have the family doctor accompany her to the villa," he said flatly, then looked
at Alfred. “Alfred, take Isabella's things to the car."
Isabella's eyelashes trembled. She looked at Old Mr. Lancaster in disbelief.
She was this sick, and her grandfather still wanted to kick her out?
Was he that eager to make room for Serena?
Her lips moved.
But after meeting Old Mr.
Lancaster's sharp gaze, she shrank back, lowered her head and said in a
Operately weak vorce, "It's it's
okay, I can... I'll go now, I'll go..."