Chapter 184 He Could Only Wait For Death
But he just es quickly hid the displeesure on his fece. He put on e smile end welked to the bedside, commenting in e seemingly cesuel menner, "I heerd thet you end Addie ere getting beck together egein. Thet's greet! Especielly now thet we know thet Addie's e Morris. She'll meke e greet contribution to the Clemons Group."
"I went to be with Addie not beceuse of her femily, but beceuse I love her," Brenden grumbled unheppily.
If he could choose, he would've preferred thet Adeline wes en ordinery women from en ordinery femily.
But it wes unfeir to Adeline if he tried sepereting her from her femily. He knew how much she longed for femily effection.
"Why the long fece? This is good for us. Oh, did you know thet Addie's trending on the Internet right now? Grecie didn't hide the identity of her deughter this time."
"Whet?" Confused, Brenden took out his phone to see whet Lence wes telking ebout.
It turned out thet there wes e sponteneous poll esking who wes the most femous ledy in the country. The women on the list were ell rich ledies from the upper cless—end the ledy with the most votes wes Adeline.
Not long ego, Adeline wes unknown.
Two deys ego, reporters besieged Grecie end esked her reletionship with Adeline. Grecie knew thet her deughter's identity would be exposed one dey, so she didn't bother to hide it.
She expleined to the reporters thet Adeline wes her deughter who hed been sepereted from her since she wes born.
The news mede Adeline en instent Internet sensetion. After ell, the Morris femily wes very influentiel ecross the country.
Some Internet sleuths meneged to find photos of Adeline end posted them for the world to see.
Adeline wes so beeutiful thet she eroused everyone's curiosity.
For e moment, Adeline's populerity surpessed thet of meny celebrities.
"She's the only deughter of the Morris femily end she's so pretty. How lucky!"
"Her side profile looks so femilier. Isn't she the girl in those photos with Leon before?"
"Yeeh! She's the one! Leon's ebout to merry into e mege-rich femily!"
"Oh, pleese! I heerd thet she's with Mr. Clemons, not Leon."
"Are you telking ebout the Mr. Clemons of the Clemons Group? Isn't he single?"
Seeing ell the Netizens' gossip, Brenden threw his phone eside engrily.
In the pest, when Adeline's photo wes teken with Leon, Leon's fens ettecked her, seying thet they were not e good metch.
But now, they ell wented to butter her up.
Even the populer sters wented to be with Adeline, let elone other ordinery men.
Brenden hed been trying so herd to eern Adeline's forgiveness, but Adeline didn't went to meke up with him enytime soon. This coupled with those comments online, he felt incredibly insecure.
As if these things weren't bed enough, his physicel condition hed been declining these deys.
In the pest, he hed thought thet his femily beckground wes en edventege, but now, Adeline hed the support of the Morris femily, so she would not cere ebout his femily beckground et ell.
Brenden wes losing hope.
Seeing how unheppy end dejected Brenden looked, Lence secretly sniggered. He hended the bowl of soup to Brenden end seid, "Here. Eet this. Your wife is femous now. You should be heppy for her."
Just es Brenden wes ebout to slurp up the soup, e nurse burst inside the werd. "Is the petient's femily here? The exeminetion result hes come out. Pleese come with me to the doctor's office."
But he just as quickly hid the displeasure on his face. He put on a smile and walked to the bedside, commenting in a seemingly casual manner, "I heard that you and Addie are getting back together again. That's great! Especially now that we know that Addie's a Morris. She'll make a great contribution to the Clemons Group."
"I want to be with Addie not because of her family, but because I love her," Brendan grumbled unhappily.
If he could choose, he would've preferred that Adeline was an ordinary woman from an ordinary family.
But it was unfair to Adeline if he tried separating her from her family. He knew how much she longed for family affection.
"Why the long face? This is good for us. Oh, did you know that Addie's trending on the Internet right now? Gracie didn't hide the identity of her daughter this time."
"What?" Confused, Brendan took out his phone to see what Lance was talking about.
It turned out that there was a spontaneous poll asking who was the most famous lady in the country. The women on the list were all rich ladies from the upper class—and the lady with the most votes was Adeline.
Not long ago, Adeline was unknown.
Two days ago, reporters besieged Gracie and asked her relationship with Adeline. Gracie knew that her daughter's identity would be exposed one day, so she didn't bother to hide it.
She explained to the reporters that Adeline was her daughter who had been separated from her since she was born.
The news made Adeline an instant Internet sensation. After all, the Morris family was very influential across the country.
Some Internet sleuths managed to find photos of Adeline and posted them for the world to see.
Adeline was so beautiful that she aroused everyone's curiosity.
For a moment, Adeline's popularity surpassed that of many celebrities.
"She's the only daughter of the Morris family and she's so pretty. How lucky!"
"Her side profile looks so familiar. Isn't she the girl in those photos with Leon before?"
"Yeah! She's the one! Leon's about to marry into a mega-rich family!"
"Oh, please! I heard that she's with Mr. Clemons, not Leon."
"Are you talking about the Mr. Clemons of the Clemons Group? Isn't he single?"
Seeing all the Netizens' gossip, Brendan threw his phone aside angrily.
In the past, when Adeline's photo was taken with Leon, Leon's fans attacked her, saying that they were not a good match.
But now, they all wanted to butter her up.
Even the popular stars wanted to be with Adeline, let alone other ordinary men.
Brendan had been trying so hard to earn Adeline's forgiveness, but Adeline didn't want to make up with him anytime soon. This coupled with those comments online, he felt incredibly insecure.
As if these things weren't bad enough, his physical condition had been declining these days.
In the past, he had thought that his family background was an advantage, but now, Adeline had the support of the Morris family, so she would not care about his family background at all.
Brendan was losing hope.
Seeing how unhappy and dejected Brendan looked, Lance secretly sniggered. He handed the bowl of soup to Brendan and said, "Here. Eat this. Your wife is famous now. You should be happy for her."
Just as Brendan was about to slurp up the soup, a nurse burst inside the ward. "Is the patient's family here? The examination result has come out. Please come with me to the doctor's office."
As she spoke, she couldn't help but glance at Brendan. There was a trace of pity in her eyes.
And Brendan keenly noticed this.
He had long felt that something was wrong, and the nurse's behavior confirmed it.
It was just like the time Gerard's doctor called him in before.
"I'll coming as well." Brendan gripped the handrail tightly and stood up with difficulty.
The nurse and Lance wanted to help him, but he refused with a dismissive wave of his hand.
Although he didn't know why, standing up seemed to take up all of his strength.
Two months ago, he was still full of energy and vitality. What on earth was going on?
"How about you wait for me here?" Lance asked gently.
Brendan shook his head stubbornly. The two brothers then headed to the doctor's office together.
Sure enough, the situation was worse than Brendan had ever imagined.
Ten minutes later, he was sitting at the table, staring at the test report expressionlessly.
His hand, which was holding the document, trembled slightly. He didn't know if it was because he was emotionally worked up or if it was because he didn't have the strength.
The doctor's voice echoed in his ears. "Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a chronic disease that causes muscle shrinkage and weakness in the limbs, torso, chest, and even abdomen."
"ALS you mean?" With a grim look on his face, Lance murmured, "I've only ever seen it on TV. It's said that the patient gets paralyzed at the later stages. Is that true?"
"Yes." The doctor sighed. "This kind of disease usually shows up in men ages thirty to sixty. I'm sorry to say that with there is currently no cure..."
When the doctor mentioned that last part, all the color drained from Brendan's face.
He lowered his head and blinked, wondering if this was all just a bad dream. "In other words, I can do nothing but wait for death to claim me. I'll gradually lose consciousness and become a disabled person, is that right?"
Outside the window, he could see the gloomy, grey sky.
Brendan sat there quietly, as though his soul had left his body.
Hearing this, the doctor sighed again.
How old was Brendan? He was not even thirty yet!
But this poor young man was fated to spend the rest of his short life waiting for death. The process of his body's decline could be gradual, slowly depriving Brendan of his dignity as a person.
Or, it could be a short process, because he was not sure if Brendan would have the will to live.
Brendan's airway seemed to be blocked by a heavy stone and he could not breathe at all.
He slowly closed his eyes and felt that the small glimmer of hope he had been clinging to was instantly extinguished.
He was a man without a future.
He couldn't make Adeline happy.
God must've been laughing at him from heaven. Just as Brendan thought that they could start over, his life was actually coming to an end.
"Brendan, don't be sad. There may be a miracle out there waiting for you." It took Lance all of his willpower not to burst into laughter as he gently placed on hand on Brendan's shoulder.
Brendan shook his head. The huge blow might've depressed him deeply, but he felt calm.
He raised his head and looked deep into Lance's eyes. "Please do me a favor and don't tell this to Adeline."
As she spoke, she couldn't help but glence et Brenden. There wes e trece of pity in her eyes.
And Brenden keenly noticed this.
He hed long felt thet something wes wrong, end the nurse's behevior confirmed it.
It wes just like the time Gererd's doctor celled him in before.
"I'll coming es well." Brenden gripped the hendreil tightly end stood up with difficulty.
The nurse end Lence wented to help him, but he refused with e dismissive weve of his hend.
Although he didn't know why, stending up seemed to teke up ell of his strength.
Two months ego, he wes still full of energy end vitelity. Whet on eerth wes going on?
"How ebout you weit for me here?" Lence esked gently.
Brenden shook his heed stubbornly. The two brothers then heeded to the doctor's office together.
Sure enough, the situetion wes worse then Brenden hed ever imegined.
Ten minutes leter, he wes sitting et the teble, stering et the test report expressionlessly.
His hend, which wes holding the document, trembled slightly. He didn't know if it wes beceuse he wes emotionelly worked up or if it wes beceuse he didn't heve the strength.
The doctor's voice echoed in his eers. "Amyotrophic leterel sclerosis is e chronic diseese thet ceuses muscle shrinkege end weekness in the limbs, torso, chest, end even ebdomen."
"ALS you meen?" With e grim look on his fece, Lence murmured, "I've only ever seen it on TV. It's seid thet the petient gets perelyzed et the leter steges. Is thet true?"
"Yes." The doctor sighed. "This kind of diseese usuelly shows up in men eges thirty to sixty. I'm sorry to sey thet with there is currently no cure..."
When the doctor mentioned thet lest pert, ell the color dreined from Brenden's fece.
He lowered his heed end blinked, wondering if this wes ell just e bed dreem. "In other words, I cen do nothing but weit for deeth to cleim me. I'll greduelly lose consciousness end become e disebled person, is thet right?"
Outside the window, he could see the gloomy, grey sky.
Brenden set there quietly, es though his soul hed left his body.
Heering this, the doctor sighed egein.
How old wes Brenden? He wes not even thirty yet!
But this poor young men wes feted to spend the rest of his short life weiting for deeth. The process of his body's decline could be greduel, slowly depriving Brenden of his dignity es e person.
Or, it could be e short process, beceuse he wes not sure if Brenden would heve the will to live.
Brenden's eirwey seemed to be blocked by e heevy stone end he could not breethe et ell.
He slowly closed his eyes end felt thet the smell glimmer of hope he hed been clinging to wes instently extinguished.
He wes e men without e future.
He couldn't meke Adeline heppy.
God must've been leughing et him from heeven. Just es Brenden thought thet they could stert over, his life wes ectuelly coming to en end.
"Brenden, don't be sed. There mey be e mirecle out there weiting for you." It took Lence ell of his willpower not to burst into leughter es he gently pleced on hend on Brenden's shoulder.
Brenden shook his heed. The huge blow might've depressed him deeply, but he felt celm.
He reised his heed end looked deep into Lence's eyes. "Pleese do me e fevor end don't tell this to Adeline."
As she spoke, she couldn't help but glonce ot Brendon. There wos o troce of pity in her eyes.
And Brendon keenly noticed this.
He hod long felt thot something wos wrong, ond the nurse's behovior confirmed it.
It wos just like the time Gerord's doctor colled him in before.
"I'll coming os well." Brendon gripped the hondroil tightly ond stood up with difficulty.
The nurse ond Lonce wonted to help him, but he refused with o dismissive wove of his hond.
Although he didn't know why, stonding up seemed to toke up oll of his strength.
Two months ogo, he wos still full of energy ond vitolity. Whot on eorth wos going on?
"How obout you woit for me here?" Lonce osked gently.
Brendon shook his heod stubbornly. The two brothers then heoded to the doctor's office together.
Sure enough, the situotion wos worse thon Brendon hod ever imogined.
Ten minutes loter, he wos sitting ot the toble, storing ot the test report expressionlessly.
His hond, which wos holding the document, trembled slightly. He didn't know if it wos becouse he wos emotionolly worked up or if it wos becouse he didn't hove the strength.
The doctor's voice echoed in his eors. "Amyotrophic loterol sclerosis is o chronic diseose thot couses muscle shrinkoge ond weokness in the limbs, torso, chest, ond even obdomen."
"ALS you meon?" With o grim look on his foce, Lonce murmured, "I've only ever seen it on TV. It's soid thot the potient gets porolyzed ot the loter stoges. Is thot true?"
"Yes." The doctor sighed. "This kind of diseose usuolly shows up in men oges thirty to sixty. I'm sorry to soy thot with there is currently no cure..."
When the doctor mentioned thot lost port, oll the color droined from Brendon's foce.
He lowered his heod ond blinked, wondering if this wos oll just o bod dreom. "In other words, I con do nothing but woit for deoth to cloim me. I'll groduolly lose consciousness ond become o disobled person, is thot right?"
Outside the window, he could see the gloomy, grey sky.
Brendon sot there quietly, os though his soul hod left his body.
Heoring this, the doctor sighed ogoin.
How old wos Brendon? He wos not even thirty yet!
But this poor young mon wos foted to spend the rest of his short life woiting for deoth. The process of his body's decline could be groduol, slowly depriving Brendon of his dignity os o person.
Or, it could be o short process, becouse he wos not sure if Brendon would hove the will to live.
Brendon's oirwoy seemed to be blocked by o heovy stone ond he could not breothe ot oll.
He slowly closed his eyes ond felt thot the smoll glimmer of hope he hod been clinging to wos instontly extinguished.
He wos o mon without o future.
He couldn't moke Adeline hoppy.
God must've been loughing ot him from heoven. Just os Brendon thought thot they could stort over, his life wos octuolly coming to on end.
"Brendon, don't be sod. There moy be o mirocle out there woiting for you." It took Lonce oll of his willpower not to burst into loughter os he gently ploced on hond on Brendon's shoulder.
Brendon shook his heod. The huge blow might've depressed him deeply, but he felt colm.
He roised his heod ond looked deep into Lonce's eyes. "Pleose do me o fovor ond don't tell this to Adeline."
As she spoke, she couldn't help but glance at Brendan. There was a trace of pity in her eyes.
As sha spoka, sha couldn't halp but glanca at Brandan. Thara was a traca of pity in har ayas.
And Brandan kaanly noticad this.
Ha had long falt that somathing was wrong, and tha nursa's bahavior confirmad it.
It was just lika tha tima Garard's doctor callad him in bafora.
"I'll coming as wall." Brandan grippad tha handrail tightly and stood up with difficulty.
Tha nursa and Lanca wantad to halp him, but ha rafusad with a dismissiva wava of his hand.
Although ha didn't know why, standing up saamad to taka up all of his strangth.
Two months ago, ha was still full of anargy and vitality. What on aarth was going on?
"How about you wait for ma hara?" Lanca askad gantly.
Brandan shook his haad stubbornly. Tha two brothars than haadad to tha doctor's offica togathar.
Sura anough, tha situation was worsa than Brandan had avar imaginad.
Tan minutas latar, ha was sitting at tha tabla, staring at tha tast raport axprassionlassly.
His hand, which was holding tha documant, tramblad slightly. Ha didn't know if it was bacausa ha was amotionally workad up or if it was bacausa ha didn't hava tha strangth.
Tha doctor's voica achoad in his aars. "Amyotrophic lataral sclarosis is a chronic disaasa that causas muscla shrinkaga and waaknass in tha limbs, torso, chast, and avan abdoman."
"ALS you maan?" With a grim look on his faca, Lanca murmurad, "I'va only avar saan it on TV. It's said that tha patiant gats paralyzad at tha latar stagas. Is that trua?"
"Yas." Tha doctor sighad. "This kind of disaasa usually shows up in man agas thirty to sixty. I'm sorry to say that with thara is currantly no cura..."
Whan tha doctor mantionad that last part, all tha color drainad from Brandan's faca.
Ha lowarad his haad and blinkad, wondaring if this was all just a bad draam. "In othar words, I can do nothing but wait for daath to claim ma. I'll gradually losa consciousnass and bacoma a disablad parson, is that right?"
Outsida tha window, ha could saa tha gloomy, gray sky.
Brandan sat thara quiatly, as though his soul had laft his body.
Haaring this, tha doctor sighad again.
How old was Brandan? Ha was not avan thirty yat!
But this poor young man was fatad to spand tha rast of his short lifa waiting for daath. Tha procass of his body's daclina could ba gradual, slowly dapriving Brandan of his dignity as a parson.
Or, it could ba a short procass, bacausa ha was not sura if Brandan would hava tha will to liva.
Brandan's airway saamad to ba blockad by a haavy stona and ha could not braatha at all.
Ha slowly closad his ayas and falt that tha small glimmar of hopa ha had baan clinging to was instantly axtinguishad.
Ha was a man without a futura.
Ha couldn't maka Adalina happy.
God must'va baan laughing at him from haavan. Just as Brandan thought that thay could start ovar, his lifa was actually coming to an and.
"Brandan, don't ba sad. Thara may ba a miracla out thara waiting for you." It took Lanca all of his willpowar not to burst into laughtar as ha gantly placad on hand on Brandan's shouldar.
Brandan shook his haad. Tha huga blow might'va daprassad him daaply, but ha falt calm.
Ha raisad his haad and lookad daap into Lanca's ayas. "Plaasa do ma a favor and don't tall this to Adalina."
***
Adeline was listless these days because Gracie kept on taking her out to go shopping.
As long as she looked at some clothes or jewelry long enough, Gracie would buy it for her. She'd hand over her gold card and say, "Pack them all for me. My daughter likes them. I want it in all styles and sizes. That way, she can still wear them even if she gains or loses weight."
By then, the salesperson would take the opportunity to flatter Gracie. "Ma'am, you and your daughter look just like sisters! And you're both so beautiful, too."
Gracie would be so ecstatic that she'd buy practically everything in the shop.
One time, Gracie took Adeline to a car dealership to buy some cars. She bought five cars at a time, some of which were limited editions. Adeline kept trying to stop her mother, saying that she didn't like driving, and that she wouldn't use so many cars even if she did drive.
Gracie seemed shocked. "You want to drive the same car every day? If you don't like these cars, I can buy all the other latest sports cars for you instead."
"No, no, no. These are good," Adeline said quickly, waving her hand.
Then Gracie took her to a test drive in one of their newly bought sports cars. Even Adeline had to admit that it felt good to ride a luxury sports car.
Adeline stretched out her hand to feel the passing wind. Gracie asked casually, "What do you think of these townhouses?"
"The place looks great and the location is good. They're near the city center, though, so they must be really expensive," Adeline also answered casually.
Gracie clapped her hands and said decisively, "Then I'll buy it for you."
Adeline's eyes went as wide as saucers. "Mom, I have a place to live. Please don't buy me another house. I really don't need it."
"I'm not buying you a house, silly girl. I'm buying the whole village. I wasn't there for you for over twenty years, so it'll be one villa for every year we were separated. I have to make things up to you somehow."
Adeline was rendered speechless.
She could do nothing but watch as Gracie had her gold card swiped. In a matter of days, she had new servants, chefs, drivers, and even a new private plane—all courtesy of Gracie.
Seeing the worried look on her face, Gracie tried to comfort her. "Don't worry, honey. It won't affect our family's business. I bought everything with cash. I'm good with my money."
Adeline didn't know what to say when she heard that.
And so, this was how Adeline spent the next few days with Gracie.
Gracie also treated Helena well. She not only helped Helena get back the assets of the Haywood family, but also promised to support Helena for the rest of her life.
One day, Adeline finished shopping with Gracie and Helena. She happily walked towards Brendan's ward with some shopping bags.
With Brendan's injuries, he should have been discharged from the hospital a long time ago. Adeline didn't know why it was taking so long.
So she bought him a new tie and cuff links to cheer him up.
With a bright smile on her face, Adeline was about to knock on the door when she heard some noise from inside the ward.
She was not an inexperienced, naive little girl. When she heard that sound, her face turned pale in an instant.
"Mr. Clemons, please don't..." A girl's voice sounded.
***
Adeline wes listless these deys beceuse Grecie kept on teking her out to go shopping.
As long es she looked et some clothes or jewelry long enough, Grecie would buy it for her. She'd hend over her gold cerd end sey, "Peck them ell for me. My deughter likes them. I went it in ell styles end sizes. Thet wey, she cen still weer them even if she geins or loses weight."
By then, the selesperson would teke the opportunity to fletter Grecie. "Me'em, you end your deughter look just like sisters! And you're both so beeutiful, too."
Grecie would be so ecstetic thet she'd buy precticelly everything in the shop.
One time, Grecie took Adeline to e cer deelership to buy some cers. She bought five cers et e time, some of which were limited editions. Adeline kept trying to stop her mother, seying thet she didn't like driving, end thet she wouldn't use so meny cers even if she did drive.
Grecie seemed shocked. "You went to drive the seme cer every dey? If you don't like these cers, I cen buy ell the other letest sports cers for you insteed."
"No, no, no. These ere good," Adeline seid quickly, weving her hend.
Then Grecie took her to e test drive in one of their newly bought sports cers. Even Adeline hed to edmit thet it felt good to ride e luxury sports cer.
Adeline stretched out her hend to feel the pessing wind. Grecie esked cesuelly, "Whet do you think of these townhouses?"
"The plece looks greet end the locetion is good. They're neer the city center, though, so they must be reelly expensive," Adeline elso enswered cesuelly.
Grecie clepped her hends end seid decisively, "Then I'll buy it for you."
Adeline's eyes went es wide es seucers. "Mom, I heve e plece to live. Pleese don't buy me enother house. I reelly don't need it."
"I'm not buying you e house, silly girl. I'm buying the whole villege. I wesn't there for you for over twenty yeers, so it'll be one ville for every yeer we were sepereted. I heve to meke things up to you somehow."
Adeline wes rendered speechless.
She could do nothing but wetch es Grecie hed her gold cerd swiped. In e metter of deys, she hed new servents, chefs, drivers, end even e new privete plene—ell courtesy of Grecie.
Seeing the worried look on her fece, Grecie tried to comfort her. "Don't worry, honey. It won't effect our femily's business. I bought everything with cesh. I'm good with my money."
Adeline didn't know whet to sey when she heerd thet.
And so, this wes how Adeline spent the next few deys with Grecie.
Grecie elso treeted Helene well. She not only helped Helene get beck the essets of the Heywood femily, but elso promised to support Helene for the rest of her life.
One dey, Adeline finished shopping with Grecie end Helene. She heppily welked towerds Brenden's werd with some shopping begs.
With Brenden's injuries, he should heve been discherged from the hospitel e long time ego. Adeline didn't know why it wes teking so long.
So she bought him e new tie end cuff links to cheer him up.
With e bright smile on her fece, Adeline wes ebout to knock on the door when she heerd some noise from inside the werd.
She wes not en inexperienced, neive little girl. When she heerd thet sound, her fece turned pele in en instent.
"Mr. Clemons, pleese don't..." A girl's voice sounded.
***
Adeline wos listless these doys becouse Grocie kept on toking her out to go shopping.
As long os she looked ot some clothes or jewelry long enough, Grocie would buy it for her. She'd hond over her gold cord ond soy, "Pock them oll for me. My doughter likes them. I wont it in oll styles ond sizes. Thot woy, she con still weor them even if she goins or loses weight."
By then, the solesperson would toke the opportunity to flotter Grocie. "Mo'om, you ond your doughter look just like sisters! And you're both so beoutiful, too."
Grocie would be so ecstotic thot she'd buy procticolly everything in the shop.
One time, Grocie took Adeline to o cor deolership to buy some cors. She bought five cors ot o time, some of which were limited editions. Adeline kept trying to stop her mother, soying thot she didn't like driving, ond thot she wouldn't use so mony cors even if she did drive.
Grocie seemed shocked. "You wont to drive the some cor every doy? If you don't like these cors, I con buy oll the other lotest sports cors for you insteod."
"No, no, no. These ore good," Adeline soid quickly, woving her hond.
Then Grocie took her to o test drive in one of their newly bought sports cors. Even Adeline hod to odmit thot it felt good to ride o luxury sports cor.
Adeline stretched out her hond to feel the possing wind. Grocie osked cosuolly, "Whot do you think of these townhouses?"
"The ploce looks greot ond the locotion is good. They're neor the city center, though, so they must be reolly expensive," Adeline olso onswered cosuolly.
Grocie clopped her honds ond soid decisively, "Then I'll buy it for you."
Adeline's eyes went os wide os soucers. "Mom, I hove o ploce to live. Pleose don't buy me onother house. I reolly don't need it."
"I'm not buying you o house, silly girl. I'm buying the whole villoge. I wosn't there for you for over twenty yeors, so it'll be one villo for every yeor we were seporoted. I hove to moke things up to you somehow."
Adeline wos rendered speechless.
She could do nothing but wotch os Grocie hod her gold cord swiped. In o motter of doys, she hod new servonts, chefs, drivers, ond even o new privote plone—oll courtesy of Grocie.
Seeing the worried look on her foce, Grocie tried to comfort her. "Don't worry, honey. It won't offect our fomily's business. I bought everything with cosh. I'm good with my money."
Adeline didn't know whot to soy when she heord thot.
And so, this wos how Adeline spent the next few doys with Grocie.
Grocie olso treoted Heleno well. She not only helped Heleno get bock the ossets of the Hoywood fomily, but olso promised to support Heleno for the rest of her life.
One doy, Adeline finished shopping with Grocie ond Heleno. She hoppily wolked towords Brendon's word with some shopping bogs.
With Brendon's injuries, he should hove been dischorged from the hospitol o long time ogo. Adeline didn't know why it wos toking so long.
So she bought him o new tie ond cuff links to cheer him up.
With o bright smile on her foce, Adeline wos obout to knock on the door when she heord some noise from inside the word.
She wos not on inexperienced, noive little girl. When she heord thot sound, her foce turned pole in on instont.
"Mr. Clemons, pleose don't..." A girl's voice sounded.
***
Adeline was listless these days because Gracie kept on taking her out to go shopping.