Laura leaned against the wall, hidden in the shadows, still clutching the item she had intended to deliver to Heather’s room.
Her gaze remained surprisingly calm.
“Laura?” Claudia approached from a distance, her eyes sharp.
Regaining her composure, Laura said, “Mother.”
“Why are you standing here?”
“I’m feeling a bit hypoglycemic. I need a moment to rest.”
Without hesitation, Claudia opened the box in Laura’s hands. Inside were a pair of earrings and a ring, both made of pure gold, intended solely for Heather.
“Let me take these inside,” Laura hastily suggested.
“Hold on.” Claudia took over. “I’ll handle this. You should go and rest for a bit. Today is going to be very busy.”
Laura nodded in agreement. She walked a short distance away, then turned back for another glance. Suddenly, she felt a sense of loneliness emanating from Claudia’s retreating figure.
Claudia had just put away the box when she knocked on Heather’s door. “Leanne.”
“Mother!” Heather greeted, her face beaming with joy as she stepped forward to meet her.
Claudia looked her up and down, a smile curving her lips as she nodded. “You look beautiful.”
Heather was somewhat shy.
Claudia gestured for her to sit down, picking up the wooden comb from the table and slowly brushing through her long hair. “You’re about to be married,” she said, “Things won’t be the same as they were at home. You can’t just do as you please anymore. You must always be cautious.”
A sense of warmth flowed through Heather’s heart. “Mmm… Dex has always been good to me.”
“The fact that he treats you well is one thing, but you can’t be too naive,” Claudia said calmly, imparting words of wisdom to her daughter before her wedding. “What happened at the art exhibition last time must not happen again, no matter the reason. Do you understand?”
After hearing that, Heather’s face fell. “I know…”
Yet, what she regretted even more was that if she hadn’t been manipulated by Josie, her reputation wouldn’t have been so tarnished.
She forced a smile, patting Claudia’s hand.
“Don’t worry, Mother. It won’t happen again.” She wouldn’t allow herself to be manipulated anymore.
Claudia curved her lips, looking at Heather in the mirror, yet she felt a peculiar sensation within her. A sense of alienation was intensely strong, devoid of the affection one would expect from a mother.
“Mother, is there something else you want to discuss?” Heather asked cautiously, noticing her hesitation to speak.
Claudia lowered her gaze. Inexplicably, she did not take out the box. Instead, she said, “From now on, you are not just the daughter of the Olsen family, but also Mrs. Russell. You have a dual identity, and you must be more cautious in your words and actions. Leanne, is there anything… you have been hiding from us? Speak up so we can help you deal with it.”
At this moment, Heather’s expression stiffened for a moment. She cautiously said, “Hide… No, nothing at all.”
“The secrets I’m referring to include everything before your return to the Olsen family. Over these many years, haven’t there been one or two things you couldn’t share with others? I am your mother. You can trust me.”
Heather’s heart raced. “Uh… Really, there’s nothing. Why would you ask such a thing?”
Claudia paused her combing. “Do you know that any mistake, as long as you admit it, there’s a chance for forgiveness and rectification? It’s not too late to cut your losses now.”
Heather’s fingers, hidden beneath her skirt, clenched tightly. Her expression remained unchanged. “Mother, what are you talking about? I don’t understand,” she said.
At this point, Claudia did not press further. “It’s good if there’s nothing.”
“Um… What about father? Is his health any better? Will he be able to attend the ceremony?”
“Of course.”
Claudia left the room. She took out a box and glanced at it. Ultimately, she hadn’t given it away.
Just then, an attendant rushed over, whispering, “Ruby has arrived in Wavery on the earliest high-speed train today. Our people intercepted her, and she was with someone.”
“Who?”
“Josie’s younger brother, Justin.”
