FULL NOVELXO Chapter 21
Chapter 21 It Is Not About Pleasing Grandma.
Finished
There was silence from Xavier’s end for a few minutes. He had covered the phone, not letting Aurelia hear what they were discussing.
Aurelia was somewhat worried.
But within a few minutes, Xavier’s voice could be heard again.
“Auri, there’s nothing to worry about. It’s just some minor issues. I’ll go handle them first. You should rest well, and if you still don’t feel well, you should go to the hospital, all right?”
*All right.”
Aurelia didn’t press further. She understood Xavier’s personality. Since their childhood, Xavier, being the eldest brother, had always assumed the responsibility of looking after his younger siblings. He would never let his family worry about anything he could handle himself.
She opened the banking app on her phone and checked the remaining balance.
David had given her fifty percent of the money for the restoration of the antique painting, promising to deliver the remaining amount upon completion.
She had over eight hundred thousand now.
Upon graduating from university, Xavier became part of a scientific research company. However, for reasons unknown, his salary remained low. Further complicating matters, he had signed a ten–year contract, which he couldn’t easily terminate without facing substantial penalties for breach of contract.
In her previous life, before the car accident, Xavier had always been stuck in his career, unable to make any further progress.
But in this life, she was determined to do everything within her power to help them.
This money was far from enough.
As thoughts swirled, unknowingly, sleep had once again taken over her.
Yet, in the room across, Matthew was unable to fall asleep for quite some time.
Perhaps it was the stark contrast of previously being able to sleep peacefully in the Quigley residence, but now, the more he attempted to rest, the more alert he found himself becoming, which inexplicably irritated him.
He got out of bed, planning to go downstairs to drink a glass of water.
When he stepped out of the room, he noticed that the light in Aurelia’s room was still on. A flicker of emotion passed through his eyes, and he walked over.
He knocked on the door three times.
1/5
Chapter 21 It Is Not About Pleasing Grandma
“Aurelia.”
There was no response.
Did she fall into a deep sleep because her temperature was still running?
Matthew glanced at the light beneath the door, then opened the door and stepped inside.
The woman was lying quietly on the bed, her eyes tightly shut, her breathing almost imperceptible.
Finished
Matthew took a few steps forward, reached the bedside, picked up the thermometer, and took her temperature.
Her body temperature had dropped.
He
put down the thermometer and then took another look at Aurelia.
If she could abide by the agreement peacefully and without ulterior motives for these three years, he would give her an additional sum of money on the day the agreement expired.
Suddenly, he thought of the name “Curtis” that she had repeatedly mentioned earlier, and his eyes darkened.
He reckoned Gordon should soon find out exactly what had transpired between her and Curtis.
When Aurelia woke up again, it was six in the morning.
She was still a little weak.
She called David and asked for a leave, then prepared to go downstairs to make breakfast.
Starry Sea Mansion was somewhat distant from the city center, limiting the options for takeout food.
In the morning, all she wanted was to have some soup.
Just as she descended the stairs, she was somewhat surprised to see Matthew sitting at the dining table.
On the dining table, there was some soup and a few pieces of bread.
Upon seeing Aurelia descend the stairs, Matthew said, “It was Grandma who had it sent over.”
A warm feeling immediately surged in Aurelia’s heart. “Grandma is so good to me,” she said.
She picked up her phone and sent a message to Mabel: Thank you, Grandma. I’m feeling much better today. Once I’m completely recovered, I’ll come to the Quigley residence to keep you company.
After she sat down, she realized that Matthew was staring at her.
2/5
Chapter 21 It Is Not About Pleasing Grandma
With a stern look in his eyes, Matthew said, “You certainly know how to please Grandma.”
Finished
“It isn’t about pleasing Grandma, but rather a mutual exchange. Grandma is kind to me, arranging for my breakfast to be delivered, and it is only right for me to express my gratitude. Mr. Quigley, do you have any misconceptions about sincere interactions between people? Or do you think I should take for granted that Grandma should do this for me and that I don’t even need to say thank you while eating the breakfast she sent?” Aurelia retorted.
Matthew was rendered speechless.
She is very eloquent. No wonder Grandma forgets about me.
Following that, all that was left was the sound of eating. The two of them didn’t utter another word.
Only when Aurelia was about to wash the dishes did Matthew say, “Put them down. I’ll do it.” “All right, thank you.”
During these three years, if he fell ill, she would willingly take on these responsibilities as well. Although the morning had been somewhat unpleasant, he had taken good care of her on the way back from the auction house yesterday, and even at home. Because of this, she wouldn’t hold it against him.
After returning to her room, she took another short nap.
When she groggily woke up, it was already ten in the morning.
Upon waking from that nap, she felt much better and regained her strength.
Just as she got out of bed, she received a call from Charlie.
“Auri, Xavier told me you were sick. Are you feeling any better now? Do you want me to come and keep you company?”
“Charlie, I’m fine now. I took some medicine last night and felt much better this morning. I just had another nap and now I’m completely all right. I’m actually planning to visit Mom at her workplace.
“All right then, I was hoping to seize the opportunity to show off a bit, to let you know that I am. no less than Xavier. But you didn’t give me that chance.”
Aurelia laughed. “You have always been amazing, Charlie.”
“Hahaha, I don’t care for compliments from others. I only like hearing praises from you.”
The siblings chatted for a while longer before they finally hung up the phone.
After changing her clothes, Aurelia lightly applied her makeup and then drove off to the place where Phyllis worked.
9:05 PM
Chapter 21 It Is Not About Pleasing Grandma
The road was clear of traffic, so she quickly arrived at her destination.
Finished
Phyllis worked as a cleaner in a hotel. This building housed more than just a five–star hotel. It also contained a Michelin–starred restaurant.
Although Phyllis was the mother of four children and didn’t usually fuss over her appearance, she was naturally beautiful. At the age of forty–eight, she didn’t have many wrinkles. Sometimes, when she was with Aurelia, people would mistake them for sisters.
Phyllis earned a modest salary. Her monthly income was around four thousand five hundred, but with full attendance and other factors considered, she could make approximately five thousand a month.
Renting a house cost three thousand five hundred a month, and the remaining one thousand was hardly enough to do anything. Fortunately, after Xavier and Charlie started working, they would contribute to the family expenses. Herbert was frugal in his daily life. The family supported each other and now they all had great confidence in the future.
This job was one Phyllis had just switched to last month, and Aurelia had not yet visited.
There was a half–hour lunch break at half past eleven in the afternoon.
Aurelia first went to a nearby place to buy a pizza.
Around half past eleven, she arrived at the hotel and made a phone call to Phyllis from outside the hotel.
The phone rang for quite a while, yet Phyllis did not pick it up.
Aurelia glanced at her watch. It was three minutes to half past eleven.
She then waited for another three minutes.
Three minutes later, she made another call.
Still, there was no answer.
Aurelia went straight into the hotel and inquired at the front desk.
“Hello, my mother is Phyllis Jenkins. She works as a cleaner in your hotel. It should be her lunch break now. I would like to see her. Could I possibly use your internal phone to call my mother?”
No sooner had the hotel receptionist nodded in agreement than the front desk phone began to ring incessantly.
The receptionist’s face changed after she answered the phone. She hung up and said to Aurelia, “There seems to be some trouble with your mother. It would be good if you could come with me to take a look.”