"Grandma, the West Family naturally listens to you, but Livia’s birthday still needs to be celebrated. She has been looking forward to it for so long..."
"Since I have the final say, then listen to me. It's just a birthday, so what? Is she going to die without it?" Carmen was furious, exasperated at their failure to meet her expectations. She struck her cane against the floor with a loud bang.
"Mitchel, just look at yourself. You’re completely distracted! I think your very soul has been hooked by that girl! From today on, you are not allowed to see her again without my permission "
At some point, Malva had knelt by Carmen's feet, gently massaging her legs.
"Grandma, it's all my fault. You can lock me up, but you can't keep Mitchel locked up all the time. This is the West Family, after all. If Mitchel, a dignified CEO, feels constrained in his own home, people would laugh at us if they heard about it..."
Carmen frowned and Malva continued offering suggestions.
"Why not just send Livia back to the Mayer Family first? I heard although her mother is no longer around, her father is still alive. They haven’t seen each other for so many years. He must miss her dearly."
As soon as he heard they wanted to send Livia away, Mitchel was the first to object. "No way!"
"Why not? I think this is a great idea! Let's do it!"
Carmen seemed to have made up her mind. "Mitchel, just look at yourself. You're completely devoted to that girl. But what about her? You and your mother have spoiled her to the point of being unruly. In the past, I turned a blind eye when she fought for attention, but this time, she nearly cost Malva her life! Between emotions and human life, which do you think weighs more? You decide for yourself!"
With that, she had someone help her to her room to rest.
Mitchel still wanted to argue, but Malva stopped him. "Mitchel, don’t make your grandma angry. Her legs aren’t in good condition and she had a stroke last time. The doctor specifically warned that she mustn’t get angry..."
Mitchel clenched his teeth, let out a cold hum and looked at Malva with a hint of suspicion in his eyes.
"Why do you want to send Livia back?"
"I'm doing this for you," Malva’s eyes instantly reddened. "Otherwise, your grandma would never let Livia go. Sending her home is just to help her avoid trouble for now. Once some time passes and your grandma calms down, you can bring her back whenever you want... By then, you can do whatever you please..."
"Sorry, I misunderstood you." Mitchel let out a sigh of relief.
Feeling a bit guilty, he reached out to touch Malva’s swollen face. "Does it still hurt? I’ll have someone bring you some ice to reduce the swelling."
***
The phone buzzed and a photo popped up on Livia’s phone screen.
In the image, Mitchel was lowering his head, cradling a woman’s face in his hands, his eyes filled with distress and tenderness.
[You see that? Mitchel loves me the most! Even if you die, he wouldn’t spare you a second glance!]
Fifteen minutes earlier, Hailey had received a call. She hurriedly left after offering Livia a few comforting words, telling her to rest well.
But Livia had heard it. On the other end of the call, Carmen’s voice was dripping with sarcasm and scorn.
Carmen had always been dissatisfied with Hailey. Back then, when Hailey lost her child and decided to adopt her, Carmen was firmly against it.
She had said, "Even if you raise her, she will still return to the Mayer Family in the end. You might as well have your own child—only biological children will truly be devoted to you!"
Obediently, Hailey got pregnant and gave birth, but her daughter died young.
Carmen insisted that adopting a child had disrupted her fate to bear her own children and blamed her for the misfortune. She even tried to send Hailey away, but Hailey refused to leave.
From then on, Carmen directed all her resentment over the West Family’s failure to produce heirs onto Hailey and Livia.
***
Malva glanced at the man sleeping beside her.
Mitchel had just drunk the tea she prepared and was now in a deep sleep.
