After closing the door, Violet’s discomfort gradually turned into anger.
What did it mean that she was destroying someone’s family?
There was nothing wrong with pursuing the things and people she liked.
It wasn’t the ancient times anymore. As an independent woman of the new century, what was wrong with bravely pursuing her true love?
Besides, Anthony was not married!
She heard that the Crawford family had initially planned a wedding for Anthony and Lisa.
But then, it abruptly came to a halt, and there was no further news about it.
Violet felt that it must be the old lady of the Crawford family who was dissatisfied with Lisa…
For so long, she hadn’t heard her mention having a daughter-in-law or anything like that. Yet Lisa shamelessly continued to live with the Crawford family.
She was relying on the fact that Anthony now liked her. When Anthony grew tired of her, she would become even more proactive and straightforward…
At that time, she would let everyone know that she had someone she liked, and that was Anthony.
So, right now, she was waiting for love. She disliked how Yash acted like he knew everything and gave her advice.
If she heard him blabbering again, she would slap him right in the face and see if he would still have anything to say!
**
As the night passed, the sun, like a giant light bulb, illuminated the entire world. Birds chirped on the branches, chattering about the latest avian news.
Polly had somehow flown onto an outer branch, engaged in a spirited debate with four other birds.
“Granny, good morning!” Lilly came downstairs, radiating energy and vitality.
With a rosy complexion and sparkling eyes, she was a picture of purity and clarity.
Bettany smiled warmly. “You’re up early today, Lilly!”
Gilbert set aside his tablet and joined them in the dining room. Speaking gently, he said, “Are you hungry, Lilly?”
Josh promptly pulled out a chair. “Lilly, sit here!”
Lilly obediently thanked him and greeted Gilbert before taking her seat. Like a little adult, she sighed, “Hannah and Zachary are being lazy again!”
Drake removed fish bones for her, placing the deboned fish in a bowl in front of her. He calmly remarked, “It’s Saturday today, so they can be lazy.”
Lilly stuck out her tongue, recalling Drake’s sternness. Whenever Hannah and Zachary refused to get up, Drake would simply stand at the door, and they would obediently rise.
Drake was no less formidable than their grandmother at times—quite intimidating.
“Drake, I can do it myself!” Lilly grabbed a piece of fish and said, “I’m six years old now. If my classmates found out my big brother still picks out fish bones for me, they’d make fun of me.”
Drake’s expression remained unchanged. “What do other people’s opinions have to do with us?”
Lilly fell silent.
Fine!
He picked for her, and she would pick for him.
The siblings helped each other remove fish bones, transferring them between their bowls.
Drake sighed, somewhat helpless. “Lilly…”
Lilly giggled. “Drake, I’m not a three-year-old baby anymore. When kids grow up, they become independent.”
“Heh…” Gilbert chuckled softly. “You’re still a child yourself.”
A child who spoke of independence, Gilbert couldn’t help but find it amusing and perplexing.
Gilbert leisurely enjoyed his breakfast, listening to Lilly and her two brothers chatting away. The three siblings were all smiles, happily chatting. Lilly and Josh were the most talkative, while Drake diligently picked out fish bones.
Bettany asked, “Lilly, you transferred here just a few days ago. Are you adjusting well?”
Lilly nodded. “Of course, Granny. There’s nowhere I can’t adapt to.”
Bettany laughed, but her heart ached after the laughter subsided.
Ah, there’s nowhere she can’t adapt to. It meant she had been to too many places and experienced too much hardship.
It was heart-wrenching…
Suddenly, Lilly exclaimed, “Oh yeah, where’s Uncle Anthony?”
She had a feeling that something was off.
Usually, when she woke up, she would always see Anthony. Although he woke up earlier, he would patiently wait until she got up, pat her head, and then head out to work contentedly.
But today, he didn’t pat her head and went to work straight away?
Bettany replied, “Your Uncle Anthony hasn’t gotten up yet.”
Gilbert raised an eyebrow.
Drake looked surprised, and Josh widened his eyes.
How strange.
Bettany sighed, “You two suddenly remembered your father, huh?”
Josh concurred, “Yeah, that’s true.”
Just then, a door upstairs creaked open.
Anthony’s bedroom door opened.
Lisa appeared, neatly dressed, with her hair styled in a high ponytail, brimming with energy as she rushed downstairs.
“Lilly!”
“Josh!”
“Drake!”
She planted a kiss on Lilly’s cheek and then on Josh’s, but when she tried to kiss Drake, he raised his hand in a slightly haughty manner, refusing her.
Lisa felt famished and looked at Bettany expectantly. “Mom… good morning!”
“Gilbert, good morning!”
Gilbert responded, and Bettany’s thoughts were stirred. She said, “Sit down and have breakfast quickly.”
Lisa was indeed starving, so she sat down and voraciously dug into her food, making eager munching sounds.
In comparison to Lisa’s exuberance…
The three little heads, Gilbert, Bettany, and even Hugh, who was sitting on the couch watching the news, all turned to look upstairs.
Anthony descended slowly, tidying his cuff buttons as he went.
He made a deliberate effort to appear calm, but as he took a step down, his knees slightly buckled. He immediately straightened up, grabbing hold of the stair railing.
The adults fell silent.
The children wore perplexed expressions.
Lilly asked in confusion, “Uncle Anthony, what’s wrong? Are your legs weak? Are you okay?”
Anthony remained silent.
His ears turned a suspicious shade of red as if struck by a sudden burst of thunder or a ringing bell…
Gilbert was so shocked that he dropped the pumpkin from his spoon.
My, oh my… This, this, this…
According to novels, after a certain incident, the female protagonist would stand tall, storm out, and start complaining.
Well, now his sister-in-law was perfectly fine, full of vitality and energy.
But his brother was clutching his waist, weak-kneed, and trembling…
The entire family was astounded.
Gilbert thought, his brother just can’t handle it!
Hugh, on the other hand, thought this lad is really weak, huh?
Bettany thought, the traditional medicinal recipe I stumbled upon, the Dragon-Tiger Tonic, seemed useless, but it unexpectedly has its merits…
Lilly said, “Uncle Gilbert, Granny, what are you thinking? Let’s eat! Uncle Anthony, come down quickly. Are you standing up there enjoying the view?”
Anthony remained silent.
