Chapter 183
“Can’t you just make some allowances for Suzan? She’s pregnant, after all.”
Adeline shot Mitchell a sharp look. She had her own opinions about Suzan getting pregnant before marriage, but the fact was, Suzan was carrying the Lloyd family’s child. Once the baby was born, he would be the heir, the first grandson- something those bastards outside could never compare to.
She’d told Mitchell before: be patient, be gentle with Suzan.
He’d agreed without protest, but now he was causing trouble again.
Did he think it had been easy for her, holding onto the title of Mrs. Lloyd all these years? She’d done it all for Mitchell.
“Aunt Adeline, this really isn’t Mitchell’s fault,” Suzan said, catching her breath. She slowly lifted her head, eyes shimmering with unshed tears, looking heartbreakingly fragile.
“Oh, sweetheart, you’re so considerate. Even now, you’re still speaking up for Mitchell.”
Seeing Suzan like this, Mitchell felt his anger ebb away.
He reached down to help Suzan up from the floor, guilt weighing on him. “I’m sorry. I lost my temper just now.”
The sight of Lyman and Effie together had made him lose his head for a moment.
Suzan’s heart was still full of resentment, but she forced a gentle smile for Mitchell. “It’s fine. I’m not angry with you. It was my fault, I shouldn’t have said what I did.”
The more gracious Suzan acted, the guiltier Mitchell felt.
She knew exactly how to play to his weaknesses-showing a little vulnerability always made him ache for her even more.
“I’m sorry,” he murmured again.
After Suzan was back in her hospital room, she didn’t make a scene. Instead, she told Mitchell that if he had things to take care of, he could go—she could look after herself.
Of course, Mitchell couldn’t really leave her alone in the hospital.
Adeline had brought over a variety of light broths and soups. The doctor had said Suzan needed to recover, but nothing too rich-just something gentle and nourishing.
Early that morning, Adeline had sent the housekeeper to the market to buy a plump old hen. She’d made sure every bit of fat and skin was removed before simmering it into a delicate, clear broth.
Seeing that Mitchell had upset Suzan, Adeline insisted that he feed her the soup himself.
Suzan knew her current treatment was all thanks to the child she was carrying.
But she enjoyed every minute of it. This was what she deserved-why should she refuse?
Maybe it was the pregnancy, or maybe it was the sleepless night before, but after finishing her soup, Suzan soon drifted off to sleep.
Mitchell got ready to drive Adeline home, and she used the opportunity to lecture him in the car.
“Suzan’s baby couldn’t have come at a better time. Even if you don’t care for her, you’d better take good care of that child she’s carrying. Once the baby’s here, we can talk about the rest.”
Everyone in high society knew the unspoken rule: keep the child, forget the mother if you must.
Mitchell understood what Adeline meant. He offered a distracted, “Yeah,” in reply.
After dropping Adeline off, Mitchell didn’t return to Suzan’s ward right away.
He noticed a fruit shop and a health food store across from the hospital and suddenly had an idea.
Using his status as Effie’s fiancé, he quickly learned that Effie’s grandmother had been hospitalized after a fall. When he found the room, only the old lady was there, watching TV.
He hadn’t expected Lyman to pull strings for someone like her-a powerless, ordinary old woman, yet she was in the hospital’s best private room.
He knocked, then stepped inside.
Effie’s grandmother saw Mitchell and her smile froze.
Her voice was cool and distant. “Why are you here?”