Phoebe slept in until the afternoon, only to be jolted awake by the doorbell ringing nonstop. She opened her eyes, still feeling wiped out. She got up, put on her shoes, and stumbled to the door, still groggy.

Ollie had been left outside. When Phoebe opened the door, Ollie started circling her, meowing. Worried about stepping on it, she picked it up.

She walked to the door and peeked through the peephole, only to be startled by a giant eyeball staring back.

Phoebe was groggy but now wide awake.

When Phoebe opened the door, she found Evelyn standing there with two big bags of medicine, which made her feel a bit queasy.

“Phoebe, what’s going on? I called, but you didn’t answer. I went to your office, and they said you weren’t at work. Were you sleeping at home?” Evelyn asked, leaning in to sniff her. “What’s that smell? It’s awful and messy. If Theodore saw you like this, he’d be so disgusted.”

Phoebe was speechless.

She carried Ollie to the living room while Evelyn followed, putting the medicine in the fridge before coming back out.

“I heard Taylor had an accident. How is she now?” Evelyn asked.

Evelyn had joined a WhatsApp group with many domestic workers who often chatted, so they were always up-to-date on any household news.

Phoebe, sitting on the couch petting Ollie, responded sluggishly, “She’s out of danger now. The doctor said she’ll recover soon.”

“What exactly happened? I heard she fell from the second floor of the estate, and there was blood everywhere. It sounded terrifying,” Evelyn said. Phoebe yawned before explaining, “She slipped on the stairs, falling and hitting the back of her head. The bleeding just wouldn’t cease.”

“Oh my God!” Evelyn exclaimed. “She’s getting old. When can I visit her?”

“Not now. Maybe in a few days,” Phoebe said.

Considering Taylor’s current state, Evelyn’s visit could potentially result in uncomfortable circumstances if she were to overhear something she wasn’t meant to.

Evelyn frowned at her. “Taylor’s in the hospital, and why are you still at home? You should be by her side, so she’ll appreciate you when she recovers.”

“I just got back this morning. Can you please stop talking and let me have some peace?” Phoebe said weakly.

Evelyn was pleased to hear this. “You are sensible, knowing when to show up. You haven’t had lunch yet, have you? I’ll cook for you.”

Phoebe watched Evelyn happily head to the kitchen and couldn’t help but roll her eyes.

Everything Evelyn said seemed to have an ulterior motive. In reality, Phoebe had stayed outside the ICU last night not to impress anyone but out of guilt for not reporting what she knew earlier. Evelyn quickly prepared some dishes, and the apartment soon smelled of food. She called Phoebe to eat.

Seeing Phoebe still holding Ollie, Evelyn frowned. “Phoebe, stop holding it all the time. Put it back in his cage and come eat.”

Phoebe ignored her, placing Ollie on the couch before heading to the bathroom to wash her hands. When she came out, she saw Evelyn grabbing Ollie by the scruff of his neck.

Phoebe couldn’t stop her in time and saw a flash of silver as Evelyn yelped in pain. Ollie had scratched her hand, leaving several bloody marks.

“You little beast! How dare you scratch me? I’ll kill you,” Evelyn fumed, grabbing a tissue box to throw at Ollie.

Phoebe quickly intervened, grabbing the tissue box and blocking Evelyn’s view. “Mom, I forgot to warn you that he’s not used to strangers.”

Evelyn was still angry. “I told you not to keep animals. Even if you treat them well, they’re still animals. Look at my hand. It’s bleeding. I should go to the hospital for a rabies shot. This is infuriating.”

Phoebe took the tissue box, pressed a few tissues to Evelyn’s wound, and sprayed some alcohol on it to disinfect it. Evelyn yelped in pain, and Phoebe sighed helplessly.

“Let’s eat first, and then we’ll go get the shot,” Phoebe comforted.

Evelyn glared at Ollie. “Phoebe, what are you thinking? Do you plan to live with Theodore and the cat forever, or do you want the cat to inherit his estate?”

Phoebe knew Evelyn was changing the conversation back to children. She said, “I’m starving. Let’s eat first.”

She quickly left, leaving Evelyn fuming in the living room. After a while, Evelyn followed her to the dining room and sat across from her.

Evelyn started expressing her views again, essentially urging Phoebe to have children.

Phoebe finally got fed up and said, “Mom, can’t you let me eat in peace?”

“No!” Evelyn said. “No man doesn’t want his own children. Although Theodore doesn’t want them now, he will in five or ten years. If you can’t have children, he’ll find a younger woman to have them for him. Don’t think you can keep him with a cat forever.”

Phoebe was speechless.

She quickly finished her meal, pushed her bowl away, and said, “I’m going to take a shower.”

“You just ate, and now you’re going to shower. Don’t you know it affects digestion?” Evelyn said, following Phoebe, almost getting the door slammed in her face.

Evelyn was furious and kicked the door.

The door didn’t budge, but her toes throbbed with pain. She ground her teeth and turned to see Ollie baring its teeth at her. Evelyn was angry. “You little beast, I’ll kill you one day.”

Phoebe suddenly opened the door and said, “Mom, it’s not a little beast. Its name is Ollie. If you keep saying that, Theodore won’t be happy.” Evelyn was lost for words..

She felt like a chicken with its neck squeezed, unable to say a word. The term ‘little beast’ just wouldn’t come out.

Phoebe easily had Evelyn under control. She closed the door, grabbed some clean clothes from the closet, and went to the bathroom to shower.

Half an hour later, Phoebe came out to the living room and saw Evelyn and Ollie each occupying a corner of the couch, not bothering each other. She walked over, picked up Ollie, put it in its cat house, and filled its bowl with food and water before leaving with Evelyn.

“If we’re going to the hospital, why don’t we buy some flowers and fruit and visit Taylor?” Evelyn suggested.

Phoebe thought for a moment. “Okay, let’s do that.”

They went to an imported fruit store to buy some fruit and then to a florist to get a bouquet before taking a cab to the hospital.

They first got the rabies shot downstairs before taking the elevator up.

There were many people outside Taylor’s hospital room. When they saw Phoebe with the flowers, they all turned to greet her.

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