CHAPTER 45: CHAPTER 45: THE SURGERY WAS A SUCCESS

If evidence can be found in Michelle Monroe’s computer, then it would be irrefutable, and Michelle won’t be able to escape legal consequences.

Ivana Monroe felt a surge of excitement, but soon worry crept onto her brows.

She had resolved not to deal with Leon Keane anymore, but now does she have to go find him?

Ivana was utterly exhausted, but she couldn’t sleep yet.

She still needed to make a trip to the hospital to check how her grandfather’s surgery went.

Ivana got up and first made a call to Butler Chaucer using the landline.

Uncle Chaucer’s voice couldn’t hide his happiness: "The old master has finished his surgery, and it was very successful, young lady, you needn’t worry."

Ivana’s eyes welled up with heat, and hot tears slid down her cheeks.

Uncle Chaucer continued, "I’ve already heard about what happened on your end, young lady, and there’s no need to worry too much. Do what you need to do! With Uncle Chaucer here, you needn’t fret about the old master, I promise he’s in good hands."

Ivana, moved, said, "Thank you, Uncle Chaucer."

Uncle Chaucer replied, "You’re too kind, young lady. I’m the old master’s butler; taking care of him is my duty."

After hanging up, Ivana wiped her tears and went to rest in bed.

Ivana slept until a little past nine the next morning.

When she awoke, she heard Timmy’s childish voice coming from the living room.

Ivana’s nerves immediately tightened. She rushed barefoot to the door, flung it open, and ran to the living room. Seeing Stacy Floyd had returned, sitting on the sofa and playing with Timmy, her tense nerves gradually relaxed.

"Mommy," called Timmy’s tender voice.

"Ivana, why did you run out barefoot?" Stacy was shocked to see Ivana; in her memory, Ivana would first dress up properly upon waking, not run out so disheveled.

Ivana let out a breath, her eyes locked on Timmy for a long moment before shifting to Stacy’s face, "Stacy, you’re back? I’ll go change clothes."

Ivana turned and walked into the bedroom.

Stacy noticed Ivana’s poor mental state and quietly asked the little boy, "Timmy, what’s wrong with your mommy lately?"

Timmy Monroe clenched his little fists, his beautiful eyes burning with anger, "Bad people bullied my mommy. Timmy wants to grow up quickly to protect mommy."

Bad people?

Stacy thought of Zachary Heston and Michelle Monroe. She had read the reports that morning about the called-off wedding between the Heston and Monroe families because Michelle cheated. Online discussions mentioned rumors of Michelle’s involvement in a threesome with two men back in high school. That’s why the Heston family canceled the wedding—because the video had been played publicly at the reception.

The scandalous comments were swiftly deleted, vanishing almost as quickly as they appeared.

Stacy thought Zachary must be manipulating things behind the scenes; the Heston family couldn’t bear such humiliation.

With such a big scandal involving Michelle, and Ivana present at the reception, Jean Shaw, that stepmother, would undoubtedly blame Ivana for everything.

Could the "bad people" Timmy referred to be those few scumbags in the Monroe family?

Stacy despised Jean Shaw and Michelle Monroe the most, whispering to Timmy, "Little darling, you don’t have to wait until you’re grown up; you can protect your mommy now. After all, you are Leon Keane’s biological son. If bad people bully your mommy, just ask Leon to help!"

"Leon is a big boss in Ravenswood—who would dare offend him? Wouldn’t that be like trying to move a mountain? If you go to Leon, he’ll surely handle those bad people for you and make them respect your mommy."

Timmy was troubled; he had sought out Uncle Kane, but seeing him made his mommy unhappy!

Timmy felt that his mommy disliked Uncle Kane, maybe even hated him.

Ivana emerged, dressed neatly, her hair combed smoothly, smiling at Stacy.

Her mental state seemed improved now.

But instead of relaxing, Stacy grew more worried about Ivana.

"Ivana, if you run into any trouble, just tell me."

"No, I’m fine lately. I’ve regained half of the GK stakes in style, and everything is moving in a positive direction."

Ivana’s smile was impeccable, and hearing her words, Stacy couldn’t find anything more to say.

"That’s good. Oh, Ivana, tomorrow is Timmy’s school start day. I have an ad shoot and might not be able to accompany you to take Timmy to school."

"Huh? Is it starting so soon?"

Seeing Ivana’s confused expression made Stacy realize her reminder was necessary; if she hadn’t reminded Ivana, Ivana might have forgotten tomorrow was the starting day of school.

Noon.

Stacy took Timmy out for a big meal; Ivana didn’t go, instead telling Stacy about her grandfather being in the hospital, and as she passed a flower shop, she noticed the vibrant flowers in full bloom.

Ivana entered the flower shop, picked a bouquet symbolizing longevity, and took a cab to the hospital.

Walking to her grandfather’s ward, she heard the noise inside before she even entered.

Ivana frowned, stepping into a room full of people from her second uncle’s family and both aunts’ families.

They quieted momentarily at her entrance, but seeing it was Ivana, their eyes filled with hostility.

Adelaide Monroe, who detested Ivana the most, looked at the flowers scornfully, "Ivana, you’re so thrifty, only buying a bunch of flowers to visit while the old master is hospitalized."

Ivana saw a line of precious supplements by the bed—ginseng, deer antler, caterpillar fungus...

Her grandfather’s old home was never short of such things.

Butler Chaucer approached Ivana, "Young lady, how thoughtful of you to remember the old master loves flowers."

He took the bouquet from Ivana, placed it in a water-filled vase by her grandfather’s cabinet, and the aroma began to dispel some of the room’s pungent antiseptic smell.

Gavin Monroe had woken, though an oxygen mask covered his face from his age, and his eyes moved upon seeing Ivana. In a weak voice, he said, "Ivana... come...."

Both Adelaide and the Monroe daughters cursed the sycophantic butler in their hearts. Seeing the old master call Ivana over made them sorely uncomfortable.

They had arrived early with expensive supplements and hadn’t eaten, dutifully inquiring after the old master’s health. Yet he remained mute, his gaze unyielding as if they were mere phantoms.

As soon as that little wench Ivana arrived, the old master seemed energized, even calling her over?

Adelaide and Kimberly Monroe blocked the path to the bed, reluctant to let Ivana through, but with the old master speaking, they had to make way.

Grudgingly, the two stepped aside, watching Ivana sit by the bedside, the old master affectionately holding her hand, and they were almost mad with jealousy.