CHAPTER 37: CHAPTER 37: THE TRUTH BEHIND SHAWN RHODES’ REMARRIAGE

Not long after, an elderly lady with a slightly plump figure walked out with a beaming face, "Miss Rhodes... Is it Talia who’s come?"

Talia was slightly taken aback, "Grandma, do you know me?"

The old lady approached Talia Rhodes, her cloudy eyes brimming with tears, visibly moved, "Talia has grown so tall, so quickly."

Talia’s mouth opened slightly, not quite understanding what was happening.

Adrian Jennings spoke at the right moment, "I learned my culinary skills here."

Talia turned to look at him.

Adrian Jennings explained, "This is Grandma Wang, she used to be the Sterling Family’s nanny. Aunt Clara also learned her cooking from this grandma."

Grandma Wang looked at Talia Rhodes, tears of joy falling, "It really is Talia. Your eyes are just like your mother’s. Talia, I used to hold you when you were little."

Upon hearing Grandma Wang mention her mother, Talia’s eyes suddenly filled with tears, "Yes, I am Talia, Grandma Wang, I’ve come to see you."

"Quick, come inside and take a seat." Grandma Wang invited them in.

"Zhuzi, go to town to buy groceries, get more good things; I’ll cook for President Jennings and Talia later."

"Got it!" The man called "Zhuzi" responded, hopped on the motorcycle in the yard, and left.

Grandma Wang reminisced with Talia about the past, telling many stories about Clara Sterling’s youth.

Only then did Talia learn that Clara Sterling had learned to cook in order to pursue Shawn Rhodes.

Her mother, a dignified lady of a distinguished family who never touched household chores, was willing to make meals for the sake of one man.

Talia felt a bit conflicted.

As a child, she remembered her parents being very much in love.

Even after her mother passed away, Shawn Rhodes was depressed for quite some time.

If he loved her so much, why did he remarry just two years after her mother’s death?

Moreover, he married her mother’s best friend.

When she was little, her mother had taken her to see Lillian Young a few times. Lillian didn’t live in Oakhaven, so although she and her mother were close friends, they didn’t meet often.

Talia used to like Lillian Young a lot, every time they met, Lillian would take her to buy pretty dresses and delicious cakes.

But after Lillian married Shawn Rhodes, the little bit of affection between them was entirely depleted.

In fairness, after marrying into the family, Lillian Young treated her well, even better than when she was just her aunt; she gave her the best of everything she could eat and wear. However, she couldn’t bring herself to like Lillian Young anymore.

Thinking of this, Talia Rhodes softly asked, "Grandma Wang, do you know Lillian Young?"

Grandma Wang thought for a moment, "Is she the girl who was close to your mother? I know her. She used to come over often before your mother got married. She was your mother’s college classmate, and they were really close."

Talia’s expression slightly darkened, "She’s my stepmother now."

Grandma Wang paused, seemingly recalling something.

After a moment, she said, "I remember before your mother passed away, that young girl, Lillian, came to the hospital to see her several times. Once, when I visited your mother at the hospital, I heard her say she hoped that after she passed, Lillian would take care of you. She didn’t want you to be a child without a mother’s love. At the time, your father was there, and your mother said if he were to marry again, it could only be to Lillian, she didn’t trust anyone else."

"How can this be..." Talia’s face turned slightly pale, her heart pained.

Her father marrying Aunt Lillian was actually her mother’s dying wish?

And all of this was simply because her mother didn’t want her to be a child without a mother’s love, hoping someone could replace her to love her well.

Talia’s eyes reddened, eyelashes fluttering, she didn’t speak anymore.

Adrian Jennings silently took her hand, his rough thumb gently squeezing her palm.

At noon, Grandma Wang cooked a large table full of dishes.

The taste was exactly the same as what Clara Sterling used to make.

Talia didn’t want to spoil the mood, so she temporarily put aside the painful memories, and managed a bright smile, praising Grandma Wang’s cooking skills.

Grandma Wang, in high spirits, said, "Talia, you may not know this, but President Jennings came to me many times before, and every time he would follow me into the kitchen to watch me cook."

Hearing this, Talia looked at Adrian Jennings with tearful eyes, her voice carrying a nasal tone, "Why did you come here to learn how to cook?"

The man’s expression was gentle, his voice light, "To cook for you."

Talia’s puzzled tone, "Why?"

Adrian Jennings slowly turned his head, looking into her beautiful eyes, "During the time when Aunt Clara passed away, you weren’t eating properly. I was worried about you."

Mentioning Clara Sterling, Grandma Wang was also saddened, sighing.

After a while, Grandma said, "Not long after your mother got married, I fell ill. The doctor told me to rest and not overwork, so I resigned and returned to my hometown. Later, when your mother was hospitalized, I visited her several times. That’s when I met President Jennings, he was only in his teens then, still just a child."

Saying this, Grandma Wang’s gaze shifted between the two, "President Jennings truly cares about you. Seeing you not eating due to excessive grief, he specifically came to learn cooking from me. He’s a smart child, he learned it in just a few days."

"Later, President Jennings occasionally still came to visit me. It was him who found a doctor to treat my illness and covered all the medical expenses, saying it was the tuition fee for learning how to cook."

Talia suddenly thought of something, widening her eyes in disbelief, "The meals sent by the nanny after my mother’s death... were they made by you personally?"

"Yes."

Just a simple word stirred up tumultuous waves in Talia’s heart.

...

Days went by in the cool autumn breeze of October.

That day, Ethan Grant dressed to the nines to attend an auction.

Among the items being auctioned was a Pink Diamond Necklace, rumored to be a treasure of the British royal collection.

He wanted to bid on the necklace as an engagement gift for Oscar Sterling’s cousin.

Vivian Coleman, adorned beautifully, accompanied him to the auction.

Just as they arrived outside the venue, Ethan Grant saw Talia Rhodes.

The man she was with was the same one he had fought with before.

With a sour face, Ethan Grant walked over.

"Talia, what are you doing here?"

Talia Rhodes had been in conversation with someone.

The person, seeing Ethan Grant approach, politely excused themselves.

With Adrian Jennings beside her, Talia’s tone was cold, "What else would I be doing here? Of course, I’m here for the auction."

By this time, Vivian Coleman had already walked over and scoffed at Talia’s words, "You, participating in an auction? What could you possibly afford?"

Ethan Grant’s eyes swept past coldly, full of displeasure.

Vivian Coleman reluctantly shut her mouth, but a cold snort still escaped her nose.

Suddenly, her gaze fell on the man beside Talia Rhodes, and she was taken aback.

This man’s features were handsome, his demeanor noble, wearing bespoke attire, with a watch on his wrist worth millions.

Beyond that, the man exuded a powerful aura that repelled others, an inherent authority that made even the attractive Ethan Grant pale into insignificance as just a background figure.

When did Talia Rhodes start mingling with such a figure?

The disdain on Vivian Coleman’s face was replaced with jealousy.

Adrian Jennings remained cool and indifferent, not sparing a glance at Ethan Grant and Vivian Coleman.

He just said to Talia Rhodes, "Let’s go, Talia."

His tone was supremely gentle.

Vivian Coleman was stunned.

The relationship between these two was obviously not ordinary.

Talia Rhodes no longer paid attention to Ethan Grant and followed Adrian Jennings away.

Vivian Coleman watched Adrian Jennings’ back, lost in thought.

Ethan Grant stepped forward to catch up, leaving Vivian Coleman standing there.