Chapter36

Ellsworth replied coolly, “Mm.”

At Ellsworth’s indifference, Harriet exined, “I went to see

Grandpa.”

She hadn’t nned toe back, but Patsy had called her.

She didn’t want Patsy to think she was sulking over what Ellsworth said at lunch, nor did she want toplicate things right before the divorce, so she came back.

Ellsworth still ignored her as usual. Harriet took off her

earrings and watch, grabbed her pajamas, and quietly went to

the bathroom.

When they first got married, she had invited Ellsworth several times to visit her grandfather, but he always refused.

After that, she stopped asking him.

Every New Year and holiday, she went back alone.

Standing under the shower, letting a handful of warm water

wash over her face, Harriet didn’t even want to return to the

bedroom.

Because she didn’t know how to interact with Ellsworth

anymore.

Even so, after dawdling in the bathroom for an hour and a half,

Harriet still went back to the bedroom.

Ellsworth was working overtime. Harriet quietly got into bed,

pulled up her thin nket, put on her eye mask and earplugs,

and went to sleep first.

At the desk, Ellsworth didn’t stop working until Harriet was

asleep. Then he looked up at her.

Harriet was lying with her back to him.

He stared at Harriet for a while, expressionless, then turned off

hisputer and went to bed.

Harriet heard Ellsworth’s movements, but she didn’t react, just

pretended to be asleep.

After three years of marriage, her acting skills were already

perfect.

With only a small bedsidemp on, Ellsworth saw Harriet lying

motionless with her back to him. He reached out and removed one of her earplugs. “Are you still upset about what I said at

lunch?”

With her back to Ellsworth, Harriet let out a long, gentle sigh.

After a moment of silence, she said, “No, I know you were just

caught up in the conversation.”

Even though she was the one being scolded, the one feeling

embarrassed, she still had tofort Ellsworth.

After hearing this, Ellsworth put her earplugs back in.

In the days that followed, life returned to its usual, calm

routine.

Although Ellsworth came home every day, the two of them still

didn’t talk much.

***

That afternoon, just after Harriet returned to her office from a

meeting, Deloris called her.

She said, “Miss, Sir Chavez has been hospitalized. He just

finished his checkup. Could youe by after work to see

him?”

On this end of the line, Harriet immediately became agitated. “Grandpa’s in the hospital? Deloris, why didn’t you tell me

sooner?”

Nowadays, only matters concerning Ralph could elicit such a

strong reaction from Harriet.

Deloris said, “Sir Chavez wouldn’t allow it. He was afraid it

would affect your work.”

Harriet felt helpless.

No matter how important work was, it could never be more

important than her grandfather.

Without saying much more to Deloris, Harriet hung up and

drove straight to the hospital.

When she arrived at the hospital, Ralph had already finished all

his tests and was in good spirits.

Sitting down by the bedside, Harriet held Ralph’s hands in hers,

deliberately putting on a stern face as she said, “Grandpa, you

kept something this serious from me. What if something

happened to you? Do you want me to feel guilty for the rest of

my life?”

Ralph patted Harriet’s hand and said with a cheerful smile, “It’s just a little cardiovascr issue. Everyone gets it when they’re older. Calling you over wouldn’t help-this is the doctor’s job.”

Frowning, Harriet said seriously, “You fainted, and you call that a little issue?”

She added, “This can’t happen again. No matter what it is, you have to let me know right away next time.”

Worried, Harriet watched as Ralph nodded repeatedly.

“Alright, alright, I’ll let you know about everything right away

from now on.”

While the grandfather and granddaughter were talking,

Deloris was busy tidying up nearby, her eyes full of diligence.

After asking about Ralph’s condition, Harriet was about to go

find the doctor when the door to the hospital room was

suddenly pushed open, and a familiar voice followed: “Sir

Chavez.

Harriet looked up and saw Keh, dressed in a formal suit,

entering with an air of authority.

Keh was very tall and had sharp features. He looked a lot

like Ellsworth, except one was upright and steady, while the

other wasid-back and debonair.

Seeing this, Harriet quickly stood up from her chair and greeted

him. “Ken.”

She was still a little afraid of him.

Keh looked at Harriet as if nothing was out of the ordinary

and said gently, “You came.”

Before Harriet could respond, Keh handed her a stack of

test reports. “These are Sir Chavez’s test results and

hospitalization documents. Keep them safe.”