CHAPTER 91: WHAT HAPPENED IN THE BUSHES

"Hello, everyone... sorry for the intrusion," the young man greeted the guests.

His eyes moved across the room, and it became clear he was the only man among them.

He cast a slight frown at his mother. "Mother, why did you want me here?"

Linda’s son had only recently returned from overseas and taken over the family business. She’d asked the maid to summon him, clearly eager to show off her grown son to her friends.

"Come along, dear. I’ll introduce you to my friends," she said.

Edward sighed inwardly, already knowing his mother’s intention. She clearly wanted her friends to look out for any woman they could match him with.

Still, he did as she asked, going from one guest to another, shaking their hands before excusing himself back inside.

Linda finally eased into the topic. "If any of you know a suitable single woman, please let me know. We don’t want him staying unmarried for too long. I’m worried he might end up with someone who... well, isn’t the right fit."

Her eyes shifted from one friend to the next, deliberately skipping past the Windsors.

Still, Gwen jumped in.

She rested a hand on Chloe’s shoulder. "Linda... my daughter is still single. She’s a doctor. Why not consider introducing her to your son?"

Both Linda’s and Chloe’s faces twitched.

Chloe shrank slightly the moment her mother mentioned she was a doctor.

She had quit and had been jobless for a long time without Gwen knowing, and Lyra was right there, making her heart race with panic. She had no idea Lyra didn’t actually know she’d resigned.

"Gwen... Edward is twenty-two. If possible, I’d prefer someone closer to his age. Even two years older would be fine. Chloe is thirty-two, right?"

Linda tried to decline as politely as possible, hoping to avoid Gwen causing a scene at her tea gathering. She didn’t want the mood to sour for everyone.

Gwen sighed, and everyone could hear her resignation.

"Why worry about age? As long as she can have children. Look at Monica’s son. He got married with a seven-year age gap, and it turned out fine."

Priscilla, seated closest to Gwen, waved slightly, wondering if Gwen had maybe indulged a little too much earlier in the day.

"Hello... Monica’s situation is different. Besides, that’s Linda’s son. She will decide for him."

Monica nodded in agreement with her friend and added, "Yes, Priscilla is right. Linda has every right to choose what she wants for her son. Don’t worry, Gwen. Chloe will find a suitable match eventually."

Trying to end the topic, Monica continued, "Linda... where did you get this tea? It’s really good. Lyra, would you like some more?"

Lyra raised her hand, signaling she had enough. "No, Mother, I think I’m full already."

As Monica led Lyra into the light, Linda thought of something and nudged her.

"Ah, Auntie almost forgot, you could help too. If you have any single friends, make sure to introduce them to me."

Monica pressed a hand to her forehead, trying to block out the previous topic. But with Linda bringing it up again, it was clear she was really on a mission to find a daughter-in-law.

Suddenly, Gwen stood and grabbed Chloe’s hand. "Linda, we need to go to the bathroom. Excuse us."

Being ignored like this, Gwen knew she had to teach Linda a lesson.

"Yes, just go inside and ask the maid," Linda said.

The two of them walked away from the table. Chloe tugged at Gwen’s hand. "Mom, wait. My hand hurts."

Gwen leaned closer and whispered, "We need to teach Linda a lesson. And you..."

She gave Chloe’s shoulder a light slap. "How long are you going to stay a spinster?"

Outside, everyone at the table let out a sigh of relief once Gwen left, finally free to chat without interruptions.

But their peace didn’t last long. After a moment, a commotion erupted from inside the house.

The maid came running out, her face pale. "Madam... hurry... the young master..."

Linda jumped up, heart pounding. "What’s happening?"

"The young master... he’s screaming in pain! He says he’s been drugged!"

Shock froze everyone for a second. Linda dashed inside, but Edward shot out of the house, leaping straight into the pool beside the tea party.

Chloe ran after him, her drugged body swaying in disbelief. Gwen had actually been bold enough to drug her own daughter to carry out her plan.

But Edward was too quick, weaving around everyone in the house as he made his escape. He stayed at the bottom of the pool, trying to calm himself.

Above him, Linda panicked and ordered every bag of ice in the house dumped into the pool, desperate to do something.

Everyone’s eyes were on Edward, trying to help him, but Chloe, left trembling from the effects of the drug, was left on her own.

She rushed forward aimlessly, with Gwen close behind her.

Spotting a security guard, Chloe pleaded, "Help me..."

But Gwen grabbed her daughter, refusing to let the security guard touch her. Even when Chloe pleaded, the guard shrieked and ran, he wouldn’t intervene.

Chloe was left in agony, with her mother offering no help at all. She bolted away from Gwen, running as fast as she could out of the mansion.

Outside, she stumbled across a beggar on the street. Her vision blurred from the effects of the drug, and she didn’t notice anything unusual about him.

In her desperation, she dragged him into the bushes and let out her anguish. The man responded eagerly. "Oh, thank heavens for sending a woman to me."

He slammed her senseless. When it was over, the beggar lay beside Chloe, both of them exhausted.

Not long after, the family doctor arrived and administered medicine that finally countered the effects of the drug on Edward. Linda felt a wave of relief. Everything seemed to be over.

Lyra and the family doctor were both surprised when their eyes met.

"Lyra... I didn’t expect to see you here."

"Oh? Dr. Carvin, you’re the family doctor?"

"Um... y-yes," Carvin stammered, clearly flustered after being caught off guard.

No wonder he always burdened her with extra work whenever an influential family tried to choose her as their family doctor. He coveted those positions, while poorer patients were often pushed onto his staff instead.

She didn’t mind helping those in need, but she resented being treated unfairly.

Meanwhile, nobody at the tea party noticed Gwen acting like a madwoman when she found Chloe in the bushes. The beggar refused to leave her daughter.