After the family banquet incident, Adrian Jennings didn’t return to The Jennings Family’s old house for several days.
Mrs. Jennings called him several times, at first he answered and asked why she was targeting Talia Rhodes.
Mrs. Jennings explained the reason, saying that Talia Rhodes was targeting her precious granddaughter, Selina Hughes.
Adrian Jennings explained that things weren’t as Selina Hughes said, but Mrs. Jennings wouldn’t listen, insisting that Adrian Jennings was beguiled by Talia Rhodes; she firmly believed her good granddaughter Selina Hughes wouldn’t lie.
The communication ended fruitlessly, and Adrian Jennings hung up. He didn’t answer any of Mrs. Jennings’ subsequent calls.
During this time, Melinda Lynch also called to mediate, feeling a bit dissatisfied with her adopted daughter’s instigation.
Selina Hughes continued to fan the flames in Mrs. Jennings’ ear, accusing Talia Rhodes of many "crimes," one of which was sowing discord between Adrian Jennings and Mrs. Jennings, leaving The Jennings Family in unrest.
Mrs. Jennings originally had only slight displeasure towards Talia Rhodes, but after Selina Hughes’ instigation, her aversion to her prospective granddaughter-in-law grew considerably.
On Monday morning, Talia was awakened by the alarm clock. She struggled to open her eyes, preparing to get up for work, but felt cold all over, her head pounding, and couldn’t stop coughing. Her temperature, when checked, was as high as thirty-nine degrees.
Recently, flu cases were rampant, and she had unfortunately caught it.
Talia took medical leave and sensibly went to the hospital for inpatient treatment.
Talia had just completed the hospitalization procedures, intending to inform Adrian Jennings, but recalling that he was busy with a tricky project that kept him working late every day, she dismissed the idea.
She didn’t want Adrian Jennings to worry.
She was an adult, capable of taking care of herself, a minor flu didn’t warrant bothering Adrian Jennings.
Talia hired a caregiver and a cooking lady for herself.
Initially, due to the flu, her voice was hoarse, but after receiving IV drips and taking medication twice, her voice returned to normal, preventing Adrian Jennings from realizing anything when he called. Fresh chapters posted on novel-fire.ɴet
"Is Talia Rhodes really sick and hospitalized?" Selina Hughes received a call from her friend Sylvia Kingsley, her tone unable to mask her excitement.
Sylvia Kingsley said, "Absolutely true, I happened to see her handling hospitalization procedures when I went to the hospital to visit a friend yesterday."
Selina Hughes asked, "She’s alone? Adrian isn’t there?"
"Not there, she’s by herself. Today, I asked a friend who works at the hospital; they found out that a caregiver has been taking care of her these past two days. It seems like Adrian Jennings isn’t aware she’s sick and hospitalized."
Adrian Jennings finished his work and returned to the villa.
As he turned on the lights, a figure suddenly appeared, and Adrian Jennings instinctively took hold of the person.
"Ah, it hurts! Brother, it’s me!" Selina Hughes looked up, her face contorted with pain.
Adrian Jennings frowned and released her, "How did you get in?"
Selina Hughes rubbed her arm, "I asked the housekeeper aunt to open the door for me."
After rubbing her arm, she pointed at the direction of the dining room, "Brother, you haven’t eaten, right? I cooked for you."
Selina Hughes was once the daughter of a housekeeper and learned to cook from a young age. After becoming the Jennings Family’s foster daughter, she occasionally cooked to please Mrs. Jennings.
Adrian Jennings walked into the dining room, where two steaks, two glasses of red wine, candles, and roses were set up as decorations.
A romantic candlelit dinner.
Selina Hughes’s intentions were plain as day.
Adrian Jennings’s face showed displeasure, "Why did you come without informing me? There’s a cooking lady at home; there’s no need for you to come and cook. Besides, I’ve already eaten, and you shouldn’t have inappropriate thoughts about me."
Selina Hughes’s face turned pale upon hearing this, her lips moved, tears brimming in her eyes, "Brother, I’m sorry, I didn’t think it through. I just wanted to surprise you."
She bit her lip, feeling aggrieved, "Since brother has already eaten, I’ll just clean this up."
Selina Hughes began to tidy up the dining table.
Before Adrian Jennings returned, Selina Hughes fantasized about the two sitting together at the table for a meal, candlelight flickering, roses fragrant, and slightly tipsy from wine, everything so romantic! But now all of it was ruined, and she felt slightly resentful.
She had to seize the opportunity while Talia Rhodes was sick and hospitalized to do something.
Selina Hughes’s gaze fell on the red wine beside her.
Adrian Jennings had already moved into the living room and was not present in the dining room.
Selina Hughes took out the medicine she had prepared and slipped it into the wine.
Adrian Jennings tossed his coat casually onto the sofa.
He leaned back against the sofa, his long legs slightly bent, fatigue evident as he massaged his temples and took out his phone to message Talia.
[Just got home, is Talia asleep yet?]
No reply from the other side, given it was eleven at night, she likely was asleep.
He felt a little disappointed.
Just then, Selina Hughes came over with a glass of red wine, "Brother, care for some red wine?"
Adrian Jennings liked to taste wine and had collected many exquisite wines at home. The private villa had an entire wall on the first floor made into a wine cabinet, each bottle worth anywhere from tens of thousands to millions, with countless prestigious wines stocked.
He had a habit of drinking a bit of wine to relax when fatigued, which Selina Hughes knew.
Selina Hughes sat beside him, leaning closer.
Adrian Jennings’s face showed displeasure, he pushed her shoulder with his hand, "Go back; I’ll ask the driver to take you."
Selina Hughes was about to cry, "What’s wrong, brother? Did I do something to upset you?"
"Don’t come again," the man said coldly, "Put away your intentions."
"Brother, I know you’ve been busy and tired recently, I only wanted to care for you. Do you really have to be so heartless?"
"I have a girlfriend, I don’t need your care."
Adrian Jennings called the driver to take Selina Hughes back.
"Brother, since you don’t want me to stay here, I’ll leave. Please drink the wine; I specially bought it from a charity auction for you."
Selina Hughes handed over the wine glass.
Adrian Jennings accepted it.
Selina Hughes watched him with slightly tense eyes, hoping he’d drink it.
Just as the glass reached his lips, Adrian Jennings’s phone screen lit up.
He lowered the glass and picked up the phone, his face lighting up with joy.
Talia had replied to his message.
[I just fell asleep; now I’m awake, up to drink some hot water and continue sleeping.]
Seeing the message, Adrian Jennings’s icy demeanor melted, softening like the warm sun in April.
[Okay, drink some water and rest well. I’ll visit you tomorrow.]
[No need. I’ll be very busy tomorrow and probably need to work late. After returning, I want to rest early.]
[Then the day after tomorrow.]
Talia sighed; this flu was fierce. Whether she’d recover by the day after tomorrow was uncertain.
Talia hesitated for a while before sending a message.
[I’m also busy the day after tomorrow; once I’m done, I’ll find you later. You’ve been busy; take care of your health.]
Selina Hughes sat nearby, watching the man typing, his expression softened and gentle.
It was obvious he was messaging Talia Rhodes.
Selina Hughes was crazy with jealousy.
"Crash—" The glass fell onto the floor, scattering shards everywhere.
Adrian Jennings lifted his gaze to meet Selina Hughes’s eyes, a cold stare.