Dulcie shook her head and sighed.
She looked up at Flynn and listened as he analyzed, "No matter what, the most important thing right now is to get engaged to Daniel."
"But what about the baby in Ofelia's belly?"
Odelia was most concerned about her unborn child, fearing that the child's existence was her biggest threat.
"Oh, my silly daughter."
A scheme formed in Dulcie's mind as she smiled. "Ofelia is a proud woman. If she finds out you're engaged to Daniel, would she still want to have the baby? Besides, once you're engaged to Daniel, even if she gives birth, whether that child grows up or not will be up to you."
Listening to her mother's analysis, Odelia suddenly saw the light.
Her previously gloomy face brightened up with a smile. "Mom, you're the best."
She hugged Dulcie tightly, the bond between mother and daughter evident.
.....
Ring, ring, ring—
The next day, the weather was sunny with a gentle breeze.
Ofelia was woken up early by the sound of her phone ringing. She picked it up and saw it was her foster mother calling.
The time showed 8:30am.
"Oh my gosh, it's already 8:30am? How did I oversleep?" She slapped her forehead and quickly answered the call. "Mom, I overslept and forgot to make breakfast for you."
Ofelia yawned and rubbed her sleepy eyes.
"I've already eaten. I'm calling to tell you to bring Kevin over when you come today," Giselle commanded from the other end of the phone.
Ofelia, who had been drowsy just moments ago, instantly sat up wide awake. "Mom, he has work. He can't just come over whenever we want him to. He was just here yesterday, why do you need him to come again today?"
"Kevin said yesterday that he's on vacation for the next few days. Don't try to fool me."
"But Mom..."
"If Grant doesn't come, it means you two were just putting on a show yesterday. I'm not buying your excuses."
"Mom, you... beep beep beep..."
Before Ofelia could say anything else, the call was already disconnected.
She held her phone in one hand and rubbed her forehead with the other, feeling utterly helpless. What was this? They had just seen Kevin yesterday, how could she possibly ask him to come over again today?
After lying on her bed for a while, watching the time tick by, Ofelia finally dialed Kevin number.
"Mm...?" A groggy male voice answered from the other end, sounding like he was still half-asleep.
"Uh, hey... what are you up to?" Ofelia asked with an awkward, smooth smile, feeling extremely embarrassed. Fidgeting with the thin blanket, Ofelia's eyes were filled with unease. Although her relationship with Kevin was quite good, bothering him twice in two days made her feel a bit embarrassed.
"Just say what you need," Kevin's voice came through the phone. It seemed he already knew why Ofelia was calling. "Is it your mom who misses me again?"
"Hahaha, Young Master Hamilton, you're so smart and impressive," Ofelia said, raising her eyebrows and ruffling her hair, her smile both flattering and awkward. She then asked, "So, do you have time?"
"Got it," Kevin replied before hanging up.
Ofelia stared at the call log on her phone, feeling confused. What did he mean by "got it"? She didn't have the nerve to call him back to ask, so she lay down on her bed, intending to rest for just a moment. Unexpectedly, she fell asleep.
Little did she know, on the other side, Kevin had already finished his morning routine and was driving to the hospital.
Around nine in the morning, Kevin arrived at the hospital. Assuming Ofelia had already gone to the ward, he headed straight there. He knocked on the door and then pushed it open.
Inside the room, aside from Alexander lying on the hospital bed, there was no one else. Kevin placed the items he had brought on a nearby table. Just as he was about to call Ofelia, he noticed a photograph on the table.
With just a casual glance, Kevin was startled to see a photo of Giselle and Alexander standing in front, with a young girl behind them, arms wrapped around their shoulders, smiling brightly.
And that girl was... Odelia Griffins?!?
Kevin was baffled. He picked up the photo for a closer look. The time-stamp in the lower right corner read: 2021.02.10.
It was just a few months ago.
"How do they know Odelia Griffins?"
Kevin furrowed his brows and turned the photo over. On the back, it was labeled: Family Photo! Family Photo?
Odelia Griffins was supposed to be the heiress of the Griffins Family. How could she be in a family photo with Ofelia's parents?
"Hey, Kevin is here?"
At that moment, Giselle walked in from outside. She greeted Kevin but then noticed the photo in his hand.
Her smile vanished instantly.
Kevin turned to Giselle and asked directly, "Aunt Giselle, why are you and Uncle Alexander taking a family photo with Odelia Griffins? Does this mean Ofelia isn't your biological daughter, and Odelia Griffins is?"
Giselle silently cursed herself for being careless. She had rushed to the doctor's office earlier and forgot to put the photo away.
"Why are you alone? Where's Ofelia?"
She didn't answer Kevin's question. Instead, she took the photo from his hand, carefully wiped it, and then put it into her bag.
However, her actions and demeanor revealed a hint of panic.
This strange reaction made Kevin even more puzzled. Normally, he wouldn't pry into others' business.
But these were Ofelia's parents. Ofelia worked tirelessly every day, juggling jobs at a club and part-time gigs during the day to pay for their medical treatments. Yet, she wasn't even in the family photo.
Kevin suddenly felt a surge of injustice for Ofelia.
"Auntie, I'm Ofelia's 'boyfriend.' If you don't explain this, I'll call her right now!" he said, his tone turning assertive and displeased. "If Odelia Griffins is your child and Ofelia isn't worthy of being in your family photo, then you shouldn't let her work so hard to pay for your treatments!"
For some reason, Kevin felt a pang of sympathy for Ofelia.
A young girl, working two jobs every day, cooking and delivering meals for them, and yet she wasn't even allowed in the family photo. It made him furious.
Giselle, who was putting the photo back into her bag, sensed Kevin's anger but also noticed his concern for Ofelia. In that moment, she thought that this young man might not be so bad after all, at least he cared about her daughter.
After hesitating for a while, she asked, "Where's Ofelia?"
"She got held up," Kevin lied, fearing that if he said Ofelia was on her way, Giselle wouldn't tell him the truth.
Hearing his words, Giselle walked to the door of the hospital room, locked it, and then sat down on the sofa, still holding the photo.
"Sigh..."
Giselle held a photo in one hand, gently tracing the image of the person in it with her other hand. With a deep sigh, she said, "I can tell that you really like my daughter."