Chapter 161 The butler answered the call almost immediately, “Hello!” “Mr. Korbin, | am Joanna Haynes. | am looking for Mrs. Margaret!” “Please hold on.” Margaret was undergoing physiotherapy at that moment. Korbin handed the phone to her and said, “Mrs. Margaret, it is from Miss Joanna Haynes.” “What's the matter?” asked Margaret before answering the call. “Hello, Joann!” Joanna hesitated for a few seconds before going straight to the point, “Grandma, | would like to... | would like to bring the kids back!" “They are fine here. You don't have to worry about them.” “Grandma, | heard that you are going to change their names. Is that true?” asked Joanna tentatively.
“Yup, it is true. They are members of the Everett family after all. How could they follow your surname, Haynes?" “Grandma, | am going to bring the kids back first. As for the matter regarding changing names, we will talk about it another day...” Before Joanna could finish her words, Margaret rejected her suggestion directly, “That's impossible! They are the children of the Everett family. How can we let them wander around outside?” “They are my children, Grandma!” “Joanna, thank you so much for bearing these three children for the Everett family.
“However, we have very few people in the Everett family. Now, with the addition of these three children. It represents the future of the Everett family! “I know you are capable. But, you lack experience in educating children. The Everett family is the best environment to raise them and let them grow up healthily if you let them stay!” Joanna became more anxious upon hearing what Margaret said, “Grandma, you can’t do this! No matter what, these three children belong to me! “I will educate and raise them myself. You don’t have to worry about this. If you want to see the children, | will let them see you anytime you want! “However, you can't let them stay with the Everett family forever. You can’t change their names too!” On the other end of the call, Margaret said with despise, “Joann, | acknowledge that you are the mother of the children. So, you could come over to the Everett mansion to visit your children anytime you want!” She continued. “However, the children could not stay by your side. They will become the successor of the Everett family in the future. Hence, they have to stay at the Everett mansion. Only then they could be raised in the best environment.” “Grandma, how could you make such a decision...” Before Joanna could finish her words, Margaret interrupted her directly and said, “I am doing physiotherapy now. Talk to you later!” “Regarding the children’s matter, if you don’t agree to it, you may talk to my lawyer!” Margaret had already made herself clear over the phone. No matter what, she had to keep the children with the Everett family! “Hello! Hello!” Joanna shouted twice anxiously.
In fact, Margaret hung up the call directly as soon as she finished her words! Joanna was stunned! She did not expect Margaret to do such a thing! Margaret had always been swift and decisive in doing things she wanted. After she had made up her mind, no one could change her mind ever again! All she could do now was to look for Bruce and discussed it with him.
Joanna rushed to the ward and looked at Bruce with her eyes welled up. “Bruce...” Bruce was stunned upon seeing such a scene. He stood up hurriedly and asked, “What happened?” “Grandma wants to keep the children with the Everett family. She even wants to change their names!” Bruce rolled his eyes upon hearing it. They were his children, they had to get their surnames changed sooner or later.
However, Bruce knew Joanna's character well. She was a stubborn woman. Hence, no one could force her into doing something she did not like. So, he had to find a way to convince her slowly.
“Why? What's wrong with that?” Bruce said in a gentle tone. He tried his best to look calm too.
Joanna's heart skipped a beat as she said angrily, “They are my children. How could she decide on changing the children’s names without my approval?” She then continued. “With consideration that she is old, | am already kind enough to let the children accompany her.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt“But, it does not mean that | am sending the children to the Everett family for good! Who is she to change my children’s names at will?” When Bruce saw Joanna was so agitated at that time, he opened his arms and intended to hug her, “Joanna, please don't be so agitated. Let me ask Grandma about this matter first!” Joanna took a step back to dodge away from Bruce's hug. She was so angry that her eyes were bloodshot.
Nobody knew how she survived the past four years.
What made the Everett family have the right to snatch the children away from her? “Bruce, you can't take away the children from me! They are my life. | will fight till the end if anyone wants to take my children away from me!” Bruce approached Joanna again and hugged her forcefully but gently. Then, he comforted her and said, “I know, | know. Don't be so angry first, okay?” “Perhaps, Grandma likes the children so much that she decided to do so! No matter what, | believe that Grandma will not hurt the children!” said Bruce.
Joanna could not control her emotion anymore, “But, her act had already hurt me so much now!” “Don't be anxious, Joanna. Let me go back and talk to her!” “Rest assured. | will not let Grandma do this to the children!” said Bruce affirmatively.
“No matter what, | will not let the children separate from you!” Bruce comforted Joanna. However, he already had something else in his mind.
Joanna looked at Bruce in doubt upon hearing it.
“Are you sure? Do not lie to me, okay? | hate it when people lie to me.” Bruce twitched his mouth into a faint smile as he coaxed Joanna. “Why would | lie to you, Silly?" “You are the children’s mother. You are the closest and most important person to the children. How could | bear to separate you from the children?” said Bruce.
As a matter of fact, what Bruce really meant was that Joanna could stay with the Everett family too instead of taking the children away from the Everett family.
Upon hearing what Bruce said, Joanna managed to calm herself down gradually.
Joanna dared not turn against Bruce at that moment. She still needed him to donate his bone marrow to save Lilia!” She could only think of a way to get her children back after Lilia’s surgery.
“Be nice and don't think too much about it. Lilia’s illness is the most important to deal with right now,” said Bruce as he cuddled Joanna in his arms gently. He tried to comfort her and calm her down.
Buzz! Buzz! Buzz! Bruce's phone vibrated again.
He took out his phone and glanced at it. It was from his grandma.
“Joann, | need to answer a call.” “Alright” Bruce kissed her forehead. Then, he turned around and walked out of the ward.
“Hello, Grandma.” “Bruce!” “What's the matter, Grandma?” “Could you make a trip back home tonight? | have something to tell you.” Bruce frowned slightly upon hearing it, “Alright then. In fact, | have something to tell you too!” “Alright. Come back early tonight then.” “Okay!” At six o'clock in the evening.
Bruce returned to the Everett mansion on time! “Grandma, | am back!” “Bruce, you are back!” Margaret was sitting in a wheelchair at that moment. her face seemed to look more radiant today.
She looked very energetic too.
Bruce looked around the living room but the two children were nowhere in sight. Hence, he asked in doubt, “Grandma, where are the children?” “They are upstairs! | ask Korbin to take care of them!” Bruce halted for a second before he smiled and said, “Grandma, | heard that you intend to change the children’s names. Is that true?” “Yes. They are the Everett family’s flesh and blood. Of course, they have to follow our surname, Everett, instead of Haynes!” Upon hearing it, Bruce sat beside Margaret as he held onto her hands and said, “Grandma, I know that the children belong to the Everett family.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm“However, Joanna is the one who raises them in the past four years.
“Could you discuss it with Joanna first before making any decision on it? “You made the decision all of a sudden. | doubt that she could accept it!” Upon hearing it, Margaret said in a deep and angry tone, “She has to accept it regardless of whether she agrees to it or not.” “It is already her blessing for giving birth to the Everett family’s flesh and blood! It has already been four years. Yet, she refuses to acknowledge the Everett family as the children’s family. Furthermore, she still hides the truth from us for so many years. Her act almost makes me feel regretful for the rest of my life.
“I am very angry with her because of this. So, it is impossible for me to let her continue raising the children.” Margaret was so agitated that she kept coughing after she finished her words.
Bruce stroked Margaret's back gently to calm her down. He then continued, “Grandma, no matter what, you should show her some respect. Let me talk about this matter with her slowly!” “Bruce, you don't have to interfere with this matter. | will settle it.
“If she has any dissatisfaction, she may approach me directly and negotiate it with me.” Bruce frowned when he heard about it.
Margaret was very domineering ever since she was young. It was inevitable that she would become more stubborn as she grew older.
If it were other matters, perhaps, Bruce could still talk her over. However, this matter concerned the Everett family’s heir. He was afraid that she would not give in easily.
The Everett family had been having a sole line of descent for five generations. Bruce's father passed away at a very young age too. Hence, she could only depend on her grandson to bear more children for the Everett family.
Now that Margaret finally had two great-grandsons. They were as precious as gold to her. Therefore, how could it be possible for anyone to snatch the children away from her? Bruce sighed deeply. He did not dare to persuade Margaret further.
Margaret was not in good health now. It was absolutely impossible for him to go against her will.
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