Love's New Bloom by Simone Hastings

Chapter 148 Engagement to Wedding

After Charlotte said that, she picked up her bag from the ground and walked out of the ward in a hull.

Watching her retreating figure, Cherry trembled with anger. She pointed to the spot where Charlotte

had stood just now and gritted her teeth.

“Erin, look at your aunt! Is she even human? Even if she apologized and knelt down for forgiveness, it

was all an act! Both she and Grayson probably wish for my early death, those inhumane beasts-

Looking at her mother, Erin said seriously, ‘Mom, since you think so, you shouldn’t let those shameless

people have an easy life. You should live well in the future. You’re better off living out the rest of your

life happily than wallowing in their betrayal.”

Although Cherry’s smile didn’t quite reach her eyes, she was determined. “You’re right. We shouldn’t let

them have the satisfaction of breaking us down. Erin, you must promise me that you’ll work hard in

acting and strive to succeed as soon as possible. Let your biological father, Steven, see how well I’ve

raised you! And let Charlotte see how outstanding my daughter is! Then only she’ll know her daughter

can’t compare.”

Cherry’s words carried strong subjective emotions, but Erin understood her. She replied, “Mom, as long

as you and Gavin are doing well back home, I’ll be at ease filming in any city.”

Cherry nodded with remorse. “I know. I was wrong this time and made you worry. Such things will

never happen again. I promise you!”

“Really?” Erin was afraid that Cherry might suddenly change her mind. What if she started obsessing

over it again later?

“Yes, really. I realized through this experience that it’s better to be alive than to be dead. I’ve always

lived so positively and optimistically. I won’t let an unfaithful man be the end of me! It’s just not worth it.

In my heart, you and Gavin are the most important. You’re my reason for staying alive and moving on,”

Cherry said, her eyes turning red again.

Erin took out a tissue from her bag and handed it to Cherry. She said with earnestness, “Mom, you’ve

worked hard for me and Gavin for most of your life. You don’t need to work so hard anymore. If you

want to keep the mart, go on ahead. If you don’t want to, just sell it to someone else. I’ll focus on acting

wholeheartedly now that I’ve closed my online store. Don’t worry, I won’t let you down!”

Cherry nodded with relief. Her eyes were filled with hope as she looked at her daughter. This daughter

of hers had always been mature and considerate as she grew up. She never caused any trouble for

Cherry. This was something that she’d always been glad of after divorcing

Steven. 1

Erin took out a bank card from her wallet and handed the three hundred thousand dollars she earned

from selling her online store to

Cherry.

“Mom, here is three hundred thousand dollars. You must accept it. I know the mart is doing well, and

you won’t lack money for your daily expenses. This is a fund for Gavin’s future college education.

Steven paid for my education, after all. I must repay this favor, or I won’t feel

at ease.”

Cherry looked at her daughter. Although she was reluctant to accept the money, at her daughter’s

insistence, she took the bank card and said, “I’ll keep this money and not spend it. You don’t need to be

responsible for Gavin’s college expenses. That’s something we, as parents, should take care of. Even

if I don’t live with Grayson anymore, Gavin is still his biological son. He can’t shirk his responsibilities.”

Erin nodded and said, “As for matters of the heart, I have nothing much to say as your daughter. I just

want to say that if you don’t want to be together with Grayson anymore, don’t force yoursell to stay with

him.”

“Alright, I know. You don’t have to worry. Go back and continue filming. I’m fine now!”

To ease her mother’s mind, Erin lied, “Mom, the crew is on a break for the next few days, so I’m not in

a hurry to go back.”

“Really? You’re on a break?” Cherry’s expression lit up. She was genuinely happy to have her daughter

accompany her for a few more days.

Erin nodded and said, “Yes, really. I’m not lying to you.”

“That’s great! Let’s go back now. Hurry and call your brother. Tell him there’s no need to buy food

anymore,” Cherry instructed, as if

suddenly wanting to focus all her attention on her children.

How could Erin not understand Cherry’s intentions? She gently pressed Cherry’s shoulder and said,

“Mom, don’t bother. Stay in the hospital for these two days. I won’t go anywhere. I’ll just sit here and

chat with you.”

“But Erin, I’ve taken up too much of your time-”

Cherry’s concern that she was taking up too much of her daughter’s time tugged at Erin’s heartstrings.

She hugged her mother without

saying a word, her eyes watering as she tried her best to hold back her tears.

Not long after, Gavin returned. Cherry started eating breakfast even though she couldn’t really eat

much. However, for the sake of her children’s peace of mind, she took each bite with determination.

The moment she had some time to herself, Erin went to the corridor outside the ward to make a phone

call. She needed to ask for leave from the director. She wouldn’t be able to film for at least two days.

Although it was still early, she felt that sending a casual text message to the director would be too

informal. Therefore, she made a phone call, as it was more proper to do so. After learning of her

situation, the director was very understanding. He told her not to worry and that she should prioritize

being with her family. He would reschedule her scenes to be shot at a later time.

Erin hung up gratefully. Then, she thought about calling Roman. However, upon seeing the time, she

gathered that Roman might still be

asleep, so she sent him a text message instead.

With her phone in her hand, she thought about Gaston, but she didn’t dare to ask about his condition.

She was afraid that she would receive bad news if she asked. But then Erin thought of Simon. She felt

that it was easier for her to ask Simon about their grandfather.

So, she sent a text message to Simon. “Has your grandfather’s condition improved?”

Unexpectedly, Simon replied quickly. “Thank you for your concern. He’s no longer in the critical stage,

and he has woken up.”

This news relieved Erin as if it were her own grandfather who was fine. She was so excited that she

immediately called Chandler, but once

again, it was Kyle who answered the phone instead.

“Hello, Ms. Lane.”

Kyle’s voice didn’t reveal any emotion, and Erin’s heart skipped a beat. She didn’t expect that Chandler

still wouldn’t take her calls. She felt a faint sense of disappointment, but she patiently said to Kyle,

“Hello, Mr. Morn. Chandler’s grandfather is no longer in a critical state, is

he?”

Kyle sounded slightly surprised. “How did you know?”

“I–I asked Simon,” Erin confessed truthfully and explained herself to avoid any misunderstandings.

“Actually, I was afraid to ask Chandler

himself, fearing that I would hear bad news-”

“I see what you mean, Ms. Lane.”

After saying that, Erin didn’t know how to continue with the conversation. She vaguely felt that Kyle was

in a pinch at that moment.

After a few seconds of silence, she finally asked, “Mr. Morn, is there something you’d like to tell me?”

Kyle fell silent at that question.

This made Erin nervous. She didn’t know what Kyle wanted to say or if he didn’t intend to say anything

at all. It made her feel uneasy.

Why wouldn’t Chandler answer her calls? Did he not even have a moment to himself?

“Mr. Morn, are you still there?” Erin forced herself to sound calm.

Kyle couldn’t hide it any longer. He said, “After waking up in the Intensive Care Unit, Old Mr. Frost had

a private conversation with Chandler. He wishes to see Chandler get married and have children when

he’s still around. So, the engagement banquet scheduled for September

ninth will now be the wedding date instead.”

This came as a bolt from the blue to Erin. Her hands trembled as she held onto her phone, and she

didn’t dare ask further. She hadn’t

misheard it. Kyle deliberately spoke slowly and clearly, and she heard it loud and clear.

Erin felt like she was falling into an endless abyss, where she could no longer see a glimpse of light.

She covered her chest with one hand. The dull, suffocating sensation spreading from her heart made

her grit her teeth. The indescribable pain caused her legs to go weak. Instinctively, Erin reached out

and grabbed the edge of the window in the corridor, preventing herself from collapsing on the ground in

public.

She finally understood why Chandler didn’t answer her calls. He couldn’t face her and deliver this news

in person.

“Ms. Lane?” Kyle asked cautiously.

When he asked for the third time, Erin finally came back to her senses. She calmly said, “Thank you for

informing me of this, Mr. Morn. I

understand.”

She didn’t know what else she could say. She couldn’t utter words of indifference, nor could she give

insincere blessings. She could only hold onto her last shred of dignity and pride, and hold herself back

from crying as she spoke to Kyle.

“Ms. Lane, I hope you can understand Chandler’s situation. Although Old Mr. Frost got through the

critical stage this time, the attending doctor informed him that he doesn’t have many days ahead. Old

Mr. Frost has always cherished Chandler since childhood, and Chandler also respects and loves him

deeply in return. Faced with a dying old man’s wish, Chandler really can’t bear to-”

Erin suddenly interrupted. “Mr. Morn, say no more. I understand all of this. I truly do. I know how difficult

this is for him. I have some things to take care of, so let’s stop here.”

As she reached the end of her sentence, she couldn’t hold back her tears any longer. Her tears fell,

and if she didn’t hang up the phone soon, she was afraid she would start crying out loud.

“Ms. Lane, if you need any help, feel free to call me anytime.”

This was probably also what Chandler meant.

“Thank you. Goodbye.” Erin put her phone into her handbag with trembling hands. Then, with both

hands covering her tightly closed eyes,

she tried to force the tears back.

However, the tears kept flowing uncontrollably through her fingers.

At this moment, she felt as if she was standing on a desolate snowy mountain peak, shivering in the

cold wind. The coldness she felt in her chest wouldn’t dissipate no matter what, and the sobs she

suppressed in her throat made it feel like someone was choking her.

Before breaking down and crying, Erin hurriedly ran downstairs. She ran all the way to the ground floor

of the hospital, where there was a pavilion and an artificial stream. A group of robust red carp swam

back and forth in the stream peacefully, juxtaposing with the young girl breaking down intensely in the

pavilion.

She suppressed the overflowing grief in her heart and cried for a long time, long enough for Gavin to

call and ask where she was with concern. Erin had to pretend that everything was fine and made up an

excuse of going out to take care of something.

Gavin said, “After you’re done, come back to the hospital. Ian is here.”