Once Bitten, Twice Shy

Chapter 79: When Courtesy Breeds Detachment

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Samantha usually did not read WeTalk messages too often, so the sound effects for her WeTalk notifications were all turned off. However, she had to wait for Alan’s news and it was important that she saw it at the soonest possible opportunity.

She moved her finger, clicked on the settings in WeTalk, and allowed the notifications to sound. Alan’s WeTalk chat was pinned right to the very top.

After doing all that, she reluctantly put down her phone, held Corey’s cold hands, and said softly, “Hey, Corey, I got really lucky today. I met this doctor with whom I got acquainted when I was abroad. His name is Dr. Sherwood. He’s a very gentle person, and lucky for me, he’s also the little saint’s assistant! He can directly contact the little saint!

“He already agreed to relay my request and speak nicely of me. Then the little saint might be willing to treat you.

“Corey, I’m willing to give you all my luck, so if you can hear all this, you must keep holding on, okay?

“You’re my younger brother. If I haven’t given up, you can’t give up either. We only have each other. We must continue to survive far into the future!”

Corey, who was on the hospital bed, was still lying quietly. Only the medical equipment’s cold beeping sound responded to her.

Samantha closed her eyes and tightened her grip around Corey’s hand.

As time passed, Samantha grabbed the phone and glanced at it almost involuntarily every few minutes, waiting anxiously for Alan’s reply.

However, there had been no news from Alan ever since she returned.

Although she was anxious, there was no way she could urge him and her only recourse was to wait patiently.

At night.

Samantha wiped Corey’s body to freshen him up and looked up at the clock on the wall. She had not realized that it was already past nine o’clock at night.

As far as she knew, the little saint was not going to stay in the country. After attending the exchange meeting that day, he would be set to leave the next day.

If she received no reply that night, it was very likely that the little saint had refused to give treatment.

She frowned and hesitated over whether she should ask Alan to tell her the hotel where the little saint was staying so she could personally go and beg him.

All of a sudden, a notification came from her phone.

Samantha’s eyes lit up suddenly and she practically jumped toward the bedside table. She grabbed the phone and clicked into WeTalk with trembling fingers.

However, the message came not from Alan, but Old Madam Barker.

Samantha could not hide her disappointment, but she still made sure to read Old Madam Barker’s message.

Old Madam Barker: [Aunt Julia and I are back at the villa, Sammy. Why aren’t you and Tim at home? Did you two go out on a date?]

Timothy was not at the villa?

No wonder she did not receive any fault-finding calls from him during her time at the hospital those few days. It turned out that he did not return to the villa at all.

There was no surprise there. After all, they were not a loving couple. Timothy’s only reason for willingly returning to the villa was Old Madam Barker. At other times, he would not bother to step foot inside, other than to torment her occasionally to his whims.

When Samantha saw the word ‘date’, a profound irony appeared in her eyes.

How could it be a date when Timothy did not even answer her calls? He was more likely to be spending his time with other beautiful women during those few days.

Samantha curled her lips. Whatever Timothy was doing or whoever he was with had nothing to do with her. There was no reason for her to be affected by him.

She thought for a moment, typed a message, and replied: [Grandma, we’re not on a date right now. He’s busy at work and I’m in the hospital. Corey’s health hasn’t been that stable recently, so I’ll be staying with him in the hospital. I might not be back for a couple more days.]

If she went back to the villa, she had to continue with the charade again. Due to her anxiousness about Corey’s situation, she was worried that she might expose herself. Furthermore, Corey could not be left alone at such a time, so not going back to the villa for the time being was for the best,

Old Madam Barker was, fortunately, a very considerate individual. When she read Samantha’s reply, she immediately sent a message: [You should take care of Corey in the hospital then. Remember to tell me if you need anything, okay?]

Samantha answered: [Yes. Thank you, Grandma.]

Samantha looked at the old lady’s message and felt warmth in her heart. Among all her elders, Old Madam Barker treated her the best and protected her the most.

If Timothy had not broken off the marriage in public two years ago, Old Madam Barker would have been like her own grandmother. It was such a pity. Samantha might no longer have the chance within her lifetime to truly become family with Old Madam Barker.

…

At the villa.

Old Madam Barker looked at the message Samantha sent and felt a certain sense of alienation amidst the politeness and courtesy.

When Samantha and Timothy were still together two years ago, Samantha was never like that and was frequently very playful. Whether she directed that playfulness at Timothy or the old lady, she never gave off a sense of detachment. Everyone liked it very much.

Since remarrying Timothy, she treated the old lady in a very filial manner and showed her the utmost kindness too. However, there was always this feeling that she was keeping a distance from them, be it intentionally or unintentionally.

Of course, the old lady knew deep down that Samantha’s reason for doing so was not to single her out or anything, but because Samantha’s relationship with Timothy was never the same as when they used to be in love.

Loving someone and everyone around them was especially important for the old lady.

She might be old, but she was not senile. Her heart could still perceive things with clarity.

The young couple often pretended to be loving in front of her. She was willing to play along, but that in no way meant that she was willing to see them continue that farce!

What she wanted was for them to show true love and affection for each other!

Seeing as it was difficult for those feelings to develop out of their own accord. The young couple merely kept to themselves and spun in place like a spinning top, and she was getting tired of seeing that.

It seemed that her weary old self had to give them a good shove!

After that thought occurred to her, she grabbed the phone and dialed Timothy’s number right away.

The phone rang for quite some time before the other party answered. It was the usual cold voice, “Grandma.”

Old Madam Barker could not be bothered to speak nonsense with him and reprimanded him outrightly, “You little brat. What kind of husband are you? Sammy’s little brother is sick and she’s been keeping him company in the hospital for a few days now, but all you seem to care about is your work. Is your job more important to you than your wife? How can you be counted on to handle your company when you can’t even handle your own household affairs properly? You’d be better off resigning from your position as the Barker Group’s CEO so you don’t keep embarrassing yourself anymore!”

Ronald coughed awkwardly on the other end and answered weakly, “Old Madam, it’s me. Mr. Barker is busy.”

The old lady became so incensed that she immediately ordered, “Go and tell Timothy right now that I want him to immediately go to the hospital and accompany Sammy! Otherwise, this little old lady wouldn’t mind making a comeback and taking over control of the Barker Group!”

…

After the call ended, Ronald did not waste even a second and immediately walked into the office after knocking on the office door.

Timothy was sitting on the sofa while having a video call with someone else.

Ronald took a couple of steps forward and was about to report the situation to Timothy, but when he inadvertently caught a glimpse of the woman in the video, the words he had prepared to tell Timothy got stuck in his throat.