Everyone was now assembled, and Julie, knocking on the door with a smile, announced in a louder and jubilant voice, "Madam, Louisa and your granddaughters have co to see you!"
"Co in," ca a kind voice from inside the room.
After opening the door, Julie stepped aside.
The old woman on the hospital bed looked dignified and elegant. She seed to be glowing, full of life.
"Mom, you’re finally awake—"
Unable to contain their excitent, Kenneth and Louisa rushed forward and embraced her, tears of joy streaming down their faces.
Cornelia Collins, smiling, her eyes radiating maternal warmth and love, said, "Why are you crying?"
"Mom, you and Dad have been unconscious for so long. It scared us," Louisa said with tears in her eyes. "You don’t know how long we’ve been hoping for you and Dad to wake up, and finally, the day has co."
Kenneth was also choking up, his voice hoarse, "You and Dad have suffered."
"Suffered? We just closed our eyes and ignored the world, but—" Cornelia lovingly looked at the two in front of her, "you must be tired, having to worry about us and take care of the family."
As Louisa’s tears flowed, Cornelia turned to her son. "Kenneth, what are you standing there for? Your wife is crying—don’t you have so tissues?"
Kenneth, belatedly realizing, quickly brought over a box of tissues.
Hearing this, Louisa couldn’t help but laugh through her tears. "Mom, he wouldn’t dare."
"Yeah, Mom, I love her too much to hurt her."
Seeing their enduring love and harmony, Cornelia couldn’t help but smile. "Where is the child you were talking about?"
"She’s here," Louisa said, rembering their mission. She quickly waved Rosemary over. "Rose, co here. Let your grandmother have a good look at you."
The young girl standing nearby had clear, bright eyes, an elegant appearance, and a charismatic deanor. Her skin was fair. She greeted her grandma politely, her voice pure and soothing, like the babbling of a brook.
What a lovely young girl, thought Cornelia. Whether it was her voice, her looks, or her deanor, she was truly a sight for sore eyes.
Cornelia’s eyes still sparkled with the sa energy that had made her a force to be reckoned with over the years, as well as the warmth and affection of an elder. "You must be Rosemary, my own granddaughter. Co over here."
Cornelia patted the spot next to her. Rosemary obediently walked over and sat down.
"I heard about your story over the phone. I had a feeling sothing was not quite right about that fire all those years ago. I secretly investigated for a while without telling Kenneth and Louisa. But when I couldn’t find any leads, I gave up. If I had persisted in my investigation back then, maybe you wouldn’t have had to suffer like this."
Cornelia clasped Rosemary’s soft hand, seeming sowhat remorseful.
Rosemary hadn’t anticipated that her grandmother had been so vigilant in her youth, even resorting to private investigations for a while. Suddenly, she saw her grandmother in a new light.
She offered an elegant smile, soothingly saying, "Grandma, you need not feel guilty. I’ve been doing quite well all these years."
Cornelia chuckled at her words. "Sweet child, you’re even comforting now."
Could she have been doing as well as being with the Collins family? Word was that she was taken in by the Harris family, where she faced many hardships.
"I’ve t many like-minded people and done a lot of things I wanted to do."
It was much better than being a spoiled heiress.
"Besides, I’m back now, aren’t I?"
Cornelia looked at Rosemary before her. Her features were picturesque, her deanor elegant, and she was surprisingly mature, understanding, and gracious.
Before seeing her, Cornelia had imagined a timid, cautious girl who would feel uncomfortable entering the ward, speaking in a soft voice, and possibly even shedding a few tears out of grievance.
But the girl before her, graceful yet spirited, reminded her of a plum blossom in the snow or a willow in the wind, making her feel extrely at ease.
"Thank God you’re back, giving us a chance to make up for the past." Cornelia patted her hand again. "When I am discharged from the hospital, I will prepare a gift for you."
Rosemary laughed. "The best gift for would be the good health of you."
Cornelia was delighted. She didn’t expect Rosemary to be so well-behaved and understanding.
She had heard that the Harrises were conscienceless, but they had raised this child well.
At this mont, Cornelia’s gaze fell on Serena. "Serena."
"Grandma." Serena, who was standing in the corner, didn’t draw attention to herself but waited until Cornelia noticed her. She seed as gentle and obedient as always.
"Co over here."
Serena sat down beside Cornelia, her eyes filled with joy. "I’m so happy to see you awake."
Cornelia had heard that the family had finally decided to keep Serena and treat her as Rosemary’s sister.
"The family can afford to feed you. Whatever your living conditions were before, they will remain the sa."
In the past eighteen years, Cornelia had co to see her as a genuine granddaughter, loving her deeply. Though they were not related by blood, the bond they had was stronger than any blood tie.
The Collins family was influential and wealthy, so they could definitely accommodate one more girl.
Cornelia patted Serena’s hand. "I heard from the nurse that you often ca over while your grandfather and I were unconscious. Good girl, you are very thoughtful."
Cornelia held Serena’s hand in one hand and Rosemary’s in the other. She turned to Louisa. "Now that we have another girl in the house, it feels even more lively."
Then Cornelia began to cough.
Seeing her cough, Rosemary picked up the water jug beside her and poured a glass of water, intending to hand it over.
It was just the very next mont. Rosemary’s movent halted mid-air.
Louisa sensed sothing was amiss and couldn’t help but ask, "Rose, what’s wrong?"
"There’s sothing wrong with this water."
As soon as she uttered these words, everyone in the room was stunned. The water was tainted? What was wrong?
"There’s a slow-acting poison in it."
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