"I learned from an elder mber of our community," Rosemary began gently. "I won’t claim to be able to perform miracles, but I can handle basic dical ergencies without a hitch."
"Are you still in school?" Belinda inquired.
"Speaking of school," Rosemary replied, "your granddaughter here scored perfect grades on her national exams. She’s been courted by prestigious schools from across the country but chose to attend Westerly College."
"She’s a freshman at Westerly College now. They’ve given her a lot of leeway, allowing her to attend classes at her own pace."
"Her talents don’t stop at academics. She’s also quite gifted in arts. She led her team in a competition against other prestigious schools and erged as the star, creating quite a buzz."
"In short, we could go on for days about your granddaughter’s virtues."
Her brothers all chid in, singing Rosemary’s praises.
Belinda was taken aback by the excellence of her long-lost granddaughter. Looking at Rosemary’s sweet, beautiful face, her eyes brimd with tears again.
"I heard from Louisa that you’ve had a tough ti over the past eighteen years," Belinda said, her heart aching.
"It’s all in the past," Rosemary dismissed, brushing off the hardships of the past eighteen years with ease.
Belinda felt the maturity and resilience in her words. What a wonderful child.
She couldn’t help but squeeze Rosemary’s hand. "I’m glad you’re back. It proves there’s justice in the world. With the Collins family and your aunt and uncles around, you won’t have to suffer anymore."
"I’m fine."
"If there’s anything you’re uncomfortable with in the house, just let us know."
"Everything’s great."
"Rose is easy-going. She doesn’t fuss about anything," Clark said with a smile. "She never asks for anything. When we insist on buying her stuff, she claims it’s wasteful."
"She’s always thinking about saving us money."
"We’ve said it before — the list of her virtues could go on and on."
Louisa listened to her sons, feeling gratified to have such a considerate and well-behaved child.
"I haven’t had ti to prepare a present for our first eting. Maybe when Christmas Eve arrives..."
Before Belinda could finish her sentence, David laughed. "Grandma, Christmas Eve has passed. It’s past midnight now. It’s Christmas Day."
"It’s Christmas already?" Belinda hadn’t realized how quickly ti had passed.
Rosemary smiled. "Grandma, waking up is the best gift you could give . Material wealth is secondary. My parents, uncles, and brothers have already given so much."
"That’s not the sa!" Belinda imdiately countered. "The sentint from your grandmother is different. Let think of a suitable gift to give you."
And she set about pondering seriously.
"Why don’t you rest a bit? Rose has been running about a lot because of your illness," Louisa said with a smile. "Once you rest, everyone else can too."
After all, Rose must have sacrificed a lot of her own work to take care of things here. If her grandmother could recover soon, it would ease Rose’s burdens.
"Now that you’re awake, shall I give you your dicine?" Rosemary asked, signaling May to bring the herbal concoction from the kitchen.
"It’s Christmas, maybe I could skip it today." Belinda caught a whiff of the strong dicine from afar. Ever since she fell ill, she had been consuming all sorts of dicine to the point where she was sowhat reluctant now.
"This dicine is good for you." Rosemary took the bowl of dicine and gently coaxed her.
Thinking about how the prescription was written by her own granddaughter, Belinda decided to brave it out. "Alright, I’ll listen to you."
"Here, drink it slowly." Rosemary spoon-fed her the dicine.
Serena, who was watching from the side, was amazed at how naturally and harmoniously they seed to get along.
Was it because of the good impression Rosemary left on Grandma during their first eting, then saving her three tis, and with her brothers constantly singing her praises?
Was that why Grandma adored her so much?
Although Serena understood it was natural for Rosemary’s own grandmother to treat her well after she returned ho, she felt a hint of emptiness and loss. She had been standing by the bed for a while now, but ever since Rosemary appeared, Grandma couldn’t take her eyes off her.
Belinda showered Rosemary with concern.
She didn’t even glance at Serena.
At last, after finishing her dicine, Belinda comnted with a cheerful smile, "I didn’t expect Rose’s dicine to be not bitter at all — much better than other doctors’. After one sip, I can tell she’s highly skilled."
She even gave Rosemary a thumbs-up, singing her praises.
Everyone saw Belinda’s furrowed eyebrows relax. They couldn’t help but laugh.
This adorable old lady didn’t bother to prepare her fibs.
"Grandma, I’m so glad to see you awake, but I have to go back to my holand for so business." Clark stepped forward, gently taking Grandma’s hand in his own. "I’ll co to visit you another day."
"You little rascal, what are you off to again? I hardly see you throughout the year." Before Louisa finished, another son interrupted.
"Grandma, you rest and recover. I have so urgent matters and need to head back ho too. You must follow Rose’s advice. Whatever she says you can eat, you do. Whatever she says you can’t, you don’t."
"Hunter, you’re leaving too?" Louisa was slightly annoyed. "Today is Christmas — instead of spending it with your sister, you all are rushing off to do what? No one’s leaving until you explain!"
It was a rare occasion to have everyone gathered, yet not even half a day had passed and they were about to scatter.
"Um, Mom, Grandma, I have sore matters to attend to as well. I’m catching a flight back with Hunter."
Everyone turned to look at the speaker. It was Chasel.
Louisa was about to explode.
"Mom," Rosemary spoke up with a smile, "Hunter, Chasel, and Clark have already spent Christmas with ahead of ti. I’ve received the surprises and gifts, and I’m very touched and happy. This is the first ti in eighteen years that so many people have celebrated with , giving so many surprises and touching monts. I’m already very content."
Upon hearing this, everyone felt a pang of sympathy.
They’d given Serena these surprises and companionship for eighteen years, yet Rosemary only had half a day.
"Let them go. They must have other work that’s been held up."
Rosemary’s magnanimity made Louisa even more displeased with her three sons.
"Look at your sister. How understanding and considerate she is to speak up for you at every turn — yet you guys..."
"Mom, calm down." David imdiately went over, slinging an arm over her shoulder with a cheeky grin. "You still have , right? Those three blockheads don’t know the first thing about cheering up a sister. All three of them combined aren’t as good as !"
The three brothers sent him warning glances, as if to say: Dare to badmouth us in front of our sister? Just try it!
David chose to ignore them. "Without them, we have more ti to spend with Rose — with Grandma. Isn’t that better? They’ll have more ti to spend with our sister undistracted once they’re done with their work. That’s great! Let make it clear, all of you!"
He thought, Man, why do you guys look so scary when I’m speaking up for you?
David plucked up his courage. "Anyway, all of us must make ti during the holidays. We’re a big family — we can’t do without anyone! We’re all spending this Christmas together!"
"Agreed!" The first to respond was Grandma from her sickbed.
Sampson also agreed.
Hunter agreed readily. "No problem."
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