Half an hour had passed.
Roo’s car was the first to pull up at the gate of the estate.
He got out and opened the door for Rosemary, while Joyce clung to her with an unwilling embrace.
"I have no idea when I’ll see you again."
Rosemary patted his back soothingly. "If I’m not swamped, maybe I’ll give you a call."
"Really?" Roo rarely received calls from her. In the six months they’d known each other, the calls from Rosemary could be counted on one hand.
"If I find the ti, I’ll call. Once everything settles down, maybe we can head back ho together."
Rosemary wasn’t one to make such offers before, nor did she seem to care this much about his feelings.
Roo felt a wave of comfort wash over him, his gaze soft as water. "Deal."
Just as Rosemary was about to seal the agreent, Roo’s lips t hers again.
Martin, driving in the distance, caught sight of the couple kissing at the estate’s entrance. He recognized the car. It was Roo’s!
Serena hadn’t expected them to be at it again. Enough. Were they deliberately trying to provoke her?
That was the last straw for Martin. He stopped the car, angrily unbuckling his seatbelt, and stord toward Roo with rage in his steps.
Roo and Rosemary were still locked in their kiss when a beam of headlights interrupted them. Roo squinted at the glare, spotting a man getting out of his car and heading straight for him.
Roo instinctively pulled Rosemary behind him just in ti to dodge a punch thrown by Martin.
Without missing a beat, Roo countered with a swift punch to Martin’s face.
Martin stumbled to the ground, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
Serena, thoroughly frightened, rushed over to help him up, exclaiming, "What are you doing!"
"Stay out of this." Martin glared at Roo, seemingly hell-bent on settling the score.
When Martin lunged at Roo again, Rosemary stepped forward and spoke calmly, "Let’s talk this out. Brawling won’t get you anywhere."
The formidable Mr. Roo wasn’t about to be bested by soone like Martin.
Even a hundred Martins combined would stand no chance against Roo in a fight.
"Martin!" Serena grabbed his hand, not wanting him to make a further spectacle of himself.
"What a thrilling scene at the doorstep. Lucky I didn’t miss it."
A leisurely voice floated from the gate.
Eunice, in a striking red gown, exuded elegance and authority. Her presence didn’t diminish even among the younger generation.
"Aunt Eunice?" Serena was taken aback. She hadn’t expected her aunt to be a spectator.
This could be bad. If Eunice revealed Rosemary’s true identity, Martin would realize that Rosemary was the real Collins family heiress, and Serena was nothing but an adopted girl without any blood ties.
With that thought, Serena felt a pang of frustration. It was all because she had been too impatient earlier, only wanting to stop Martin from embarrassing himself—completely forgetting about this crucial detail!
Upon seeing Eunice, Rosemary called out dutifully, "Aunt Eunice."
Martin was surprised to hear this "Aunt Eunice." What was the deal with Roo’s new fla? Why was she also calling Serena’s aunt "Aunt Eunice"?
But Eunice seed to take it in stride, her eyes smiling. "Bringing a fight right to the doorstep—must be the fire of youth. Co inside, all of you. Have a cup of coffee to cool down."
As soon as Eunice finished speaking, the grand doors opened in a welcoming gesture.
"Ma’am—"
Roo was about to explain, but Eunice cut him off.
"From now on, we’re all family. You and Rose can just call Aunt Eunice."
Roo couldn’t believe how quickly Eunice had taken to him, looking at Rosemary with a gentle light in his eyes.
"Aunt Eunice."
Eunice noted his quick adaptation and turned her gaze to Martin.
Though Martin had a multitude of questions bubbling inside, he obediently said, "Aunt Eunice."
Eunice crossed her arms over her chest, exuding the air of a matriarch. "Follow ."
Serena quickly interjected, "Aunt Eunice, Martin’s hurt. I want to take him to the hospital for a check-up."
She feared that stepping into that house would expose her charade.
Eunice turned around, her profile as beautiful as ever. "What don’t we have here in terms of dicine? Besides, the world’s greatest doctor is right in front of you, isn’t she?"
Martin looked puzzled. What did she an, the best doctor? Where?
"What, without your uncle around, my words don’t carry weight, right?"
"Of course not." Serena was feeling a tad guilty.
"Thank you for the invite, Aunt Eunice." Martin didn’t want to make things difficult for Serena, whispering to her, "I’m fine."
Serena wasn’t really worried about his injuries; she was worried about keeping up her façade.
Eunice led the way, her figure commanding and elegant.
Serena’s mind was a ss, but she steeled herself to follow.
Roo, holding Rosemary’s hand, softened his gaze. "eting the parents already?"
"Isn’t this exactly what you wanted?"
"I didn’t co prepared—empty-handed." Roo felt a bit rude.
"Aunt Eunice doesn’t care much for gifts. She cares about whether you are a good guy."
"Then I’ll make sure to make a good impression."
In the living room.
Eunice sat in the seat of honor, her curls and red lipstick flawless, radiating authority.
She directed the servants to serve tea, her lips curving into a smile. "Your uncle’s out, and your grandpa’s already gone to bed."
Rosemary showed concern. "Is Grandpa’s health improving?"
"Following your advice, he got his X-rays done. Just as you suspected—no fractures or ligant damage. The doctor praised your dicine, even wanted to bulk purchase it for the hospital. I told them you made it yourself."
Martin was taken aback. It seed Roo’s new fla had dical knowledge. She could even make her own dicine that impressed a doctor. And she used it on her grandfather.
"Rose, the cost of making your dicine must be high, huh?" Eunice’s smile grew. "The doctor said such good dicine would fetch a high price on the market, easily a thousand or two."
"Much more." Roo looked at Rosemary tenderly. "Even ten tis that wouldn’t be enough to buy it."
"That popular?" Eunice laughed with approval. "Seems the doctor didn’t realize what he had, undervaluing your dicine."
"As long as Grandpa is okay, that’s all that matters." Rosemary finally felt relieved.
"With you here, Grandpa will always bounce back."
The servants brought in tea and snacks, and Eunice instructed, "Fetch the first-aid kit."
She turned to Rosemary, asking with a smile, "For Martin’s condition, what dicine would be best?"
Rosemary knew his injury wasn’t severe—just a punch—and if it were the old her, she wouldn’t have needed any dicine.
"An ice pack for the swelling. Any simple analgesic will do," Rosemary still offered her suggestion.
"Perfect. We’ve got disposable ice packs and so aspirin." Eunice pulled out these items from the first-aid kit and sent a servant to give them to Martin.
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