Returning from Sutherlyn, it was already late January.
Approaching the Spring Festival, the law firm was on holiday.
The day Talia returned from Sutherlyn, she caught the flu at the airport and fell ill. After receiving an IV at the hospital, she spent her days curled up in bed, with all her als brought in by the housekeeper, Rose Palr.
The day before New Year’s Eve, Rose Palr delivered lunch to Talia’s room as usual.
Talia coughed a few tis and wiped her nose with a tissue, "Aunt Rose, it’s New Year’s Eve tomorrow. After you’re done today, you should go ho and celebrate the New Year."
Rose Palr looked hesitant, "But Talia, you’re still sick. Who will take care of you if I leave?"
"It’s just a minor cold, nothing serious."
Rose Palr suggested, "Why don’t I take you back to the Rhodes Family? With family taking care of you, I would feel more at ease."
Shawn Rhodes had called a few days ago, asking when she would be on holiday.
Talia had originally planned to go ho to prepare for the New Year as soon as the law firm was on holiday, but the flu ca on fiercely. With a child at ho and Shawn Rhodes having just been discharged from the hospital, Talia was afraid of infecting them, so she delayed going back.
Talia said, "I’ll wait until I recover before going back."
Rose Palr was worried about her, "So, are you going to spend New Year’s Eve here alone tomorrow? Why not co to my place for the New Year?"
Talia shook her head, "Aunt Rose, you forgot that there’s an elderly and frail Granny Wang at your ho? What if I go and end up infecting Granny Wang?"
Rose Palr only realized after hearing this, there was a weak and sickly elder at ho, and catching the flu could be dangerous. She scratched her head, "Then..."
"It’s okay, I can take care of myself."
"Alright then."
After eating, Rose Palr did a thorough cleaning, making sure the rooms and the living room were spotless, and then went to the supermarket to stock up on so New Year’s goods.
After finishing everything, Rose Palr opened the door to Talia’s room, "Talia, I’ve bought the New Year’s goods, there are fruits in the fridge, and on the table in the living room, there are your favorite imported snacks."
Talia lay in bed, buried under the covers with only her head exposed, "Mmm, thank you so much, Aunt Rose."
"I’m leaving then, call anyti if you need anything."
"Okay, Happy New Year, Aunt Rose."
"Happy New Year."
Even after leaving the community, Rose Palr was still uneasy about Talia.
She took out her phone and called Adrian Jennings.
"President Jennings, Talia is sick. She’s been lying at ho for two days since returning from the hospital and hasn’t recovered yet. She asked to go ho for the New Year, but I don’t feel assured leaving her there alone."
Adrian’s heart tightened, "How did she get sick?"
Rose Palr answered, "It seems she caught the flu at the airport during a business trip. She fell ill as soon as she got back."
"I understand."
After hanging up, Adrian imdiately called Andrew Donovan, informing him about Talia’s illness and asking him to have his sister Winter Donovan check on Talia.
Upon hearing that Talia was ill, Winter called right away.
"Talia, why didn’t you tell you were sick? Are you ho alone now?"
Curled up under the blanket, Talia answered with a hoarse voice due to her cold, "Yeah, it’s just a cold, I’m almost better."
"I’ll co over to see you in a bit, is that okay?"
"No need, Winter. I went to the hospital for an IV two days ago, and the doctor prescribed so dicine. I’ve been taking it for two days and I’m almost recovered. I just took my dication and plan to take a nap. I should be fine after I wake up."
"Your voice sounds so hoarse; it doesn’t sound like you’re almost cured," Winter said with concern. "I’ll bring a family doctor over to check on you."
Talia replied, "Really, it’s no trouble."
"Talia, why are you still talking about trouble with ."
...
An hour later, Winter rang the doorbell at Talia’s ho.
Soon, there were very soft footsteps inside the house.
Talia opened the door with weak, unsteady steps.
Winter was shocked at the pale and frail face behind the door, "Talia, how did you beco like this?"
Talia answered weakly, "I’m alright."
Winter quickly helped support Talia, "I brought a family doctor, let the doctor take another look at you."
"Alright."
After examining, the doctor gave Talia an injection and prescribed so dicine.
The doctor said Talia should be fine by tomorrow, and Winter breathed a sigh of relief, "You’ll be well enough to properly celebrate the New Year tomorrow on New Year’s Eve."
...
On New Year’s Eve.
In the sound of firecrackers, the old year was ushered out, and every household was decorated festively with joy all around.
Talia woke up naturally from her sleep.
She opened her phone to see several missed calls.
From Shawn Rhodes, Lillian Young, and her friends Yvonne Coleman and Winter Donovan.
They were mostly asking if she had recovered or wishing her a happy New Year’s Eve.
Talia returned a call to Shawn Rhodes, saying she’d go ho for the New Year in a bit.
"Talia, are you coming ho for lunch? We’ll wait for you."
Talia looked at the ti on her phone, it was eleven o’clock, just in ti to go ho for lunch.
"Alright."
The car drove into the villa area, heading towards the Rhodes Family, and in her view appeared the familiar Cullinan with a license plate indicating it was Adrian Jennings’ car.
The Jennings Family’s villa was next to the Rhodes Family’s villa; Talia had to pass the Jennings Family when going ho.
Her grip on the steering wheel tightened as a wave of bitterness surged through her heart.
According to Oakhaven’s customs, the New Year’s Eve dinner was at night.
But the Rhodes Family’s lunch was also very sumptuous.
Besides a few of Talia’s favorite dishes, imported seafood like Australian lobster, king crab, and coral trout were also served.
Talia took out a thick red envelope and handed it to Jasmine Rhodes, "Jasmine, happy New Year’s Eve. This is a New Year’s gift from your sister."
Jasmine accepted it happily.
Shawn Rhodes gave red envelopes to both Talia and Jasmine, "One for the grown-up friend, and one for the little friend, each has New Year’s money."
Talia’s eyes crinkled with a smile, "So even grown-up friends like still get New Year’s money."
Shawn Rhodes replied with a hearty laugh, "In Dad’s eyes, you’ll always be a child. As long as Dad is here, Talia can receive New Year’s money every year."
Talia was so moved her eyes moistened, "Dad, since when have you beco so emotional."
Lillian Young chid in with a smile, "Talia, your dad is right."
The al was filled with joy and laughter.
After lunch, Talia took a stroll in their garden with Jasmine, exchanging small talk, when she looked up and saw a woman standing in the yard of the villa next door.
It was Lana Larsen.
Talia stood still, stunned.
Jasmine, seeing her sister suddenly stop, looked up with her big, bright eyes full of curiosity, "Sister, what’s wrong?"
Talia, her body stiff, pursed her lips and stared at Lana Larsen in the Jennings Family’s yard.
The woman also saw Talia, waved at her, and smiled brilliantly.
This smile, to Talia, felt piercing.
Talia stood motionless, not responding to Lana Larsen’s greeting.
Just after greeting, Adrian Jennings walked out of the house; Lana Larsen turned her head and said sothing to him, then suddenly pointed in Talia’s direction.
Realizing what she was doing, Talia’s breath caught.
The next mont, Adrian Jennings indeed turned to look at her.
Not far apart, their eyes t in the air.
Oakhaven’s January north wind, carrying a bone-chilling cold, crept into her collar and sleeves, making Talia feel an intense coldness all over.
Adrian Jennings gave Talia only a brief glance, then casually looked away, lowering his head to say sothing to Lana Larsen, and the two went back inside together.
He had brought Lana Larsen ho for the New Year to formally et the family; did this an they were getting engaged?
A densely packed pain filled Talia’s chest.
She and Adrian Jennings had been broken up for nearly a month. She had thought she had moved on, but when Lana Larsen appeared in the Jennings Family’s yard, Talia realized she had never truly let go.
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