Chapter 29 Do Not Underestimate Your Wife
In the evening, I curled up on the couch, chatting with Ashley and Arthur.
Lucas had sent them to a closed training camp for shooting practice. Thankfully, it was only for ten days, but Ashley and Arthur were already fed up. Even from hundreds of miles away, I could feel their longing for freedom.
I asked them, "Is Grandpa sick?"
Ashley replied with a "crying" emoji.
I sent back a hugging emoji.
Arthur: Grandpa is coming to Starstream City the day after tomorrow. Bella, come break us out of jail tomorrow!
Ashley acted cute with me: Can we stay at your place? We'll pick up Grandpa together the day after tomorrow.
Of course, I said "yes."
The Caldwell family has always been good to me. When Lucas and I got married, the wedding was rushed. Grandpa Harold Caldwell knew I had no family or money, so he privately gave me some money for security. He also arranged for several female elders to take care of me before the wedding, telling me about Lucas's background and habits so I could understand him better.
After my parents passed away, Harold made me feel the care and warmth from an elder again. I truly respect him.
Two days later, a private plane landed at the Northern District airport.
"Aren't any of you busy? Don't you work? Don't you go to school?" I stood by the stairs, and before I saw anyone, I heard Harold's strong voice: "I'm just here to see my grandson and granddaughter-in-law. Do so many people really need to come with me?"
I stretched my neck and soon saw an elderly man with white hair, leaning on a cane, slightly hunched, with a kind face, walking out.
Harold saw me too and immediately smiled: "Look, look, these people don't work or go to school either. I told them not to come pick me up, but they insisted!"
Though Harold's words sounded like complaints, you could tell he was in a good mood.
Right behind him were Lucas's youngest uncle, Simon, and Simon's wife, Lily, plus the wife of Lucas's late eldest uncle, Bobby Caldwell, Susan Cook. Susan had a son and daughter, both married, who didn't come this time.
The whole family traveling together showed they took Harold's illness and this auction very seriously.
I nervously observed Harold's complexion. Judging that his condition wasn't as serious as I'd imagined, I couldn't help but feel relieved.
"How could I not come? I missed you so much. Seeing you sooner makes me happy," I said with a smile.
Harold was delighted by my words. He deliberately didn't even look at Lucas. "I'm going with you. We're staying at Platinum Haven Hotel."
Lucas had a headache: "Grandpa, you came all this way and won't stay at my house? What would that look like?"
"Is Bella at your house?" Harold angrily shot back, raising his cane to hit Lucas. "You had a perfectly good wife and a good life, but you insisted on divorce! What's wrong with you!"
Lucas didn't dare dodge. He took a few hits and used his eyes to signal me to calm Harold down.
I didn't.
I gently said to Harold, "Our hotel is really nice and comfortable to stay in. The rooms are spacious, the restaurant food is delicious, and there's a medical team on call 24/7. There's an entertainment center and a cinema. I'll take you to have fun!"
"Good, good, good. I want to watch 3D movies and play that VR escape room thing. I love trying you young people's stuff!" Alfred came over with a wheelchair, but Harold waved it away and walked briskly out of the airport with my support.
The group ended up going to Lucas's villa anyway, since the guest rooms had been prepared days in advance.
Coming back to this house, I felt like I was in another lifetime.
Seeing me return, the cook, gardener, and other staff were all very surprised: "Mrs. Valeri! You're back!"
The cook had worked for Lucas for many years. After Lucas and I got married, I would personally prepare Lucas's meals. Now that I was gone, the cook was back on duty. She said she missed me day and night—or rather, my cooking.
I promised her I'd show off my skills today. After sending the cook away, Lucas came to my side and said through gritted teeth, "You really have great people skills. Everyone likes you!"
At the airport and in the car, everyone had excluded him and talked around me, using their actions to show their opposition to the divorce.
"Yes, everyone likes me—except you," I teased.
Lucas froze for two seconds, suddenly looking a bit lost. "It's not that I don't like you, I just..."
He didn't finish saying what he "just" was, and I didn't ask.
After the Caldwell family settled in, I asked to see the medical reports.
Simon solemnly took out the reports and handed them to me.
The thick stack of reports felt heavy. I carefully reviewed them. Everyone stayed quiet, not disturbing me.
After more than ten minutes, I put down the reports. Simon couldn't wait to ask me: "Bella, what do you think of my dad's condition?"
Lucas had been forced to stay quiet and was already confused. Hearing Simon ask me, he was even more puzzled: "Why ask Bella? She's not a doctor."
Everyone looked at him. Lucas awkwardly touched his nose.
Harold snorted heavily. "You still don't know? Bella is a pharmacist and a medical student! At your wedding, I choked on a candy and almost suffocated. Bella saved me!"
Lucas frowned. "Grandpa, at your age, you should control your candy eating."
Harold's face turned red, whether from anger or embarrassment, I couldn't tell.
Arthur said to Lucas indignantly, "Lucas, two years ago, I climbed a tree in your yard and fell, breaking my right leg. The doctor said if Bella hadn't stabilized and bandaged it in time, I would have almost become crippled!"
"This shows you shouldn't climb trees randomly!" Lucas glared at him. "Good thing you didn't become crippled, or how would I explain it to your parents?"
Arthur was speechless: "Is that the point? The point is, Bella is amazing!"
"I get it." Lucas's tone was dismissive, clearly not quite believing it.
"Last year I had a tumor," Susan said calmly. "Before the examination, the doctor said it was very likely malignant. I consulted Bella, and she was very certain it was benign. When the results came out, it was malignant."
"Bella makes medicine. She probably just knows a little bit about medicine," Lucas said with a frown.
"It turned out the hospital misdiagnosed it," Susan finished the rest of her sentence. "Bella is your wife. It's one thing if you don't understand her, but please don't look down on her."
Susan's words made Lucas's face burn. He looked at me uncomfortably, but I ignored him.
I can make medicine, I understand medical knowledge, I cook well, and I managed Lucas's household perfectly—I have many strengths. It's not that Lucas couldn't see them; he was just too used to them.
As if I was born knowing all these things, as if I was born to treat him so well, so much so that he overlooked the enormous amount of time and effort required behind these skills and care.
Harold sighed, somewhat disappointed in Lucas. "For this auction, I hope Bella can come with us. With Bella there, I'll feel much more at ease."
Lucas was silent for a few seconds, then answered with difficulty: "But Grandpa, I already promised Amelia I'd take her."