Chapter 102 Her Exquisite and Beautiful Face Flashed Through His Mind
The Stone Manor.
Ruth's health had been getting worse over the past two years.
Now she couldn't walk at all and needed a wheelchair to get around.
The airport was crowded and chaotic, so Ruth came to The Stone Manor early in the morning.
After Evelyn got Ruth settled in, she went to the airport to pick up Cordelia and the others.
When Cordelia returned home, she saw Ruth waiting anxiously in the yard of The Stone Manor.
As soon as Cordelia got out of the car, Clifford immediately pushed Ruth over to her.
"Cordelia."
Ruth's voice was excited.
Although she and Cordelia had kept in touch throughout these three years, seeing Cordelia right in front of her now, she couldn't help but burst into tears.
Cordelia held Ruth's hand, a smile on her face, her eyes also reddening.
"Mrs. Hughes, long time no see."
As she spoke, she bent down slightly and gave Ruth a hug.
Ruth patted Cordelia's back, then wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.
"Where's Amber?"
Evelyn brought Amber out.
Amber had seen Ruth in video calls.
In fact, ever since Amber was born, Ruth had video called with Cordelia almost every day.
When Amber saw the person from her phone screen appear before her, her round eyes looked puzzled.
She clapped her hands, looking adorably confused.
Seeing her bewildered expression, Ruth smiled with endless affection.
"Amber, I'm your great-grandmother."
Amber nodded and spoke in a clear, soft voice.
"Great-grandmother."
Hearing Amber call her that, Ruth's heart filled with joy.
She opened her arms.
Amber wasn't shy at all and also opened her arms, wanting a hug.
Evelyn carefully placed Amber in Ruth's arms.
Holding Amber for real, Ruth's eyes reddened again.
Amber reached out and wiped away Ruth's tears.
"Great-grandmother, don't cry."
"I'll make it better."
Amber didn't understand why Ruth was crying, but she earnestly tried to make it better for her.
Seeing Amber like this, Ruth's heart melted completely, and her tears flowed even more.
"I'm getting old, my tear ducts are out of control."
Clifford quickly handed Ruth a handkerchief.
Although no one had lived in The Stone Manor for a long time, Evelyn had been having people come over to clean it all these years.
So when they entered the house, all the facilities in The Stone Manor were still the same as when they had left.
Dominic helped carry the luggage inside.
When Evelyn noticed he hadn't brought down his own luggage, she spoke up.
"The Gray family's property in Shadowpine has been sold."
"Dominic, you should stay at The Stone Manor for now. I've already had the servants prepare a guest room for you."
During Cordelia and Donald's three years in Astoria, Dominic had taken good care of them.
The Stone family had come to consider Dominic as one of their own.
Dominic's parents had even suggested to Donald that he adopt Dominic as his godson.
But Dominic was unwilling.
He didn't want to become Cordelia's spiritual sibling.
However, over these years, Cordelia had indeed only treated Dominic as a brother.
Dominic had figured this out.
But he still insisted on not becoming Donald's godson.
He always felt that someday, he would have his chance.
Donald smiled and said.
"Dominic, please stay."
Since Donald had spoken, Dominic nodded.
Evelyn then had the servants bring down Dominic's luggage.
Ruth held Amber, feeling anxious for Alaric.
Over the years, she had urged Alaric many times to go to Astoria to find Cordelia.
But Alaric just wouldn't listen.
Ruth's brother-in-law Alvin Hughes had gone into politics these years.
Alaric had grown close to their family.
Alvin wanted to introduce blind date prospects to Alaric.
This year especially, he had been sending matchmaking profiles to The Hughes Manor in waves.
Just because Ruth kept urging Alaric to go to Astoria to find Cordelia, Alaric had Alvin send the profiles to her instead, asking her to pick a wife for him.
To avoid going to Astoria on business, Alaric always sent Robert instead.
Ruth was furious at his attitude, and for the first time felt that she couldn't see through or understand this grandson she had raised since childhood.
"Dominic, thank you for these three years. Thanks to you for taking care of Cordelia and our Amber. I don't know how to thank you enough."
Ruth looked at Dominic with gratitude.
Dominic smiled kindly, his manner humble and polite.
"Mrs. Hughes, you're too kind. Cordelia and I grew up together. She treats me like a brother, so taking care of her is only natural."
Hearing Dominic's words, Ruth paused, thinking about the subtle hostility in her earlier remarks, and couldn't help feeling ashamed.
Ruth stayed at The Stone Manor for dinner before leaving.
The Hughes Manor.
As Clifford pushed Ruth inside, they saw Alaric sitting on the sofa reading a magazine.
Seeing Ruth return, he put down the magazine and said in a low voice.
"Coming back so late, where did you go?"
Ever since Ruth's legs stopped working, Alaric had moved back to The Hughes Manor.
Thinking about Dominic's performance at The Stone Manor today, and how Dominic remembered when Amber got hungry, when she needed water, and kept the water temperature just right, Ruth felt even more dissatisfied with Alaric.
Dominic performed so well that she felt embarrassed about being hostile toward him.
If Cordelia were her biological granddaughter, she would also hope Cordelia could choose a man like Dominic.
With anger in her heart, Ruth's tone toward Alaric became less polite.
"I'll go wherever I want."
Ruth raised her eyebrows.
After Cordelia left, Ruth had been angry with him for a long time, but since he moved back to The Hughes Manor a year ago, Ruth's attitude had softened considerably.
She hadn't spoken to him in this tone for a long time.
Alaric couldn't help but pinch the bridge of his nose.
"Who made you angry now?"
Ruth snorted coldly, "You!"
Alaric smiled helplessly and walked over to Ruth.
"My dear grandmother, how did I make you angry this time?"
Ruth snorted again and pressed the wheelchair's control button. "Don't block my way."
The wheelchair bumped into Alaric.
Alaric stepped aside.
Ruth went straight to her bedroom and slammed the door shut.
Alaric raised an eyebrow, looking at Ruth's tightly closed bedroom door, and asked Clifford beside him.
"What's wrong with her?"
Hearing this, Clifford's eyes flickered with hesitation, his tone very soft.
"Mrs. Ruth Hughes went to The Stone Manor."
"Mrs. Cordelia Hughes—no, Ms. Stone has returned to the country."
Alaric froze for a moment, Cordelia's delicate and beautiful face flashing through his mind, before he quickly returned to his usual coldness.
"Okay."
He replied lightly, returned to sit on the sofa, and showed no further emotion.