Chapter 44
The share transfer procedures went faster than expected. Jeffrey's hands were shaking as he signed, but his eyes were glued to the documents the staff handed him, like he was staring at life-saving money.
Ophelia watched coldly, feeling nothing inside, just finding the whole scene ironic.
"We're good now, right?" Jeffrey stuffed the documents inside his jacket like it was some kind of security blanket. "Sunday dinner at home - we need to get our stories straight first. Can't have Grandpa asking questions and us slipping up."
"No need." Ophelia turned and walked away. "I know what to say. Just don't run your mouth."
Jeffrey panicked and quickly caught up: "What about Kaida? She's still young, I'm worried she'll say something she shouldn't."
Ophelia stopped in her tracks. At the mention of Kaida, a complicated feeling stirred inside her.
Kaida had been with her for half a year. It wasn't like she'd never truly cared for Kaida - she'd gotten up on winter nights to tuck her in, taken her to the park on weekends to feed the pigeons. But after she learned the truth, all that effort became a joke.
Ophelia's tone was flat: "Bring Kaida out. Find somewhere to eat, and let her know what she should and shouldn't say at the Adams Mansion."
Jeffrey quickly agreed, afraid she'd change her mind: "Okay, I'll call Kaida right now. Let's meet at 3 PM, same place as always."
Ophelia didn't respond, just turned and left.
At 3 PM, Ophelia arrived at the restaurant's private room as agreed.
She pushed open the door to see Kaida sitting by the window, wearing a cotton dress washed so many times it had faded, her hair neatly combed but still unable to hide the timidity in her eyes.
The old Kaida, backed by Jeffrey and Freya, used to boss Ophelia around. Even calling Ophelia "Mom" came with reluctance. But now, Kaida was like a frightened little rabbit, instinctively shrinking back in her chair when she saw Ophelia come in.
Ophelia's heart tugged unexpectedly, but then she hardened it again.
She hadn't forgotten how Kaida joined Freya in bullying her, hadn't forgotten the cookies she baked being thrown in the trash by Kaida, and hadn't forgotten taking Kaida to the amusement park, only to have her cling to Freya the whole time.
"Ophelia," Kaida called out softly, her voice as thin as a mosquito's buzz.
Jeffrey quickly tried to smooth things over: "Ophelia, have a seat. Kaida hasn't had anyone looking after her lately; she's a bit shy around people."
Ophelia didn't sit. She just stood at the door, her gaze sweeping over Kaida: "At the Adams Mansion, don't talk out of turn. Whatever your great-grandpa asks, just answer that. Nothing extra."
Kaida's head dropped lower, her fingers gripping the hem of her dress tightly, tears welling up in her eyes: "Ophelia, I know I was wrong. I was bad before; I shouldn't have gone against you. Can you treat me well again, like you used to?"
"Like before?" Ophelia smiled slightly, her tone devoid of warmth. "Before, when I knitted you a scarf, you threw it in the trash. When I took you to buy strawberries, you said mine weren't sweet and insisted on the ones Freya bought. When I was sick in bed, not only didn't you care, but you hid my medicine. Have you forgotten all that?"
Jeffrey's face darkened, instinctively wanting to scold: "Ophelia, she's still young. Why are you holding these things against her?"
"I'm holding it against her?" Ophelia turned to glare at Jeffrey, her eyes sharp as knives. "Who taught her to go against me in the first place? Who had her call Freya 'Mom' while treating me - the person who took care of her for half a year - with cold mockery?"
"Jeffrey, you have no right to lecture me. If anyone's to blame, blame yourself. You didn't raise her right, you weren't a good husband, and you weren't a good father either."
Jeffrey was left speechless, opening his mouth but only managing to squeeze out: "That's all in the past. We need to deal with Grandpa now, don't we? Can't you be a little gentler for the kid's sake?"
"Gentle?" Ophelia raised an eyebrow. "The fact that I haven't just walked out is already me being considerate of how Grandpa treated me decently back in the day."
With that, she pulled over a chair and sat down, angling herself toward Kaida while deliberately keeping her distance.
Kaida bit her lip, tears finally falling and dropping onto the table, spreading into small wet spots. "Ophelia, I really know I was wrong. Freya always yells at me, and Dad doesn't spend time with me either. I want to be with you. I want to eat the cookies you make."
Ophelia's heart felt like something had gently pricked it. She remembered how, despite being naughty, Kaida would sometimes throw her arms around her neck and say, "Your cookies are the best."
But that softness was quickly suppressed by reason. She pulled out her phone and looked through the resort's operational reports, pretending not to hear what Kaida said.
Seeing this, Jeffrey could only try to mediate: "Alright, Kaida, stop crying. Ophelia's busy right now. After we get through this, we'll have her make you cookies."
He turned to Ophelia, his tone pleading: "Ophelia, at Sunday's dinner, just for my sake, smile at her a little. Don't let Grandpa notice anything's wrong."
"I'm only handling Grandpa. As for her, I can't do it." Ophelia's tone didn't soften one bit.
The food arrived quickly. Kaida picked up her fork and carefully speared a piece of vegetable, chewing in small bites. She didn't dare say anything else the whole time, only occasionally stealing glances at Ophelia, her eyes full of longing.
Ophelia had no appetite. After eating a few bites, she put down her fork.
Just then, the private room's window happened to face the street, and a black Bentley slowly drove past.
Ophelia instinctively glanced over. William, in the driver's seat, also happened to turn his head, and their eyes met directly.
William's gaze paused, as if he hadn't expected to see her here, and with Jeffrey and Kaida no less. A trace of barely noticeable complexity flashed in his eyes.
Ophelia instinctively wanted to wave hello, but the car had already driven away.
She withdrew her gaze, feeling somewhat flustered inside, wondering if William would misunderstand.
Jeffrey didn't notice her reaction and kept rambling on with instructions: "When we see Grandpa on Sunday, just say we had a little disagreement before, but we've made up now, and the news online is all lies."
"If Grandpa asks when we're having kids, just say we're planning to wait, focus on our careers first."
Ophelia didn't respond, just thinking how ridiculous it was that Jeffrey had the script all worked out.
After the meal, Jeffrey wanted to drive Ophelia home, but she refused: "No need, I drove myself."
She walked to the parking lot and had just opened her car door when she saw Kaida running over, holding a crumpled paper airplane: "This is for you."
Ophelia looked at the crooked smiley face drawn on the paper airplane, her feelings very complicated, but she didn't take it or say anything.
Kaida stuffed the paper airplane into Ophelia's hand and said softly: "On Sunday, I'll be good, won't talk, won't cause you trouble."
With that, she turned and ran back to Jeffrey, her small figure looking particularly lonely.
Ophelia held the paper airplane, stood there for a long time, and finally placed it in the car's storage compartment.