Chapter 196: Christmas

Chapter 196: Christmas

Jessica remained sitting on the hospital bed, showing Ophelia a harmless smile.

"Mrs. White, I don't quite understand what you just said."

Ophelia couldn't help but scoff. "You still want to keep playing dumb? Well, I can't be bothered to say more. Just know this - while you're in the hospital, Timothy won't come to see you. That's all you need to know. You made such a fuss tonight, and in the end, you got nothing."

Jessica had studied finance in college, which was how she became classmates with Timothy. But her mind was never on her studies. She often took modeling jobs and, over time, gained some minor fame. Later, she was discovered by a talent scout and didn't hesitate to drop out of school.

She thought she'd become famous quickly, but the company she signed with wasn't reliable and wasted a lot of her time. Even now, she hadn't achieved much. She'd just been in a car accident - such a big scene - yet not one onlooker recognized her. This really bothered her.

This year's Christmas, Ophelia spent at the hospital with William.

Eleanor had originally said she'd come keep her company, but then got called in for an emergency car accident case and could only video chat with Ophelia when she had time.

Before midnight, people were already setting off fireworks outside. Ophelia pushed William to the window, and they watched the fireworks blooming in the night sky together.

Ophelia suddenly hugged William's neck from behind, her voice gentle. "William, I really like you."

A simple sentence, but it expressed Ophelia's feelings very directly. Though it wasn't some sweet romantic line, when William heard it, his eyes immediately welled up with tears.

Actually, they hadn't been together that long. If Ophelia had said "I love you" directly, William would have felt she was just saying it without meaning it. But "like" felt more real, and it let William know he was in her heart.

Timothy was traveling with his parents and Freya. He'd heard about Jessica's situation from Ophelia and casually asked how to handle it. Ophelia said she'd already hired the best caregiver for her and would send her a big meal on Christmas, which was enough to show proper concern.

Gregory and Vincent spent Christmas in Sunrise City. After the family dinner, the father and son went to Azalea's room and had her take blood pressure medication beforehand.

As soon as they came in, Azalea found it strange. In past years, after chatting with her, she would go back to her room to rest, and they'd just walk her to the door. This year, they stayed with her and specifically had her take medicine.

While Azalea was puzzled, Vincent suddenly knelt down.

"Didn't you just give me a gift? Are you trying to get more out of me?" Azalea said while reaching for her bag, ready to give him a gift card. But Vincent's next words almost made her pass out.

"Grandma, I've met Ophelia."

Gregory quickly caught Azalea as she nearly fainted, helped her steadily onto the bed, and gently comforted her. "She is my daughter who's been out there all this time, and she's your granddaughter too. Can you really bear to keep her out there forever? What's done is done. Why not let it go?"

Azalea clutched her chest, calmed her emotions, then spoke. "What do you mean - you want to bring her back?"

Gregory sighed, his tone somewhat helpless. "She didn't say she wanted to come back."

This surprised Azalea. After a moment of silence, she finally gave in.

"You're right, the past has nothing to do with her. Her mother is already dead, and she did save Vincent back then. If you want to bring her back, do as you wish."

It was as if Azalea suddenly understood something. The two women involved in that incident years ago - one was already dead, and the other had divorced Gregory and moved on with her life. There was no need to dwell on the past.

Besides, the Kennedy family was doing better and better under Gregory's management, and Ophelia was very capable. Azalea had been keeping tabs on her all these years.

Forget it. She was getting old - let the kids decide for themselves.

Tommy had a terrible Christmas.

Earlier in the year, he thought that officially joining the Johnson Group meant everyone would treat him well. But in less than half a year, the Vanguard Technologies Ltd. project was crushed by Winters Electronic Corp. before it even started, and the Johnson Group was now squeezed between the White Group and Synergy Innovations Group, struggling just to survive.

His relationship with Meridian Group's CEO was exposed, and his well-matched fiancée called off the engagement. He could only drink heavily to cope with his problems every day - otherwise, he couldn't get through these days.

Actually, he'd chosen that fiancée because of her family's influence. When the Johnson Group first ran into trouble, his fiancée had wanted to break off the engagement, but Tommy desperately convinced her to believe he could make the Johnson Group rise again, temporarily saving the engagement.

But then the scandal broke, especially when word got out that those two kids were Tommy's. She couldn't take it anymore and insisted on breaking up.

Now Tommy's only support was almost gone, and he had no idea how to turn things around.

Emily wasn't doing well either.

After everything was exposed, when Walter came back from the hospital, the first thing he did was scold her, saying he'd clean up the last of the mess. He also warned Emily not to say anything during this time, or he'd send her to the police.

It was the first time Walter had spoken to her in such a harsh tone, with a look in his eyes that even carried a hint of menace. It scared Emily so much that she trembled.

She suddenly remembered what Tommy had once told her: "Don't think Dad really spoils you - it's just because you still have value to him. The day you threaten his interests, he won't hesitate to come after you."

Emily hadn't believed it at the time. After all, she'd just come back from abroad, and Walter had put in a lot of effort to help her deal with her troubles overseas.

Emily felt Walter was the one who loved her most - how could he possibly hurt her?

But just now, she believed it.

"You stay home and don't go out. I'll go talk to the White family about your marriage to Benjamin."

Emily knew this probably wouldn't work out, but she didn't dare argue. She could only lower her head and agree.