Laney obediently nodded and took two more spoonfuls of food.
Wiping her mouth, she stood up, intending to go upstairs and get dressed.
However, she got up too quickly and nearly tripped over the table leg. Laney reacted swiftly, avoiding a fall.
Vera was startled and patted her chest, sighing in relief. “Don’t be so careless next time. You can’t afford to be clumsy anymore, Laney. Think about the baby you’re carrying.”
“I’m sorry, Mom,” Laney apologized hurriedly.
She grabbed the stair railing and climbed slowly, being cautious.
After changing clothes, Laney began her etiquette lessons.
It was a long and exhausting day for her.
When she finally returned to her room, it was already nine o’clock at night.
Collapsing onto the bed, Laney felt like crumbling under the pressure of maintaining proper decorum at all times. It was suffocating.
The high-class lifestyle made her feel trapped.
Etiquette classes proved to be much more challenging for Laney than she had anticipated. In fact, they were a hundred times harder than martial arts.
Just as she lay in bed for a few seconds, her phone started ringing. It was Garrett calling.
“How are things going? Are you getting along with my parents?” Garrett asked in a smooth voice. Laney massaged her sore shoulders and murmured, “Mom and Dad are treating me well. I’m happy to be here.”
Knowing his parents weren’t difficult people to get along with, Garrett didn’t doubt Laney’s words. “That’s great!” he exclaimed cheerfully. “Since you’re happy there, you can stay with them a bit longer.” Laney forced a dry laugh and didn’t say anything else. She didn’t want to burden him with her unhappiness. The distance between them felt more pronounced than ever.
“How’s your job going?” Laney yawned quietly.
“I just told Brandon that I’m leaving the Larson Group,” he said, his voice filled with determination.
Brandon remained silent, absorbing the weight of his decision. Laney knew he was the rightful heir to the Harding family, and Larson Group was merely a stepping stone towards taking charge of their family business. The current state of chaos within Larson only solidified his resolve to move on.
“Charis is on leave for therapy, and now I’m resigning,” Garrett continued, his tone tinged with concern. “The Larson Group will be left with even fewer staff.”
“It’s getting late,” Laney abruptly interjected, desperately searching for an exit from the conversation. Her emotions were overwhelming, and she couldn’t confide in Garrett. “I’m feeling tired.”
She wasn’t lying. With a 6 a.m. wake-up call awaiting her the next morning, Laney cherished every precious moment of solitude she could find.
Unaware of Laney’s inner turmoil, Garrett remained focused on his work at the Larson Group. He blew kisses through the phone and reassured her, “Alright, sweetheart. Goodnight.”
Laney rolled her eyes in frustration, ending the call and pulling the duvet up to her forehead. The weight of her decisions and the uncertain future weighed heavily on her mind.
Within a month, two of the founders of the Larson group had departed. Charis left to undergo therapy, while Garrett resigned to take over his family’s business. These sudden changes caused panic among everyone at The Larson Group.
After dealing with Garrett’s resignation, Brandon called Charis’s psychologist to inquire about her progress. “How is she?” he asked.
“She’s fit for work,” the psychologist reported.
Having known the psychologist for years and trusting him, Brandon decided to visit Charis that afternoon.
When Brandon arrived, he found Charis participating in a painting contest with other patients. The hospital sponsored the activity, and the prize was a basket of chocolates.
In the end, Charis’s painting won first place.
Silently observing, Brandon watched as she kindly distributed the chocolates to the other patients. Although she still wore a mask, she seemed less distant and her overall temperament had improved. She appeared less irritable than before.
“It seems like you’ve recovered well,” Brandon commented lightly as he approached Charis, surprising her.
“Brandon, why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”
“I happened to be in the area.”
As Brandon’s eyes fell on the small patch of exposed skin on Charis’s neck, he smiled and said, “You look as elegant and confident as ever.”
Charis waved her hand dismissively. “The burns on my neck aren’t as severe as the rest of my body. I used to hide myself completely, but the doctor helped me overcome my insecurities. I’m less sensitive to the scars now. I was wrong before—I covered myself up, sealing off my heart.”
Now, she didn’t mind showing a part of herself.
“You always had the best stress tolerance among the three,” Brandon sighed.
Charis modestly shook her head. “I’m flattered. I went through something incredibly stressful, but luckily, I’m on the path to recovery. After all, my biggest advantage was never my face, but my brain.”
