Chapter 62

Shirley's been our housekeeper for years. She definitely knows which one is my water cup.

She wants to kill me!

I glared at her, waiting to see what she'd say.

Shirley kept waving her hands, trying to explain why she was here.

"I swear, I just came to find something, Mr. Brandon Jordan, Mrs. Caroline Jordan. Please believe me, I have no other intentions."

I crossed my arms. "How do we know you're not here to steal something? Or maybe you're holding a grudge and trying to poison us. Shirley, you're not trustworthy at all."

Seeing I wasn't convinced, Shirley turned to Brandon, pleading.

"Mr. Jordan, I really have no other intentions. I just came to get something. Please, you have to believe me."

"I was wrong. I promise I won't come again!"

Shirley kept apologizing, and Brandon stared at her for a long time with a stern expression. "This better not happen again. Now get out!"

Just as she was about to go downstairs, I stopped her.

"Why? She broke into our house. Why should we just let her go? I'm calling the police and having her taken to the station."

At the mention of the police, both Brandon and Shirley looked a bit panicked.

After all, the dirty things they did in private would be exposed under the interrogation room lights.

"Mrs. Jordan, I was wrong. I didn't do anything. Please don't send me to the police!"

Brandon frowned and looked at me. "Caroline, maybe we should just let her go. We've known Shirley for so many years, we know her character. She probably isn't lying."

Here it comes, he's already starting to defend Shirley.

I stayed silent, listening.

"She probably just got confused and didn't dare to greet us, so she snuck in at night. Let's take her key and let her go."

"Yes, Mrs. Caroline Jordan, Mr. Brandon Jordan is right. I really had no ill intentions. I just wanted to find my earring. Can you forgive me?"

Seeing her start to plead again, my gaze fell on the cup she had touched downstairs. I didn't say anything.

Shirley looked guilty, not daring to meet my eyes, and kept begging weakly.

I stayed silent for a while, and both Brandon and Shirley watched me.

"Fine, but this better not happen again. I'm only letting this slide because you've worked for us for so many years."

Shirley thanked me repeatedly, then scrambled out of the house.

I watched her leave, noticing the malicious look she gave me before she left. She thought I would soon be affected by whatever powder she had put in my cup.

Brandon yawned and patted my shoulder. "Caroline, go back to sleep. It's late."

I nodded. "Okay, you go ahead. I'll go downstairs for a drink of water."

Brandon nodded and left, leaving me and the housekeeper Holly in the living room.

I went downstairs and looked at my cup, picking it up to inspect it.

There was a fine white powder on the rim, barely noticeable unless you looked closely.

Holly watched me for a while, and I pointed to the cup. "Holly, wrap this up for me. Make sure you don't touch it directly, use something to handle it."

She understood immediately and nodded, going to find the tools.

I went back upstairs to my room.

The reason I didn't expose Shirley was because Brandon had spoken up for her.

I knew how ruthless and heartless he could be, but he was willing to speak for Shirley. There had to be more to it.

Either Shirley had something on Brandon that scared him, or he still had use for her.

Either way, I needed to keep Shirley around.

The next day, I slept until noon.

Brandon had been staying home these days, seemingly trying to appease me.

What he didn't know was that just looking at him made me sick.

But today, someone unexpected came to the house.

When Holly brought the person in, I could hardly believe my eyes.

I saw a woman with silver hair but a spirited demeanor, and I whispered, "Mom?"

I was afraid it was just a dream.

Kelly came forward and grabbed my hand, looking me over carefully. "Caroline, why have you lost so much weight?"

In an instant, all my pretense, all the hard shell I had built around myself, shattered.

I felt like a lost child who had finally found her way home, and I threw myself into my mom's arms, crying out, "Mom!"

Kelly patted my shoulder. "Brandon said you were sick, that's why you didn't want to contact me. Caroline, you have no idea how much I've worried about you."

I cried in her arms for a long time, wanting to tell her everything I had been through, but I knew I couldn't.

My gaze fell on the man behind Kelly. He was a middle-aged man, thin and gaunt, with sunken cheeks. He looked particularly frail, but his eyes shone with a strange light, like a deep abyss.

This must be the housekeeper Brandon had found for my mom.

"Mom, why are you here?"

Brandon came down the stairs, his voice slightly surprised.

I looked at him, seeing that although his mouth was open in shock, there was no surprise in his eyes.

I was sure that Kelly's visit was arranged by Brandon.

He had always kept me from contacting my mom, so why the sudden change?

It had to be something he cared about deeply.

My eyes widened as I realized.

Urban renewal!

Sure enough, once Kelly knew I was feeling better, she pulled a document out of her bag.

An urban renewal notice.

"Caroline, our family home is up for urban renewal."

I glanced at Brandon, seeing his eyes glued to the document, his greed almost tangible.

Kelly held my hand and sighed. "Your dad always told me, no matter what happens to our company, we mustn't sell the house. He believed that the government would have policies for that area in the future, and it would become your capital. That money would ensure your happiness for life."

Listening to her, I couldn't help but cry. The love of my parents was so genuine, and compared to Brandon, they were like gods to me.

Brandon cleared his throat. "Mom, no matter what, stay for a meal. We can talk more after."

I glanced at him but didn't say anything. I agreed with the suggestion.

After all, it had been a long time since I had a meal with Kelly.

Once Holly had prepared the meal, Kelly looked at her with a strange expression. "I remember your housekeeper used to be a young girl, right?"

I nodded, keeping my expression neutral. "We changed. Mom, let's eat first. I'll tell you everything that happened after the meal."