Chapter 169
Alana wondered if she’d been seeing things, if her mind had played tricks on her. How else could the person have vanished in the blink of an eye?
Could it be that she had just been crying, causing her to hallucinate?
Alana turned back and saw her grandmother still sleeping soundly in bed, completely undisturbed.
If someone had come in, who could it have been?
Who would come in on the sly?
Alana couldn’t figure it out, but she guessed she might have seen things, so she went back into the ward and closed the door again.
Little did she know that as she entered the room, a woman’s figure was gradually
emerging from the corner.
The woman’s eyes stung with emotion. “It’s Lana…it really is her p>
But she no longer had the courage to face this child.
The next day arrived.
No one knew what Grandma had told her uncle’s wife and aunt, but they showed up early in the morning, each carrying bowls of cooked porridge and fruit.
The two of them scrambled to feed Grandma the porridge, their attitudes overly eager and fawning.
“Mom, drink mine p>
“I made this bone broth congee for you myself, it’s made with marrow bones and smells amazing p>
“Mom, mine is chicken congee. I went to the market this morning, picked out an old hen, slaughtered it, and cooked this congee just for you. It’s guaranteed to nourish your body!” Just a few days ago, they were pushing each other aside, unwilling to take care of Grandma, but today they’ve suddenly changed their tune?
Grandma’s expression wasn’t exactly pleased. “The moment the word ‘inheritance’ comes up, you two get all excited. You’re just putting on a show for me. Why weren’t you this attentive to me before p>
Last night, she had secretly called them and told them that whoever took care of her while she was injured, and did so well and often, would get a larger share of the inheritance.
As a result, the very next day, these people were already scrambling to curry favor with her.
A look of guilt flashed across the faces of the women.
“Mom, how could you think that? We’re all family, isn’t it only natural for us to be good to you p>
“Exactly! We’ll take care of you from now on. We promise to get you back to full health p>
Grandma snorted coldly, not bothering to respond to the two of them.
She turned to Alana. “Lana, you’ve stayed here long enough. Go back to work. Your aunt-in-law and your aunt will take care of you for the time being p>
The women both chimed in.
“That’s right, that’s right. We’ll take care of your Grandma p>
“Go back now, you’d better pack your things and head home today p>
But deep down what they were considering was that Alana had already been staying here to take care of the old lady for a week. If she stays any longer, won’t she end up snatching an extra share of the inheritance that belongs to them.
They certainly wouldn’t allow that!
Alana hesitated. “Grandma p>
Grandma waved her hand impatiently.
“Go home now. Seeing you neglecting yourself to take care of me makes me sad p>
Alana bit her lip, a faint sting welling up in her eyes.
She knew Grandma was all bark and no bite; she must have been worried Alana was tired, which was why she was sending her away.
“Grandma, I’ll go home then. I’ll come back to see you again in a while p>
Grandma nodded, holding back the pain of parting, and said, “All right, go home p>
“I’ll miss you, Grandma p>
Alana’s eyes were red. She turned her head away, looking a bit flustered, wiped away a tear, and then solemnly bid farewell to her grandmother, her aunt, and uncle’s wife before leaving.
As she left the hospital room, she inadvertently brushed past a figure.
Alana didn’t pause.
It was that figure, however, who suddenly stopped in her tracks and watched Alana for a long time.
Even after Alana had stepped into the elevator, the figure remained frozen in place for a long time.
The woman wore a white hat and sunglasses, and a mask covered half her face, her face was almost completely concealed.
Only after Alana had disappeared did she look away.
Suddenly, her uncle’s wife, Miranda, stepped out of the hospital room and spotted the elegantly poised woman standing outside.
She immediately grew wary and rushed over to the woman. “What are you doing here p>
The woman replied, “Mom’s in the hospital; of course I had to come see her p>
Miranda scoffed “Oh, come on! You’ve already paid off all the medical bills, why are you even here? I told you, we’ll take good care of her p>
The woman pursed her lips and asked, “Was that Alana just now p>
Miranda gave a low cough. “What’s the matter? Can’t you even recognize your own daughter anymore p>
A faint pang of bitterness washed over the woman.
How could she not recognize her p>
It’s just that she didn’t dare to acknowledge her, she was afraid to.
After all, she had been so heartless when she abandoned the child back then.
She would never, ever forget the look in Alana’s eyes when she abandoned her as a little child, she was so bewildered, so shocked, so sad, so desperate.
Every time she thought back on it, her heart ached so much it felt like she couldn’t
breathe.
She bit her lip, holding back her tears, unzipped her Louis Vuitton bag, and took out a bank card.
“Miranda, there’s 100,000 dollars on this card, you can keep 80k in any case the hospital or Grandma needs anymore. Ten thousand is for your trouble in helping to take care of her, and the other ten thousand, please pass that on to Alana for me p>
As soon as Miranda saw it, her eyes lit up. She quickly took the card and clutched it tightly in her hand.
“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to give it to Lana! We’re all family. Every time you give us money, we always made sure to pass it on to her p>
“Just look at her, we’ve raised her to be so pretty and flawless! I haven’t even raised my own daughter as good as I’ve raised her p>
The woman took Miranda’s hand, overflowing with gratitude. “Thank you, thank you, Miranda, for taking care of her p>
Miranda smiled nervously.
She dared not admit that not a single penny of the money this woman had given her over the years had ever gone to Alana, instead, it had all ended up in her own pocket.
The clothes, shoes, and handbags Alana wore were all hand-me-downs from her own daughter.
But this woman didn’t dare to come forward and acknowledge Alana, so she’d never discover how poorly their family treated her.