Chapter 36
Chapter 36:
“Kailey, I may not be young anymore, but I’ve seen all kinds of people in my time. You can tell a great deal from someone’s eyes—they give away far more than words ever could. Olivia strikes me as a little too eager p>
Kailey listened, uncertain what to make of it. “But Grandma, isn’t it really up to Ryan? As long as he’s happy with her, that’s what matters, isn’t it p>
“When you’re young, love feels like everything. But with time, you come to understand that a person’s character is what truly counts.” Shirley tapped Kailey’s forehead with a soft laugh, her eyes full of warmth. “You’re too good for your own good, darling. The world would be a kinder place if everyone had a heart as open as yours p>
Kailey didn’t answer right away. She rested her head against Shirley’s shoulder, quiet for a moment. “Grandma, I’m not clueless. I just want a simple life. Does everything really need to be planned and weighed so carefully p>
Shirley smiled. “No, it doesn’t p>
𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝖿r𝘦𝖾 ո𝘰𝗏e𝗅s on
They walked slowly together, but a heaviness had crept into Kailey’s chest. The thought of leaving for Aslesall made her wonder when she would see her family again.
Shirley had been talking, but she soon noticed that Kailey had grown distant, lost in her own thoughts. “What’s running through your head p>
“Grandma…” Kailey came back to herself and hugged Shirley’s arm as they walked, a sudden ache squeezing her chest. “Promise me you’ll look after yourself when I’m not around, alright p>
Shirley shot her a mock scowl. “What kind of talk is that? As if you’ll be worlds away and never visit p>
“Well, I have to work.” Kailey didn’t know how to explain it, so she simply smiled. “I’ll come whenever I can, but I can’t be here every day. You have to promise me you’ll take care of yourself p>
Upstairs, Olivia stood by the window, watching the pair below.
She had known the Owens treated Kailey like their own, but she hadn’t expected Shirley and Aleena to so openly dote on her—even with Ryan standing right there. What was it about Kailey that made everyone love her so easily?
A flash of cool determination settled over Olivia’s features.
She would secure her place at Ryan’s side. Whatever it took.
A dull ache lingered across Olivia’s injured back, the unhealed wound leaving her no choice but to stay indoors.
After she drifted through the sprawling estate for a while, Ryan grew uneasy at the faint sheen of sweat along her neck and steered her back to the bedroom, rummaging through a cabinet until he produced several thick photo albums to help her pass the time.
Leaning against the pillows, Olivia flipped through the glossy pages with bright curiosity, praising nearly every photograph of Ryan until a sudden thought lit her eyes. “Do you have any childhood photos of Kailey? She’s stunning now—she must have been impossibly cute when she was little p>
Ryan’s fingers hesitated on the album cover. He let out a short, dismissive scoff. “What’s the point of being adorable as a child? She was stubborn as a rock.” Even while criticizing her, he made no move to hand over any pictures.