Chapter 7
288 Vouchers
When Shirley woke again, she found herself lying in the manor’s bed.
Exaggerated laughter and cartoon dialogues boomed outside the door, the volume cranked so high it seemed to shake the walls.
Pushing herself upright, she opened the door to see Patricia sitting cross–legged on the living room carpet. Hugging snacks to her chest, the girl doubled over laughing at the television.
“Shirley’s awake?”
Patricia turned, remnants of laughter still dancing across her face.
“Sorry, did my anime bother you?”
She deliberately crunched her chips loudly.
“My chest has felt tight lately. The air’s better in this neighborhood, so Timothy suggested I stay here to recover… You don’t mind, do you?”
Shirley instinctively glanced toward the sofa-
Timothy sat there, slender fingers flipping through financial reports, his gaze cold and focused beneath his gold- rimmed glasses.
The TV blared, yet his brow remained smooth.
Shirley suddenly remembered words from her diary:
“He got angry today because I ate an apple beside him. My chewing distracted him, so he told me to leave.”
Remember: When he’s in the study, even your breathing must soften.”
But now…
Patricia rustled the chip bag noisily, exaggerated fight scenes booming from the anime, yet Timothy didn’t even look
- up.
She was about to speak, but Timothy suddenly said, “If it weren’t for that accident years ago, this home would have been yours.”
His tone was cold, his gaze still fixed on the documents.
“She’s just a usurper; why do you need to report to her?”
Shirley said calmly, “Yes, no need to report to me. You can stay as long as you want.”
8.0%
00:16
Chapter 7
288 Vouchers
Timothy’s finger paused slightly as he turned the page, and finally he looked up at her, his gaze behind the lenses nar- rowing slightly.
This wasn’t like her.
In the past, she would either cry hysterically or hold back tears with red eyes, never this… calm.
But this strangeness only lingered in his mind for a second.
He averted his gaze and resumed handling the documents.
After all, anything related to her never crossed his mind, let alone mattered.
Shirley didn’t care about his thoughts either, walking straight in and shutting the door.
The entire day, Shirley locked herself in the room, listening to the jarring noises outside.
Patricia blasted reality shows at maximum volume, clacked her high heels across the hardwood floors, and even opened Timothy’s treasured wine to pair with fried chicken.
Each act landed squarely in Timothy’s forbidden zones.
Once, her accidental brush against his bookshelf earned her an icy glare; the shuffle of her slippers prompted a frown and immediate silencing; touching his wine was utterly unthinkable…
Yet now, she clearly heard Timothy say with resignation.
“Take your time. No one’s rushing you.”
Only when dinner approached did Shirley push the door open and step out.
The dining table was laden with dishes. Patricia sat beside Timothy, her eyes crinkling with a smile.
“Timothy, these are all my favorite dishes!”
“Mhm,” Timothy’s gaze softened. “I never forget your preferences.”
A blush spread across Patricia’s cheeks.
Spotting Shirley at the doorway, she called out, “Sister, come join us!”
Shirley silently walked to the far end of the table and sat down. Here Patricia reigned like the lady of the house, while Shirley felt like an uninvited guest.
She picked up some food with her fork. After two bites, her throat suddenly tickled.
She frowned and tried another dish, but the discomfort only intensified.
“Shirley, what’s wrong?” Patricia suddenly exclaimed.
“Why are there red spots on your arms? Is it an allergy?”
33.1 %
00:16
Chapter 7
298 Vouchers
Shirley looked down to see her arms indeed covered in a rash. Her breathing grew increasingly labored, words trapped in her throat.
With great effort, she pointed toward her bag containing emergency medication.
Patricia scrambled to check but accidentally knocked over the steaming soup bowl-
“Ah…”
The scalding broth splashed across Shirley’s rash–covered arms. Searing pain sent tears streaming down her face.
She saw Timothy dart forward, only to-
Shield Patricia in his arms!
“Did it burn you?”
He anxiously examined Patricia’s hands, his voice dripping with tenderness.
“How could you be so careless?”
Darkness swam before Shirley’s eyes. Before losing consciousness, her last sight was Timothy carrying Patricia
away…
When she woke again, she lay in a hospital bed.
A nurse changing her IV remarked, “With allergies this severe, you nearly died. Second–degree burns too. How come no family’s visited in two whole days?”
Shirley parted her lips, but voices drifted from the hallway:
“Heard Mr. Mitchell reserved the entire floor?”
“Just for that minor burn on Miss Patricia’s hand.”
“Utterly spoiled. Any later and it’d have healed completely…”
Shirley slowly closed her eyes.
“I have no family here.”
The nurse hesitated to speak but ultimately left in silence.
13.7 %
