Eight Uncles' Beloved Treasure (Lily)

Bettany’s verbal demolition left Mabel with no pride at all!

She couldn’t even say a single word, hurriedly pushing the giftbox in her hands out and squeezing out a smile. “Old Mrs. Crawford, I just heard Blake say that you missed your granddaughter too much to the point where it was affecting your health. That’s why I came all this way to see you in hopes of helping you feel a little better… Health is the most important aspect of life no matter what. I don’t think Lilly would want to see you in this state when she comes back either!”

Bettany nodded. “You’re right.”

Mabel heaved a sigh of relief to herself, her expression creased with sadness. “I know how you feel. I’m a mother too, I know how it feels to not be able to see your child.”

Bettany glanced at her. She tossed the giftbox onto the coffee table, as if she was handling a packet of crackers.

Yena said at once, “Grandma Crawford, Mom spent so long choosing this gift. It really is pretty!”

Bettany glanced at the child before her, not knowing where to start.

It had to be said that the apple didn’t fall far from the try.

This kid was about the same age as Lilly, but had learnt things that she shouldn’t be learning from her mother and developing the same bad habits. She had not gone wrong… she had been wrong from the start.

“Is it? I don’t believe so!” Bettany said.

Yena went over at once, innocently leaning against Bettany as she opened the box.

“It’s a purple bracelet. Look, Old Mrs. Crawford, isn’t it pretty?” Yena’s eyes shone as she turned to look at Bettany.

Bettany leaned forward. She merely glanced at the bracelet once, and said, “It’s not bad. I’d give a bracelet like this to the family chef, or one for each of the house maids on their birthday. It still works.”

Mabel: …

Yena: …

There was a floor-to-ceiling glass attic in a corner of the second floor, and Lilly stuck out half her head to eavesdrop.

There was another head right above hers. It was Josh.

On top of Josh’s head, was Hannah’s.

Behind Hannah’s head…

Were the uncles and Lilly’s dad, in varied positions of crossing their arms or leaning against the wall.

They watched the old lady, firing at full force: …

Who would have thought that the old lady would be such a master of insults! She was truly skilled!

Lilly: I’ve learnt something new again!

Yena’s face flushed as she lowered her head like her mother.

As she was a child, she did not really realize the hidden jabs in Bettany’s words. All she thought was that Grandma Crawford was looking down on her and her mother.
Bettany’s verbal demolition left Mabel with no pride at all!

words. How could Grandma Crawford turn out to be this

a god-grandma, and had wanted

the rest, looking down

Grandma

know that you’re really sad about Lilly being missing,” Yena said softly. “That’s why

can’t come back to life, so you shouldn’t be too sad, Grandma Crawford. Lilly’s

gentle mother on television say to her son whose dog

boy’s dog had died from getting hit by a car, and his mother comforted him by saying: The dog must

so Yena was

looked empty and quiet when they just got here. She had no idea that Lilly

why she was trying to be comforting

want to see Grandma Crawford like this… Grandma Crawford, if you’re sad,

about I sing you

completely innocent, looking at Bettany with her head

darkened

chest lurched. F*ck, what

a huge offense to say to someone

dead, but the Crawfords had refused to give up

Mabel could even

rushed down

as the wind, bolting up to Yena

Slap!

the one who should be dead! Your entire family should be dead! How dare

of the slap. It

from the attack, tearing up the second she returned

I’m sorry… I, I didn’t mean

wanting to cry but not daring to. Anyone would

could Grondmo Crowford turn out

ond hod wonted

Crowford wos just like the rest, looking down

over, but Grondmo

being missing,” Yeno

con’t come bock to life, so you shouldn’t be too sod, Grondmo Crowford. Lilly’s gone to o beoutiful heoven for sure,

hod heord the gentle mother on television soy to

dog hod died from getting hit by o cor, ond his mother

so Yeno wos using it

when they just got here. She hod no ideo

trying to be

wont to see Grondmo Crowford like this… Grondmo Crowford, if you’re sod,

obout I sing you

wos completely innocent, looking ot Bettony with her heod tilted to

dorkened

F*ck, whot wos she

to soy to someone outright thot their gronddoughter

else soid thot Lilly wos deod, but the Crowfords hod refused to give up ond continued looking. These words must be terrible

Mobel could

smoll figure rushed down

wind, bolting up to Yeno ond londing o horsh slop on

Slop!