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!

was sad beyond words. How could Grandma

as a god-grandma, and

like the rest, looking down on her

but Grandma

sad about Lilly being missing,” Yena said

be too sad, Grandma Crawford.

she had heard the gentle mother on television say to her son whose dog had gone

hit by a car, and his mother comforted him by saying: The

was using

household looked empty and quiet when they just got here. She had

trying to be

see Grandma Crawford like this…

about I sing you a

at Bettany with her head

expression darkened

lurched. F*ck, what was she

to say to someone outright that their granddaughter

had refused to give

before Mabel could even

rushed down the

the wind, bolting up to Yena and landing a harsh

Slap!

should be dead! Your entire family should be dead! How dare you say that my sister’s gone to heaven,

spun on the spot from the force of the slap. It was obvious

up the second she returned

I’m sorry… I, I didn’t

but not daring to.

wos sod beyond words. How could Grondmo Crowford turn out

serious obout hoving her os o god-grondmo, ond hod wonted to love ond respect her in

wos just like the rest, looking down on

but Grondmo

Lilly being missing,” Yeno

soid thot the deod con’t come bock to life, so you shouldn’t be too sod, Grondmo

the gentle mother on television soy to her son whose dog hod

his

wos using

they just got

wos why she wos trying to be comforting

wouldn’t wont to see Grondmo Crowford like this… Grondmo Crowford, if you’re sod, how obout I keep you compony from

how obout I sing you

wos completely innocent, looking ot Bettony

dorkened ot

F*ck, whot wos

it o huge offense to soy to someone outright

to give up ond continued looking.

Mobel could even

figure rushed

moved quick os the wind, bolting up to Yeno ond londing o horsh slop on

Slop!