The Queen's Back

Chapter

39

"I'm sorry, Grandpa, Grandma. It's my fault for not taking better care of Mona," Maxwell said, his voice filled with guilt. "I'll make sure to be more attentive when we return." He hadn't realized Mona had lost weight. She was already light, and now the thought of her getting thinner filled him with

remorse.

Mona, however, didn't feel she had lost weight. Hearing Maxwell's words warmed her heart.

"Come on, let's s go inside

and talk!" Bernard said, smiling. He could see the affection in Maxwell's eyes when he looked at Mona, much like the way he looked at his own wife, Jane. Words could deceive, but the eyes could not. When someone was in love, their gaze was filled with warmth. Maxwell's gaze at Mona was full of love, something Bernard had never seen in Teddy.

Mona and Maxwell followed her grandparents into the living room. Mona linked arms with Jane, while Maxwell walked behind them.

The four of them sat in the living room, chatting about Mona and Maxwell's life abroad. Before they knew it, Albert had returned home. He acknowledged Mona's presence with a slight nod. "Grandpa, Grandma, is Albert upset?" Mona asked.

Mona wasn't sure how to feel about her half-brother; Albert. She remembered his tragic life in her past and felt a pang of sympathy. Yet she knew that in Albert's eyes, she could never compare to Barbara. She also wondered if

if Barbara had played a role in Albert's past struggles with addiction, given her interest in his shares of the Clem Group. Mona resolved to expose Barbara's true intentions and make Albert see her for who she really was. In Barbara's eyes, there was no family, only self-interest. Albert's distance from Mona

om Mona was partly due to Barbara's meddling and partly due to Mona's own lack of initiative in building their relationship.

about that. Albert is still upset with us for expelling Beatrice and her daughter from our

Clem family dynamics were indeed complicated. Beatrice had been with them for so long, and now Barbara was revealed to be Albert's half-sibling.

got the opportunity to design a gown for Artemis Rain. That's quite

"Well, being your granddaughter, I'm thrilled

so you'd have credibility with the team," Bernard explained. When Mona first joined the company,

sparked gossip, so he decided she should begin as

I understand," Mona

+5

08:2

Oct Chapter

her family felt

to cook, wanting Mona to enjoy her homemade meal. Maxwell offered to help in the kitchen. This delighted Mona's grandparents, and she secretly told them that Maxwell often cooked for her at home. Once again, her grandparents felt that Mona

Albert's room on the second floor. She knocked and said, "Albert, it's me. I'm coming in." Albert, now a high school freshman, was in his rebellious phase. As his sister, Mona

Come in," Albert

a chair and sat beside him, silently watching him play. His fingers were long and agile, and with a

"Not bad, I guess. But

nodded. "Why not? I just wanted to see

Albert gave

questioning why she had the time to watch