Chapter 105


    Chapter 105


    Leanne settled into the car as Mary gently cradled her face, examining her with the deep. affection


    unique to elders.


    “Sweetheart, have you been overworking yourself? Have you been neglecting your meals?”


    Perched obediently in her seat, Leanne reassured her, “I’ve been eating well and gained a few pounds


    recently. But you’ve slimmed down so much. Howe?”


    Mary had been battling stomach cancer, enduring several surgeries that had significantly reduced the


    plump matriarch to half her size. Three years ago, she had narrowly escaped death’s door, a feat that


    some attributed to a psychic or maybe just pure


    luck.


    Since Leanne married Curtis, Mary had miraculously survived her ordeal.


    Mary had taken refuge in tranquility these years, living at a serene mountain retreat with at church,


    bncing her time between spiritual devotion and recovery.


    She seldom asked for visits from her kin, preferring the peace of solitude, returning home. only during


    the holidays. The unexpected early return was a mystery.


    She appeared even frailer than before. A sudden drop in weight at her age usually signaled illness.


    Leanne’s heart ached at the sight of Mary’s frail form, “Are you sure you’re okay?”


    “Just the usual aches and pains,” Mary chuckled, “I had a little surgery a while back.”


    She downyed the severity, but with her medical background, Leanne knew any surge for Mary at the


    time was a race against time.


    “Why didn’t you tell us about the surgery?”


    “I didn’t want to trouble you with trivial matters I’m ustomed to these minor ailme You all have your


    own lives to lead.”


    Mary hade to terms with life’s ebb and flow at her age. “Once I made it, you could celebrate


    another hurdle crossed. If not, you could carry my old bones back.”


    Leanne’s voice was thick with emotion. “I’d rather get worried sick about you than live wit regret for the


    rest of my life.”


    Having experienced the pain of loss early on, she knew how deeply it could scar her inside.


    Touched by Leanne’s words, Mary promised, “Next time, you’ll be right there with me.”


    She directed the driver. “Let’s head home for dinner. The others will keep calling if we’rete.”


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    Chapter 105 Chapter


    “You haven’t been home yet?” Leanne was surprised.


    The driver interrupted, “Lady Marynded and insisted on waiting for you here. It’s been


    two hours now.”


    “You could’ve waited at home, and I would go to see you after work.”


    Mary huffed yfully, “Why should I? I’ve seen enough of those old faces. You, my dear, bring me joy.”


    Tears welled up in Leanne’s eyes, unsure how to break the news that she was divorcing and would no


    longer be a Richardson.


    Mary was the only one in the Richardson family she couldn’t bear to leave.


    She decided to wait, not wanting to dampen the reunion.


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    When they reached the Richardson Manor, the family was already awaiting Mary’s arrival.


    Leanne assisted Mary inside, where the living room buzzed with anticipation, Curtis and Phillip


    standing among the crowd.


    Respect for elders was paramount in the Richardson family. Since the patriarch passed Mary held the


    reigns.


    Despite Maddox’s control over the Richardson Group and his immeasurable wealth that could shake


    the foundations of Stonebridge, at home, he was no different than the rest when it came to Mary’s


    scolding.


    Jennifer had been anxious from the afternoon’s anticipation and sighed, “Mary, your flightnded hours


    ago. What took you so long?”


    Mary beamed while clutching Leanne’s hand. “I went to pick up Anne from work.”


    Curtis’ gazezily swept over Leanne’s face. “Quite the diva. You even have Grandmal waiting to pick


    you up.”