Chapter 77 rify A Few Things


    "Let''s get right to the point, shall we?" Mary sped her hands together, and she straightened her


    back. The stage had overlooked many reporters. All of them looked eager to hear her out as they


    leaned in closer with their microphones out in the open.


    shes of lights flickered around the stage as clicking sounds thundered across the hall. Although


    a part of her felt overwhelmed by the people surrounding her, she pulled herself steady and took a


    deep breath. ''It''s now or never, '' she thought.


    "The person you saw in the video is indeed my father," she started, and the entire hall fell silent.


    They waited on her words with bated breath, afraid that they would miss anything integral to their


    reports.


    "But look at this." Mary pulled out a divorce certificate signed by both her parents. "My father and


    mother have divorced two years ago. I don''t want to talk about this in detail.


    But the so-called ''brother'' my father has mentioned is a boy I''ve never met." Her hollow voice


    echoed across the hall. She continued, "My father said that he was only one-year-old. It''s obvious


    that he must''ve remarried. In fact, ever since he divorced my mother, I''ve never seen him for two


    years.


    So when he said I refused to save his son, that didn''t happen. I didn''t even know that he had a son


    in the first ce."


    When she finished, the crowds before her burst into an uproar. Questions were flung back and forth


    as they tried to dig deeper into this mystery.


    "Wait! She didn''t know?"


    "They''ve already divorced?"


    "As for the alimony, it''s already clearly stated under the marriagew, so I won''t bother repeating it


    here." Mary stared at the reporters unflinchingly. "Also, I don''t have any legal responsibility to take


    care of his sick child."


    With a deep breath, she stated, "Honestly, I was supposed to let this topic die down by itself, but


    due to all themotion that it had caused, I was afraid that it could damage your perception of the


    AJ Group. I hope what I''ve said today could rify everything that has been said throughout this


    entire ordeal."


    At an unnoticeable corner on the second floor of the venue, William and Frank stared from above,


    analyzing the situation below them.


    "She really can handle it." Frank nodded, impressed by the professionalism that she had portrayed.


    "Indeed." William frowned. He stared at the woman below. It was rare to see such a bubbly young


    woman be so cold under the shing lights of the cameras.


    "Do you have anything else you want to ask me?" Mary questioned.


    "Excuse me, Mrs. Lan," one male reporter spoke up. "Don''t you feel the slightest bit of sympathy for


    your father? Although your parents have divorced, don''t you feel that it''s your moral obligation to


    help him?"


    She stiffened. Her fingernails dug into her palm, but she forced herself to calm down. "When he


    doesn''t have the ability to work, as his daughter, I will naturally fulfill my obligation to assist him. Are


    there any other questions?"


    "Mrs. Lan," another reporter questioned. "Your father said in an interview that you wouldn''t pay for


    your brother''s treatment. Is that true?"


    "First of all, I would like to rify that he''s not my brother," she corrected. "And to answer your


    question, yes, that''s true. Even if I will pay for his hospital expenses, it would not be because I''m his


    sister."


    The reporter furrowed his eyebrows and pursed his lips. "Don''t you think that''s a little harsh even if


    you''re of no rtions to him? I mean, isn''t he your step brother at the very least?"


    "Yes, yes!" one yelled out in agreement. "It is heartless!" another person agreed.


    "You''ve gone too far."


    Now, the hall was filled with frenzy. Mary froze, waving her hands to console the crowd.


    "What I meant was..." Just as Mary was about to speak, a man walked up to her from behind the


    stage. He was one of the security crew for the event. He lowered his head and whispered in her ear.


    Her face changedpletely. The reporters quieted down as they tried to grasp the subtle change


    of expression. Seeing this, they quickly pulled out their cameras and leaned in closely-struggling to


    hear conversation.


    On the second floor, William also couldn''t help but lean in. He furrowed his eyebrows, wondering


    what was the cause for this interruption.


    "I can handle this." Mary pursed her lips. "She shouldn''t be here. Take her back."


    "But..."


    "Mary."


    Just as everyone''s attention was on Mary, another person had entered therge hall. The crowds


    dispersed, and soon enough, all eyes were on the elderly woman on a wheelchair.


    "Mom!" she called out in panic as she gazed at her frail mother in surprise. Behind her mother was


    a nurse who looked just as anxious as everyone was.


    "Why are you here? You shouldn''t be here!" Not bothering for formalities, Mary rushed out of the


    stage and pushed her way through the crowd of reporters. "Didn''t I say I could handle it?"


    "But I''m worried about you." Her mother sped her hand, eyes blurring with unshed tears. "I don''t


    want you to be viewed as the bad person here. You''re my daughter."


    "Mom, you..."


    "I know everything, Dear. Please, let me handle this for you." Her mother squeezed her hands in


    comfort. Although she was sick, the woman was as stubborn as a mule. No one could convince her


    otherwise, not even her own daughter.


    "Mary, I''m sorry," the nurse mumbled apologetically. "Your mother was in great condition today, so I


    pushed her around the block to get some fresh air. I didn''t notice that she saw the news on TV. She


    was begging me to take her to you, and I had no other choice..."


    "It''s fine. It doesn''t matter." Mary sighed, waving her hand dismissively. No matter how much she


    tried to keep things hidden, she knew for a fact that the truth would reveal itself someday. Maybe, it


    was best to do it now.


    The reporters crowded around the scene in front of them. Although they didn''t say a word, they held


    their cameras at bay.


    "Mary, let me have a word with them." Her mother gazed at the crowd of reporters with narrowed


    eyes.


    "But..." she tried to refuse, but the look on her mother''s face showed that her decision was already


    final.


    "I got this, okay?" Patting her daughter''s hand tofort her, she quickly motioned to the nurse to


    bring her up the stage. The wheels creaked in response, and soon enough, the older woman was


    already on the stage overlooking the crowds around her.


    "Good day, everyone." She smoothened her hospital gown and turned her steely gaze to the


    audience. "I am Mary''s mother. She didn''t know that I wasing today. When I watched the news,


    I wanted to see her. I just didn''t expect to be met with such a scene.


    I''m a person who''s about to die, so I might as well make many things right. Please don''t take my


    words to heart, but also don''t take them lightly as well."


    Mary choked, covering her mouth. It had been so long since she had seen her mother like this.


    Tears rolled down her cheeks, and she crossed her arms.


    "Two years ago, I divorced Mary''s father, because I had been diagnosed with cancer." The loud


    ruffle that echoed the hall had fallen silent once more. "My husband was the one who had chosen to


    divorce me, right when I was going through what seemed to be the most difficult time of my life. He


    had taken everything from me. Every single penny he had taken, and he left me and Mary to die."


    Mary chewed her bottom lip as she relieved those darkest memories. Her hands shook.


    She had juste back with her mother from the hospital. It was one of the most grievous times of


    their life. However, when she opened the door, she found the house dark and empty. All of their


    valuables had been gone, and her father was nowhere to be seen. She didn''t want to believe it that


    time-didn''t want to believe that her father would be capable of something so sinister. Yet, as her


    mother cried and sobbed, despair had carved itself deep in her heart. The mother-and-daughter


    team could not do anything butfort each other.


    "I don''t want anyone to misunderstand Mary." Her voice trembled. "She''s one of the greatest


    daughters anyone could''ve asked for. I wouldn''t know what to do without her. All this time, she has


    been stretching herself thin just to pay off my treatments. Luckily, she met William and our lives


    have be better. Mary''s my daughter, and I don''t want anyone to me her for my ex-


    husband''s mistakes.


    Seeing her own biological father nder her on TV..." Mary''s mother shook her head in disgust. "It''s


    just unbelievable. As Mary''s mother, I''ve always wanted to protect her all my life, and today won''t be


    an exception. After everything she has done for me, it''s the least I could do for her.''''


    After saying all of these, the elderly woman bowed to the crowd.


    Mary''s bottom lip trembled. "M-Mom," she stuttered out.


    "She made it." Frank blinked in disbelief, observing the scene from afar.


    "She did."


    "Will you be going downstairs to greet them?"


    "No. It''s time we set off."


    "Okay, if we leave today, we can arrive tomorrow. My sister must be missing us."


    "Yeah." After taking onest look at Mary, William turned around and left.


    Soon enough, public opinion on the news had shifted drastically.


    After her mother''s speech, everyone was yelling for their support for Mary. In fact, there were even


    a handful who had turned their sharp tongue to her ''deadbeat'' father. Her reputation had soon


    heightened in everyone''s hearts, and it seemed as if everything had gone back to normal. Jay had


    never appeared under the cameras again. Out of sympathy, Mary transferred some money to his


    ount anonymously. Although her father had left her, the child shouldn''t suffer for her father''s sins.


    At this point, all she wanted was to wish them the best.


    As leaves turned into a ripe shade of orange and red, things were starting to get better and better.


    However, after that day, William didn''t go back to Kylin International. In fact, she didn''t even see him


    in thepany. As Mary sat in her office that day, she drummed her fingers onto the table. A part of


    her wanted to call him, but all her concerns were washed away when she remembered him entering


    the office with Frank that day.


    He had also disappeared and reappearedst time.


    Then it seemed that everything had returned back to normal. Her life was peaceful.


    With a cup of coffee in her hand, she stared at the dozens of flowers blooming around her. She was


    nning to visit her mother.


    Suddenly, the door clicked behind her.


    Surprised, Mary turned around to see William. There were bags decorated under his eyes and his


    lips were inched downwards. It didn''t take a doctor to see that he was extremely exhausted.


    The scent of coffee circled around them. "It''s been a while," she blurted out awkwardly. He gave her


    a half-smile before they had fallen into silence once again.


    "Good morning to you too," he uttered.


    "Good morning," Mary replied, as if she had just met him.


    "You got up early," he noted, bending over to change his shoes.


    She shrugged. "I''ll be going outter."


    "Where?"


    "Hospital."


    William nodded and walked over. His eyes reflected the Autumn rays streaming through the


    windowpane. "I''ll go with you. Thest time your mother appeared in the press conference, I didn''t


    get to greet her. I''ll go with you this time around," he stated.


    "Fine by me." Besides, her mother had been hounding her for William after the press conference.


    "Why didn''t I see him?" she''d question her again and again before sighing in defeat when Mary told


    her that he was busy with his other duties.


    "When will you be leaving?"


    "I''m not in a hurry," she replied. "Mom already knows that we''re married, by the way. At first, I


    wanted to keep it from her, but...she found out." He didn''t seem all too bothered by the fact. "It''s


    fine. Perhaps it''s better that she knows of this." Once he was all finished, he motioned to the door.


    "Shall we?"


    There were hundreds of people visiting the hospital during that time. In fact, the parking lot was


    packed with various cars, that it took them half an hour just to get a parking spot. Once they finally


    parked the car, the couple breathed a sigh of relief and headed to the in-patient department.


    Her mother''s room was located in a more private area given her condition. As Mary walked in, she


    could see her mother leaning against a bunch of pillows and gazing out the windowtaking in the


    cool breeze. Although her mother didn''t say anything about what had happened during the press


    conference, a part of her still couldn''t help but feel concerned. Would it have any impact on her


    health? ''I have to talk to her nurse, '' she thought before opening the door even wider.


    "Mom," Mary called out her attention. "Guess who''s here!"


    "Mom," William greeted with a smile of his own, entering the ward. The word ''Mom'' surprised Mary.


    All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    "It''s William!" Her mother''s face lit up almost immediately. She looked like a child who had been told


    that Christmas hade early. "Come and sit!" He walked in the room and sat beside her.


    "How''s your work?" She ced her hand on top of his, narrowing her eyes.


    "It''s been going well," he responded. "How about you, Mom? I''m sorry for noting here


    immediately. It''s just I had to handle a few things first."


    "Don''t worry about it." Her mother waved her hand dismissively, ecstatic that William had addressed


    her as ''mom''. "Although I''m happy that you finally got married, why didn''t you tell me?"


    Maryughed lightly. "I was afraid that you would think we were being too hasty and wouldn''t give


    us your blessing."


    "And why would I do that?" Her mother scoffed. "I''m happy as long as you''re happy, and William


    seems to be a good man."


    "Then we''ll invite you to the wedding banquet once we have our wedding," William finally uttered,


    surprising Mary with his soft voice.


    "I''ll be waiting for this." Her mother chuckled.


    A smile had woven itself into Mary''s lips. She couldn''t help but wonder how many times she could


    see such a peaceful and happy scene before it would be taken from her.