Crush?


    That word felt like a hot potato!


    Ulrich had never really known what having a crush felt like!


    “A crush...what’s that?”


    “It’s like, whenever you think of someone, you get this bittersweet feeling inside. Or imagine, if


    Malvina were to confess her feelings to you, would you say yes?”


    The mere thought of Malvina confessing to him made Ulrich’s lips curve into a smile, his eyes


    sparkling with hope. Being the most literary among the Schnabel siblings, his smile was like the first


    day of spring after a long winter!


    Realizing he might be smiling too broadly, Ulrich quicklyposed himself.


    “Of course, I wouldn’t say yes right away! I’d y it cool, wait for her to make the first move. Don’t


    worry, Noe, I’ve got my own pace. I won’t be led by the nose!”


    Noe raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure?”


    Waiting for Malvina to confess to Ulrich seemed to Noe like waiting for a train that might never


    arrive.


    Ulrich nced at his surgery schedule, then swiftly changed out of hisb coat and strode out of the


    room.


    On his way out, he bumped into ra, who was just returning from a shoe shopping spree. Seeing


    Ulrich hurrying out of the hospital, ra was puzzled.


    “Ulrich, where are you off to in such a hurry?”


    Without looking back, Ulrich marched on.


    “Off to have your future sister-inw confess to me!”


    ra was baffled. “What? I tell you, this is what happens when you spend too much time in theb.”


    Thinking Ulrich was off to make a fantasye true was one thing, but expecting Malvina to


    actually confess?


    Given Ulrich’s routine of home,b, hospital, ra doubted any confession outside his imagination.


    Jasper also concluded, “He’s lost it.”


    Noe shrugged, quickly siding with ra and Jasper in agreement.


    ...


    In Lavinia Richardson’s hospital room,


    Helen, sat by, watching over the sleeping Lavinia. Lucian sat opposite her, both elders silent,


    sharing a heavy sigh.


    “Lucian, you insisted on adopting those kids, and now look what’s happened.”


    “Was it really my choice at the time? I had no choice.”


    Helen scoffed, her disapproving gaze unwavering. “No choice? Well, if you insist on ying the fool,


    you’ve certainly left yourself no options.”


    “Helen Barth, could you not be so harsh?”


    “That would require you to act like a decent human. To a fool, even wise words sound like


    nonsense.”


    Frustrated yet unable to win the verbal spar, Lucian knew too well that Helen’s biting wit was


    unmatched.


    “This is your daughter, Lucian. If you won’t care for her, who will?”


    Lucian, feeling the weight of his decisions,mented, “With Lorne gone, what more can I do for


    Lavinia but be there for her? It’s not like I can undo the past.”


    “Well, you’re not entirely wrong.”


    Helen, her eyes clouding with sadness, touched Lavinia’s hand, her own voice heavy with emotion.


    “Lucian, the wrongs you’vemitted shouldn’t punish the child, right?”


    Tears brimmed in her eyes, perhaps recalling a painful memory, as she turned away to wipe her


    cheeks.


    Seeing Helen’s shoulders tremble, Lucian too felt a pang of regret.


    “I know how much you cared for Lavinia, dreaming of her as your daughter-inw. But when she


    discovered what she shouldn’t have, what choice did I have but to hide her away?”


    For years, Lucian had kept Lavinia’s existence a secret, partly due to her health and partly because


    he didn’t want the world to know she was still alive.


    Lucian confessed, “Lavinia’s been unwell, and in a way, I’m relieved she forgets things. But seeing


    ra, I regret so much.”


    Tears streamed down his face, the sorrow of a father’s heartbreak.


    “If only I’d known about ra sooner. Lavinia is my only child; how could I bear to lose her?”


    The Richardson family secret, that Lucian’s eldest was adopted, was barely known. Lavinia, his only


    daughter, remained the primary shareholder of the Richardson legacy. This was why the Richardson


    family sought an alliance with the Schnabels.


    Hearing of ra, Helen sighed. “ra is a good kid. Don’t you dare let her down. I’ve written my


    will; all my possessions will be hers. We owe her that much.”


    Helen’s gaze was firm as she prodded Lucian with her cane.


    “But money isn’t what shecks. What she needs is her mother. Let’s not dwell on what could have


    been. It’s your mess to clean up. Just don’t leave my granddaughter motherless.”


    With that, Helen, her body trembling, stood up, her heart heavy.


    “I’ve already seen three grandsons grow up without a mother. I can’t bear to see them look at me,


    wondering if their mom will evere back.”


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    The thought of Palmer and his two brothers’ longing looks was enough to tear her apart.


    Stepping out of the hospital room, Helen nearly collided with ra and the others who were headed


    her way.


    ra rushed forward. "Grandma, what are you doing here?"


    "Just checking on your mother, and dropping by to see Lucian. ra, you weren''t too scared, were


    you?"


    ra shook her head then nodded. She had been frightened, but after a good cry in Jasper''s arms,


    she felt much better. Her emotions were somewhat relieved now!


    "That''s good to hear. Make sure someone keeps a close eye on your mom these next few days.


    Someone who can be with her every step of the way. And double-check all her medications. We


    can’t afford any mistakes!"


    Helen''s expression was stern as she held ra''s hand, her instructions detailed to the point where


    it seemed less like caring for a patient and more like a briefing. After finishing, she left.


    ra found it odd watching Helen''s retreating figure. She couldn''t help but wonder, "Why is


    Grandma acting as if she’s guarding against spies?"


    ra''s job made her particrly sensitive to such matters.


    Helen had been too detailed, even mentioning the need to monitor Lavinia''s room daily!


    Noe watched Helen walk away on her own.


    Why did it feel like Helen knew something they didn''t?


    Entering the hospital room, Lucian was wiping away tears as he looked at Lavinia.


    "You’re here, find yourselves a seat. Lavinia... it''s my fault, if I had known what kind of person Lorne


    was, I would have never agreed to adopt him!"


    ra asked, puzzled, "Lorne was adopted by you?"


    Lucian nodded. "Yes, both brothers were. When Garrick brought them to me, I couldn''t say no. If


    only I had known... I would have never agreed! I just thought, if I didn’t take them in, Garrick would


    surely have sent them to Pris Star for experiments. I couldn’t bear that!"


    Little did Lucian know, his act of kindness would end up hurting his daughter!


    Noe frowned slightly. "Grandpa Lucian, do you know about Garrick and Pris Star?"


    Lucian shook his head with a sigh. "How could I not? I, too, once escaped from that dreadful ce."