Grace shook her head and sighed.
She looked up at Harvey and listened as he analyzed, "No matter what, the most important thing right now is to get engaged to Leo."
"But what about the baby in Victoria's belly?"
Chloe was most concerned about her unborn child, fearing that the child's existence was her biggest threat.
"Oh, my silly daughter."
A scheme formed in Grace's mind as she smiled. "Victoria is a proud woman. If she finds out you're engaged to Leo, would she still want to have the baby? Besides, once you're engaged to Leo, even if she gives birth, whether that child grows up or not will be up to you."
Listening to her mother's analysis, Chloe suddenly saw the light.
Her previously gloomy face brightened up with a smile. "Mom, you're the best."
She hugged Grace tightly, the bond between mother and daughter evident.
...
Ring, ring, ring—
The next day, the weather was sunny with a gentle breeze.
Victoria was woken up early by the sound of her phone ringing. She picked it up and saw it was her foster mother calling.
The time showed 8:30am.
"Oh my gosh, it's already 8:30am? How did I oversleep?" She slapped her forehead and quickly answered the call. "Mom, I overslept and forgot to make breakfast for you."
Victoria yawned and rubbed her sleepy eyes.
"I've already eaten. We're calling to tell you to bring Lucas over when you come today," Giselle commanded from the other end of the phone.
Victoria, who had been drowsy just moments ago, instantly sat up wide awake. "Mom, he has work. He can't just come over whenever we want him to. He was just here yesterday, why do you need him to come again today?"
"Lucas said yesterday that he's on vacation for the next few days. Don't try to fool me."
"But Mom..."
"If Lucas doesn't come, it means you two were just putting on a show yesterday. I'm not buying your excuses."
"Mom, you... beep beep beep..."
Before Victoria could say anything else, the call was already disconnected.
She held her phone in one hand and rubbed her forehead with the other, feeling utterly helpless.
What was this? They had just seen Lucas yesterday, how could she possibly ask him to come over again today?
After lying on her bed for a while, watching the time tick by, Victoria finally dialed Lucas's number.
"Mm...?" A groggy male voice answered from the other end, sounding like he was still half-asleep.
"Uh, hey... what are you up to?" Victoria asked with an awkward, smooth smile, feeling extremely embarrassed.
Fidgeting with the thin blanket, Victoria's eyes were filled with unease. Although her relationship with Lucas was quite good, bothering him twice in two days made her feel a bit embarrassed. "Just say what you need," Lucas's voice came through the phone. It seemed he already knew why Victoria was calling. "Is it your mom who misses me again?"
"Hahaha, Young Master Harper, you're so smart and impressive," Victoria said, raising her eyebrows and ruffling her hair, her smile both flattering and awkward. She then asked, "So, do you have time?"
"Got it," Lucas replied before hanging up. Victoria stared at the call log on her phone, feeling confused. What did he mean by "got it"? She didn't have the nerve to call him back to ask, so she lay down on her bed, intending to rest for just a moment. Unexpectedly, she fell asleep.
Little did she know, on the other side, Lucas had already finished his morning routine and was driving to Haven Brook Hospital.
Around nine in the morning, Lucas arrived at the hospital. Assuming Victoria had already gone to the ward, he headed straight there. He knocked on the door and then pushed it open.
Inside the room, aside from Alexander lying on the hospital bed, there was no one else. Lucas placed the items he had brought on a nearby table. Just as he was about to call Victoria, he noticed a photograph on the table.
With just a casual glance, Lucas was startled to see a photo of Giselle and Alexander standing in front, with a young girl behind them, arms wrapped around their shoulders, smiling brightly.
And that girl was... Chloe Turner?!?
Lucas was baffled. He picked up the photo for a closer look. The time-stamp in the lower right corner read: 2021.02.10.
It was just a few months ago.
"How do they know Chloe Turner?"
Lucas furrowed his brows and turned the photo over. On the back, it was labeled: Family Photo!
Family Photo?
Chloe Turner was supposed to be the heiress of the Turner Family. How could she be in a family photo with Victoria's parents?
"Hey, Lucas is here?"
At that moment, Giselle walked in from outside. She greeted Lucas but then noticed the photo in his hand.
Her smile vanished instantly. Lucas turned to Giselle and asked directly, "Aunt Giselle, why are you and Uncle Alexander taking a family photo with Chloe Turner? Does this mean Victoria isn't your biological daughter, and Chloe Turner is?"
Giselle silently cursed herself for being careless. She had rushed to the doctor's office earlier and forgot to put the photo away.
"Why are you alone? Where's Victoria?"
She didn't answer Lucas's question. Instead, she took the photo from his hand, carefully wiped it, and then put it into her bag.
However, her actions and demeanor revealed a hint of panic.
This strange reaction made Lucas even more puzzled. Normally, he wouldn't pry into others' business.
But these were Victoria's parents. Victoria worked tirelessly every day, juggling jobs at the Velvet Club and part-time gigs during the day to pay for their medical treatments. Yet, she wasn't even in the family photo.
Lucas suddenly felt a surge of injustice for Victoria.
"Auntie, I'm Victoria's 'boyfriend.' If you don't explain this, I'll call her right now!" he said, his tone turning assertive and displeased.
"If Chloe Turner is your child and Victoria isn't worthy of being in your family photo, then you shouldn't let her work so hard to pay for your treatments!"
For some reason, Lucas felt a pang of sympathy for Victoria.
A young girl, working two jobs every day, cooking and delivering meals for them, and yet she wasn't even allowed in the family photo. It made him furious.
Giselle, who was putting the photo back into her bag, sensed Lucas's anger but also noticed his concern for Victoria.
In that moment, she thought that this young man might not be so bad after all, at least he cared about her daughter.
After hesitating for a while, she asked, "Where's Victoria?"
"She got held up," Lucas lied, fearing that if he said Victoria was on her way, Giselle wouldn't tell him the truth.
Hearing his words, Giselle walked to the door of the hospital room, locked it, and then sat down on the sofa, still holding the photo.
"Sigh..." Giselle held a photo in one hand, gently tracing the image of the person in it with her other hand. With a deep sigh, she said, "I can tell that you really like my daughter."