While Audrey had indeed orchestrated the car accident, she had also deliberately collided with an object to heighten its credibility. The resultant mild concussion was a genuine occurrence. Having spent the entire afternoon exposed to the scorching sun, she now grappled with a nagging headache.
Observing her daughter's evident discomfort, Anthea proactively intervened, advising, "Head upstairs and rest. I'll give you a call before dinner."
Audrey didn't refuse and went upstairs to rest.
When she roused from her slumber, the sun had already descended, casting the sky in hues of twilight. Dinner hour approached.
Having freshened up, Audrey descended the stairs. As she entered the living room, her attention landed upon Eric, engrossed in a gaming session on the sofa.
A wave of surprise washed over Audrey. Hadn't it been stated that the trio of siblings detested the old residence, virtually ensuring their absence?
Eric was at home yesterday. Why was he back today?
A revelation flashed in Audrey's mind. Gary's assistant had distributed a monthly allowance of two million yuan to each of them under the condition that they remain at home. Absence would entail forfeiture of the allowance.
[Could he have returned for the sake of two million yuan? No way, no way!!!]
Eric perceived Audrey's fixed gaze and lifted his eyes to discern an array of luminous words hovering above her.
They radiated in vibrant red, the sight accentuated by three prominent exclamation marks. The words seemed to convey Audrey's palpable excitement.
Eric was furious. Did he look like someone who would give in for two million yuan?
His present stay at home was primarily motivated by his desire to ingratiate himself with his father, an attempt to expedite the theater chain's approval.
"Second Brother," Audrey greeted him, her tone laced with a semblance of deference.
Eric snorted coldly. If he hadn't seen the words above her head, Audrey's obedient appearance would have been quite deceiving.
The cold snort clearly reached Audrey's ears, and she found it funny. The books said that the second young master of the Lance Family was a profligate son who did not do his job properly. She never expected him to have such an awkward personality.
Audrey originally had no feelings for Eric, but when she saw this, she felt that he wasn't annoying. Furthermore, such a personality seemed much more real.
After the exchange of greetings, it became evident that Audrey and Eric lacked common ground. Given the awkward atmosphere, Audrey promptly sought refuge in the garden, searching for Anthea.
Anthea typically refrained from venturing outside, evincing little interest in socializing with the affluent women of their circle. Instead, she devoted her time to nurturing the flora within their garden.
As Anthea spotted Audrey's approach, a smile graced her lips. "I was just about to call you, but it seems you woke up on your own. Are you feeling hungry? If you are, I can fetch some snacks to tide you over until Uncle Gary returns for dinner."
Audrey declined the offer with a gentle shake of her head. The mother-daughter duo engaged in conversation by the doorway, emanating an air of genuine warmth.
This was the first scene Abner saw when he returned.
He pursed his lips slightly as a strange emotion flashed across his heart.
In the entire family, only the mother and daughter had the so-called kinship. No matter how many mistakes Audrey had made, Anthea would tolerate her and work hard to clean up the aftermath for her.
To any discerning observer, Anthea's maternal devotion was abundantly clear. Regrettably, it appeared Audrey failed to fully appreciate the depth of her mother's dedication.
Anthea was the first to catch sight of Abner. Perplexity etched her features. An unusual occurrence indeed. Both sons came home today.
Audrey followed Anthea's gaze and fixed her eyes upon Abner, discerning a weariness that tinged his gaze.
[It's truly an arduous endeavor. Clearly, not everyone is suited to the role of CEO.]
Abner stopped in his tracks. It seemed that lunch was not his imagination.
However... Abner's eyes were dark and unreadable.
Audrey thinks things are difficult for him? How could she tell?
His position as the eldest son of the Lance family and his promising future stirred envy among those in his orbit. Yet, Abner harbored no particular proclivities, finding solace solely in addressing the challenges that crossed his professional path. This, among the scant few pursuits in life, held the power to evoke his contentment.
He had never felt that it was difficult to do these things.
"Big Brother," Audrey greeted with a sweet smile, though a trace of uncontainable apprehension lingered in her eyes, a fear rooted in the possibility of her being exiled to Africa.
Abner didn't overlook the fear that flickered within Audrey's eyes. Without uttering a word, he offered a response, addressing Anthea once more before proceeding to navigate past the duo and entering the house.