Chapter 422
In the room upstairs, Susan lay in bed, breathing normally and sleeping peacefully.
Dustan explained to Richard and Pearl in a hushed tone, “After your mom returned, she had a sudden heart attack due to the shock, but she’s fine now. I just put her to sleep, so she probably won’t wake up for the next few hours.”
“Great, then. Just inform us if anything happens,” Richard responded, glancing at Pearl and expressing his pride. “Your daughter-in-law here is really smart.”
Dustan felt touched by their understanding, but he lowered his voice since Susan was sleeping. “Yes, all thanks to you. But I’m sorry, Pearl. I took the wrong side when Susan was kidnapped and forced you to break up with Richard, or this wouldn’t have happened.”
Pearl shook her head, showing her forgiveness. “It’s fine, Mister Dustan. I would have made the same decision if I were in your shoes.”
“Thank you for your understanding, and even more for saving her. I really don’t know when I’ll see her again if it weren’t for you.” Dustan took a deep breath, looking at Susan with a mix of heartache and love.
The three continued chatting without realizing that Susan had awakened and was listening to them. She couldn’t help but open her eyes.
“You’re awake!” Dustan exclaimed in surprise when he noticed her. “Why didn’t you sleep longer?”
Susan responded with a playful tone, “Pearl is back, and you want me to sleep so I don’t get to see her?”
Dustan’s face turned red with embarrassment. “I… No!”
Pearl covered her mouth and giggled at his flustered response.
“Pearl…” Susan reached out her hand, and Pearl approached her. “Let me take a good look at you. You’ve lost so much weight. It must be because this kid was too stupid to appreciate you!” Her heart was filled with affection for her brilliant daughter-in- law, and she cared about no one else.
“Of course not. Our relationship is good. Richard-” Pearl attempted to explain, but Susan interrupted her. “Why are you calling him Richard? Don’t you call each other by nicknames?”
Pearl froze, confused.
“Oh, like baby, honey, my dear…”
Pearl was taken aback and almost choked on her saliva. “These are… a little… too much.” Her l*ps twitched, and she didn’t know how to respond.
Susan patted her hand and patiently explained, “Not at all. This is just right. Don’t all the young people who are dating do this? Dustan called me ‘baby’ every day when we were dating.” Then, she turned her gaze to Dustan. “Right?”
Dustan’s face turned red, but to avoid making his wife angry, he nodded vigorously. “Yes, that’s how we addressed each other back then.”
“You’re ahead of your time.” Pearl didn’t know how to describe it, so she settled with that.
Dustan had never been in such an awkward situation before, so he nervously tugged at his sleeve and stood there.
Susan reminisced with a smile, “Look at him. This is how he looked when he asked my father for my hand in marriage.”
“Alright, alright, enough of that. Let them solve their own problems. You should rest till you feel better.” Unable to bear the teasing anymore, Dustan implored Susan to stop talking.
Richard and Pearl understood what was happening, and the latter decided to take action. “Alright, Aunt Susan, you should rest. We’ll come see you again later.”
Feeling weak, Susan didn’t object, and she looked at Dustan. “Alright, come see me when you have time.”
Chapter 422
Pearl nodded and left the room with Richard.
Once downstairs, she looked at him and immediately went back to business. “Let’s go see Hugo now so he can meet with Mister Harrison soon. He might be able to convince him to turn around.”
