Chapter 44

Chapter44 What Awful Luck

"There, there, Evelina, take a breath and calm yourself," Susanna murmured softly, patting her daughter's back until her crying eased.

Evelina sniffled and wiped her tears, her eyes following Becky as she moved about the room."Mom, does Becky know where Marissa gets that medicine from?"

Without wasting time, Susanna called Becky over.

Becky answered nervously, "Marissa always made the medicine herself. I only helped her with the timing. She never trusted anyone else to handle it.Maybe we can try calling and asking her?"

Between the Hardy and Fletcher families, no one was as involved in Bryson's care as Marissa had been. Mom, we should call Marissa now before she leaves for the countryside," Evelina urged, pushing the phone closer to Susanna. "The place | lived in before was practically falling apart, with no proper signal and barely any internet. Even if she doesn't pick up, we still have to try. Bryson's medicine can't stop!" She couldn't risk her husband losing his sight. Becky's eyes widened as she listened. So Evelina's husband was actually Marissa's fiancé, Bryson?

But how did that happen?

Wasn't today supposed to be Marissa and Bryson's wedding day?

Questions flooded Becky's mind, but there was no one she could ask.

＂門＇ try calling Marissa," Susanna said, taking Evelina to the living room. She motioned to another servant. "Bring the burn ointment."

When the ointment and cotton swabs arrived,Susanna switched her phone to speaker mode and carefully applied the ointment to Evelina's reddened skin.

A robotic female voice came from the phone. "The person you are calling is not available. At the tone,please record your message."

Evelina frowned, glancing suspiciously at the screen. "Do you think she blocked you, Mom?"

"Damn it!" Susanna hissed.

She hung up and tried again, over and over. After several failed attempts, she slammed the used cotton swabs into the trash, her jaw tight with fury. "Ungrateful brat! It's barely been a few hours since Marissa left, and she already dares to ignore me!"

"Mom, I think she's blocked your number," Evelina said grimly.

Her face darkened. Bryson and his mother were waiting for her to bring the medicine, and now there was no way to get it. Panic prickled at the back of her mind.

Susanna shot up from her seat, fuming. "How dare she!"

Evelina almost scoffed.

Why wouldn't Marissa dare?

Susanna stood up too quickly, and a dizzy spell hit her."Oh goodness!"

She stumbled and fell forward, crashing right into Evelina.

Her hand accidentally pressed against Evelina's unhealed burn, making her cry out in pain. "Mom, it hurts! You pressed on my burn!"

Becky glanced over at the scene and sneered,thinking, "That's karma." Then she quietly slipped into the kitchen.

"Mrs. Fletcher, are you alright?" Another servant gasped, hurrying over to help Susanna to her feet.

"Where's your phone?" Susanna demanded the moment she regained her balance.

The servant, Myrna Bowman, unsure what was going on, quickly handed her phone over. "Madam,I swear, I don't use it during work! I only called my kids during my lunch break for a quick video chat,"she said nervously.

"That's not what I meant," Susanna snapped,waving her off. She had Myrna unlock the phone and then tried typing in Marissa's number, but only the first few digits came to mind. She grabbed her own phone to check the complete number and then dialed it on Myrna's phone.

"Hello? Myrna?" Marissa asked cautiously when the line connected.

She had just ended a call with Marc. She answered the new call distractedly, turned a corner, and ran straight into a group of people.

At the front of the group stood Bryson and Jenna,faces she recognized instantly and would've preferred not to see again. Jenna told her son, "Bryson, don't register the marriage with Evelina yet..."

Behind them were several doctors, their white coats swaying as they walked.

"Mr. Hardy," the attending doctor explained, "your vision is improving nicely. There's no need to adjust the prescription yet. Complete this treatmnent cycle and return for a detailed exam."

Beside Bryson stood a man equally striking, tall,composed, and radiating quiet authority. The doctors were a step behind him, feeling overwhelmed by his calm presence.

Bryson's expression darkened the second he spotted Marissa.

Had she followed him all the way here? It seemed she couldn't let go of him.

And he hadn't missed the name she mentioned just now.

Bryson remembered that Myrna was a servant of the Fletcher family. He frowned, his eyes filled with open contempt. The mere sight of Marissa seemed to make him sick tohis stomach.

The attending doctor stopped, confused by why Bryson suddenly stopped in his tracks. When helooked up and saw Marissa, he was stunned by her captivating features.

Jenna had always disliked Marissa. Susanna's endless complaints about her had only deepened that distaste.

So when Jenna saw Marissa here, likely having followed Bryson all the way, her irritation flared.She quickly stepped forward, positioning herself protectively in front of Bryson and snapping, "You _"

Marissa cast a brief, contemptuous glance their way before turning and walking off, continuing her call with Myrna. "Do you need something?"

She thought with a sigh, "What awful luck to run into the Hardies."