Chapter 452:

🍙 🍙 🍙 🍙 🍙

Evelyn was sitting on the sofa. Her posture was perfectly upright, her hands folded neatly over her lap, and her back held rigidly straight. Even in another person’s home, she carried herself as though she had every right to occupy the place.

The housekeeper stood stiffly near the boundary between the living room and dining area. The instant she saw Joslyn, relief flickered across her face, only to be swallowed by deeper unease.

On the armchair, Lexie sat half-hidden behind the housekeeper. Her face had gone pale, and her eyes were clouded with confusion and distress. Both hands clutched the blanket over her lap so tightly that her knuckles had nearly lost their color.

The moment Lexie noticed Joslyn, a faint light returned to her eyes. Her lips trembled, as if she wanted to say something but could not force the words out.

“Grandma.” Joslyn quickly went to her side, crouched down, and took her hands. “It’s okay. I’m here now. Don’t be afraid.”

The housekeeper leaned closer and spoke in a low, hurried voice. “This lady came by a while ago. She said she would wait for you and that she had something to discuss with you. Poor Lexie, she was badly frightened.”

A cold surge of anger rushed through Joslyn. Lexie could not bear this kind of shock.

After giving Lexie’s hand a reassuring pat, Joslyn rose and turned to face Evelyn.

𝗕𝖾 𝘱аr𝘵 𝗈𝖿 𝘰𝘂𝘳 сo𝘮𝗺𝘶ո𝗶ty o𝗻 g𝘢𝘭n𝘰𝘃el𝘀.𝘤о𝗆

“I apologize. I didn’t know you would be visiting so suddenly. Otherwise, I would have prepared a proper welcome.”

Evelyn raised her eyes. Her sharp, measuring gaze swept over Joslyn before a faint, mocking scoff escaped her. “It seems you have grown yourself a spine. I have matters to discuss with you. Privately.”

As she spoke, Evelyn’s gaze shifted pointedly toward Lexie and the housekeeper.

Her meaning could not have been clearer. She wanted them out of the room.

Joslyn did not want Lexie to be dragged into this, but seeing her still so frightened made it even harder to let her out of sight.

She stood where she was and said evenly, “Whatever you wish to say can be said here.”

At those words, Evelyn’s face darkened.

“Ms. Clark,” she said, each word carrying a colder edge, “some matters are better kept between the two of us. Surely you understand that much.”

Joslyn held Evelyn’s gaze. For a long moment, neither of them looked away.

Only after that silent standoff did Joslyn slowly loosen her clenched fingers.

She turned to the housekeeper and said, “Please take Lexie back to her room. Stay with her for a while, and warm up some milk for her.”

The housekeeper nodded at once. “Of course. I will do it right away.”

Then she bent down and coaxed Lexie gently, “Come on, let’s go back to your room. It’s time for you to rest.”

Lexie, however, gripped Joslyn’s hand tightly. Her anxious eyes moved between Joslyn and Evelyn as she said with difficulty, “Josy… she is… bad. Mean.”

“It’s okay.” Joslyn bent closer and brought her lips near Lexie’s ear, lowering her voice into a whisper meant only for her.

.

.

.