Audrey’s eyes became moist with tears, as though she had suffered a great grievance.”Brandon, it took me a lot of effort to find you. You can hit me and yell at me, but please don’t drive me away, alright?”
No matter how hard she cried, however, Brandon simply looked at her with a blank expression,showing no signs of compassion. He found it very irritating for the woman before him, who had a face resembling his mothers,to be weeping so intensely.
His mother had been a proud, stubborn individual.Nomatter what happened-regardless of how difficult it was-she would bear it alone. She would never cry loudly to elicit sympathy,let alone go to other people’s homes to make a fool of herself.
As Brandon pondered on this, profound skepticism raced through his mind.
Could someone like this really be his cousin? In contrast to Brandon, Natalie had no idea what kind of person her late mother-in-law had been, and had always been a compassionate person herself. When she saw the tears and distressed look on Audrey’s face she immediately felt sorry for her, prompting her to dismiss the bodyguards.”You can leave now.”
Upon receiving her order,the two bodyguards let out a collective sigh of relief and quickly stepped aside.
Observing that the bodyguards had stopped pulling her, Audrey didn’t put an end to her tears; instead,she cried even louder, seemingly trying to elicit some sympathy from Brandon with her wailing.
Brandon, however, was not interested in engaging her at all. He shifted his attention to immediatelyrecognizing Natalie, her compassionate side as it came to bear. He reached out, gently touching her head, and inquired, “Do you feel sorry for her?”
Recalling Brandon’s earlier statement on the balcony about Audrey being his cousin, Natalie nodded and responded softly, “I think she encountered some difficulties and had no choice but to come to you… Since she’s family, let’s help her.”
With a sigh, Brandon looked at her with a softened expression.”Weren’t you upset when she mocked you just now?
Smiling,Natalie replied,Yes,I was upset,but she didn’t do anything extreme. She just provoked me with words. Forget about it. It wasn’t a big deal.”
Brandon affectionately pinched her soft cheek and chuckled.”Silly girl.
Upon hearing Brandon’s playful remark, Natalie pouted and retorted, “No, you’re silly!”
As they spoke, Audrey slowly began to realize that her tears were not going to elicit any sympathy from Brandon. The tone of her voice gradually dwindled, leaving only subdued sobs to be heard.
Noticing that Audrey had stopped crying, Natalie looked at her with a warm smile and said gently,”Have you faced some challenges? If you need any help,we’ll do our best to support you.
Dabbing at her tears, Audrey cast a cautious gaze in Brandon’s direction Considering the earlier encounter,she refrained from being presumptuous due to her relation to Brandon. She feared that such behavior would lead to her being driven out of the Larson family’s mansion.
Brandon merely cast a casual glance at her and said,”Just go ahead and speak.”
Having received Brandon’s permission, Audrey took a deep breath,her voice faltering as she began to speak.My mother, Alina,passed away a few months ago. Her final wish was to be buried near her sisterll!
As she recounted this, a profound sorrow seemed to engulf her. Tears began to stream down her face once more as she continued,”This is why I sought you out… I’d like you to help me fulfill my mother’s wish to be laid to rest with my aunt…”
Upon hearing Audrey’s words, Natalie pursed her lips and kept silent.
The matter concerned Brandon’s mother, and she understood that she didn’t have the right to take any action on it. As a result, she had to turn to look at Brandon.
Chapter 1557 She Will Be The Lady Of The Larson.. Despite Audrey’s insistence the butler maintained a poker face and remarked,”Mr. Larson has instructed us that no one is to enter the mansion without his permission. Please go back.”
Audrey’s face darkened,and she snapped back, Are you really going to stop me? Believe it or not, I’ll teach you a lesson!
The butler merely glanced at her,indifferent to her threat.”No matter what you say,you can’t go in without Mr. Larson’s order.
As he spoke,his tone was polite but tinged with contempt.Then,he looked at her from head to toe and continuedMiss Larson, please leave. Mr. Larson doesn’t wish to see you. Even a night-long tantrum won’t reach him. The mansion is soundproof. No matter how loudly you cry,Mr. and Mrs. Larson won’t hear you.””I have to go in!” Audrey screamed,livid at the butler’s attitude toward her. Then, despite his warning, she rushed in indecision.
With that thought, she rose gracefully, her voice as soft as a summer breeze.”Why don’t I let you two talk? I’ll just head to the kitchen and fetch some fresh fruit for us.
Audrey’s posture subtly shifted, a glint of relief and excitement masked beneath her bowed head.
Alone with Brandon, she believed things might turn in her favor. Without Natalie, she mused, perhaps Brandon’s frigid demeanor would thaw. The humiliation she felt might even melt away. But Natalie, oblivious to the undercurrents, mistook Audrey’s silence as lingering sorrow. Offering a comforting smile, she moved towards the kitchen.
Yet, as she took a step, Brandon’s hand darted out, grasping her wrist and anchoring her to the spot.
He drew her close, wrapping her in a protective embrace. The familiar aroma of him made her cheeks warm.I thought leaving might ease the tension,” she murmured.”Let me just head to the kitchen.”
Brandon’s fingers intertwined with hers, his gaze locking onto her eyes, steadfast and reassuring.”You’re my wife,the daughter-in-law of my mother. Her affairs concern you, too. Stay. A wave of warmth flooded Natalie. Brandon’s words, simple yet profound, bolstered her fragmented sense of self, soothing the unease of her fractured memories.
Natalie’s eyes shimmered with gratitude. Gripping Brandon’s hand, she gave a heartfelt nod, deeply moved by his words.
Feeling the warmth of Natalie’s face, Brandon tenderly pinched her cheek, whispering with uncharacteristic softness, “Always stay close.” Their intimate moment, playing out on the sofa, felt like a thorn in Audrey’s side.She discreetly clenched her fists, her head bowing in an effort to shield the flickers of envy and bitterness threatening to betray her.
Feeling the reassuring squeeze of Natalie’s hand, Brandon’s mood seemed to lighten considerably. With an air of newfound assertiveness, he cast his once detached gaze upon Audrey.”Where did you keep your mother’s ashes? I’ll arrange for them to be transported to Barnes.”
A shadow crossed Audrey’s face, hinting at somepainful memories.I… I didn’t have enough money for a burial plot,”she confessed, pain evident in her voice. “Her ashes are currently at the crematory.
Brandon’s eyes sharpened,a hint of impatience coloring his tone. “Which crematory?”
The weight of shame seemed to bear down on Audrey. With a hesitant bite of her lip, she whispered the name of a distant town overseas. Acknowledging her with a curt nod, Brandon stated matter-of-factly, “I’ll have someone retrieve the ashes. If that’s all, you may leave now.”
“Brandon… Audrey hesitated, wrestling with words that seemed stuck in her throat. She stole a fleeting glance at him, searching for some sign, then demurely cast her eyes downward, swallowed by uncertainty.
Sensingherstruggle,Brandon’s frown deepened, impatience evident. “If you have something on. your mind, out with it.”
Tears rimmed her eyes, and Audrey hesitated for just a moment longer. “Might I personally collect my mother’s ashes?”
Brandon narrowed his eyes and scanned Audrey from head to toe. She was crying her heart out, and her tears didn’t seem to be fake. She seemed genuinely upset about losing her mother.Although he felt suspicious of her, he still nodded.
“Thank you, Brandon. I wouldn’t know what to do without you.. Audrey said through her sobs. Her eyes flashed with a triumphant glimmer. She made up a lie to stay by Brandon’s side. The truth is that Alina died without leaving a will and instructions on how she would like her ashes to be taken care of after cremation. Her ashes would’ve been dumped into the garbage a long time ago if it weren’t for the crematory’s standard procedures.
Brandon didn’t know Audrey’s thoughts. As her head was still lowered, and her tears were still flowing,he thought she was still grieving over her mother’s death.
He waved his hand and called his butler over.
“Mr. Larson, how can I help?” asked the butler respectfully.
Glancing at Audrey who was still weeping, Brandon ordered his butler, “Miss Larson requires a plane to pick up her mother’s ashes, and a return flight. Arrange the flights for her as soon as possible.
Although Brandon thought Audrey’s behavior was very strange and her identity was still suspicious, he had to allow her to retrieve the ashes, if they really belonged to Alina.
He wouldn’t want to treat his mother’s relative poorly, even if all that was left was ashes.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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