Chapter 376 She Desired Not Material Things
"Count me in!" Camila exclaimed, hugging Abella, "You can't forget about me! Ethan's here for you; I’m here for you too. Whatever he can do, I can do too!"
"That’s right, Camila is quite the force," Ethan chuckled, his eyes adoring as he glanced at Camila.
Camila arched an eyebrow proudly, "Of course."
Outside the private room, Lola waited. Her stomach was growling with hunger, and the air conditioning was blasting in her direction, leaving her hugging her arms for warmth.
The soundproofing of the room was excellent, cocooning those inside from the world outside. Lola didn't catch a single whisper.
Over the next few days, Ethan, Camila, and Abella toured the local attractions while Lola discreetly followed at a distance, never imposing with her presence or getting too close.
At meal times, Lola would order extra dishes for their table.
Abella expressed her surprise when she noticed. "We didn't order these."
"The lady at the last table ordered these for you, mentioning these are your favorites," the server explained.
Lola remembered Abella's fondness for seafood.
Abella glanced at Lola, who was eating quietly with her head down, too timid to even look their way.
After meals, Lola would settle their bill in advance, and when they grew tired from their day out, she’d arrange for refreshments like handheld fans, water, and tissues to be delivered to them.
With Phillipe joining for the following two days, the group checked out numerous spots. Lola trailed behind, careful not to let her gaze linger on Phillipe anymore, as if respecting an unspoken boundary in her heart.
Two days later, Ethan and Camila returned to their jobs, and Abella officially started her college life.
She spent her days experimenting in the lab with Grandpa Wilson. Her classmates were none the wiser, mistakenly believing she was too arrogant to attend lectures due to her perfect scores.
Abella ignored the idle gossip, but Lola's daily visits to the Medical University were becoming overwhelming.
Whenever asked, Lola would simply say she was visiting her sister, sparking curiosity about their exact relationship and why she referred to Abella that way.
One day, after wrapping up an experiment, Abella stepped out of the main entrance and saw Lola waving at her under a large tree.
"Sis, over here," Lola called.
Abella hadn't expected her to show up again.
With freshly bought milk and bread in hand, Lola rushed over. "I came as soon as my class ended... got these on the way, hot from the oven... Also, this book is for you."
Lola pulled out a medical diagnostic manual from her shoulder bag. It was a rare edition, said to be one of fewer than ten copies worldwide.
"This is a gem every medical student should have, and I made sure to get you an original," Lola offered, handing it with genuine sincerity.
Abella looked at the book and gently declined, "No need, I have it."
She was the one who had annotated it and, with her current expertise, had long outgrown such a beginner's text.
But Lola misunderstood, thinking Abella was rejecting her gesture of goodwill.
"Sis, I'm serious about making amends. I went to great lengths to find this. Please accept it. If you don't, I won't leave today."
"..."
"Also, this bread and milk are for you. I went and got them myself. You can rest assured. They're poison-free..."
Lola said this with her head lowered as if her past actions had been so egregious that it would be natural for Abella to be suspicious of her.
"I already have this book. You can take it back."
Abella knew the book was rare to find partly because its author was a top-notch British surgeon, and the content was peppered with medical jargon that was difficult to comprehend.
On the other hand, the book had been annotated and interpreted by her. It was known to be the most accurate edition available in the States. Initially, she had allowed the publisher to print only ten copies, each bearing her personal signature.
Unaware of this, Lola insisted, "You might have the book, but I'm sure you don't have any milk and bread. Take them back to your dorm and enjoy them. I got some for Clare and the others as well. Don't worry. They're all fresh from the bakery today."
Just then, Clare and Josie emerged from the library and happened to see the scene.
"What are you hassling Abella for now?" Clare stood protectively in front of Abella and said to Lola. "If you've got some spare time, you should hit the library more often and learn some life skills."
Then she scoffed at the bag in Lola’s hand. "Who’d dare eat what you've brought?"
Who knew what malice lurked in her heart?
"There's really no poison in it..." Lola said, appearing hurt. "It’s all from today’s fresh bakery batch. I swear on my life that it’s safe."
"Is your life worth as much as Abella’s?" Clare retorted, then tapped Josie, "You take Abella and go ahead."
"Oh..." Josie looked at Clare, admiring her assertiveness. She then quickly hugged Abella’s arms and made their exit.
"Sis..." Lola wanted to say more, but with Abella walking away, she held her words back.
"Sis? Who's your sister?" Clare shot her a displeased look and coldly warned, "Whatever you’re planning, I’d advise you to drop it. Abella's my best friend. Lay a finger on her, and you won’t get off easy."
Lola felt indignant and somewhat hurt. "I genuinely want to clear the air with her. I want to try and be friends..."
"Save the ‘sisterly love’ act. Abella doesn’t need friends like you." Clare cut her off. "As long as you don’t bother her and stick to your own duties, you'll still have a place in the Medici family. Step out of line, and I’ll make sure you won’t be able to walk. Got it?"
Lola couldn’t understand why her sincere attempts at making amends were met with such hostility, even after all her efforts.
"Don't worry, I'll take care of my own matters, but I also want to make amends with my sister. That's a decision I won't change..." Lola extended the bag in her hands and said, "I'd appreciate it if you could deliver these items to Abella for me. Consider it an IOU."
"Can't you understand plain English? Abella doesn't need bread or milk," came the retort.
What Abella was after wasn't something material.
Clare enunciated each word with conviction and strength, "What she wants is just for her family to be happy. If you can grasp that, you'll start to understand a lot more about her."
Lola watched Clare's retreating figure and fell into a deep contemplation.
Abella didn't need another sister to go shopping with, to dine with, or to accompany her to beauty appointments. Her life was focused on the field of medicine, which was worlds away from the lifestyle Lola aspired to live. Therefore, no matter how much more effort Lola out in, it was futile.
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