Chapter 420 The Enduring Charm of Little Anika Moses
" Claire, have you finished your work? Come, partake in some fruit to soothe your throat," Mr. Bourbon suggested, his voice imbued with warmth and a welcoming smile playing on his lips.
It was evident that she had been engaged in some arduous conversations earlier.
"Claire, I've heard disturbing rumors. Someone has been causing you distress? Drugging you?" Madam Bourbon's voice was laced with shock and a hint of anger. "Who could be so malevolent?"
"Rest assured, Father, Mother. The situation has been resolved," Mrs. Bourbon responded, her smile a picture of elegance and grace.
Observing that she made no move to accept the fruit, Mr. Bourbon instructed a servant to bring her tea. However, Mrs. Bourbon declined with a light-hearted laugh, "A young lady I encountered advised me to limit my tea intake, cautioning that the ingredients might interfere with my medication, reducing its efficacy."
Earlier, she had consumed an herbal concoction prescribed by the same girl. After showing it to a doctor friend well-versed in medicine, he had lauded the prescription, deeming it extraordinary.
Her friends had been fraught with worry upon discovering she had ingested C30, a substance notorious for lacking an antidote. Yet, the girl had managed to detoxify her in a remarkably short span and provided an exceptional prescription.
Her friends were in awe of the girl's medical prowess and expressed a desire to meet her.
While Mrs. Bourbon was fond of her, she was also filled with a sense of regret.
"You've taken her advice to heart," Mr. Bourbon remarked, surprised at his daughter-in-law's high regard for the girl. "Speaking of which, when you meet Abella tonight, you'll undoubtedly be charmed by her. You'll realize that no girl can compare."
"Father, don't be hasty in your judgment. The girl I met yesterday was intelligent, beautiful, and highly capable…"
"That's impossible," Mr. Bourbon dismissed with a chuckle, waving away the thought. "I've yet to encounter a young lady more remarkable than Abella."
"Then I must extend an invitation to her someday, and allow you both to witness her exceptional qualities," Mrs. Bourbon countered, firmly believing that little Anika Moses was the most extraordinary girl in the world.
Mrs. Bourbon couldn't suppress a chuckle, "It seems as though you wish to bring her home as your daughter-in-law."
"Confidentially, I've entertained the thought, but alas, she's already spoken for," the man confessed, his voice tinged with disappointment. "However, it appears she's acquainted with Phillipe. I spotted her driving his car the other day."
"Impossible," Mr. and Mrs. Bourbon responded in unison, their voices filled with mirth.
"Son, you've been away too long," Mrs. Bourbon teased. "You're clearly out of touch with your son. No one but Abella is permitted to touch his personal belongings."
"That's correct," Mr. Bourbon concurred, "All his possessions are exclusively for Abella's use."
"There's no way," Mrs. Bourbon stubbornly retorted, "he must have other close female friends. It's merely borrowing a car, not an intimate embrace or a kiss."
Could it have been a misunderstanding? The previous night had been shrouded in darkness, and Phillipe had an extensive collection of cars. It would be easy for a bodyguard to misidentify the license plate...
"It's a shame she's still in school, or I would wish for nothing more than to see her and Phillipe wed sooner," Mrs. Bourbon gushed about Abella. "The girl is simply enchanting... I fear if we delay too long, another might claim her."
Yet, in Mrs. Bourbon's heart, no girl could rival little Anika Moses in terms of charm and excellence.
"By the way, how long do you plan to stay in town this time?" Mr. Bourbon inquired.
"Just a few more days."
She intended to meet with little Anika Moses and then depart before the prying neighbors, who had somehow learned of their return, could inundate them with visits and requests. Despite their efforts to maintain discretion, word had spread. It was as if these people possessed the keen senses of bloodhounds.
"Why don't you linger a little longer?" Mrs. Bourbon implored, her voice laced with insistence. "It would be courteous to pay the Medici family a few more visits. They've recently embraced a delightful young girl into their household. It's only proper we extend our respect, especially now that Phillipe has whisked her away."
"Indeed," Mr. Bourbon concurred, his tone echoing his wife's sentiments. "It's imperative you make a few more calls on them."
Mrs. Bourbon, however, harbored a sigh within her. Regardless of anyone else's virtues, Anika Moses remained the quintessential daughter-in-law in her eyes.
In the wake of her conversation with her in-laws, Mrs. Bourbon found herself unable to resist the urge to send a WhatsApp message to Anika.
Mrs. Bourbon: [Hello, Anika, are you occupied with anything at the moment?]
Abella: [Shopping.]
Mrs. Bourbon: [What are you shopping for? Perhaps I could help.]
Abella: [I’m just about done.]And after a moment's contemplation, Abella added considerately.
Abella: [How are you feeling today?]
A surge of joy welled up within Mrs. Bourbon. ‘Anika is showing concern for me!’
Mrs. Bourbon: [Significantly better—your prescription worked miracles! How is it that you're so gifted, seeming to possess knowledge about everything?]
Mrs. Bourbon: [Do you live in New York? Are you a New Yorker?"]
Abella: [Sort of.]
Mrs. Bourbon: [My residence is also in New York. We should arrange to meet for tea sometime. Moreover, I owe you a profound debt of gratitude. Thanks to you, I was able to unmask the traitor among us!]
She could barely contain her gratitude. A sigh slipped past her lips as she continued typing.
Mrs. Bourbon: [It's hard to believe, but I've known her for two decades, and to think she'd wish me harm over a slight profit...]
"It's always the case," Abella, her hands full with numerous items, managed to send a voice message. "You can surpass me, but not by too much, because then my shortcomings become all the more conspicuous against your success. Your happiness merely accentuates my misery; envy quickly morphs into jealousy, then hatred. It doesn't take long, and unless one alters their mindset promptly, it's all too easy to falter."
Mrs. Bourbon: [How do you manage to see things so clearly? And more importantly, your voice is mesmerizing!]
She hadn't anticipated such wisdom from a young woman, let alone that she would be so captivated by her enchanting voice.
Just the previous night, during their conversation, she had been unintentionally beguiled by her soothing tone. Now, with Abella's voice resonating next to her ear, it was irresistibly magnetic.
Mrs. Bourbon: [However, had I severed ties with her earlier, I wonder if the outcome would've been different?]
Abella replied, “Don't you understand? Those who seldom change friends evolve at a similar pace as their peers. But those who surge ahead often alter their circle swiftly; because they progress into different realms, clinging to old connections becomes uncomfortable for everyone.”
She listened, lost in thought, as the young girl advised her like a seasoned confidante.
Abella continued, “Some friends are destined to accompany you only for a portion of your journey. You shouldn't mourn their departure. As long as you've been sincere and content in the time you've spent together, that's what truly matters. Even if the conclusion is less than ideal, and you've paid a certain price, you've still gained something from it, haven't you? And who can say? The next stop might bring even better companions.”
Mrs. Bourbon: [Do you believe I could genuinely find superior friends?]
Abella replied, “Absolutely. You're a good person, and you're certain to find someone who resonates with you, someone who'll reciprocate your generosity wholeheartedly.”
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
