Chapter 91 Good at Comforting People
Stuart was all freaked out that Janna would get super bummed and it'd mess with her health.
But the second Fiona started yapping, Janna cracked up, and there he was, just standing there, laughing like a goofball.
Janna caught on and was like, "He doesn't even get what's going on, so why's he laughing?"
Fiona gave her hand a gentle pat. "Because seeing you laugh makes him happy too."
Stuart was a giant, like over 6'3".
He was a big dude with some pretty intense features.
But just a bit ago, when Janna passed out, Stuart was wiping away tears, looking all pitiful.
Janna smiled, feeling a bit better.
She lowered her eyelids, patted Fiona's hand, and said sweetly, "You really know how to cheer people up."
Fiona grinned. "Ms. Rhoads, my grandma used to say that, too!"
"Really?" Janna perked up. "I feel like I could really get along with your grandma. We seem to see things the same way. When you head to Serene City, you gotta introduce us! We might hit it off!"
Fiona looked a bit surprised and lowered her eyes. "My grandma's already passed away."
Janna was taken aback, then frowned, feeling bad. "Sorry..."
"It's cool!" Fiona waved it off.
Janna's mood took a nosedive again, and she sighed. "When you get old, you can't dodge this stuff. Take Joshua, for instance. Don't let his current state fool you; he used to be quite the looker."
As she talked, she started tearing up again.
Fiona gently stroked her hand.
The old guy, Joshua, was so skinny he was practically a skeleton, with sunken cheeks and eyes, making it hard to imagine what he used to look like.
"I'll dig up some old photos to show you later. He was no worse than Darwin!" Janna said, wiping her tears.
Fiona couldn't help but chuckle.
How did it always come back to Darwin?
Janna went on and on about Joshua's past.
She said they studied abroad together, went through wars, and hustled in the business world. Joshua wasn't a greedy guy.
Later, he sold his shares to Janna for cheap.
He returned home to live with his new wife.
Janna also said his wife died giving birth, leaving a newborn daughter. The father and daughter leaned on each other, and he trusted his daughter to her.
In the end, they became enemies and didn't see each other for over twenty years.
When they finally met again, one was a sinner, and the other was on their deathbed.
Janna got more and more regretful as she talked.
She regretted being so stubborn for the past twenty years and felt bad she never found out if her old friend was dead or alive.
Fiona managed to get Janna to sleep.
Janna mumbled about old grudges.
But from what she said, her daughter-in-law was a tough cookie.
She left so abruptly, she must've been really hurt.
Fiona took a nap on the companion bed.
When she woke up, she heard Janna losing it outside.
She went out.
Outside, a bunch of people had shown up.
They were probably Joshua's relatives and friends, all old folks.
This made the only middle-aged couple stand out.
"You two actually showed up together? You just don't want Joshua to find peace, right?" Janna yelled, pointing at the middle-aged guy's nose.
"Mom..."
"I've already cut ties with you, don't call me that!" Janna snapped at the guy.
Wait, was he Janna's son?
"Mom, Ken is my husband. My father passed away, and as his son-in-law, Ken should come to see him!" The middle-aged woman speaking looked pretty sharp.
She was also dressed to the nines.
'Hold up, father? So, this is Joshua's real daughter, the one who got switched at birth?' Fiona had a lightbulb moment, piecing together stuff Janna hadn't spilled.
If she was right, the middle-aged dude had to be Janna's eldest son.
Back in the day, Janna's old friend bailed because this eldest son got tangled up with Joshua's real daughter?
"See him? Don't think I don't know why you're here!" Janna sneered, "You got booted from the Rhoads family, lost all your dough, and now you're broke, right? You're after Joshua's inheritance, aren't you?"
"I have every right to inherit my father's estate!" Alice Kelly shot back.
"Alice! Don't talk to my mom like that!" Ken Rhoads yanked at Alice's arm.
"Honey, she's gone too far!" Alice gritted her teeth, looking all hurt.
A bunch of old folks nearby started trying to calm Janna down.
"Janna, after all, she's Joshua's only kid. Joshua just passed away, and you..."
"Shut up!" Janna yelled, "Ask them if Joshua wanted to see them all these years!"
Everyone sighed.
"What does this have to do with you?" Alice snapped, "Isn't the person my dad hated the most you? Besides, my dad's health was stable. How come he suddenly died after you visited him?"
"You..." Janna stared, stunned.
Her breathing got all ragged.
Just then, someone came up behind her, gently supporting her back with one hand and holding her trembling hand with the other.
The warm touch immediately calmed most of Janna's anger and shame.
Janna turned her head.
She met Fiona's warm smile.
"Ms. Rhoads, why are you getting worked up again? Don't waste your energy on people who don't deserve it," Fiona said, glancing at the middle-aged couple. "Joshua's gone. Lying on that bed is just a shell. Let them see him as they want."
The anger in Janna's chest instantly fizzled out.
"Come on, let's go have breakfast. The breakfast at the nursing home's cafeteria is really good." Fiona supported Janna, ready to bail from this mess.
Just as they turned around, they heard Alice's annoyed question. "Who are you?"
She thought Fiona looked kinda seductive and vaguely familiar, and her earlier words were dripping with sarcasm.
Alice felt super ticked off.
"None of your business!" Janna sneered, "Fiona, come with me, don't waste time on such a nasty person!"
"Okay!" Fiona chirped obediently.
The two held hands, ignoring Alice's anger, and walked off like besties.
Stuart followed behind, giving Alice and Ken a look that screamed disdain and warning.
"Ken, you know your mom's been hunting for a successor, right?" a guy suddenly piped up.
Ken frowned. "Where'd you hear that rumor? I just have some beef with my mom. Tradition dictates that the family business will pass to the eldest son."
"You're way behind on the news, aren't you?" someone else chimed in, "Janna can't stand useless people. I think that young lady just now is the one Janna's picked as her successor."
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