"Yeah, you two take care of them then."
"Grandpa." Florence Fuller thought about how to say it gently, "I'm not really fond of keeping pets, you know I'm usually quite busy with work."
Luke Gardiner paused in the middle of picking up his food, and snorted, "Right, every minute wasted costs you millions."
Sarcastic.
Florence Fuller ignored him.
"Oh well~" The old man shook his head regretfully, "Luke spent half the day at the kennel yesterday. He said you would definitely like them."
Definitely like them?
Did anyone ask her if she wanted a dog?
"No worries, Grandpa. If it doesn't work out, I can raise them." Eleanor Sussex said softly from the side, "I can take good care of them."
Luke Gardiner finished the wine in his glass, glanced at Florence Fuller who remained indifferent, and smirked, "Sure, if you like them you can have them."
"Thank you, Brother Luke." Eleanor Sussex's voice was full of delight.
The old man's gaze flickered between Florence Fuller and Luke Gardiner, silently watching as Luke refilled his glass.
Florence Fuller lingered at the dinner table after finishing her meal, while the grandfather and grandson trio continued to drink and chat. Only after saying goodbye did she leave for upstairs.
Seems like she's not allowed to leave tonight.
Back in her room dealing with work on hand, she lost track of time. Florence Fuller moved her sore neck. Hearing the door open, she glanced over and saw Luke Gardiner stagger in.
She ignored him; once Luke came in, he took off his hoodie and tossed it beside her before heading into the bathroom for a shower.
After the shower, he came out wrapped in a bathrobe, his wet hair still dripping. He sat on the sofa and noticed Florence Fuller was intensely focused on her laptop.
He leaned over; the screen was filled with densely packed English.
She was focused, only responding when icy water droplets fell on her hands. She turned her head, displeased, to Luke Gardiner, "What's your deal?"
Her impatience was evident and genuine as she looked at him. Luke Gardiner chuckled mischievously, suddenly shaking his wet hair causing droplets to splash on Florence Fuller's face, hands, and laptop. She clicked her tongue and kicked out.
Luke Gardiner agilely dodged backward and teasingly said, "You missed."
Florence Fuller couldn't be bothered to chase him, turning her attention back to the laptop, checking through it seriously.
"Grandpa's mind wasn't on you working tonight." He circled around to the back of the sofa, slowly leaned down, subtly brushing against her ear, "Are you planning to look at contracts all night?"
The warm breath mixed with wine scent, droplets from his hair fell onto Florence Fuller's neck, dampening her chiffon blouse on the shoulder. The room grew quiet.
Luke Gardiner reached out to hold her slender arm, his fingertips rubbing, leaning closer, a faint fragrance lingered at his nostrils as Luke's lips brushed her ear.
Florence Fuller's cold voice broke the silence, "Get lost!"
The quiet atmosphere shattered instantly.
Luke Gardiner thought he misheard, "Say that again."
"Go away!"
With such cold hostility, Luke Gardiner lost interest, got up, and flopped onto the bed.
The old man wanted them to have a child together; he took the initiative, but she wasn't willing, so he couldn't blame him.
Florence Fuller pulled a tissue to wipe the water off her face and neck, feeling bothered. Just as she tossed the tissue, her phone rang.
The number made her gaze sharpen, picking up quickly and speaking with tension, "What's the matter."
While the other end speaking, Luke Gardiner saw her get up in a fluster grabbing her coat heading out, "I'll be right there."
What made her so frantic?
Curiously he followed, Florence Fuller had already reached downstairs, the old man still on the sofa with the dog looking at her wide-eyed, "Florence, why are you coming down?"
Tonight it looked like he could finally hold his great-grandson.
"Grandpa, there's an urgent matter I need to attend to." Florence Fuller was anxious, "I really need to go out."
"Oh well~ then go ahead, be careful on the road."
Florence Fuller nodded and her figure disappeared from the living room.
Old Mr. Gardiner looked up seeing his grandson leisurely leaning on the railing of the second floor, anger surged, "You useless thing, famous yet can't even hold on to a woman."
Luke Gardiner chuckled in irritation, "Grandpa, you can't blame everything on me."
Old Mr. Gardiner glanced at the dog playing with toys on the sofa and pointed, "You're not even as good as a dog."
Frustrated by being scolded by Florence Fuller and now even Grandpa, Luke Gardiner felt upset, turning back to the room and slammed the door.
——
SJXR Hospital.
Florence Fuller hurriedly got out of the car, Lily Lancaster met her at the door, "Ms. Linney is already in the emergency room, Evelyn Shaw and Charles Shaw just arrived not too long ago, waiting by the emergency room."
Florence Fuller looked a bit pale, "Okay."
"Let's go to the waiting room; the director will come to inform you of the outcome after the procedure," Lily said.
"Alright."
The quiet environment of the hospital late at night made the waiting alarming, Florence Fuller was restless in the waiting room.
Lily stayed with her waiting but looked tired. Florence Fuller patted her, "You should go back first, go to the office tomorrow afternoon."
Lily was indeed tired, couldn't help yawning, but leaving meant Florence Fuller was alone here, "Boss, I'll just keep you company."
"I can do it alone; you've been busy all day at the office, go home."
Lily hesitated then nodded, "Call me if you need anything."
Florence Fuller nodded.
The clock's hand moved slowly; Florence Fuller didn't know how long she waited until the waiting room door opened, seeing the doctor she quickly stepped up, "How is it?"
"Ms. Linney is out of danger now, Miss Fuller, you don't have to worry."
The heart that hung all night finally settled; she sighed in relief, "The previous chemotherapy went normally, why did this suddenly happen?"
"Severe coughing up blood, accidentally ate something she's not supposed to." Doctor Lane sighed, "Ms. Linney's body was already weakened by chemotherapy, she's been downcast. Fighting cancer till now is already difficult..."
Doctor Lane hesitated near the end, feeling reluctant to say more; Ms. Linney was hanging by a thread, this recovery wasn't easy.
"Miss Fuller... you should be prepared at all times."
Florence Fuller blinked, eyes red, "Where is she now?"
"She's asleep; the siblings are watching over her."
"I'll quietly go check."
"There's another thing." Doctor Lane, after thinking it through, felt he should let her know, "A few days ago, a woman came to the hospital looking for Charles Shaw, they had an argument. Ms. Linney must have sensed something, Charles covered it up, but that woman said she'd come again."
"Do you know who she is?"