Chapter 3454
Holden continued, “Now that we see you’re okay, we feel relieved. From now on, when your mother asks you to eat or drink, don’t touch anything. She is a very cruel person. She even harmed her own sister who raised her. Her only concern is herself. As long as you obey her, she may show some motherly affection. But if you defy her, she will be merciless.”
Holden criticized Clarissa in front of his children, although what he said was accurate. Clarissa was self-centered and primarily cared about her own needs.
“Dad, I’m fine. You and my brothers can go back now. Please take care of your health and don’t bother Mom unless it’s absolutely necessary,” Kathryn said.
She recognized that her parents had become her adversaries. They remained together out of convenience, too old for divorce, and Holden was unwilling to relinquish the advantages the Farrell family provided to the Janzen family.
Holden felt he had sacrificed his marriage and freedom for the sake of family benefits and didn’t want to lose everything in his later years. This was the reality of their life together.
“I understand. I won’t disturb her even if I need something. She’s a crazy woman. Now that her beloved man is back, she doesn’t care about me anymore,” Holden remarked bitterly.
“Dad!” Kathryn called out, her tone serious.
Holden fell silent.
After a few moments of quiet, he said, “Kathryn, I made some nourishing soup for you. Drink it while it’s hot. It’s chilly today, so make sure to keep warm and wear extra layers.”
“It’s early, and I don’t want tonic soup. Dad, you’re injured and need nourishment. Please take it back. I’ve asked Pedro to order takeout. I’d prefer a light breakfast—just a bowl of porridge and a bun,” Kathryn replied.
Holden insisted, “I also made dumplings stuffed with chives.”
He attempted to convince Kathryn to eat the breakfast he had brought. “Eating too much takeout isn’t healthy.”
Kathryn, however, was resolute and insisted that her father and brothers take back everything they had brought. With no other alternatives, they gathered their belongings and exited the ward.
Once they were a safe distance away, Marco glanced around and whispered to Holden, “Dad, what should we do? We haven’t finished Mom’s task.”
Holden responded, “What can I do? Just tell your mother that Kathryn refuses to eat. She doesn’t trust us. If we bring her breakfast, she won’t touch it. After what happened yesterday, she’ll never eat the food we prepare.”
Marco said, rubbing his temples, “I don’t understand what Mom is planning. She won’t share anything. Dad, your analysis is off. Mom didn’t harm Liberty, but someone from Wiltspoon did—the eldest son of the Stone family, a descendant of my aunt. Do you think Mom spread the rumor to harm Liberty, alerting people in Wiltspoon and causing them to worry about her safety? Is she setting another trap?”
Holden paused for a moment. “I don’t know. It’s difficult to predict your mother’s actions. Her thoughts are convoluted. The people in Wiltspoon are indeed powerful. They caught wind of the news quickly and organized support for Liberty.”
Marco and his brothers stayed silent, unaware that Kathryn had asked Pedro to inform Liberty the night before.