Chapter 1141: Chapter 1141: Runaway From Home
As for the Simmons Family.
Oliver Quach personally delivered an invitation to Arnold Simmons.
The demeanor was much warmer than that of others; it specifically mentioned that Lady Simmons favored Hannah, felt she was a good match, and wanted to get to know her.
Arnold accepted the invitation but didn’t immediately agree, saying he needed to ask for Hannah’s opinion first.
He never made any decisions for her unilaterally.
Oliver expressed his full understanding, and his gaze upon Arnold suddenly held a sense of "I get you."
Despite only brief contact, Oliver was quite satisfied with the younger Arnold.
He was neither arrogant nor pretentious, having the appropriate manners and warmth when interacting with others, but also possessing a sense of coldness and aloofness.
In his youth, Oliver had lived rebelliously, smoking, drinking, fighting, racing cars—anything thrilling was his game, but now, looking at Arnold, he felt an unexpected sense of familiarity.
It was as if he had seen a long-lost son.
For many years, there had been no business dealings between the Yarn and Simmons families.
The relationship couldn’t be said to be good, but they weren’t sworn enemies either; it was merely that Old Sir Yarn hadn’t approved of Old Sir Simmons’s ways, so he always kept a distance.
But now that Old Sir Simmons was no longer present, and the Simmons family had a different head, these matters were glossed over.
*
When Arnold returned, Hannah was leaning over the balcony railing, looking down at the servants fertilizing the flower beds.
It was September and still somewhat hot, even as the afternoon neared, the sun remained piercing. Only occasionally, when the thick clouds veiled it, did it become slightly cooler.
As Arnold got out of the car, he looked up and saw Hannah.
She stood on the third-floor balcony, excitedly waving at him, the ruby pendant on her bracelet swinging with her movements like ripe roses blooming in the garden, captivating and bright.
He walked up to the house and asked her, "What are you doing?"
With one hand on the railing and the other hanging down, her eyes sparkled with laughter that spread to her brows, "I’m watching them water the plants. Soon, we won’t be able to see these beautiful roses anymore."
The blooming period of roses isn’t long, and even with careful tending, they only last until the onset of winter.
Arnold thought Hannah was feeling regretful since her favorite thing was to see the garden full of roses every morning.
She often said that, although roses were beautiful, they were not as lovely as she was.
Indeed, roses did not possess her confidence or vibrancy.
Arnold wanted to say that once the roses withered, they could plant something else.
"Arnold, do you think, when these flowers are about to wither, I could use them for a bath?" she asked seriously, gesturing with her hands, "like the petal bath they describe in books."
Not just petal baths, but in the past, people also said eating flowers could beautify and nourish the complexion.
However, flower petals tasted bitter and astringent.
She didn’t like that.
Arnold paused, then smiled, "If you like that."
Hannah thought for a moment and then shook her head, "Never mind, I don’t really like taking baths."
She loved flowers, but even the most beautiful ones would wither when the season changed.
It was like the emotions of people.
The sun set in the west, taking with it the last traces of afterglow. The wind howled through the dense woods, lifting the dry yellow leaves from the ground, and the rustling of the leaves sounded as if autumn was about to begin.
After dinner that evening, Arnold mentioned Oliver’s visit that day.
Oliver had personally delivered an invitation; anyone else would have taken the gesture at face value, but Arnold needed to consult Hannah.
Hannah was curled up on the couch, holding a giant plush toy of a Siberian Husky.
It was an enlarged version of Jin Lian, custom-made by Arnold.
Upon first seeing it, Jin Lian nearly fainted from anger, and now spent every day plotting how to kick this counterfeit version of herself out of the house.
Occasionally, Jin Lian would take advantage of Hannah’s distraction to leap at it and give it a ferocious chew.
