Chapter 361: Worthless Bill

The scene before me was breathtaking. My mother wore a loose white dress, her head adorned with an off-white lace sunhat. As the wind blew, ripples spread across the lawn; her dress swayed, fluttering freely as if she were dancing with the breeze. Not far off, Nicholas playfully teased a young lamb, careful not to disturb it but always keeping a watchful eye. If anything were to happen, he’d be there in an instant.

I looked around but couldn’t spot Bill anywhere. Zoey’s eyes glistened with tears, and she quickly wiped them away. We didn’t disturb my mother while she painted, letting Zoey’s emotions settle gradually.

“Chloe, thank you,” Zoey said quietly. “Seeing Mom so happy… I’m really happy.”

“I’m just doing what I should,” I replied.

Once the painting was finished, my mother slowly moved, and Nicholas hurried over to help her. She was over five months pregnant with twins; her belly was noticeably larger than it would be for a single child.

“Nicholas, I’m fine,” she smiled, turning around. Her eyes fell on me, and she froze for a moment. “Chloe, what are you doing here? You didn’t tell me you were coming!” she exclaimed, hurrying toward me.

I ran over to her. “Mom, slow down.”

She embraced me. “You naughty girl.”

“I went to Zorya with Carter to handle some business. I couldn’t come to Zorya and not see you. Are you doing well here?”

I linked my arm with hers as we headed back to her house. My mom said with a smile, “You’ve seen for yourself how wonderful it is here. The mountains, the sea… we’re self-sufficient, away from the city and the noise. I really love it here. Who’s this?”

Her gaze fell on Zoey, and her smile froze. Zoey’s eyes were no longer red, but I could clearly see her nervousness.

“She’s Carter’s friend’s wife. She came with me to the mountains for a little sightseeing. Janice, this is my mom.”

Zoey hesitantly walked up and, awkwardly twisting the edge of her shirt, greeted, “Oh, hello. I’m Janice.”

The poor thing couldn’t even look my mother in the eye. Her fingers twisted the fabric of her shirt; her demeanor was guilty, as though she had done something wrong. She couldn’t fool me, let alone my mom.

Of course, I promised not to tell the truth, but I knew my mother would figure it out eventually. If Mom could tell I wasn’t her daughter, she wouldn’t miss the fact that her real daughter had returned.

Philippa stared at the small red mole on Zoey’s forehead and then at her fidgeting hands, taking a moment before speaking gently, “Is it okay if I call you Janice?”

“Y-yes, that’s fine,” Zoey stammered.

My mom took Zoey’s hand and smiled. “This place is beautiful. Would you like me to show you around?”

“No, it’s okay, Philippa. You’re pregnant. You shouldn’t walk too much. I’ll just look around on my own,” Zoey replied.

“It’s getting late. Why don’t we have dinner together? What would you like, Janice? I’ll take care of it.”

Zoey glanced nervously at the flock of sheep. “I’m not picky. Anything is fine.”

“Great.”

My mom turned to me with a playful smile. “What a coincidence, two Chloes.”

I knew what she meant, and I had expected her to recognize Zoey, but not this quickly.

“Mom, we’ll help you,” I offered.

“Sure. If I had two daughters like you, I’d be so happy,” she smiled, but I knew she wasn’t joking.

In the distance, Carter and Damian were carrying several things. My mother glanced at Carter’s leg and understood but didn’t ask any questions. In this unfamiliar place, it was as safe as could be; there was no reason for him to hide anything anymore.

“Chloe, I’ve bought a big farm. It’s full of animals, and it’s so lively.”

“That sounds great. By the way, Mom, it’s quite far from the city here. You’re due to give birth in a few months. Will you go to the city to deliver?”

“No need. Nicholas arranged for a medical team to come check on me every so often. Your father also bought some medical equipment. Even if something goes wrong, they can treat me right away. Look over there.”

I looked up and saw a large helipad, with two helicopters parked there. If there’s an emergency, we can get to the city fast. It seemed like he wasn’t just talking about safety; he had truly prepared for anything.

As we continued our walk, we arrived at the house where Mom was staying. It had a large garden, full of vibrant flowers. Two ragdoll cats were lazily dozing, and a small yellow puppy, only recently born, chased after butterflies. The puppy excitedly ran to my mother’s feet as she returned, its little tail wagging so fast it looked like it might lift off. The scene was so full of life, it felt like the gloom in my heart had been lifted.

“This place is wonderful,” I said.

“Especially at night. The stars are so bright. Nicholas knows I love to stargaze, so he had a room built just for that. We’ll go there tonight.”

Just then, I heard Bill’s voice. “You’re home? I made some soup with the chicken I slaughtered this morning. You should eat it.”

I turned around. Bill had shed his usual sharp suit and was in a white T-shirt and khaki pants, with an apron tied around his waist. His hair was a little messy, and he hadn’t spent hours making sure every strand was perfectly styled. He was holding a pot in his hands. Not bad for someone who couldn’t even fry an egg two months ago. His cooking skills had come a long way, now even making chicken soup.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, his face showing a hint of nervousness. After all, he was an elder, and it must be awkward for him to be seen like this by younger people.

“I came to check on Mom. Dad, you’re living next door?”

“Mm.”

I glanced at the three houses, which seemed interesting. Nicholas’s house was on the left, and Bill’s was on the right. It felt like their relationships were as tangled as the houses.

As Bill walked past Zoey, he suddenly stopped, a rare move. He turned to her and asked, “Who are you?”

Chapter 362: She’s Back, Right?

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