Chapter 144: He Won’t Come Back Tonight

To Olive, the issue was simple. She didn't understand everyone's massive reaction.

The old lady was momentarily stunned but quickly accepted the situation. The issue was delicate, but after careful consideration, she decided to address it calmly. She patted Olive's hands lovingly.

“Olly, you surprised Grandma. Are you hiding anything?”

Olive replied coquettishly, “Grandma, I barely know Principal Bounty. I didn't accept her offer, so I don't know much about her. Yes, there are other things, but they aren't necessary to discuss.”

The old lady knew there was more. Mrs. Samantha (presumably the old lady) quickly saw Joyce's resemblance in Olive. She clasped Olive's hand tightly.

“A fifteen-year-old postdoctoral student? No wonder Bounty likes you.”

Turning to Elvis, she said angrily, “Elvis, you're lucky Olive is a good girl. Treat her with much more care.”

Olive looked at Elvis, who was unbuttoning his shirt cuff. Their eyes met, but Elvis quickly looked away.

“Grandma, I’ll go to the study and work on some documents,” he excused himself, going upstairs.

Watching him leave, Olive muttered sullenly, “Grandma, I’ll go upstairs, too.”

“Okay, dear. Take a shower, then come down for dinner,” the old lady replied warmly.

Elvis sat, smoking a cigarette, documents scattered on his desk. After finishing his cigarette, he stood and left the room. He paused outside the door before returning to get his coat.

The old lady in the living room stopped and looked at him.

“Elvis, where are you going so late?”

Elvis lowered his eyelids. His voice, devoid of emotion, replied, “Something urgent at the company. Grandma, I won’t be back tonight.”

“You’re not coming back? Have you told Olive?”

Elvis pursed his lips.

“Did Marvin have a crush on Olive?” the old lady asked.

“Not sure, but I think so.”

“Marvin’s arrogant. If he’s pursuing Olive, he really likes her. I can’t blame him; Olive is beautiful.”

Elvis checked his pocket for his keys, wanting to end the conversation. “Grandma, I’m going to the company.”

“Elvis,” the old lady called. “Olive’s a good girl. Don’t leave her alone. Love and marriage require effort from both sides. Olive never despised your illness; she’s worked hard to make you happy and help you become a better person. If you lose Olive, you’ll never find another like her.”

Elvis stood by the door, motionless, without looking back. He finally left. The old lady sat on the sofa. Mr. Henry, the butler, whispered,

“Madam, the situation’s not good. If the Augustine family learns Olive was Marvin’s fiancée, many will try to take her from Elvis.”

The old lady hugged Phoebe (presumably a pet) and stroked her fur. She snorted, “Don’t worry; I won’t mess this up. I know what to do.”

Mrs. Samantha (again, presumably the old lady) hugged Phoebe and murmured, “Marriage is for two people. As long as they don’t let go, no one can break them up. If they let go, no one can save them.”

Mr. Henry pondered her words as Elvis’s door cracked open, and Olive descended the stairs. Phoebe jumped from the old lady’s arms to Olive’s feet. Olive squatted, hugging Phoebe.

“Phoebe, did you miss me?”

The old lady smiled. “Olive, are you hungry? Let’s have dinner.”

Olive, freshly showered, her long black hair damp, was without a mask.

“Grandma,” she said, looking towards the study, “Could you wait a little? Mr. Augustine hasn’t come down yet.”

“Elvis left. The company has urgent issues; he won’t be back tonight,” the old lady informed her.

Olive’s eyelashes fluttered. She hadn’t known he’d left. She hugged Phoebe, her head down, feeling sad. What was he angry about? Was he still suspicious of her and Marvin? Nothing happened between her and Marvin.

The old lady patted Olive’s shoulder. “Olive, love is easier with understanding, and marriage requires adjustment. Elvis is lonely. Do you know what he needs most? Tonight, you looked so radiant, making him feel insecure. He wants to hold you, but he’s afraid of hurting you.”

The revised passage corrects grammatical errors, improves sentence structure, removes redundancies, and clarifies unclear phrasing. The ambiguous use of "Mrs. Samantha" and the old lady's identity is left as it is in the original, as clarifying it would require altering the narrative.