Chapter 90

At ten o'clock that night, Ingrid and Roxanne hurried to the hospital. Margaret had just awakened, and Bruce was with her in the ward. The ward door opened, and Ingrid and Roxanne entered. "Bruce, how is Mrs. Everett?"

Bruce frowned at their unexpected arrival. "Why are you here?"

Ingrid approached the bed, placing a fruit basket on the bedside table. "I called the butler, and he said Mrs. Everett was ill. It frightened the entire family! We came immediately."

"Mrs. Everett, how are you?" Ingrid greeted Margaret with apparent concern, acting as if she were her daughter-in-law without a hint of awkwardness, despite Bruce's recent escape from their engagement banquet. As long as the engagement wasn't publicly annulled, she would maintain the pretense.

Bruce intervened, "Grandma just woke up and shouldn't be disturbed. You two should leave."

"Oh, then Mrs. Everett, please get well soon," Ingrid said. "Bruce, let Roxanne stay to help care for Mrs. Everett."

Roxanne rushed to the bed, tears welling up. "Bruce, Grandma, it's my fault. I'm the reason she's hospitalized."

"You should go home," Bruce said. "I've got this."

"How can we? Grandma is sick! I won't leave until she recovers!" Roxanne insisted.

Ingrid echoed, "That's right. As her granddaughter-in-law, I must care for her."

Bruce, wanting to avoid further upsetting his grandmother, relented. He planned to discuss the engagement annulment with Roxanne after his grandmother recovered.

The next day, the internet buzzed with news: "The engagement between Mr. Everett and Miss Roxanne has been postponed again!" Speculation ran rampant, with some claiming Joanna Haynes had retaliated by posting a video from the engagement party, revealing she had been framed six years ago regarding her alleged seduction of Bruce.

Netizens debated the situation, with some suggesting Joanna was still pursuing Bruce and trying to sabotage his relationship with Roxanne. Others speculated that her actions were a calculated attempt to regain her place in the Everett family.

That afternoon, Joanna was working when Jaydon called. "Joanna, what are you doing?"

"I'm at the office. What's up?" she replied.

"Did you see today's news? It's all over the internet—about Bruce's engagement banquet."

Joanna, too busy to check online news, coldly replied, "Oh," already anticipating the gossip.

"What are you going to do?" Jaydon asked.

"I don't care. Let them say what they want."

Jaydon paused. "Let's have dinner tonight."

"Okay."

He continued, "My company is shooting a children's public service announcement. Could you lend me your kids?"

Joanna immediately rejected the proposal. "No way! I don't want them in the public eye!"

"They've already been exposed. This ad promotes positive energy!" Jaydon countered.

Joanna remained unconvinced, but after Jaydon explained it was an environmental protection PSA for his company's image, she agreed to consider it and discuss it with her children.

Jaydon said, "Alright then. I'll wait for good news."

Over the weekend, Joanna asked Davian and Irvin about participating in the advertisement. Davian refused, but Irvin, eager to be in the spotlight, readily agreed. Joanna subsequently contacted Jaydon with the good news.