"I heard rumors that the owner of said company is in his forties and wants a son. What do you think would happen if you fail to give him one?"
Hilla's voice was not loud, but it was loud enough for all the people in the cafeteria to hear her.
Lily Hart stifled a laugh. She tugged Hilla and asked, "Is he really in his forties?"
"He might even be older than your father, and his wife has already given him four daughters. But he wants a son."
"No way. Doesn't that mean that she has to give birth for him as well? Even if she does, that child is still only going to be an illegitimate son."
Hilla was from a rich family. This sort of small securities company would only have their names remembered when they conducted business with the Holt. But this sort of news was never a secret in their circle.
"All you have is a car. When your sugar daddy is fed up with you, you'll have nothing left, you shameless woman."
Hilla Holt glanced at the woman's body and naturally, she saw the diamond necklace that she had deliberately revealed on her neck. Hilla smiled mockingly.
"Holt, you are not some rich lady anymore, stop thinking that you're better than me. Let me put this bluntly, we're just the same. Just you wait, we'll see who has the last laugh."
The woman left with a vicious statement, and her lackeys trailed behind her.
Hilla was still glancing at the woman's back when she left. And all of a sudden, she could see a bit of herself in the woman.
"Bah. How could she go around spouting such vile comments when she's the one who's materialistic? Hilla…"
"All she said was true, though. We are basically the same."
Hilla had married Bruce Anderson because she aimed to use the Anderson family's power to give herself a better life in the future. The Andersons were also going to buy back the Holt mansion. What else was she supposed to aim for aside from these? The man who could do nothing but lay on his bed and breathe?
"How could you compare yourself to her? You're married, and she's…. She's just someone's mistress!"
Hilla heard how Lily was speaking softly, as if she was afraid that someone else might have heard her comments, and she could not help but laugh.
"Fine. I'm married, and I did it through legal means." To be fair, there was not even a marriage ceremony. She just entered and joined the Anderson family like a shadow.
…
When night arrived, Hilla first changed Bruce's clothes before she removed her own.
That was the best aspect of Bruce. Hilla could do whatever she wanted in the room as if there was no one around. Take this moment as an example, even if Hilla were to strip down to her birthday suit, she would not have to worry about Bruce taking a peek.
When she felt upset, she could treat Bruce Anderson as her punching bag. She could hit him and scold him as she liked, and that living corpse on the bed would never be able to retort.
Hilla took a nice bath and wore something light and comfortable before she went to bed. She picked up a novel and brazenly swung her fair legs in the air. She turned to Bruce and said, "Today, I'm going to read you this book called The President's Wife!
"Do you like those books about domineering CEOs? They're really good! I'll read this to you. I'm sure you'll like it!"
Every day, she was under Orlenna's "observation". She would read the news for Bruce, and when she went through those unfamiliar figures that caused her great confusion and read those difficult words, it was mental torture for her.
Only during the night, when the doors were closed, could they be left with free time to do what normal married couples did. She would read what she wanted, and he would have to listen. He did not even have the right to refuse.
The room was quickly filled with a loud, clear voice of a young girl reading. Her voice fluctuated along with the book's plot, characters, and the trials they faced. It was like the gentle breeze blowing through the willow trees outside the window, and it was soothing to the ears.
...
In the quiet night, two figures nuzzled against each other.
Hilla yawned as she looked at the phone in front of her. In the end, she leaned against Bruce.
"Bruce, I'm getting tired. I'll continue tomorrow," she said as she dragged the blanket next to her and curled herself around the man next to her. She mumbled, "Your body is very warm."
He was supposed to be a comatose patient who was like a corpse, but he was breathing, and he had a heartbeat. His body was warm. Something about it made Hilla feel fear.
Perhaps it was because they had been together for a long time, and that was the reason why she could behave so naturally and comfortably around him.
In the study room, Orlenna Organa took something that was given to her by Master Anderson. With surprise on her face, she said, "Father, you…"
"Just take it. Give it to Hilla," said the old man as he sat in the chair made of pear blossom trees, and there was a nostalgic look on his face when he stared at the box.
Orlenna looked at the heavy sandalwood box in her hands and pursed her lips. Her eyes became red-rimmed as she said, "This is just too precious! You shouldn't give her this! She… might not want to be loyal to the Anderson family."
Everyone in the Anderson family knew that Hilla Holt had ulterior motives when she married Bruce Anderson. Orlenna and the old master of the house knew this fact even better. The only reason Hilla was still staying in the house was due to the Holt mansion.
When the day came where Hilla finally got the mansion back, the only thing that could persuade Hilla Holt to remain in the Anderson mansion was the thin, worthless piece of paper that proved that Hilla Holt and Bruce Anderson were married.
Orlenna knew what the box contained. It was her mother-in-law's jewelry, and they were items that Master Anderson treasured the most. He took great care of it usually. Orlenna herself had never had the chance to even touch it even after she lived here for so many years. Yet now… the old master was going to give the box and everything in it to Hilla Holt. Orlenna never would have expected this to happen.
The old man waved his hand and asked her to keep it properly. "From here on out, we'll know if the girl will be loyal to us. Just make sure she receives it."
"But these are too precious. I'm afraid Hilla might not be able to take up such a responsibility."
Orlenna held the sandalwood box in her hands tightly. At that moment, she could feel the burden on her shoulders had just increased.
Asking Hilla to marry her son was her own decision. She just wanted to have the assurance that if Bruce Anderson was really going to be bedridden for his entire life,
at the least, there would be someone taking care of him by the side.
Even though Orlenna had not yet placed her full confidence in Hilla, she could still see that Hilla was giving her best over the past few days.
"If she can't, would you be able to? You're her mother-in-law, and yet you're envious of your own daughter-in-law."
"Father, that's not what I mean."
When Orlenna heard this, she could only nod and put away the box. "I will hand it to her when I have the chance."
Master Anderson nodded and let his eyes fall shut a little. Orlenna noticed the fatigue on the old man's face and proactively left with the item in hand.
Hilla was awoken by the sound of her phone ringing. By the time she rushed over to the Tysons, her sister, Halle Holt was already standing in front of the house with a dumbfounded look on her face. She was wearing slippers and was carrying a bag that had a bottle of soy sauce in it.
"Sis, are you alright?"
When Hilla came closer, Halle turned to look at her. Her eyes were red and filled with shock. They moved at that moment. A forced smile formed on her face as tears finally rolled down her cheeks.
"You came."
"Sis…"
Her dried lips pursed tightly together as Hilla went to hug Halle's thin, trembling figure. She found herself unable to speak for a period of time.
It seemed like there was nothing that Halle needed to say. Hilla knew what was going on.
Halle was shivering in Hilla's embrace. Her voice was weak when she spoke in her arms. "Titus locked the door, and my keys are inside. I tried calling for him, but no one would open the door."
Halle's sobbing was filled with helplessness and unease. Hilla felt a pang in her heart, and she said angrily, "I'll sort this out with them."