Chapter 8 Return To The Zimmerman Residence

• Christie then stormed off angrily after making her threat while Clarice simply sneered sarcastically in response.
• Later that afternoon, Clarice received a call from the butler of the Zimmerman Residence. He had called to inform her of the cocktail party that would be held there in three days.
• The Zimmerman family had been in existence for over a century, and the grandness of the cocktail party was evidence of the family's influence in Norham. That was the reason why Clarice had to return and help out with its preparations.
• Clarice gave Xavier a call, only to have him decline it without answering.
• With that, she decided not to call him again and drove toward the Zimmerman Residence on her own the next day.
• The butler, Connor Ferguson, greeted her with a smile upon seeing her, “Good day, Madam Clarice!”
• “Good morning, Mr. Ferguson. Where's Grandpa?”
• “Mr. Henry is in the greenhouse. Please, take a seat in the living room while I go get him.”
• “No need, I'll go see him in the greenhouse myself,” Clarice said with a smile before heading toward the greenhouse.
• The Zimmerman Residence had been in existence during Henry's time, so it was at least two hundred years old at the time. The mansion had been constantly renovated and expanded over the generations to an incredible scale. As a result of Xavier and Henry's preference for the classical, the mansion's design was based on the old-fashioned ones that ancient aristocrats lived in and stood out in modern society due to its uniqueness.
• It was surrounded by a huge forest-like garden, with the only exception being a modern greenhouse hidden within the garden.
• No one knew exactly why it was there, nor did anyone know why Henry treasured it so deeply.
• Clarice arrived at the greenhouse after a twenty-minute walk and saw Henry sipping tea on the bench inside.
• “Hello, Grandpa!” she greeted him happily as she ran up to him.
• “Ah, Clair, you're here! Come, try out this new blend of Earl Grey I bought yesterday!”
• Having taken great care of his health, Henry was incredibly fit for someone in his late sixties. As Clarice was his one and only granddaughter-in-law, he was very friendly toward her.
• “Thanks, Grandpa!”
• Clarice received the teacup with a smile and took a sip of it.
• “Wow, this tastes amazing! It has a bold flavor and is soothing yet uplifting at the same time! You sure are great at brewing tea, Grandpa!”
• “Haha, and you sure are great at complimenting me! Anyway, where's Xavier? Why isn't he here with you?” Henry asked casually as he topped up her teacup.
• Clarice tensed up for a split second upon hearing that but was quick to regain her composure and said with a smile, “Xavier is still busy with work at the moment. I'll give him another call later today.”
• “That little sh*t... Forget it, I'll call him myself!”
• “All right, Grandpa.”
• She had no reason to refuse Henry's offer to inform Xavier of the party.
• “I'm so sorry to trouble you with the party, Clarice.”
• “Oh, it's no trouble at all! I'm just doing my duty as a part of the Zimmerman family!”
• Henry smiled as he patted her on the back of her hand and exclaimed with a sigh, “Had it not been for Xavier's parents passing away so soon, you wouldn't have to do so much work today.”
• “I'm fine, Grandpa! Don't worry about it!”
• Clarice comforted him with a smile and quickly changed the subject to lighten the mood.
• She then got to work shortly after and returned to her bedroom feeling exhausted at around ten that night. After grabbing a nightgown, Clarice went to take a shower in the bathroom.