Chapter 5 I Live Here

• From the other end of the receiver, Kaleb angrily cursed, "You ungrateful daughter! How dare you make demands!"
• "What? Have you not considered it? Then return to me once you have."
• Wendalyn was on the verge of ending the call when she heard Kaleb urgently interject, "Hold on! Gardner's Traditional Medicine Clinic!"
• "What do you mean?" Wendalyn halted her hand, her suspicion evident.
• Kaleb cleared his throat and replied, "This clinic was bequeathed by your mom. Don’t you want to take it back?"
• Wendalyn knew in her heart that Kaleb mentioning the clinic so quickly meant he had planned this all along. There must be some trick involved.
• But the clinic was indeed left by her mom. Thinking of that, she couldn't bear to see it continue being ruined by the Gardner Family.
• She weighed her options and said, "Fine, but you have to give me the clinic first!"
• Kaleb frowned. "What if you don't come back to finalize the divorce after I give you the Clinic?"
• Wendalyn smirked, "You don't have to give it to me. I don't care either way. Let's see if your company can hold out. After all, you seem pretty desperate, don’t you?"
• "You!"
• Kaleb was completely out of temper and compromised after a long pause. "The clinic can be yours first. But you must come back within a month to divorce Mr. Maberry, or I won't let you return to the Gardner Family for the rest of your life!"
• Wendalyn found this amusing.
• Does he really think he can control me this way? Does he really think I care so much about the Gardner Family?
• "Then quickly draft the transfer agreement and handle the business change," Wendalyn said, and hung up the phone immediately.
• At Gardner Manor.
• At Gardner Manor, Kaleb held the phone, looking much more dejected, his previous momentum completely gone.
• Uneasily, he turned to his second daughter, Melanie Gardner, and inquired, "Melly, do you have confidence that Mr. Maberry will indeed invest in the Gardner Group as long as Wendalyn proceeds with the divorce?"
• Melanie, born to his second wife, Laurel Zachman, always had plenty of ideas.
• But boasting such a big promise this time, he still felt uncertain.
• Melanie's eyes wandered, somewhat guilty as she replied, "Dad, don't worry. Timmy told me personally. How can it be false?"
• If she hadn't said that, Kaleb wouldn't have forced Wendalyn, the country bumpkin, to get a divorce. Only if Wendalyn divorced could she have the chance to replace her as Mrs. Maberry!
• "That's good, Melly. You never disappoint me." Kaleb patted Melanie's shoulder and returned to his study reassured.
• …
• After getting out of the car, Wendalyn seriously considered Kaleb's words.
• She had planned to get a divorce upon returning this time.
• But she understood that this matter couldn't be hurried.
• If she revealed her cards to Timothy too soon, Raelynn and Cayden could be exposed before she found her younger son.
• Hence, she had no choice but to bide her time until all the details were meticulously arranged, awaiting the perfect moment to address the situation.
• As was her routine, she donned a mask and hat, clutching her belongings as she entered the lobby of Block A. Rounding a corner, she fortuitously caught sight of the elevator door about to shut and promptly exclaimed, "Hold on for a moment."
• As the elevator door reopened, she softly expressed her gratitude before entering. Yet, a sudden chill sent shivers down her spine.
• An unsettling premonition gripped her.
• Drawing in a deep breath, she stole a glance to her side.
• To her astonishment, she found Timothy and his assistant, Calvin.
• Wendalyn froze. What an unexpected encounter.
• Does he reside here as well?
• In that moment, the man's penetrating gaze fixed upon her.
• His towering stature persisted, while her five feet four inches height, though not deemed short, compelled her to endure the man's scrutiny from head to toe.
• Taking another deep breath, she pondered, Oh no, we crossed paths at the airport. Is he scrutinizing me because he recognized me as Arwen?
• Just as anxiety crept in, Timothy's composed voice broke the silence, accompanied by a cold smirk, "Madam, you're truly impressive. Tracing me from the airport to here. Calvin, kindly escort her out."
• Clearly, Calvin was accustomed to handling such situations.
• With a polite gesture, attempting to maintain decorum, Calvin intervened, "Madam, this community isn't suited for your presence. Please depart."
• Wendalyn was left momentarily stunned.
• Adjusting her hat, she swiftly retrieved her elevator card from her bag and brushed past the two men, unruffled. "Are you out of your mind? I live here!"
• With that, she scanned her card and pressed the button for the 26th floor.
• She stood her ground proudly!
• Timothy and Calvin were left bewildered.
• Soon, with a "ding," the elevator door opened.
• Wendalyn exited without a backward glance.
• Her hand instinctively reached for her chest.
• Thankfully, I have not been recognized!
• Quickening her pace toward her doorstep, she was taken aback to find her son lingering there.
• Startled, she glanced back to confirm the elevator's ascent before exhaling a sigh of relief.
• As she neared him, she casually looped her arm around her son's shoulder. "Sweetie, where did you get these clothes? I don't recall seeing you wear them before."
• "Sweetie?"
• Carson shuddered. He descended to confront the tattletale who reported him, not to be addressed as "sweetie."
• He couldn't risk spoiling the plan.
• Just as he was on the verge of pivoting around in exasperation, he caught the voice behind him chuckling again, "Are you here to welcome Mommy back home?"
• Carson froze, slowly pivoting around.
• The term "Mommy" seemed to paralyze him in place.
• Observing her son's frozen state, Wendalyn playfully tousled his hair. "What's got you staring? Come on, let's head inside."
• With that, she led the bewildered Carson into the house.
• Once inside the room, Wendalyn removed her mask and hat. "It's nearly noon. Are you feeling hungry? Wait here, I will whip up something."
• It was then that Carson truly beheld Wendalyn's visage.
• His eyes widened in disbelief.