Claire Bennett is shocked. She turns her head and looks in the direction of the door. A tall and handsome man appears in the backlight.
The young man has a warm smile on his face.
But when he sees clearly what is happening in the room, his smile is a little embarrassed and he says embarrassingly, “Excuse me.”
The man turns to leave but Leo Howard pulls the sheet over Claire Bennett and says, “Wait a minute.”
The young man does not turn around and wonders, “brother, what’s wrong?”
Leo Howard says, “Why do you suddenly appear here?”
The man shrugs his shoulders and spreads his hand. “I just got off the plane to give you a surprise.” After that, he puts the door on and the footsteps are fading away.
Leo Howard looks at the dazed Claire Bennett and frowns, “what are you doing? Dress up and go downstairs.”
Claire Bennett glares at Leo Howard and says, “You tore my clothes just now.”
Leo Howard finds a white shirt from the wardrobe and throws it to Claire Bennett. “Put it on.”
Claire Bennett puts the big white shirt on her and feels it has a very elegant fragrance. It smells very good. It smells a little like Leo Howard. She frowns at the thought.
“That man just called your brother. Is he your brother?” Claire Bennett asks.
Leo Howard glances at her coldly and says, “Yes, his name is Ling Howard.”
Claire Bennett is shocked when she suddenly feels a kind of sadness in her heart. She finds that she knows little about Leo Howard. She doesn’t even know Leo Howard’s family.
Fortunately, Claire Bennett has long been used to it.
...
Downstairs.
Ling Howard leans on the sofa and crosses his legs with a smile on his lips. He is sunny and handsome. The maid is attracted to him. Ling Howard is very cheerful and smiles at everyone.
Dressed Leo Howard and Claire Bennett both go downstairs.
Ling Howard greets Leo Howard warmly.
But when he sees Leo Howard’s gloomy face, his words are swallowed in his stomach.
There is a moment of silence.
Ling Howard coughs twice and says, “I did disturb you just now. You don’t have to be so angry.”
Ling Howard smiles cheekily. He sits next to Leo Howard and puts his hand on Leo Howard’s shoulder. “Your girlfriend is beautiful.”
Leo Howard takes Ling Howard’s hand from his shoulder and whispers, “You don’t study abroad well. What are you doing back home?”
Ling Howard explains, “I’ve graduated from the foreign school.”
“Really?” Leo Howard asks.
Ling Howard says, “I don’t lie to you. I come back to continue my study. I’ve already found the school.”
Leo Howard interrupts him and frowns, “I think you can come back and work in our family. What’s the point of reading so many books? You’re smart. After two years of work, you will surely achieve something.”
They have not seen each other for several years and have a good chat. They forget Claire Bennett.
Claire Bennett listens to their laughter and suddenly realizes that she is an outsider. So she quietly leaves her seat and walks towards the door.
Claire Bennett walks out into the garden outside the villa and watches the fish swimming in the fish pond.
Claire Bennett squats down and holds the fish in the pond with her hands. She only holds a handful of clear water and helplessly lets them run away from her fingertips.
Claire Bennett sees a figure behind her in the reflection. She turns to look and a pure and bright smile comes into her eyes.
“Sister-in-law is a sentimental person.” Ling Howard jokes.
Claire Bennett doesn’t know what to say. She asks casually, “what do you want to learn?”
Leo Howard pushes his hands in the air as if there were rhythms in the air. His fingers are whiter and more flexible than Leo Howard’s.
“Music.” Ling Howard says, “Though I have known music before, I am prepared to study hard this time.”
Claire Bennett looks at Ling Howard in surprise and asks him, “Is it the music school in A City?”
Ling Howard nods.
Claire Bennett is like finding a confidant. She says happily, “I just went through the admission formalities.”
“Really? I didn’t expect sister-in-law to like music too!” Ling Howard is equally happy. “It’s good to be with you,” he said. “I’m afraid I won’t be able to adapt to domestic life.”
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Genius Son Sells his Mom to Dad
The storyline could have been better -- organization and cohesion of episodes could stand improvement, ending could have been more definitive resolving the many conflicts between the protagonists. Of course, the despicable treatment of Leo towards Claire initially, e.g., selling her off in an auction and giving her to the madam of the club as princess is inhuman and a violation to the wife's rights and honor. I was wondering why she did not leave after these maltreatments. Oh, well, the conclusion [if the narrative ends in Chapter 488] is quite disappointing and anti-climactic. Thank you just the same....
The end of the story is wanting, considering how the episodes build up to conflict after conflict and concluding in yet another conflict. But then c'est la vie! Thank you....