“After your mother came back, there was nothing wrong with her except for the heart attack caused by shock. Look at her. I’ve just tucked her in, and she will probably only wake up after a few hours.”
Callum visibly relaxed upon hearing that. “I’m glad. You have to let me or Elspeth know immediately if something happens, Dad.”
After he said that, he threw a glance at Elspeth standing beside him and smilingly praised, “You have a capable daughter-in-law.”
Once again, Theodore could barely hold back his tears at Callum’s words. But since Callum was here and Margot was still resting, he could only lower his voice and say, “Indeed. I’m as grateful for Elspeth as much as I am sorry. It’s all my fault. When I found out that your mother was kidnapped and rushed to the doctor, I was so out of my head that I forced Callum to break up with you. The two of you wouldn’t be in such a mess if it weren’t for me.”
Elspeth shook her head. “It’s alright, Mr. Winthrop. I know how you feel. If it were me, I would have made the same decision as you.”
He sucked in a deep breath when he heard that. “Thank you for understanding and thank you for saving her life. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t even know when I would see her again.”
The three of them continued to chat without knowing that Margot, who was lying there, had already woken up. When she heard what they were talking about, she couldn’t help but open her eyes.
“You’re awake!” Theodore exclaimed in surprise when he saw Margot open her eyes. “Why are you up so early? You haven’t even slept for long.”
Margot immediately scolded, “How dare you tell me to sleep when you know that Elspeth would be home?! You don’t want me to see her, do you?”
Theodore flushed red at her words. “D-Did not!”
Seeing him cower, Elspeth covered her mouth and laughed.
“Elspeth.” Margot stretched out a hand and Elspeth hurried over and sat next to her. “Come here. Let me take a good look at you. Why are you so much rounder and healthier looking than when you first came to our house? I heard that you and Callum broke up. Tell me, did he treat you badly and starve you when you were together? I will beat him if that’s so!”
She had given her whole heart to this charming and intelligent daughter-in-law of hers. No one else even mattered to her anymore at this point.
“Of course not. Callum and I get along just fine. He treats me really well.”
Margot’s fierce gaze was on her as soon as Elspeth finished speaking. “Why are you still calling him Callum? Don’t you two lovebirds have any intimate nicknames for each other?”
Elspeth froze upon hearing that. This was beyond her comprehension.
“Geez!” Margot huffed. “You know, something along the lines of babe, honey bunny, cutie pie… Nicknames like that!”
Elspeth almost choked on her saliva.
The corners of her mouth twitched as she stammered, “Aren’t those nicknames… a little… too much?”
At that point, she was at a loss.
Margot patted the back of Elspeth’s hand and patiently explained, “Not at all. It’s just right. Isn’t this what young couples do? Theodore used to call me baby when we were dating.”
She then shot Theodore a glare. “Isn’t that right?”
Theodore’s wrinkly face was flushed out of embarrassment now. However, to not make his wife angry, he repeatedly bobbed his head in agreement. “That’s right. That was our nickname back then.”
Unable to think of a better word to describe her shock, Elspeth could only blurt out, “How avant-garde, Mr. Winthrop.”
Theodore had never been in such an embarrassing situation in his life and he could only tug at his sleeves as he stood there, not knowing what to do.
Margot only continued to reminisce when she saw his reaction.
“You see how he’s behaving now? He looked exactly like this back when he went to my father and asked for my hand—”
“Okay, okay. That’s enough. Let the youngsters solve their problems. You’re not well yet. You should rest.”
Theodore quickly stopped her as he couldn’t handle hearing more of Margot’s stories.
Callum and Elspeth could read the room well. Seeing Theodore being on the verge of losing his mind, they tactfully stood up.
“Alright, Mrs. Winthrop. We’ll be out of your hair. You should rest now. We’ll come to see you later.”
Margot didn’t stop the couple as she felt quite weak. Instead, she grumpily took a glance at Theodore. “Sure, sure. Come see me when you’re free.”
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