The CEO’S Unplanned Heir novel (Aurelia and Leopold) novel Chapter 897

"I'm starving to death here, Martha. Hurry up and set me up with a plate and silverware." She plopped down into an empty chair, assuming the air of a lady of the manor.

Belinda rolled her eyes, "It was rude of you to show up without being invited."

Perla, never one to shy away from making herself comfortable, simply shrugged.

The Hawthorne family's prized Dungeness crabs were flown in straight from the Stirling family's aquaculture farm at Crystal Lake, a delicacy incomparable to anything she'd find at the local market. Perla had to get her taste of the good stuff.

"Mom, what are you talking about? We're all family here. Why act like strangers?"

Jolin wanted to tear her hair out. What a rascal!

She was a college-educated woman, composed and measured. She wouldn't stoop to petty arguments over a few crabs.

"Perla, you're here by yourself? Where's Rahul?"

Perla replied nonchalantly, "He couldn't be bothered to move. I'll just pack some up for him later."

As she cracked open a crab, her eyes lit up, "Wow, these crabs are so plump. The ones the Stirling family raise are simply on another level."

Lilith chimed in, "Mom, Ritchie and I are starting our new jobs at Serenity Media Solutions tomorrow. I won't be able to do the laundry or cook for you anymore. You'll have to fend for yourself."

Perla bristled at that.

"What's the use of having a daughter-in-law who does nothing around the house? It's your duty to take care of us."

Lilith made a face, "Mom, I've got to earn a living with Ritchie now. If you could bring in some income, we'd be happy to manage the household chores."

Since Perla had her children, she hadn't worked a day, not because she couldn't find a job, but simply out of laziness.

Before the family split, she never cooked. She would always mooch off meals at Belinda's place.

"I'm getting old, and I've got aches and pains all over. I can't be expected to cook."

Lilith suggested, "Then order takeout. Ritchie and I will barely be home for meals anyway, and we'll mostly eat at the office."

Perla glanced at the servant, Martha, and said, "Zack, you have too many servants. It's wasteful. You might as well send one to me."

She had seen Ramona sending a message just moments before.

If she was messaging her parents, why all the secrecy?

"Ramona, you've been in school for so long that your parents don't even seem to have a video call with you. Don't they miss you?"

"We use WhatsApp," Ramona stammered, trying to maintain her composure and hide any signs of distress.

Vivian let out a laugh, not pressing further, "This is my first time away from home, and my mom video calls me daily. She needs to see I'm alright before she can get any sleep."

Ramona's eyes reddened slightly. She missed her parents terribly, and it was her first time away from them as well.

Were they safe? Had those bad people hurt them?

Climbing into bed, she buried her face in her pillow.

Every night, she was haunted by nightmares of searching for her parents, but no matter how hard she looked, she could never find them.