13 The Old Lady's Trickery

The nearly ninety-year-old woman's skin was loose and saggy. Her once youthful features were no longer distinguishable. She lay with her wizened hand on her chest as though she could drop dead at any moment.

Taylor thought he was overthinking things.

A person of Old Mrs. Horton's status would surely never step into a shop like this...

Worried that Isla might cause trouble with the old woman, he said to Keira sternly, "Enough! Your sister only wants what's best for you. Isn't making such a fuss and causing a scene here embarrassing for you?"

The old lady immediately turned to Keira. "Dear, is this your father?"

Keira averted her eyes.

The term "father" was foreign to her, and her feelings toward him were complicated.

As a child in the Olsen family, Poppy Hill wouldn't let her get near Taylor.

The tiny child she once was used to hide in corners, stealing glances at him from afar. She watched him beam at Isla, swinging her around in his arms. His towering figure seemed godlike to her.

So, during those countless days and nights when Poppy beat her and didn't even allow her to eat, she often daydreamed that her "father" might swoop down to rescue her from the misery, just once.

But he never did.

He never showed any concern for her. Even on the few occasions that they ran into each other, he only reminded her to "listen to your mother".

The Olsen family dynamics were weird. Everyone seemed resigned to Poppy's presence, but except for Mrs. Olsen, no one could accept Keira at all...

Keira didn't respond to the old lady.

She turned her attention back to a few dresses she had just tried on, picked out the best of a bad bunch, and handed it to the sales associate, ready to pay and leave.

Seeing this, Taylor said, "I know you're broke. Let me pay for this dress. Consider it a present for my mother-in-law."

But Isla suddenly chimed in. "Dad, I've just gone around the store. This dress is the best for a gift..."

A sales associate standing nearby immediately said with a smile, "Miss, you have excellent taste. This dress is pure handmade embroidery. It's one of a kind in all of Oceanion. Why don't you consider something else..."

Upon hearing this, Taylor's eyes lit up. "Let's choose this one!"

He turned to Keira. "This dress is for your sister. You can pick another one."

Keira's eyes flashed with an indiscernible emotion, "Why should I?"

"Your sister is going to visit the Hortons, and this is a gift for Old Mrs. Horton!"

"So I have to give it to her?"

Taylor scolded Keira. "Can't your husband's grandmother just wear something else? Is she more important than Old Mrs. Horton?"

Keira remained resolute. "I'll take this dress."

"Can't you be mature for once? Must you compete with your sister?!"

Keira felt it laughable. How did a dress that she had her eyes on first become a matter of her fighting with Isla over it?

Taylor continued. "How about this? I'll give you thirty thousand dollars for the dress which is worth one thousand. Consider it as part of your dowry."

Isla chimed in with a feigned kind-hearted voice. "Keira, you haven't found a job after graduation. You better take Dad's offer quickly. Don't miss out on such a good deal just because you're angry with me."

In the end, Taylor threatened Keira. "If you insist on getting this dress, I'm not going to pay for you."

True to his seasoned businessman form, he had resorted to threats and bribes to buy Isla a dress.

What a good father he was...

Keira had no desire to continue arguing with them. She was about to pay for the dress with her debit card when the old lady who had been silent until now suddenly held her hand back. "Dear, I don't want this dress. It's not nice."

Keira looked at her. "Grandma, none of the others suit you either."

The old lady was stubborn. "Well, in that case, I don't want any of them."

She had already bought all the suitable clothes for this season! All that was left in the store were the ones she didn't want. How could there be any good ones?

Also, according to their conversation, was her granddaughter's sister planning to gift this dress to Old Mrs. Horton?

Old Mrs. Horton...that sounded familiar...

Who was she again?

The old lady was a bit foggy.

Seeing this, Keira didn't insist. She assured the old woman. "Then let's not buy it."

Only then did Taylor look satisfied. "If only you had been so sensible earlier, it would've saved us all that talk. Next time, if you can't afford it, don't go into stores like this. You wouldn't want to embarrass the Olsen family if you get spotted by acquaintances."

Isla gave a dismissive laugh.

Just moments ago, she was all sugar and spice with the elderly woman, now she was showing her true colors.

She couldn't afford the dress in the first place!

Isla had the store employee pack up the dress and then turned to Keira. "Thank you for giving in to me. Once I marry into the Horton family, I'll help you and your husband find a good job."

Keira didn't pay her any mind. She was ready to leave with the old lady.

"Wait!"

Taylor intercepted her, offering a check. "Here's the 30,000 I promised you as your dowry. It should help with your living expenses."

Keira was taken aback. "There's no need."

"Do you think it's too little? The Olsen company belongs to Isla's mother, and it'll be left to Isla in the future. This is the most I can give you."

Taylor handed out the check as if he was doing charity. "With this 30,000, you and your husband could open a small stall to make a living. In the future, just live a simple life, and don't hope for things that aren't meant for you!"

Keira initially thought Taylor might have a shred of fatherly love for her, but now she only saw the scorn. "What isn't meant for me?"

"Like shopping at this kind of mall or... trying to seduce Mr. Horton!"

Taylor warned her, "If you bring disaster upon yourself, don't involve the Olsen family! Today, the store staff didn't dare to offend such an old lady, that's why they didn't make a fuss over you. But if you offend Mr. Horton, it won't simply be defused by the old woman playing hardball!"

Keira finally gave up on him. "Rest assured, I have nothing to do with the Olsen family anymore!"

She left without looking back.

As they were leaving, the old lady held Keira's hand. "Dear, your father and your sister are really wicked. From now on, my grandson will have your back, and make sure no one looks down on you."

A warmth spread in Keira's chest. "Alright."

The old lady grumbled again. "Give that ugly dress to that Old Mrs. Horton they mentioned. I don't want it!"

Just as she finished speaking, her phone rang.

She answered, and a man's voice came over the other end. "Mom, you should come home with Lewis tonight. Jake's fiancée is coming home for the first time to meet the family."

The old lady was taken aback. Something that had been foggy in her mind suddenly became clear.

In a flash, she remembered who she was.

So she was the sucker, Old Mrs. Horton!

Thinking back to the mockery and contempt she had just suffered...

The old lady immediately growled, "You bet I will go home!"

She hung up the phone and then sent a voice message over WhatsApp to Lewis Horton. "Dear grandson, I've just been mistreated! You must come home tonight and stand up for me!"

After she sent the message, the old lady turned to Keira and whispered, "Dear, I finally remember what my grandson's name is!"