Chapter 3
At five thirty in the evening, the doorbell rang.
It was Lily and her daughter, Olivia Grant.
Lily walked in with a smile plastered on her face, but her eyes scanned the living room like a pair of searchlights.
When she spotted the freezer, her eyelids twitched noticeably.
Olivia was far less composed, blurting out, "Emily, why would you put a massive freezer in the living room? It looks incredibly ugly."
"I bought it recently," I replied, pouring them cups of water. "It will come in handy later."
Lily took the cup, but she didn't take a sip.
"Emily, Andrew mentioned you were in a rather bad mood today. It is completely normal for young couples to have a little friction before the wedding. There is no need to alarm the elders over every little thing," she said.
"Is that so?" I replied.
She continued, "I know my son better than anyone. He has a soft heart, and he is easily swayed. If you have an issue, you should talk it out with him privately instead of embarrassing him in public."
I nearly laughed out loud.
Lily clearly knew Andrew was having an affair.
She was not here to mediate a lovers' quarrel.
In fact, she was here to rescue her son.
"You are absolutely right, Mrs. Grant," I said, setting the tray down. "Please take a seat. We can discuss everything openly once Andrew gets back."
Lily's face stiffened. "Is he actually coming back tonight?"
"You don't know?" I replied, staring at her. "Wasn't he supposed to be out of town?"
Olivia abruptly grabbed Lily's hand, claiming, "Mom, my brother is definitely on his way."
"Of course I know that," Lily blurted out, quickly regaining her composure. "I mean, he's busy with work. So he might not make it in time."
The moment those words left her mouth, the freezer vibrated violently.
The cup in Olivia's hand slipped and crashed onto the floor.
Porcelain shards scattered everywhere.
Lily's face drained of all color.
I looked down at the floor, asking, "Is everything okay?"
"I lost my grip," Olivia explained and bit her lower lip, her eyes darting nervously toward the large appliance. "Emily, is that freezer broken? Why does it keep making noises?"
"Perhaps it is packed too full," I said, taking a step toward it.
Lily suddenly sprang to her feet, letting out a shrill shriek. "Don't open it!"
The living room fell silent.
I rested my hand on the handle and looked back at her. "Why can't I open it?"
Her lips trembled as she stammered, "I-I mean, there could be an electrical leak. You got off a flight today, so you should avoid touching these appliances. Let Andrew handle it when he gets back."
I pulled my hand away. "It seems you are also aware that Andrew will be here soon. Then we will wait for him."
Lily stared at me, panic flashing in her eyes for the first time.
The comments rolled past.
[Why is his mother here too?]
[She definitely knows Summer is pregnant.]
[Andrew is completely doomed now that his own mother cannot cover for him.]
[Emily, stop the drama. Open the freezer already.]
I was in no rush.
At exactly seven o'clock, someone knocked on the door again.
My father, David Summers, my mother, Lillian Summers, my uncle and aunt, and several close elders walked in one after another.
The Grant family also arrived with quite a few relatives.
The living room was instantly packed.
Holiday pies, fruit baskets, and gift boxes piled up on the dining table.
The entire house was filled with the lively atmosphere of a family gathering.
Only that freezer remained silently anchored in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows.
It looked like a coffin standing upright.