Ecstacy of the Heart

She looked at Doreen and then at the silver bracelet in her hands. Shaking her head, she said, "Grandma, I can't take it."

Receiving the refusal, Doreen didn't get anxious. She asked softly, "Do you know whose bracelet this is?"

Allison didn't know, so she shook her head again. She wondered if that bracelet belonged to Doreen.

Doreen explained unhurriedly in a low voice, "This was left by Alexander's mother. She told me particularly to give it to Alexander's wife. This silver bracelet was from her family's ancestors. Since I'm giving it to you now, it means I recognize you as Alexander's wife, and it also means the recognition from the Parker family."

Hearing her mention about Alexander's mother so suddenly, Allison became nervous. She had learned from Lara that Alexander's mother was always a taboo in his family. Now she saw this bracelet, which contained special meanings. She dared not to take it.

Even if Doreen had approved her and so had the Parker family, it meant nothing. The most important was that Alexander needed to accept her truly.

Seeing that she kept silent for a while, Doreen asked her again, "Alice, you don't want to accept it?"

Allison came back to her senses. Thinking for a moment, she looked at Doreen seriously and answered, "Grandma, I'm afraid I can't take this bracelet. At least, not for now." "Why not?" Doreen was confused.

"I just registered for marriage with Alexander not long ago. Although we got along recently, we don't love each other that much. I don't think it would be too late for me to take this bracelet after we both have accepted each other."

Hearing her words, confusion flashed through Doreen's eyes. At the end, she shook her head with a smile and wrapped the bracelet with the red cloth again. "Alice, you are quite honest. All right. I'm looking forward to that day."

Although Allison refused to accept the bracelet, Doreen liked her more. The two kept chitchatting for a while and then went downstairs slowly.

The servants had already put all prepared dishes on the dining table in the dining room downstairs.

Alexander walked to Doreen's side and helped her go down. "Grandma, let's go have lunch."

Doreen nodded and turned to Allison. She smiled and said, "Alice, let's have lunch."

Allison smiled sweetly at her, "Okay, Grandma."

The three sat at the dining table. Before they started, a servant walked to Doreen and whispered in her ear, "Mrs. Lee, he said he likes to eat quietly so he won't come down. We'll send him a portion upstairs to his room."

Doreen nodded slightly, didn't say anything.

Sitting aside, Allison heard their words clearly. She felt puzzled.

According to the servant, it seemed that there was still someone else in the family. But when she walked around the house with Doreen earlier, she didn't hear Doreen mention it nor did she see another person.

When she was figuring out who that person might be, Doreen suddenly picked up a piece of rib and put it in her bowl. "Alice, have a try."

Allison was brought back to her senses. She smiled and thanked Doreen, leaving her confusion behind.

She took a bite on the rib and her eyes lit up. It was sauce-flavored fried rib, crispy on surface but soft inside, very delicious. She liked it a lot. "So yummy, Grandma!" she praised.

Doreen giggled at her comment. "The chef has been working for our Parker family for more than a dozen of years, indeed quite professional. If you like the dishes, come to see me often," she said with a smile. Without any hesitation, Allison nodded to agree, "Sure. I will". As she spoke, she stuffed the remaining rib into her mouth directly.

Feeling a strong gaze, she lifted up her head and met Alexander's eyes with amusement. Allison was stunned for a moment, slowing down chewing. "What...What are you looking at?" she asked him. Hearing her question, Alexander deepened his smile, as if he tried hard to suppress the laughter. "Eat more if you like them." As he spoke, he picked up some stir-fried vegetables and eat them gracefully.

Comparing with his table manner, Allison understood suddenly. The man sitting opposite was so stunning. Even he was wearing a casual shirt and making the most ordinary movements, he still looked inexplicably elegant.

Comparing with him, Allison thought herself really a rough woman. Now she dared not to eat the meat. Instead, she picked up some vegetables with chopsticks and slowed down her movements a lot.

Doreen sat aside and watched them,

her eyes full with amusement. Clearing her throat, she took her granddaughter-in-law's side. "Alice, he's always like that, eating like a kitten. He eats little and prefers light food only. Enjoy the dishes. Leave him alone!"

Allison was amused by Doreen's words. Trying to suppress her laughter, she looked up to Alexander opposite, her eyes full of amusement with provocation.

Then she nodded at Doreen and answered, "Grandma, I know!"

As she spoke, she picked a piece of stewed pork with brown sauce and put it into her mouth. To making fool of Alexander, she also picked one for him. "You, too. Eat more!" she said.

Seeing her childish behavior, Alexander was annoyed and amused. But he didn't say anything in the presence of his grandmother. He picked the meat up and ate it.

During their lunch, they were talking and laughing continuously. Most of the time, Doreen worked with Allison together to trick Alexander, naturally forcing him to eat half bowl of rice more than he did usually.

After lunch, Doreen took Allison for a

walk in the yard. They were

chitchatting while walking, but soon Doreen became a little sleepy. The servant following them immediately walked forward and explained to

Allison, "Missus, Mrs. Lee has a

habit to take a nap after lunch every

day."

Allison understood immediately. She helped the servant to convince Doreen to go back to her bedroom. After Doreen lay down, Allison came out from her room.

Closing the door gently behind her, Allison heaved a sigh of relief. She had thought that Doreen might dislike her, but so far it seemed that she was doing pretty well.

Thinking that Alexander must be still working or making a phone call in the balcony downstairs, she fastened her pace. Before she reached the staircase, a door of a bedroom next to her in the corridor opened suddenly.

Allison paused and looked over

subconsciously, only to find a man in a wheelchair coming out from the room. He

in aved a little familiar...

Squinting her eyes, she saw the man smiling at her. All of a suddenly, she recalled that it was the man she met in the shopping mall and gave her the pen. The next second questions flooded into her mind. She wondered why he appeared in the Parker family.

"Allison Gibson?" The man operated the electronic wheelchair and approached Allison, calling her name clearly.

Allison was surprised. "You... How do you know my name?"

With a pretty smile, the man answered, "I heard it from the servants. They said you are my sister-in-law. I didn't expect that it's you."

"Sister-in-law?" Allison was totally blindfolded. Blinking her eyes, she realized slowly. "So, you are... Alexander's brother?"

The man smiled and nodded slight, his eyes still full of amusement. He said in a clear tone, "Yes. I'm Andrew Parker, Alexander's younger brother."☐☐☐☐☐☐