"Then come find me in three years, and I’ll give you my answer then. If you meet someone you like more during these three years, you don’t need to tell me. I’ll wish you the best," Grace Winslow replied to Archer Rhys, her expression serious.

Archer Rhys smiled bitterly.

’If he could have fallen for someone else, he wouldn’t have waited for her for so many years.’

’He’d waited so long for her to get divorced, thinking he finally had a chance, and now she was telling him to find another woman.’

’She’s so heartless.’

"Alright then. Can I hang around your place for the next few days? Just so I can see you a bit more." Archer Rhys smiled, trying his best to look nonchalant.

"Suit yourself. My brother and the others are all here for the New Year anyway," Grace Winslow said casually. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"Anyone here? Is anyone home?" Just as the two of them finished talking, a knock sounded at the door.

Grace Winslow went to open the door and saw Andrew Aldridge standing there, looking anxious. When he saw Grace emerge, he blurted out, "Grace, here’s the situation. I was supposed to go find Grandma Forrest today to ask if she still wanted to list her house for sale, but I knocked on her door for a long time and no one answered. A neighbor said she hasn’t left her house in three days. I’m worried something might’ve happened to her. I heard your mom and her are close, so could you ask your mom if she has a key to her front door?"

Grace’s expression changed instantly. "Wait here a second."

She turned and ran back into the house. Irene Lynch was already up and busy making breakfast. As soon as she heard that Old Mrs. Forrest might be in trouble, she didn’t hesitate for a moment and led Grace Winslow and Andrew Aldridge to Old Mrs. Forrest’s house.

She did, in fact, have a key to the old woman’s house.

After all, the two of them were close, and Old Mrs. Forrest had even taught her how to make medicinal pastries. Sometimes, the old woman would even stay over at their house.

Recently, with the New Year approaching, the old woman had said she missed her family and had gone back home.

Irene Lynch had originally planned to pick her up to spend New Year’s Eve at their house. Now, at the thought that something might have happened, her hands trembled as she unlocked the door.

Once the door was finally open, the group rushed into the house.

Grace immediately spotted the figure collapsed on the floor. Her heart began to pound as she strode forward and helped the woman up.

The old woman was unconscious, but thankfully, she was still breathing.

"Quick, we have to get her to the hospital! She’s still breathing," Grace yelled.

Andrew Aldridge came over to help, but he wasn’t strong enough to carry her.

Archer Rhys moved past him, bent down, and lifted the woman into his arms.

"I have my car. Two of you come with me to the hospital." With a long stride, Archer Rhys led the way.

Grace Winslow and Irene Lynch hurried after him.

Andrew Aldridge locked the door, and after a moment’s thought, got on his bike and followed them to the hospital.

The old woman had suffered a heart attack and had fainted at home before she could take her medicine.

If Grace Winslow and the others hadn’t arrived in time, the woman might not have been saved.

Although they’d saved her, she was still extremely weak. It looked like she would have to spend the New Year in the hospital this year.

When Old Mrs. Forrest opened her eyes and saw Grace Winslow and Irene Lynch, her cloudy gaze brightened for a moment. She then spoke weakly, "I’ve troubled you all again."

"It’s no trouble, no trouble at all. You’re my mentor, after all. I know you said not to call you that, but you’ve taught me so much. I could barely even read, and you taught me, word by word."

"I wasn’t lucky when I was young; I didn’t have good parents. You’ve treated me better than my own parents ever did. If you don’t mind, just think of me as your daughter. I’ll take care of you in your old age," Irene Lynch said sincerely, shaking her head and grasping the old woman’s hand.

The old woman’s eyes reddened. "Everyone says my family members are bad people. Aren’t you afraid I’ll drag you down with me?"

"If someone comes to settle old scores, your entire family will be implicated because of me."

"You can’t be a bad person. Even if I get dragged into this, I’ll accept it. If it comes to that, I’ll divorce my husband and give up my children. That way, I’ll be the only one implicated; it will have nothing to do with them." Irene Lynch’s tone was resolute as she gripped the old woman’s hand. "Please, just let me take care of you. You’re getting on in years. If something like this happens a few more times, my own heart won’t be able to take it."

"My children are all capable and earn their own money. They don’t need me to support them, so I have more than enough to provide for you."

"You probably don’t know this, but I’ve made a lot of money selling the medicinal pastries you taught me how to make. You told me you didn’t want a share of the money, but I’ve been saving it all for you. You don’t have to worry about being a burden on me."

At these words, Old Mrs. Forrest’s eyes reddened, and she could barely hold back her tears.

Grace Winslow chimed in at this moment, "She’s right, Grandma. Please, come stay with us. Our house is big, so there’s plenty of room. My brothers have their own places and aren’t usually home. My mom gets pretty lonely by herself. You’d be doing me a favor by keeping her company."

"We never had any grandparents to help out, so my mom had to raise me and my sisters all on her own. Now that we’re all grown up, she doesn’t even have anyone at home to talk to."

"Grandma, you don’t need to feel like you’re taking advantage of us. If anything, we’re the ones taking advantage of you."

The old woman couldn’t help but smile at Grace Winslow’s words. She looked at Grace, pondering for a long moment before finally speaking. "Didn’t you come to see my house before? Weren’t you looking to buy?"

"I’ll sell the house to you."

Grace Winslow was stunned for a moment, then asked in surprise, "Grandma, if you sell me the house, what will you do?"

"I’m an old woman; I don’t know how many years I have left. Besides, didn’t your mother just ask me to live with your family? If I’m living at your place, there’s no point in me keeping that house."

"This house was passed down from my ancestors. If I were to pass on, there are quite a few people who would covet it. I don’t want to make it easy for them, so I’d rather just sell it to you," the old woman said with a smile, her voice full of relief.

Grace Winslow thought for a moment, then said, "Alright. Grandma, you said before that you wanted thirty thousand for it. Give me a few days, and I’ll raise the money."

"That’s not necessary. Give me three thousand, and I’ll sell it to you. I have no use for that much money," the old woman said, waving her hand casually.

But Grace Winslow refused to take advantage of the old woman. "No, that won’t do, Grandma. We said I would buy it, so I have to pay the market price. If you’re willing to sell it to me for thirty thousand, I’ll get the money and buy the house. But if you’re only asking three thousand, then I won’t buy it. I can’t take advantage of you."

"You can do whatever you want with the money. I’ve heard you donate to poor, mountainous regions, and that you’ve even sponsored several children through school. Thirty thousand could help a lot of children from the mountains go to college."

Old Mrs. Forrest opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but it came out as a sigh. "Alright, we’ll do it your way. Thirty thousand it is. Once you have the money, just find Abbott. I’ve already entrusted him with helping me sell the house."

"Okay, no problem, Grandma. I’ll raise the money as soon as possible."