Chapter 222 Aunt Lenora Really Is Running Away
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Upon seeing the two engaged in conversation, Harrietta huffed lightly, rising from her seat to head to the bathroom.
She quietly dialed Zachary’s number and whispered, “Uncle Zachary, I’m at Aunt Lenora’s house right
now.”
“Shall I come to pick you up now?” Zachary’s voice came through the phone.
“Yeah… Uncle Zachary, I… I feel…”
“What is it?”
“I feel like you’re running out of chances.”
Zachary was silent for a moment before he asked, “What happened when you all were having your meal today?”
“Aunt Lenora was so engrossed in her conversation with him that she completely ignored me. After dinner, he invited her to a movie, and she didn’t turn him down,” Harrietta answered truthfully.
Zachary was quiet for a few moments. “Is there anything else?”
Could it be that Lenora actually had feelings for Connor?
He had a feeling that something was off, though.
“Also, I wanted to trick him into forking out more money, so I ordered a few more dishes. Aunt Lenora, however, told me not to target him. She said… she said he might become my uncle in the future, and if I continue this way, she’ll distance herself from me. Then, they just agreed to have a meal together next time. Oh, and Connor even hugged Aunt Lenora!”
Although technically, it was because Aunt Lenora stumbled and nearly fell.
There was a long silence on the other end of the phone.
Harrietta was just about to say something more when a voice suddenly came from outside. “Hattie, are you not done yet?”
Hastily, Harrietta called out, “Aunt Lenora, I’m in the middle of pooping! It stinks!”
“Ah, okay. Let me know when you’re done. I’ll help you clean up.”
Harrietta’s face flushed red. “Aunt Lenora, I can do it myself!”
Hmph, how could Aunt Lenora underestimate me so?
Listening to the sound of footsteps fading away outside, Harrietta whispered to her wristwatch, “Uncle- Zachary, Aunt Lenora is really going to run away. You need to think of something quickly. I need to hang up now.”
She poked at her watch screen with her chubby little finger, ending the call.
Upon hearing the toilet flushing, Lenora glanced up to see Harrietta emerging from the bathroom. With a smile, she praised, “Good job for cleaning up after yourself, Hattie!”
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Chapter 222 Aunt Lenora Really Is Running Away
Harrietta simply stared at her speechlessly.
A few minutes later, Lenora’s phone rang. It was a call from Zachary.
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Lenora answered the call, her voice indifferent as she got straight to the point. “What do you want?”
“Where are you guys right now? I’ll come pick up Hattie.”
“At my place.”
“All right, I’m on my way.”
Zachary didn’t want to betray Hattie; he had to at least put on a show by making a phone call.
Twenty minutes later, the doorbell rang.
Lenora suspected it was Zachary who had arrived, yet she still cautiously asked from behind the door, “Who is it?”
“It’s me, Zachary,” came Zachary’s voice from outside.
Lenora opened the door and walked back inside without even giving him a glance. “Hattie, your uncle is here to pick you up.”
Zachary silently followed her inside, closing the door behind him.
“Uncle Zachary!”
Harrietta ran out while clutching Cotton and feigned a complaint, “Uncle Zachary, why did you come so early? I’m not done playing! How about you sit on the couch and wait for me a little while?”
“Sure, go have fun. I’ll be waiting for you.”
Harrietta, holding Cotton, hurried to Lenora’s bedroom. “Let’s go, Cotton. I’ll get you some cat treats.”
Before she entered the room, she shot Zachary a meaningful glance.
The pretense was to feed the cat, but the real intention was to give him some space with Lenora.
Zachary glanced at Lenora’s indifferent expression before nonchalantly walking over to the couch to sit down. “You don’t mind, do you?”
“Would you leave if I said I minded?” Lenora retorted coldly, arms crossed over her chest.
“No.”
“Then why bother asking?”
After finishing her words, Lenora turned and entered the kitchen.
Zachary watched Lenora’s retreating figure, a smirk unconsciously tugging at the corner of his lips. A glint of amusement also flashed in his eyes.
Lenora’s attitude was vastly different from before, yet he found it inexplicably endearing.
Two minutes later, Lenora came out holding a cup of water, placing it expressionlessly before him.
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“Thank you.” Zachary lifted the cup of water while raising his head to look at her with an intense gaze.
As though she couldn’t see it, Lenora turned around and took a seat off to the side. She picked up her camera and began to review the photos she had taken that day.
To be honest, she hadn’t yet settled on a theme for the photography competition. At the moment, she was simply trying to find her inspiration.
She focused all her attention on the photos.
Suddenly, there was a tickling sensation from her left car.
Lenora reached out and pinched her ear before continuing to flip through the photos.
This time, it was her right car that was feeling ticklish.
Once again, she rubbed at the spot.
The itchy sensation came back in her left ear, accompanied by a warm sensation. She couldn’t stop it from turning red.
Something was off.
Suddenly, she sat upright, and as she turned around, she realized Zachary had somehow managed to position himself behind her. His hands rested on the back of the couch, and he was leaning in to blow airt into her ears.
The redness in Lenora’s ears spread from the lobe to the tip. Flustered and exasperated, she snapped, “Zachary, what is wrong with you!”
She wasn’t one to curse at others, always resorting to this one phrase.
There was a subtle hint of amusement in Zachary’s eyes, his expression playful as he replied, “I’m struck by a sickness that leaves me utterly uninterested in life when I can’t see you.”
For a moment, Lenora was rendered speechless.
Where did he learn these distasteful and corny phrases? They’re absolutely nauseating.
She ignored him, turning on her heel and walking away.
“Lenora,” Zachary called out to her.
From that, she knew it wasn’t good news.
As if she hadn’t heard a thing, Lenora continued to walk forward.
“Don’t rush off. I need to talk to you about something. It’s regarding Hattie.”
Lenora finally halted, turning around to look at him with a face full of skepticism. “What is it?”
“Let’s sit down and talk.”
Lenora settled down at the farthest end of the couch, a whole galaxy away from him, and said, “Go ahead.” Zachary pursed his lips, pausing for a few seconds before speaking. “On Wednesday night, Hattie was on a
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call with Aunt Tamara. She found out that you had been the one looking after Hattie for the past two days and made a fuss about it, which ended up frightening Hattie to tears.”
Subconsciously, Lenora glanced toward the bedroom.
She had known for a long time that Tamara didn’t like her, but she hadn’t expected it to affect Harrietta.
“Sorry, it was my lack of consideration. In the future, let’s limit Hattie’s visits.”
She was self–aware enough to realize that even if Harrietta liked her, it couldn’t compare to her bond with Tamara.
She didn’t want to put Harrietta in a difficult position, nor did she want to be the cause of a rift in the cherished bond between Harrietta and Tamara.
“That’s not what I meant.” Zachary looked into her eyes, earnestly saying, “I plan on keeping Hattie here in our homeland. What do you think?”
Lenora looked at Zachary in surprise. “Why this sudden thought? Would Hattie agree to stay? Would Aunt Tamara agree to let Hattie stay?”
In reality, after Tamara couldn’t reach him over the phone that night, she ended up calling the Fuller residence. Reluctantly, she apologized to Zachary, with Allison mediating between them.
Zachary did not express his stance.
Once the idea of keeping Harrietta here surfaced, it never subsided.
One of the reasons was that Harrietta was clever and adorable, a favorite among the entire family. Allison, given her advanced age, had a particular fondness for children. Yesterday, when he brought Harrietta back to the Fuller residence, Allison had been delighted. Harrietta also had a knack for keeping the elderly woman in high spirits.
The second reason was rooted in his own personal desires. Lenora was no longer capable of bearing children, and she adored Harrietta so much. He wanted to make her happy.
Moreover, Harrietta could also serve as a bridge for him to maintain his relationship with Lenora, preventing them from becoming complete strangers.
Of course, ultimately, it all came down to Harrietta’s decision.
“I’ve already discussed it with Aunt Tamara. Once the holidays are over, I’ll let Hattie decide for herself. If she chooses to stay in the country, then I’ll enroll her in a school here.”
Although Tamara had not agreed, that wasn’t important.
Lenora gave a noncommittal hum. “All right, but when the time comes, don’t force Hattie. Aunt Tamara is the one she’s closest to, after all.”
