CHAPTER 121: CHAPTER 121: MEMORIES (21)

Ethan observed her expression closely, let out a light laugh, and answered the phone.

Abigail heard his laugh and teased over the phone, "You’re this happy after meeting Florence."

"Hmm."

"What did you two do today?"

"Taught her skiing," Ethan recalled the bet, "She said she will definitely learn it by next year."

Florence heard this and glanced over at him.

Abigail chuckled on the other end, Ethan walked away a few steps and inquired softly if anything happened when she returned.

"Nothing happened, they made a big fuss for me to come back, but couldn’t even meet anyone."

The person Abigail referred to was Ethan’s father.

"Do you want to return to Cloudsea first?"

"I’m not returning for now," Abigail said, "I’ll discuss things further with a lawyer this trip back. You guys have fun."

Ethan agreed and hung up the phone.

Florence sat up, "Was that Aunt Monrose?"

Ethan nodded.

Recalling the expression he had when he mentioned the bet, Florence pouted slightly.

Ethan caught her little gesture, a bright smile on his gentle and handsome face.

Seeing him still smiling, Florence snorted and walked into the dressing room.

When she finished changing and came out, Ethan was waiting by the door. He gently ruffled her hair and spoke softly, "Are you upset?"

Florence replied, "I’m not that petty."

Ethan lowered his gaze, remembering the earlier ambiguous scene.

Just now... she also wanted to kiss, didn’t she...

"Go change your clothes quickly, I’ll wait outside," Florence said, feeling uncomfortable as he fixed his gaze on her, turning to push him into the dressing room.

Ethan got dressed and came out, Florence was already fully equipped, and Ethan swiftly put on his gear too. The two left the lounge and headed towards the ski slope, with Ethan naturally holding her hand.

Florence looked at him, with a joyful smile in her eyes.

Florence had been playing intermittently at the ski resort for a week. They flew back from Switzerland to Cloudsea on the same day Abigail returned from France.

The timing was close, so they arranged to meet at the airport. Abigail suggested having a meal together outside to make up for the New Year’s dinner.

After the meal, Florence didn’t return to the Fuller family home that night and stayed over at the Monrose family residence.

She came out of the bathroom after a shower when Abigail knocked on her room door.

"Aunt Monrose," she got up, "What brings you here?"

"I brought you a gift," Abigail said as she took out a bag, "Open it and see if you like it."

"But you’ve already given me so many gifts," Florence said.

Since she returned to the Fuller family, they hadn’t given her much, but Abigail had given her plenty.

"Oh, well, I don’t have a daughter, and when I see these beautiful pieces, I buy them just to keep." She opened a velevet-textured box, revealing a sparkling three-piece ruby diamond necklace set under the light.

The vibrant rubies were captivating, adorned with diamond petals forming a five-petal diamond flower, and the ruby itself was quite large.

There were matching tassel ruby earrings and a ruby ring.

Florence was stunned at first glance. The diamond necklace and earrings Abigail gave her before were already valuable; this set looked even more luxurious and extravagant.

"I can’t... This is too valuable." She quickly gestured with her hands, anxiously closing the box.

Abigail was surprised, "You’ve been with Aunt for years, I’ve always treated you like half a daughter." She said as she reopened the box, directly taking out the necklace and bringing it to Florence’s front, "Try it on and see."

"Aunt Monrose," Florence genuinely felt she couldn’t accept it, "it’s really... I can’t accept it."

"Then just try it, okay?" Abigail said warmly, "Just try it, let Aunt see how it looks."

Florence hesitated but did not move, seeing Abigail was determined to give her this set.

Abigail saw her hesitation and just looked at her, sighed, and sat opposite her, "Do you think Aunt has other intentions by giving this to you?"

Florence shook her head, "No."

"You do," Abigail said, "You think Aunt is giving you this because of Ethan."

Florence hesitated, "No."

Abigail patiently looked at her, "But there must be a little bit."

Florence pressed her lips together, lowered her head, "Aunt Monrose, you’ve taken such good care of me since I came back, I’m truly grateful."

"Why feel grateful?" Abigail gently touched the top of her head, "I’ve always liked you, meeting you makes me happy. With no daughter of my own, you fulfill that wish for me."

Florence looked up at her, her eyes slightly red, "Aunt Monrose, I originally regretted returning to the Fuller family..."

She gazed at Abigail’s gentle and beautiful face, a countenance she could rely on, "But after meeting you, I didn’t regret returning as much."

People often say, when one door closes, another opens.

Florence felt that this window led to Abigail.

Amelia Linney could no longer care for her, and Laura Yates, her biological mother, would not bother.

Yet, Abigail provided what Laura couldn’t.

She knew Abigail truly liked her, even though she would take care of Eleanor and gift Eleanor, she would consult Sister Dawson first and follow her suggestions.

Whereas her gifts... Abigail had bought her many expensive dresses, jewelry, and whenever she returned from a trip, she’d bring gifts, asking the Monrose family chef to cook her favorite dishes, accompanying her when she was ill, and would bring her fruits and desserts while Ethan tutored her, reminding her to rest when tired...

Lots of little things, so many.

Abigail was inherently a gentle and charming woman full of love, and she raised Ethan to be as gentle as jade. Florence didn’t dare think how wonderful it would be if she had a daughter, raised under such care.

"Do you feel that my kindness is a burden?" Abigail asked softly.

"No..." she wiped her tears, "It’s not a burden."

But she was filled with gratitude.

Abigail chuckled, "Aunt appreciates what you just said, Aunt is a simple person, very much believing in things meant to be, and look at how when you returned, we crossed paths, isn’t this fate?"

Florence quietly looked at her.

Abigail continued, meeting her gaze, "Aunt gives you these because I like you, I care for you like my own daughter. It’s unrelated to other things, I won’t interfere or stop whatever happens between you and Ethan, that’s between you both."

Florence wiped away her tears, "I didn’t mean to cry."