Chapter 713



As soon as Nora said that, Mrs. Landis, who was standing next to her, said, “But we don’t have an invitation!”.

Nora and Iris looked at each other. They both spoke at the same time, “We’ll have one very soon.”

Mrs. Landis: “?”

A puzzled Mrs. Landis looked at Justin. “Are you going to ask Mr. Hunt to order two invitations?”.

“No, that’s fine.”

As soon as Iris said that, someone knocked on the door. Then, the mailman appeared and said, “Madame Iris, mail for you.”

Iris and Nora looked at each other again.

A look of understanding appeared in Nora’s eyes and she said to Mrs. Landis, “See, isn’t that the invitation?”.

Mrs. Landis: “?”

Mrs. Landis took the mail from the mailman. When she opened it, she discovered that it was indeed an invitation to the orchid show. She was astonished. “Miss Smith, Ma’am, aren’t you two too amazing?”

Iris teased. “By holding the orchid show right after returning to New York, you are clearly aiming at me. Since he wants to slap me in the face, how could he not invite me?”

Mrs. Landis couldn’t help but smack herself in the forehead. “Look at me, since I’ve been living here all this time and haven’t come into contact with people much, I’ve even forgotten about such basic domestic quarrels!”.

Both Nora and Iris were amused that Mrs. Landis used the words ‘domestic squabbles’.

Iris patted her and asked, “Where did you learn all those words from?”.

Mrs. Landis replied with a smile, “Oh, you know I watch all those TV dramas when I have nothing to do! I learned it from them.”

Suddenly, Iris gave her a fierce look and said, “Mrs. Landis, how dare you lounge around while I’m not paying attention to you! You sneaky, treacherous woman! I’m going to dock your pay!”

Mrs. Landis pretended to be frightened. “Ma’am, other people only work from nine to six, while I attend to you twenty-four hours a day! Aren’t you even going to allow me to watch a little television to entertain myself?”

Iris smiled. “Your salary is for twenty-four hours of work a day! You should be grateful by now that I let you sleep.”

Mrs. Landis protested, “Capitalist!”.

“In that case, I’ll pay you for sixteen hours instead?”

“… Madam, if you exploit your staff any more, I might secretly add poison in your favorite food.”

The two argued and began to joke with each other.

Finally, a calm and serene smile came over Iris’s face.

Mrs. Landis looked at her, very pleased and relieved.

They were both joking, of course. Iris had given Mrs. Landis much more than her salary all these years. Mrs. Landis’ two sons were already married, and both had their own properties in New York and lived a life of luxury. This was all thanks to Iris.

After twenty years in her company, Mrs. Landis was now more like family to Iris.

Justin stood off to the side, watched them argue and joke with each other.

Truth be told, for so many years, his mother’s appearance had become vague and fuzzy in his mind, because every time he came closer, all he saw was Iris’s cold face.

The woman’s vivacious appearance reminded him faintly of how she had hugged, kissed and teased him when he was a child.

At that time, she too had laughed and talked cheerfully as she was doing now.

At first, because he had not had much contact with Iris for more than two decades, Justin had felt some estrangement toward his mother. However, that sense of estrangement had diminished considerably in that instant.

It was as if the mother of his memories, the one he loved to talk to, laugh with, play with, and joke with, had returned. For him, the word ‘mother’ was no longer just an identity, but had become vivid and lively again.

The sensation made the corners of his lips curve up imperceptibly. She lowered her gaze and hid the complex emotions from her eyes. Mrs. Landis was a great mischief-maker. She too had wanted Iris and Justin to reconcile for a long time. Seeing that the mood today was great, she said, “Mr. Hunt, you loved the ravioli I used to make when you were a boy, why don’t you stay for dinner tonight.”

Justin unconsciously glanced at Nora.

When she saw him look, Nora nodded and said, “Okay.”

Mrs. Landis was immediately enthusiastic. She rolled up her sleeves and walked into the kitchen as she said, “Since you’re staying for dinner tonight, I’ll have to show off my cooking skills! Madam eats very little, so it doesn’t give me a chance to show off my skills at all.”

After Mistress Landis entered the kitchen, the atmosphere among the trio outside immediately became a little awkward.

Iris looked at Nora and then at Justin. Finally, she said, “I’ll go give Mrs. Landis a hand. Given her age, she will be very slow.”

After speaking, she headed for the kitchen as well.

Nora and Justin were the only ones left outside. The two looked around the greenhouse. Justin pointed to the orchids and said, “I’ve heard that people who raise orchids have high moral character. Now it seems that’s not always the case.”

He was referring to Lauren.

Nora, however, laughed and said, “I don’t know about everyone else, but I know why my sworn sister likes to take care of orchids.”

Nora deliberately emphasized the words ‘sworn sister’.

Justin: “???”

He raised his eyebrows, knowing Nora was being cheeky and asking to be taught a lesson again.

As soon as the thought formed, he looked at Nora’s lips, wishing he could take a few bites to vent his ‘anger’.

As for Nora, she said, “Do you want to know why? If so, call me Aunt Nora. I’ll tell you if you do.”

Tsk.

Now she was starting to take advantage of him.

Justin stroked his chin and suddenly leaned forward. He lowered his voice and asked, “Miss Smith, are you sure you want to be my aunt?”.

Nora: “?”

She decided not to tease him anymore, lest it backfire. She coughed and said, “Iris…. I mean Aunt Iris and I already knew each other before she knew who I was. She told me then that she was raising all those flowers because her son had once given her a pot of orchids.”

Justin was stunned.

He looked at the orchids and his jaw tensed.

Now he remembered. When he was ten years old, he had given her a potted orchid for her birthday. The woman had accepted his gift. At the same time, she had also told him that she had only accepted the gift because she liked orchids.

Since then, the floodgates opened and he started buying a lot of orchids.

Justin had always thought it was because he liked orchids. But it turned out that it was just an excuse to accept his son’s gift.

He turned to look at Iris in the kitchen.

Mrs. Landis had prepared some ingredients and was choosing among them. However, everything she chose turned out to be her favorite….

Justin lowered his head.

Actually, his mother had never left him in all these years, and he had always had his mother’s love by his side, hadn’t he?

In that instant, he was suddenly reconciled with his mother, or rather, with the part of himself that had felt uncomfortable that his mother had not taken care of him.

In that instant he also broadened his mind and let go of some things.

He let out a silent sigh. Just then, her phone rang.

When he answered, Herman’s voice came from the other end.

“Justin, didn’t you want to know why your mother has been avoiding you? I’ll tell you now.”

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