Chapter 1604 Rely on Your Uncle
When Ellen returned home, she was hesitant to turn on the lights. As the light was dim, she turned on a nightlight and began cleaning the house. After Jessica informed her that macaroni and cheese would be on the menu for dinner that day, she retrieved a box from the back of the cupboard and set it to boil.
One of Jessica’s favorite pastimes was chatting with the other retirees in her neighborhood. Hence, she would return by 6.00PM, and Ellen would prepare dinner in advance while she awaited her return.
After Ellen had finished setting the table with the cutlery, Jessica returned home. She had turned sixty-six, and despite her silver hair and wrinkled face, she was full of life and vitality.
“Ellie, is dinner ready?” “Grandma, did anything interesting happen today?” While cooking the macaroni, Ellen engaged her in conversation.
Jessica happily filled her in on the local tidbits, such as which family had been childless for years despite being married and whose daughter-in-law was going through a divorce. Ellen found it enjoyable to converse with her because she knew it would help Jessica’s memory and slow the progression of her dementia.
On the other hand, Ellen mentioned how she had met Selena earlier that day at the cafe. When Jessica heard that, she let out a sigh of sympathy for Ellen. Both Selena and Ellen were around the same age, but Selena had the privileged life of a wealthy daughter while Ellen was forced to make do with less.
“Ellie, please hear me out on this.”
“What is it?”
“If I pass away someday, you ought to look for your uncle and move in with them.”
“Grandma, what are you saying? You have a long life ahead of you.” Ellen hurriedly stopped her from continuing.
Jessica chuckled. “I meant “if”, silly. So, remember to go live with your uncle when the time comes.”
“Uncle Connor has his own family. I can’t live with them anymore.” Ellen had never considered the possibility of such a scenario.
“It’s better to be turned down than to have nobody to rely on. After all, Connor is your uncle, so he will not leave you alone,” Jessica spoke firmly. She was getting on in years, so naturally, she was concerned about Ellen.
Ellen’s eyes turned misty as she nodded. “Okay.”
“If there’s one thing you’re not good at, it’s winning over others. If you spent more time with your uncle, you wouldn’t have to suffer alongside me.”
Ellen pursed her lips, knowing that Jessica had suggested that for her own good, but she was content with her current situation.
“Grandma, this month I was awarded a bonus. So, let me take you out for a delicious meal.”
“Nah. You need to put that cash aside for a rainy day. Then, when you marry, you will need a dowry!” Jessica laughed.
Ellen’s pretty face flushed. “Grandma, it’s too soon for me to marry!”
“I hope I live long enough to witness your wedding. I’m curious what kind of boy you’ll marry.”
A deeper flush of redness spread across Ellen’s face. “Grandma, hurry and eat your dinner before it gets cold!”
Meanwhile, at Aguirre Residence, Olivia bought a new set of clothes and wore them to show her husband. However, Connor seemed distracted, and without even looking at her, he said, “You look great in them, but you shouldn’t go out and spend so much money on clothing.”
“Why not? I am delighted to spend it on them,” she snorted. She was frustrated by her husband’s inattention and asked, “What’s the matter with you lately?”
“I wonder if Ellie has been treated unfairly. My conscience is bothering me.”
Then, Olivia sneered, “What’s the use of being sorry?”
“We can make amends for her loss by providing financial assistance so that she does not have to endure as much suffering in her daily life.”
“No way. Life is what you make of it; unfortunately, Ellen’s life is destined to be difficult. Moreover, we have no control over it,” Olivia stated sarcastically. “We have not yet secured a job for our daughter!”
“I called Mr. Wenlock, but he was away on business. When he returns, he will arrange a position for Lena.”
Seeing how soft-hearted Connor was, she sat beside him and persuaded him, “Think about it, Connor. What if helping Ellen leads to her becoming entangled with our family? If you lend a hand to her once, she’ll be back for more. So, will she move in with us after the passing of Aunt Jessica? Worse yet, what if she chooses to live off of us for the rest of her life? If you don’t give her money right now, you are telling her we are not people she can rely on. There’s no harm in being ruthless sometimes, right?”
