"That woman" referred to Mrs. Fu.
"Dad, she's my second grandmother. Why can't I visit her?" Emily Fu protested.
"Second grandmother?" Charles Fu snapped on the phone. "She's just a mistress who destroyed another woman's family. And her son, Nathaniel Fu, is an illegitimate child! How many times have I said it—our side of the Fu family wants nothing to do with them. You and Julian are just too rebellious!"
In truth, the current Mrs. Fu wasn't the original matriarch of the Fu family. The rightful Mrs. Fu and her son had long returned to the capital.
The first wife had given birth to two sons—Charles Fu, the elder, and Terrence Fu, the younger. Emily came from the elder branch, while Julian was from the second.
Although the current Mrs. Fu held no official status, she had raised an exceptional son—Nathaniel Fu, who had single-handedly built a billion-dollar empire for the family. Most of the Fu family's actual power now resided in Nathaniel's hands. Yet he never took his mother back to the capital, choosing instead to remain in Yecheng.
While the older generation harbored resentment, the younger ones like Emily and Julian had long developed a fondness for both Mrs. Fu and Nathaniel.
But Charles, still based in the capital, was furious the moment he learned Emily had visited the old estate.
"I'm sick of your excuses," Charles barked. "That woman never belonged in our family. And your so-called uncle—he's nothing but the result of a scandal. I forbid you from seeing them again!"
Emily bit her lip, cheeks puffed out in frustration. "Dad, must you always be so cruel? Second Grandma and Uncle Nathaniel are victims here. She didn't ruin our family. It was Grandfather who—who forced himself on her..."
"Enough!" Charles thundered. Emily shivered and went quiet immediately.
"This is the last time I'm warning you. Leave the Fu estate now. I'll be flying to Yecheng to bring you back myself."
Click. The call ended abruptly.
Emily silently tucked her phone away—and found herself looking straight at Mrs. Fu.
At some point, the elderly woman had come out of the kitchen, holding a spoon in one hand. She gave Emily a soft smile. "Emily, I was just about to ask—what kind of dumplings do you like? We made a few kinds tonight."
Emily looked flustered. "Second Grandma, I—I have something urgent to do. I'm afraid I can't stay for dinner."
Mrs. Fu's face paled, as white as porcelain. Her lips trembled. "Your grandmother... my sister... is she doing well?"
Emily nodded quickly. "Yes, she's doing great."
"That's good... That's very good." Mrs. Fu murmured under her breath, then nodded gently. "Be safe on your way, sweetheart."
"Okay. Celia, I'm heading out." Emily waved to Celia and left in a rush.
Mrs. Fu stood quietly in the hallway for a long moment before turning back into the kitchen. She glanced at the pot of dumplings on the stove and whispered to herself, "I'm hungry... Let's eat some dumplings."
She seemed to forget that she had already eaten a full bowl earlier. She served herself another heaping portion.
"Madam!" Auntie Zhou rushed over, alarmed. "You'll get sick!"
Worried something might be wrong, Auntie Zhou grabbed her phone, ready to call Nathaniel.
Just then, a small hand gently stopped her.
She looked up to see Celia's clear, steady eyes.
The girl smiled faintly and mouthed two simple words: "It's okay."
Incredibly, those calm and determined eyes made Auntie Zhou feel at ease.
Celia walked to the counter, picked up a clean bowl, and reached over with her chopsticks to pluck a dumpling from Mrs. Fu's bowl.
"Mom," she said playfully, "didn't you promise me dumplings? How come you started without me? I haven't even had a bite yet!"