My Four Miraculous Treasures

How did he know where she lived?

Willow had no clue, but she didn't dwell on the issue. She went straight inside.

Inside, the lights were still on in the living room. Someone was sitting at the dining table, worried sick.

This startled Willow, until she realized it was her own mother. She heaved a sigh of relief, and patted her own racing heart. "Mom, what are you doing, up so late? You gave me quite a fright when I found you here!"

Seeing that her daughter was home, Lara's expression of deep concern was immediately replaced with annoyance. "You foolish girl... don't you know to give us a call, to let us know when you'll be working late? And why in the world wouldn't you answer when I called your handphone?! You think you're such a big girl now, making your own money... no need to bother with your old mother anymore, is that it?!"

Lara prodded Willow in the forehead with an admonishing finger, using anger to balm her lingering feelings of helplessness and despair.

"I don't have my handphone with me when I'm cleaning, mom. That's why I couldn't answer your calls," Willow explained. "It was just one thing after another at work today, so it totally slipped my mind to give you a heads-up. I'll remember next time."

Her handphone had been confiscated while she was in lock-up, and the police had only given her stuff back when they released her. There had been no way for her to call home, or to receive any calls.

She'd been very worried that her mother might worry, which was the only reason she'd gotten a ride home with Jasper.

Her mother had a sharp tongue, but a soft heart. She always used scolding and complaints to hide her concern. Good thing Willow understood her own mother, whereas anyone else might have misunderstood.

"Is there really so much cleaning for you to do, there? Until so late at night? Tell mother the truth... have you been dating somebody?" Lara asked shrewdly.

Whoever heard of janitorial staff doing overtime, in any upstanding company? It was ridiculous!

Looking at it that way, Lara realized something was amiss. Her piercing gaze bored into Willow from across the room.

"Mom, there's no way!" Willow spluttered nervously. "Honestly, who would be interested in a single mother of four? If I find anyone like that, I promise you'll be the first to know! Anyway, it's late, I'm tired, let's go to bed already." Willow yawned, for effect.

Lara scanned her with X-ray eyes. "Drop the act. That time when you turned down Mr. Lawson, didn't you say it was because you already had a boyfriend?" noveldrama

"Like I told you already, that was a misunderstanding all around, mom!" Why did her mother enjoy bringing up old news? It was so tiresome!

"You couldn't have caught a bus, at this hour... Who drove you home?" Lara asked.

"My boss, Mr. Hughes. Alright, no more talk, I'm about to keel over dead on the spot." If she allowed her mother to get going on this topic, it would carry on until sunrise!

Willow was too exhausted to have that conversation all over again. She stumbled into the bathroom, took a quick shower, and then flopped into bed, pulling one of her kids over to snuggle. en

Mm... the smell of a young child, comforting and re-assuring. Willow's tensed-up nerves unwound rapidly, and she soon drifted off into peaceful slumber. Meanwhile, Lara remained behind in the living room, deep in thought.

That Mr. Hughes, again? The same guy who'd gotten between Willow and Mr. Lawson, last time?

He was the CEO of Hughes Corporation, right? Rachel mentioned him visiting their home in person. Tonight, it was him again, driving her daughter home after work...

Something was obviously going on between them!

Tomorrow, she would have to pay a visit to the company headquarters, and find out what was what...

Imagine if her daughter had actually hooked herself such a big catch! What fortune that would be! Lara could barely contain her excitement at the thought!