Chapter 1540 - 1532: Wherever the Gaze Falls, There Is Eternity: Serenity vs. Initiative

A needle was inserted in the back of her hand, and Violet Zimmerman originally wanted to avoid it, but didn’t dare to move, so she let Joseph Lancaster help her clean her hand. He put the towel back, walked to the table to open the lunchbox sent by her mother, then returned to the caregiver chair.

The Lancaster Family’s meals were quite good, with fine grains all year round, almost every meal having meat.

More than half a box of white rice, with vegetables on the right, pork stir-fried with celery and noodles filled the lunchbox.

Seeing Joseph Lancaster’s intention, Violet Zimmerman hurriedly spoke.

"Joseph, I’m not hungry yet. If you’re hungry, go ahead and eat first."

Joseph Lancaster picked up a spoonful of white rice, "Sister-in-law is really funny, lying without a draft. I heard your stomach growling just now, yet you’re deceiving me."

"Be good, open your mouth, I’ll feed you."

Joseph Lancaster brought the pointed rice up to Violet Zimmerman’s lips, holding the lunchbox underneath.

Looking at the rice brought to her mouth, Violet Zimmerman didn’t know whether to eat or not.

It was a good opportunity, but earlier her mother-in-law...

She raised her hand with the needle inserted, pushed Joseph Lancaster’s hand back again, and turned her face inward.

"You eat first, I’ll eat after my IV is finished."

"Sister-in-law! You just won’t let anyone have peace of mind!"

Joseph Lancaster’s voice abruptly rose. He looked at her hand with the needle, his tone conspicuously reproachful, setting the lunchbox aside and quickly grabbing Violet Zimmerman’s hand to check.

Seeing that the needle hadn’t shifted, he sighed in relief, cautiously placing it back on Violet Zimmerman’s hand that was suspended in plaster. Joseph Lancaster sat back on the chair, giving orders.

"Don’t move around, if the needle rolls out, you’ll have to get pricked again. Then watch how the nurse reprimands you!"

His words were full of scolding and menace, but Violet Zimmerman knew he was concerned about her. A strange feeling sprang up inside her. She looked at the young man in front, pressing her lips together.

Joseph Lancaster picked up the lunchbox again, holding out a chopstick full of rice, "Open your mouth! Don’t refuse to eat!"

Joseph Lancaster was, after all, still young, occasionally showing childishness. Watching the boy’s focused expression, Violet Zimmerman slowly opened her mouth.

As he fed her a spoonful of rice, he presented a piece of meat to Violet Zimmerman’s lips; the glistening piece of fatty and lean meat made her frown.

Too greasy, "Don’t want to eat."

Joseph Lancaster glanced at the piece of meat on the chopsticks, taking it back and biting off the fatty side, chewing while offering the chopsticks again.

"Eat, it’s all lean meat."

After hesitating for a moment, Violet Zimmerman opened her mouth; the rich fragrance filled her mouth, yet she found it hard to swallow.

Despite being married to Daxton Lancaster for so long, this kind of attentive care hadn’t been shown. On the contrary, it was this younger brother-in-law who cared so much about her.

Her face showed no particular change, but beneath the patient gown, her heart was already tumultuous.

Joseph Lancaster held out another spoonful of rice, each time eating the fatty part and leaving the lean meat for Violet Zimmerman, occasionally taking a bite of rice.

The two, uncle and sister-in-law, sat closely together, sharing a box of rice. The sunset’s afterglow cast through the glass window onto the wall, radiating a faint orange hue, giving a sense of tranquility in time.

After returning home from the hospital, Lorelei Howard called her eldest son, Daxton Lancaster, the moment the call was answered, she launched into a torrent of words.

"Daxton, when you come back, you need to have a good talk with your wife!"

"Mom, what’s wrong?" Daxton Lancaster asked, knowing the reason.

"You ask me what’s wrong? Today when I went to deliver meals, guess what I saw?"

Daxton Lancaster didn’t speak, already guessing what it might be.

"I saw your wife and Joseph with their heads together listening to a recorder! Hmph, good thing it was me who walked in. If outsiders saw it, who knows what gossip they’d spread about us Lancasters!

Daxton, I don’t care, when you return you need to have a stern talk with your wife. She cannot embarrass our Lancaster Family!"

"Mom, I understand. Don’t get angry. Joseph is still young, Violet didn’t think it through."

Daxton Lancaster patiently coaxed, which finally satisfied Lorelei Howard. She then instructed a few more words before hanging up the phone.

A different city, Daxton Lancaster was still clutching the phone, squinting his phoenix eyes slightly towards the front, pondering something.

...

Servants came over when Joseph Lancaster prepared to return. Before leaving, he repeatedly instructed them.

He ordered the servants to go to the water room to fetch hot water for Violet Zimmerman to soak her feet before eight, and reminded them to assist her with brushing her teeth before sleep...

If the servants weren’t clear, they’d likely misunderstand their relationship.

The next day, Violet Zimmerman was discharged, Joseph Lancaster took leave to come with his mother.

After sending Violet Zimmerman back to her residence, Lorelei Howard left without any concern typical of a mother-in-law toward her daughter-in-law.

Joseph Lancaster stayed. After the nurse finished giving Violet Zimmerman her IV drip, he remained by the bedside, occasionally checking the IV, adjusting the speed. Violet Zimmerman leaned against the bed, watching her young brother-in-law busying himself for her, and suddenly spoke.

"Joseph, I want to listen to the recorder."

Joseph Lancaster...

Slightly stunned, he stood up, "I’ll go get it right away!"

Watching the young man jogging out, Violet Zimmerman pressed her lips together.

Knowing she was using her young brother-in-law’s concern for her so shamelessly, but what else could she do?

Less than ten minutes later, Joseph Lancaster ran back, holding the recorder, panting as he reached the bedside.

"Sister-in-law, I brought some tapes, see which one you like?" Joseph Lancaster spread several tapes on the bed, Violet Zimmerman lowered her gaze to look.

"Whichever you like, play that one."

The young man furrowed his brow, flipped through them, picked one up and placed it into the recorder.

"Let’s play Grace Dawson’s, classmates all like listening to her."

After setting the tape, Joseph Lancaster pressed the play button, putting the recorder on the bedside cabinet.

"Didn’t bring earphones? It sounds better with them." Violet Zimmerman suggested. Joseph Lancaster quickly lowered his head and took the earphones from his pants pocket.

"Ah, I brought them, here they are."

The young man skillfully connected the earphones and plugged them into Violet Zimmerman’s ears.

"Joseph, let’s listen together, it’s boring alone." Violet Zimmerman suggested again. After being scolded by his mother yesterday, Joseph Lancaster was hesitant, standing by the bed, stammering as if wanting to say something but unable to articulate it. Violet Zimmerman noticed his concern, smiling, she said, "Don’t worry, Mom won’t come."

Seeing his thoughts revealed, Joseph Lancaster sheepishly scratched his head, "As sister-in-law said."

Violet Zimmerman moved over on the bed, making room for Joseph Lancaster. He sat down, putting one of the earphones in his ear.

The young man sat side-on, leaving some space between him and Violet Zimmerman, clearly avoiding suspicion.

How could Violet Zimmerman not understand his intention? Listening to the love songs inside the recorder, she curved her lips, deliberately leaned her head on Joseph Lancaster’s shoulder, "Sounds great."

As Violet Zimmerman rested her head on his shoulder, she sensed the young man’s body stiffening significantly.