Chapter 90: Or Is the Person Who Makes Tea More to Your Liking?

Chapter 90: Chapter 90: Or Is the Person Who Makes Tea More to Your Liking?

She stared at the closed door, a flicker of unease in her eyes. "I can’t stand by and watch someone kill for profit in the name of healing."

If she hadn’t stumbled upon it, she could have let it go. But now that she had, she couldn’t possibly turn a blind eye.

Her grandmaster and grandfather always said a healer must be compassionate. The number one rule: never refuse to save a life.

Jared Hawthorne watched her in silence for a few seconds. Then, without a word, he strode forward to knock on the door.

Just then, a burst of tearful, joyous exclamations erupted from inside the room.

"Grandma, you’re awake!"

"Mom, how are you feeling?"

"Mother-in-law, are you okay?"

Immediately after, Kensington’s weak yet remarkably clear voice drifted out.

"I’m fine... much better."

The door opened to reveal Julian Churchill, who was methodically packing away his silver needles. His gaze swept lightly over Vesper Grayson, his eyes filled with unconcealed provocation and pride. A victorious smile played on his lips.

"President Kensington, Mr. Kensington, Mrs. Kensington, you can all rest assured," he said, his tone arrogant and filled with the certainty of someone claiming credit. "The matriarch is stable for now. As long as she takes my proprietary Elixirs on schedule and undergoes my acupuncture therapy, I guarantee she’ll live a long and healthy life! Whatever you do, don’t listen to fearmongering from outsiders and disrupt her treatment."

Sheryl Garland chimed in quietly, "Exactly. Some people pretend to be experts just to feel important. Grandma Kensington is clearly fine. How could someone say such awful things, as if wishing her ill? I can’t imagine what their real motives are."

"Sheryl!" Noah Nash cut her off with a stern reprimand.

Sheryl pouted, aggrieved. "But it’s true! Why are you yelling at me?"

Vesper Grayson watched Kensington, whose complexion was now an unnatural, rosy red, and her heart sank. The better things seemed now, the more vicious the rebound would be later.

"Why are you still here?" Mrs. Kensington frowned instinctively upon seeing Vesper Grayson at the door, her tone dripping with hostility.

"Since we’re clearly not welcome, and our gift has been delivered, we’ll be on our way," Jared Hawthorne said, his face devoid of expression. He took Vesper Grayson’s hand and turned to leave.

"Elias, don’t be upset. My mother just misunderstood." Sebastian Kensington rushed forward to explain. "Grandma’s condition was critical just now, so Mom wasn’t thinking straight." He then turned to Mrs. Kensington. "Mom, this is Miss Grayson, Elias’s girlfriend. She came today specially to celebrate Grandma’s birthday."

As a woman who navigated high society with ease, Mrs. Kensington’s expression froze for a second before she immediately broke into a warm smile. "How rude of me. Miss Grayson, please be the bigger person and don’t take my words to heart."

"It was all out of concern for Kensington’s health. I understand," Vesper Grayson said, pressing her lips together to hide the turmoil in her eyes.

"Alright, Vesper isn’t that sort of person. And today is my birthday. For my sake, let’s all just let this matter go."

Kensington smiled as she spoke, struggling to get out of bed. Mr. Kensington immediately rushed to her side to help.

"Mom, be careful."

"I’m fine. With the miracle doctor here, what’s there to be afraid of?"

"You still need to be careful."

"Come on, let’s go downstairs. We can’t just leave our guests waiting. We don’t want people saying the Kensington Family has no manners."

Mrs. Kensington also hurried forward to help. The three of them escorted Kensington into the elevator.

"Mr. Churchill, we’re entrusting my grandmother’s health to you. If you wouldn’t mind, would you consider staying in one of our guest rooms?"

"Thank you for the kind offer, President Kensington. But I’ve always preferred my privacy and am used to being on my own. I will come at noon each day to administer her acupuncture."

Sebastian Kensington nodded and handed him a check for five million. "This is the deposit."

Julian Churchill snatched it, the greed in his eyes practically spilling out.

"If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave." He offered a slight bow, then turned and walked away.

Sebastian Kensington offered a gentle smile. "Elias, I know you prefer to keep a low profile. Why don’t we go up to my tea room on the second floor for a while?"

"I’d like that."

The four of them entered the tea room.

The tea room had a classic, antique feel. A natural wood table was set with celadon tea ware. Outside the window, the shadows of pine trees swayed, and the scent of sandalwood smoke drifted through the air, creating an atmosphere that was both elegant and tranquil.

Noah Nash said to Sheryl Garland, "Cousin, go brew us a pot of tea. Let me see if your skills have improved over the last few years."

Sheryl readily agreed. She was eager for a chance to impress Jared Hawthorne. Her mother always said her tea-making skills were already on par with a professional tea master’s.

Vesper Grayson sat silently on the sofa, her brow furrowed in thought. She had wanted to expose Julian Churchill’s deception on the spot, but Kensington’s apparent recovery made her realize something: no matter how right she was, they would never believe her without concrete proof.

’Unless...’ She lifted her gaze to the man beside her, leaned in, and whispered, "Elias, can you help me get one of those Elixirs from President Kensington? I want to send it to a lab for analysis."

Jared Hawthorne raised an eyebrow, a teasing glint in his narrow eyes. "Remember to call me that next time, too."

’Not bad. She didn’t call me President Hawthorne today.’

Vesper Grayson was speechless. ’How can he be in the mood to joke at a time like this?’

"Someone is going to die!"

Jared Hawthorne took her soft hand, cradling it in his palm and toying with her fingers. "Only the Nine Dragon Needle can save Kensington’s life. Since neither of us knows how to use it, all we can do is leave it to fate."

Noah Nash lit a cigarette, nodding in agreement. "She doesn’t have much time left anyway. Just think of it as giving her some peace of mind. Trying something is better than just watching her wait to die. Even if you know he’s a fraud and you expose him, what then? It’s not like you can save her life, can you?"

"Sheryl, don’t just stand there, brew another pot."

Sheryl’s movements were smooth and practiced as she filled each of their cups.

"Let me have a taste." Noah Nash raised his cup and took a small sip. "The brew is clean and smooth, with a lingering sweet finish," he praised. "Excellent tea! Your skills have really taken a leap forward these last few years."

Sheryl stole a glance at the devastatingly handsome man beside her and said softly, "Jared, why don’t you try some?"

Jared Hawthorne picked up the teacup, but instead of drinking it, he handed it to Vesper Grayson.

The gesture made Sheryl grind her teeth, her fingers clenching into tight fists.

Vesper took the cup, lowered her gaze, and took a small sip, completely ignoring the hostile glare directed at her.

’This Miss Garland makes no effort to hide her feelings for Jared Hawthorne,’ she mused. ’I can’t tell if it’s because she’s young and naive, or if it’s a deliberate act.’

"Sheryl, pour another cup," Noah Nash prompted, shooting her a warning glance. ’This girl has no idea how to hide what she’s feeling.’

’No one knew Elias’s personality better than him. The man was fiercely protective of his own, and he had been hung up on Vesper Grayson for years.’

’He’d brought Sheryl here today to make her face reality and give up!’

Sheryl refilled a cup and placed it before Jared Hawthorne.

"The aroma is elegant, it’s smooth on the palate, and the steeping is timed perfectly." Jared gave a fair assessment, meeting her expectant gaze. Then, his tone shifted abruptly. "But, compared to the tea Vesper makes, it lacks a certain... depth. It could be better with a little more practice."

Ecstatic one moment, Sheryl’s smile froze on her face the next.

’How dare he compare her to another woman? She had studied the art of tea under a true master!’

Seeing her reaction, Noah deliberately teased, "Is it that Miss Grayson’s tea skills are so superb, or is it the person brewing the tea who’s more to your taste?"