Once Bitten, Twice Shy

Aunt Julia placed Old Madam Barker carefully on the sofa and was about to get up and chase after Timothy.

However, Old Madam Barker pulled her clothes and exhausted all her strength to say, "No… Don't..."

Aunt Julia was so anxious that tears began sliding down, "Old Madam, why are you—"

"I told you not to go!"

Old Madam Barker's voice was extremely weak but her tone was still firm, "Are you going to disobey me too?"

She coughed violently, probably due to anger, and her face became much paler.

Aunt Julia would never dare to make decisions without getting approval and shook her head repeatedly. "Please don't move, Old Madam. I won't call him. I… I'll help you into your room."

She bent down to help the old lady up and slowly walked to the room to place the old lady down on the bed.

Aunt Julia then took the old lady's regular medications and helped feed her. Aunt Julia then called a doctor and sat by the bed so she could help the old lady calm down by gently patting the old lady's heart.

Old Madam Barker leaned against the bedhead and took a few deep breaths before slowly reverting to normal.

Aunt Julia whispered, "How do you feel now?"

Old Madam Barker nodded weakly, but she looked unhappy and was evidently still in a bad state.

Aunt Julia still could not stop her tears. "Old Madam, why do you always stop me from telling Mr. Barker when your health getting worse?"

If he knew, then he probably would not leave without a word like he did that day.

Old Madam Barker's lips twitched and she laughed self-deprecatingly, "Forget it. He's had a close relationship with people from the family over these years, but I no longer exist in his eyes."

Ever since the time she kicked up a fuss at the company, she could see that her grandson had changed. Perhaps she was already too old and had never understood her grandson in the first place.

"Old Madam…"

Old Madam Barker's face was ashen. Discomfort and self-blame became increasingly obvious in her eyes. "I really…pity Sammy. If I knew that he was so cold-blooded, ruthless, and had been acting all along, I wouldn't have paired him up with Sammy. She might still be alive right now too, rather than dead in the sea."

"Please don't blame yourself. You wouldn't've known that it'd be like this. You've been blaming yourself too much during the past three years and your health has been getting worse because of that. You can't go on like this!"

Although Aunt Julia was saddened to hear about Samantha's passing, she felt even more distressed to see the old lady's self-punishment.

"Sammy is a filial girl. She wouldn't've wanted to see you ignoring your health."

Old Madam Barker looked at Aunt Julia.

As much as she understood the truth of the matter and the logic behind it, she still felt very uncomfortable.

She watched Samantha grow up and treated Samantha as if the latter were her granddaughter. How could she be able to eat well and sleep soundly when she thought about how she was the one who pushed Samantha into the fire pit?

The more she thought about it, the more painful her heartache became. Then came another surge of warmth and she instinctively covered her mouth as she coughed violently.

By the time she removed her hand from her mouth, there was already a mouthful of bright red blood smeared on her palm.

Aunt Julia could not sit still anymore. She immediately leaped up and dashed to the cabinet, where she opened the drawer and took out a small box from it.

She went back to the bed and opened the box. Inside was a pill, which she took out and persuaded, "Old Madam, please take this. Sammy said that it can save your life. Please take it."

Old Madam Barker's eyes were almost lifeless but she still shook her head when she saw the pill. "This is the last thing that Sammy left to me. I'm not eating it..."

"It'd be good if I left this world. I miss my husband, and I miss Sammy too..."

As the old lady said that, she closed her eyes weakly and fell unconscious.

…

Timothy opened the car door and sat in the car. The atmosphere inside instantly became cold and depressing.

He opened his lips and ordered succinctly, "To the company!"

Harmony saw his icy expression and knew that there was no way she could invite him to her place for a meal. Deep down, she could not help but resent the old lady even more.

Although Ronald was also somewhat fearful when he saw his boss's cold face, he still responded with delight, "Yes, Mr. Barker."

When the car arrived at the Barker Group, Timothy got out of the car and strode off without looking back.

Ronald got out of the car and followed closely behind.

Harmony sat inside the car and watched as the man's rear figure disappeared from her line of sight. She bit down hard on her lower lip and had a resentful look in her eyes.

Timothy's mood would sour whenever he met Old Madam Barker, so much so that Harmony did not dare to do anything for fear of angering him accidentally.

If Samantha was the person she hated most, then Old Madam Barker was a close second!

Despite getting rid of Samantha three years ago, the old lady was still an obstacle who was constantly a thorn in her side.

However, the old lady was different from Samantha in that she was Timothy's grandmother. Even if their relationship had soured, Timothy would never touch even a strand of hair on the old lady's head.

What if that old woman came to stir trouble during their wedding?

As soon as that thought occurred to her, she wanted nothing more than for the old lady to die right that instant!

Harmony did not know if the universe was aligning for her recently or whether her curse took effect, but she had just returned to the apartment when she received a call.

She was informed then that Old Madam Barker had vomited blood in the villa and had since slipped into a coma. The old lady was in a very bad state.

The moment she heard that news, she was stunned at first, but then could not control herself from breaking out in laughter.

When luck came, it was practically unstoppable.

She felt the same way then as she did when she went up against Samantha.

Samantha ended up suffering defeat in her hands and died without even having a proper burial!

Nothing could make her happier than to hear that the old lady was in a coma.

With 20 days to her wedding, the only way to make sure the old lady could not make trouble was to ensure that the old lady stayed unconscious at least until after the wedding!

A cold and murderous aura flashed across Harmony's eyes. She curled her lips and said gloomily, "Give her some strong-acting drugs this time!"

The other side was somewhat hesitant. "Ms. Johnson, the old lady's health has deteriorated very badly in the past three years. If the drug is too strong, I can't guarantee that she'll be unconscious for just twenty or so days."

The person was trying to tell Harmony of the possibility that the old lady might end up dead.

During the past three years, Harmony had bribed him to tamper with the old lady's medicine. Since the old lady's health had been failing because she had always been sad and blamed herself, the medicine he gave her only accelerated her demise.

Had he not done all that, the old lady's health would not be as bad as it was then.

Harmony's original plan was to let the old lady die a slow and natural-looking death. That way, no one would suspect her at all.

The huge risks involved in using such strong medication made her a little hesitant.

However, she could not tolerate even the slightest interference in her wedding with Timothy. Even the tiniest of changes would drive her mad.

There was no reward without risk.

Those who were afraid of taking risks would never succeed!

Harmony ordered clearly, "Do it according to my instructions!"