Mr. Gatson’s Bride Is Back

Chapter 36: He Returned Overnight

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

A mocking smile crept across Mary’s lips. She had guessed that this would happen since this morning. Sandra White would not give up on any opportunity to flaunt her loving relationship with Max Gaston. Furthermore, she had to do it to her face.

Mary sent Priscilla Johnson a reply, “It’s fine, just use whatever she has provided us with.”

“Alright,” Priscilla responded.

Mary heard Jason call for her from the door of the living room. She looked up, only to see that he had a plate of fruits in hand as he jogged over. Jason’s tiny face seemed to be covered by a ray of light. He was so handsome that it Mary could not help but feel her heart soften.

Mary was about to keep her phone when it rang again. This time, it was an unknown number. She accepted the call and greeted the caller. The voice of a middle-aged woman came from the other end of the line, “Hello, are you Ms. Mary Hanks?”

Mary was slightly startled. She replied, “I am. And you are?”

“I’m John Liam’s mother. Can I invite you out for a cup of coffee?” Mrs. Liam asked. Her tone was rather gentle and polite. She was not overbearing at all. Mrs. Liam paused for a moment, then added, “Ms. Hanks, can you not tell John about this? I have no ill intentions. All I want is to treat you to coffee.”

—

They agreed to meet at a high-class café. Mrs. Liam was already seated by the window and elegantly taking a sip of her coffee when Mary arrived. Mrs. Liam looked over Mary as she walked over. She smiled when she met Mary’s eyes.

“Hello, Mrs. Liam,” Mary greeted politely. She was a little surprised when she saw Mrs. Liam stand up.

Mrs. Liam observed Mary for two seconds, then asked with a smile, “Ms. Hanks, I heard from John that you have known him for many years. May I simply call you Mary?”

Mary nodded and Mrs. Liam enthusiastically asked her to have a seat. Mrs. Liam smiled and said, “I know that it might have been a little sudden when I asked you out like that. However, I knew your parents in the past and was even a friend of theirs.”

Mary smiled politely. She listened on as Mrs. Liam continued, “You were still a young girl when your parents passed away. It must have been hard on you all these years.”

Mary did not reply.

“Mary, what would you like to drink?” Mrs. Liam asked as she called for a waiter.

Mary ordered a cup of coffee. Mrs. Liam also got the waiter to serve them some of the cafe’s signature snacks.

“Mary, John said that you’ve only recently come back from overseas. Is that true?” Mrs. Liam asked.

“Yes,” Mary answered.

The snacks and coffee arrived. Mrs. Liam told Mary to help herself and said, “I knew from five years ago that John has someone he likes, but I never did find out who she was. Suddenly, one day, John rushed back from the capital overnight— He was very downtrodden during that period and refused to say anything. It was only until yesterday night that he told us that the person he has liked all these years is you—”

“Mrs. Liam, you might be misunderstood,” Mary interrupted.

“Don’t worry, Mary. I have no intention of blaming you. On the contrary, I liked you very much after I heard John tell me stories about you,” Mrs. Liam continued as she looked sincerely at Mary.

Mrs. Liam even looked like she felt a little sorry for Mary as she went on, “John is my only son. I have once promised him that I’ll support whatever he wants, that I’ll love whatever he loves. I also know that he is still wooing you and that you have not agreed to be with him yet.”

Mary did not know what to say. She was a little confused. She had experienced Sofia’s hypocrisy and thus did not fully believe Mrs. Liam.

Mrs. Liam said warmly, “I don’t want to hide this from you, but Mr. Liam and I were disapproving of the relationship when we first heard that the lady John fancied had a child before marriage. However, I supported John when I found out that it was you and that there’s a reason for your circumstances. I will not oppose the relationship if you agree to be with him.”

“Mrs. Liam, John deserves better. I’ll make things clear with him,” Mary said.

“Mary, you are still misunderstanding me,” Mrs. Liam responded.

There was a pause in the air.

Mrs. Liam continued, “I truly like you, especially now that I have met you. I can’t guarantee that I will treat you as my own if you one day get into a relationship with John, but I can promise to treat you well. We’ll treat Jason well too. Mr. Liam also does not oppose you being together with John.”

“Mrs. Liam, John and I—” Mary interrupted.

“Don’t reject me now,” Mrs. Liam smiled and said, “Mr. Liam was on rather good terms with your father in the past. He even got me to tell you that he’ll support John in helping you investigate that incident, if you want to, when he knew that I was coming to meet you today.”

Mary was moved by her words. That, and how gentle Mrs. Liam’s smile had been from when she had first sat down. She smiled faintly as she thanked, “I’ll thank you and Mr. Liam in advance.”

Mary had once met Mr. Liam with her father when her parents were alive. Mr. Liam had also been there during her parents’ funeral. However, she had always been staying with the Gastons. Her parents being old friends of the Liams also had nothing to do with her as a child. Though her investigation would be quickened if Mr. Liam really was willing to help.

Mrs. Liam looked at Mary with an apologetic gaze and commented, “Mary, we had wanted John to marry the Polts. However, he was determined not to and we did not force him. Of course, we can’t also force you to agree to a relationship with him. However, I do hope that you can come over more frequently in the future. Also, Mr. Liam and I are avid followers of your page. We like your articles a lot.”

Mary and Mrs. Liam had just walked out of the café when they saw John step out of a car by the side of the road. John looked worried when he saw his mother with Mary and walked over quickly from a distance away.

“Mom, Mary, why are you together?” John asked.

Mrs. Liam glanced angrily at her son, then grabbed Mary’s hand and patted it. She asked, “What are you worried about? Are you afraid that I’ll eat Mary up? Your father and I have said that we will not stop you from wooing Mary. Will you stop doubting our characters?”

John instantly smiled and replied, “Alright, I’ll not doubt your characters. You guys are the best parents in the world. Then— Can you head back first? I want to have a few words with Mary in private.”

Mrs. Liam glared at John, then turned to tell Mary, “Mary, I’ll head back first. Bring Jason to our house to play next time. You can tell me if John bullies you in any way and I’ll teach him a lesson for you.”

Mrs. Liam left quickly after she said her piece. She did not even wait for Mary’s response.

John Liam only glanced at his mother leaving before he turned to look at Mary with a smile. He asked, “Mary, my mother wasn’t being difficult, was she?”

Mary’s gaze wavered when John stared at her. She returned a question, “Why are you here?”

John’s smile widened as he answered, “I heard that my mother asked to meet you and was afraid that she’d put you in a tough spot, so I rushed over.”

“No, Mrs. Liam was very good to me,” Mary replied.

“That’s good. It’s very warm out here. Let’s talk in the car,” John suggested as he pointed to his car parked by the side of the road.

John had just said that when Fred came over. Fred held an umbrella above Mary’s head and said, “Lady Mary, you can use this umbrella for now. I’ll drive the car over.”

Fred only greeted John after he finished speaking to Mary, “Mr. Liam.”

John Liam responded calmly, “I’ll send Mary back later.”

Fred’s expression changed slightly as he looked at Mary..