The nearly ninety-year-old's flesh sagged, her youthful features no longer discernible. Her gaunt hands pressed against her chest as if she might breathe her last at any moment.
Taylor Olsen, however, thought he was overthinking it.
Old Mrs. Horton, with her status, how could she possibly come to the store in person...
Fearing Isla might be harassed by the old lady, he said to Keira Olsen sternly, "Enough, your sister is only looking out for you. Is such a big reaction necessary? Are you not ashamed to cause a scene here?"
The little old lady immediately looked at Keira, "My granddaughter-in-law, is this your father?"
Keira lowered her eyes.
The title "Dad" was strange to her, her feelings towards him complex.
As a child in the Olsen Family, Poppy Hill kept her away from Taylor Olsen.
Little her would hide in the shadows, secretly looking up at him as he smiled at Isla, lifted her up and spun her around, his towering figure like a god of salvation.
Therefore, during the countless nights of being beaten by Poppy and denied food, she had fantasized whether "Dad" would descend from the heavens, embrace her, and take her away from the misery, if only just once.
But he never did.
He never cared about her; on the rare occasions they met, he only instructed her to "listen to Mom more"...
The Olsen's way of interaction was strange, as if they all accepted the presence of Poppy Hill, but aside from Mrs. Olsen, nobody was willing to accept a little girl like her...
Keira pursed her lips, not responding to the old lady's question.
She looked at the clothes she had just tried on, picked out one that was barely acceptable, and handed it to the salesperson, ready to pay and leave.
Seeing this, Taylor Olsen said, "I know you don't have much money. I'll pay for this piece of clothing; consider it a gift for the mother-in-law."
Yet Isla suddenly spoke up, "Dad, I just looked around, and I found that this clothing is the most suitable for a gift in the entire store..."
The adjacent salesperson immediately smiled and said, "Miss has good taste indeed. This piece is purely handmade embroidery, the only one in Oceanion. Perhaps you'd like to look at something else..."
Hearing this, Taylor Olsen's eyes lit up, "Then let's choose this one!"
He turned to Keira, "This piece is for your sister. You can pick another one."
Keira's eyes revealed obscure emotions, "Why should I?"
"Your sister is going to visit the Hortons. This is a gift prepared for Old Mrs. Horton!"
"So I should just give it to her?"
Taylor Olsen scolded, "Isn't your grandmother-in-law just an old lady who can wear anything? Is she more important than Old Mrs. Horton?"
Keira was adamant, "I won't allow it."
"Can't you be reasonable? Why must you compete with your sister?!"
Keira found it amusing, unable to understand how the clothing she liked first suddenly became a competition with Isla.
Taylor Olsen then proposed, "Alright then, this piece is fifty thousand, I'll give you two hundred thousand, as a supplement to your wedding dowry."
Isla feigned concern, "Keira, you haven't found a job since graduation. Quickly agree to Dad, don't let anger at me make you miss out on such a big benefit, you'll regret it later."
In the end, Taylor Olsen threatened, "Think it over. If you insist on choosing this one, I won't help you pay for it."
True to form as a seasoned businessman, he employed threats and financial enticement, all to buy a piece of clothing for Isla.
What a great father indeed...
Keira, tired of arguing with them, was about to take out her card to pay, when the little old lady who had been silent suddenly grabbed her hand, "My granddaughter-in-law, I don't want this one, it's not pretty."
Keira looked at her, "Grandma, the rest are even less suitable for you."
The little old lady was stubborn, "Then I don't want to settle."
She had already bought all the suitable clothes for this season! All that's left here are her hand-me-downs, how could there be anything of interest?
And listening to their conversation, did Kiera's sister buy these clothes planning to give them to Old Mrs. Horton?
Old Mrs. Horton, that sounds so familiar...
Who am I again?
The little old lady was a bit confused.
Seeing this, Kiera didn't dare insist further, and went with her wishes, saying, "Then let's not buy it."
It was only then that Taylor Olsen was satisfied, "Why couldn't you be this sensible earlier? Why waste so much talk? If you can't afford it, don't just walk into such stores, in case acquaintances see you and you lose face for the Olsen family!"
Isla also snickered.
Just now she was going along with the old lady, acting as if it was all real.
It was simply because she didn't have the money to buy!
She asked the salesperson to pack the clothes and then turned to Kiera, "Thank you for letting me have them. When I marry into the Horton family, I'll find a good job for you and your husband."
Kiera didn't even bother with her, preparing to leave with old Mrs. Horton.
"Wait!"
Taylor Olsen stopped her, handing over a check, "Take this 200,000. It was promised as your dowry and can also help support your life."
Kiera was slightly stunned, "That's not necessary."
"Do you think it's too little? The Olsen company belongs to Isla's mother, it will only be left to Isla in the future. This is the most I can give you!"
Taylor Olsen said as if bestowing charity, "Take this 200,000, you and your husband can run a small stall and get by. From now on, live your life honestly, don't aspire for things that aren't meant for you!"
Kiera had actually thought that Taylor Olsen had some fatherly love for her, but now she only felt ridiculed, "What isn't meant for me?"
"Like hanging out in this kind of mall, or... trying to seduce Mr. Horton!"
Taylor Olsen warned, "If you're looking for trouble, don't drag the Olsen family into it! The staff today didn't dare to mess with an old woman of this age, that's the only reason they didn't argue with you. If you anger Mr. Horton, it won't just be an old lady playing tough to calm things down!"
Kiera's hope completely died, "Rest assured, I have long since had nothing to do with your Olsen family!"
She left without looking back.
After walking a distance, the little old lady held her hand, "My dear daughter-in-law, your father and sister are truly cruel. In the future, let my grandson take care of you; I guarantee no one will dare to look down on you!"
A warmth rose in Kiera's heart, "Okay."
The little old lady continued indignantly, "As for that ugly outfit, they can give it to that Old Mrs. Horton they mentioned. I certainly don't want it!"
At that moment, the old lady's phone began to ring.
She answered, and a man's voice came through, "Mom, why don't you and Lewis Horton come home tonight? Jake's fiancée is visiting for the first time, to get acquainted with the family."
The little old lady paused. The muddy thoughts in her head that she couldn't remember seemed to be suddenly pulled away!
In a flash, she remembered who she was.
Turns out she was that foolish Old Mrs. Horton!
Thinking back to the disdain and mockery she'd just endured...
The little old lady immediately gritted her teeth, "I will definitely come home!"
She hung up the call and sent a voice message to Lewis Horton on WhatsApp, "My dear grandson, I've been bullied! You must come home tonight and stand up for me!"
After sending the message, the little old lady took hold of Kiera's hand, whispering mysteriously, "My dear daughter-in-law, I remember what my grandson's name is!"