ire''s gaze didn''t linger. After a quick nce, she helped Old Mrs. Quigley out of
the car.
The old woman stood and looked back at Felix, as if waiting for him.
Felix avoided her eyes and said, "Grandma, you two go on ahead. I''ll take this call and be right there."
Old Mrs. Quigley reminded him gently, "Fulfilling this vow is very important. You must be there."
"I know," Felix said.
Then, Old Mrs. Quigley took ire''s hand and led her into the monastery.
He was taking this call now, which just went to show how important Madeline was to
him. He wasn''t even trying to hide it from his nominal wife.
It was a weekday, so the monastery wasn''t crowded with visitors.
Old Mrs. Quigley was a major benefactor and had stayed here for a short time five years ago, so they were received by a dedicated host.
After lighting some incense, they went to a tea pavilion to wait for Felix.
The tea pavilion was built on a bamboo-covered hill, offering a view of the 99 stone steps below.
On the steps, devout believers were prostrating themselves with every step, praying for blessings.
ire stared at the stone steps, lost in thought.
Years ago, she had been just like those believers, prostrating herself with every step to pray for someone she cared about.
But back then, she had knelt up the entire flight twice,pleting 198 steps to receive two good luck charms.
One she gave to Noreen.
The other was for Felix.
She hade in such a hurry that day,pletely unprepared, wearing only thin pants as she knelt her way up the sharp, cold steps twice.
When she handed the charm to Felix, her legs were so weak she could barely stand.
But Felix had told her she shouldn''t waste time and energy on such meaningless things, especially when it exhausted her so much.
At the time, she had just assumed Felix was naturally cynical and couldn''t understand such gestures.
A whole cup of tea was finished, but Felix still hadn''t appeared.
Old Mrs. Quigley''s expression soured, and she took out her phone to call him.
The phone rang for a long time before Felix finally answered, his voice urgent as he spoke first "Grandma Madeline was i ident. I''m on my way to the
inaca
hospital now. We''ll have to put off the prayer for another time.
Old Mrs. Quigley was instantly furious. "Madeline again! You''re not a doctor, what
good can you do by going there? You get back here right now!"
But even her anger couldn''t change Felix''s mind.
He just said, "I''m sorry," and hung up without another word.
Old Mrs. Quigley was so angry her chest began to hurt.
ire, seeing that something was wrong, quickly got her medicine.
After taking the pill, the old woman''splexion was still pale. She mmed her hand on the table, panting with anguish. "That bastard! He''s getting more and more out of line. He doesn''t even respect me anymore!"
"He''ll defy anything for that Madeline!"
ire wanted tofort her grandmother but didn''t know what to say.
Her grandmother was this furious after being ignored just once.
But what about her?
For years, she had been the one who was always ignored.
Over time, she had grown used to it.
Now, when something like this happened, she felt nothing at all.
It was like hearing about something that happened to a stranger—you listen, and then you move on.
Old Mrs. Quigley looked at ire with guilt-ridden eyes. It took her a long time to choke out, "You''ve suffered so much, my dear granddaughter."
"I don''t feel anything anymore."
She said it honestly.
Old Mrs. Quigley looked into her eyes and saw that she wasn''t just putting on a brave face.
Finally, she sighed deeply. "So be it. It''s his loss. As for the divorce, Grandma will support you!"
ire was surprised. She never expected her grandmother would support her.
"Have you drafted the divorce
agreement yet?" Old Mrs. Quigley asked. "Demand more favorable terms for yourself. Ask for more shareoney. And your marital and
in
Northcrest him give
that to you, too. It''s close to me, so when youe to Northerest to visit, you''ll have a ce to stay. You won''t have to drift around like a rootless wanderer anymore."