Arabella bowed, murmured swords and it wasn't until an hour had passed that they set off to pay respects at the resting place
of Carol's adoptive parents.
The plan was originally to visit them the next day, but as Carol pondered, she realized that New Year was fast approaching. She
wanted to knit scozy towels and scarves for her aunt and uncle, and twas running out.
As evening fell, Betty found Serena had fever; hastily, she went to Louisa, “Mrs. Collins, | went to deliver Ms. Serena's dinner and
found her burning up with fever. May | call Dr. Osmond to check on her?"
Louisa, in the midst of a manicure, heard her words and responded in a nonchalant air without even looking up, "I sent her to the
guesthouse to reflect, not to take her life. Call the doctor if you must."
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Betty was taken aback by Louisa's cool and even a bit careless demeanor, a stark contrast to the flurry of worry she'd typically
display if Serena so much as sneezed.
Without a moment to waste, Betty hurriedly called Dr. Osmond. After ending the call, she reported back, "Dr. Osmond will be here
in half an hour. I'll go ahead and apply sfever patches to Ms. Serena."
"Okay," Louisa’s attention was still firmly on her nails, as if this trivia was a ripple too small to disturb the calm surface of her day.
Betty was shocked by her lack of concern but knew better than to comment.
Meanwhile, Serena lay in bed as her phone pinged with a news alert. It was about a sensational collaboration between the
enigmatic star Summer and chart-topping singer David at a recent concert. Last night it was the first tSummer arrived there as
an airborne guest, and also for David, it was the first the released his song for his sister. Hence, it had taken the inteby
storm. Praise poured in for their voices, their style, their talent, declaring their performance flawless; every detail and every line of
the lyrics were considered impeccable.
In a huff, Serena tossed her phone aside, her headache worsening.
"Ms. Serena, I've got the fever patches!" Betty rushed in, pressing the cool adhesive to Serena's forehead, "Dr. Osmond will be
here shortly; just hang on."
"Did you bring these without telling my parents? You shouldn't bother. | don't want you to get in trouble on my account," Serena
feigned concern.
"Mrs. Collins knows. I've informed her and she gave the green light to call the doctor."
Serena hadn't expected to catch Betty out so easily. There was still leverage with her parents; they still cared enough to send a
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Gleefully, Serena played it down, "I didn't want to worry Mom. Next time, don't mention it to her. I'd hate for her to lose sleep over
me.
"Mrs. Collins wasn't really that worried. She continued her manicure and barely glanced atwhen | told her," Betty tucked
Serena in.
Hearing this, Serena felt a pang of disappointment and surprise. Her own mother seemed indifferent to her sickness.
Just then, Betty, who'd been delivering meals to Serena for the past couple of days, realized she hadn't seen any laundry out to
dry.
"Ms. Serena, where are your dirty clothes?" she couldn't help but inquire.
Distractedly, Serena replied, "lI haven't washed them yet," her thoughts were still fixated on her mother's reaction.