My One-month Marriage With Mr. Hawkins novel Chapter 66

“I trust her,” Ernest replied in a husky tone, and even though it was only a short and simple answer from him, it exuded his unswerving determination to uphold her innocence.

Florence stared at the towering and imperial man beside her, and her heart had eased up a little despite being attacked by numerous antagonistic looks in the room as she felt like she had found her pillar of strength.

Barney clenched his teeth in exasperation as his countenance fell when he was silenced by Ernest’s reply.

“Cough, cough...”

A feeble cough sounded from the bed at that time, and everyone’s attention was instantly drawn towards it.

“Are you awake, Mom?” Brianna quickly moved closer to Georgia’s bed in a concerned manner, yet her heart was bursting with exultation as though she had foreseen what would happen next.

If Georgia Hawkins had laid her eyes on Florence, she would surely be enraged and ask her to get out from the house. Florence would have no choice but to leave, and their wedding might even be cancelled due to her scandal.

Ernest would end up being enmeshed in this affair, which meant that her son could take advantage of the opportunity to climb the ladder.

Ernest had also stridden towards the bed shortly after and stooped down as he asked in a softened tone which was seldom displayed by him, “How are you feeling, Grandma?”

Florence stood by the perimeter of the crowd, not taking any steps forward while she even contemplated the need to excuse herself first.

Georgia had collapsed because of her, so there was a highly likely chance that she would not want to see her face now.

Georgia’s eyelids flickered and she finally opened her eyes in a slow manner. After taking a few glances at Ernest, she murmured her first few words, “Where is Flory?”

Before Ernest had even answered her question, Barney and two other persons had enclosed the bed, keeping Florence’s presence out of Georgia’s sight.

Ernest replied, “She should be at home, Grandma. Please don’t be too distressed and get yourself worked up about her matter anymore.”

“How could I not be concerned about my granddaughter-in-law?”

Georgia held Ernest’s hand in her palm as she stared at him and spoke in a solemn tone, “She is a good kid, Ernest. She will never do those kinds of stuffs, so you have to believe her.”

Florence was stunned on the spot as soon as she heard Georgia’s viewpoint on this seemingly scandalous matter of hers. The one thing that had never crossed her mind was Georgia defending herself right after she had woken up.

Florence’s eyes welled up; her heart instantly filled with warmth after knowing that she had someone whom was on her side and who believed her all along.

A puzzled look flashed across Ernest’s eyes, but he still clasped Georgia’s hands and nodded his head, “I do trust her, so don’t you worry too much.”

“That’s great, I’m so glad to hear that.” Georgia let out a huge breath as her worries had been allayed by Ernest’s reassurance, and a smile of relief broke out on her face.

Shortly after, her face darkened as she spoke in a stern tone, “We must find out who is behind the delivery of the anonymous files. I cannot imagine what kind of evil intentions are harboured by the one behind the veil. I will make him or her pay for trying to harm my family!”

Seeing that this matter would be flown under the radar soon, Brianna was not willing to reconcile herself with the fact that Georgia was taking Florence’s side, hence she clenched her teeth and said, “You don’t have to save Ernest’s face, Mom. If not for those disgraceful photos, you would not have fainted out of anger and shock. You don’t really believe in Florence, do you?”

“Who said that I was enraged due to those photos?”

Georgia’s tone became even more forbidding as she added, “Are any of you even aware that the finale of the Ovi Fashion Design Contest is happening tonight? Florence must have been threatened by someone to have to renounce her spot in the contest and give up her cherished dream.”

Georgia heaved a deep, heartfelt sigh, her voice was full of sincere apprehension and solicitude for Florence as she lamented, “She must have felt dejected and broken-hearted to watch her dream slipping away from her. I’m worried that she might not be able to make it through.”

Much to everyone’s surprise, it was Georgia’s concern about Florence’s state of mind that had led her to have poor circulation and passing out rather than the photos themselves.

After realizing the truth, everyone in the room was ashamed for getting the wrong idea about Florence.

“She’s doing fine, Grandma, so don’t you worry too much,” Ernest uttered under his breath and turned towards Florence to beckon her over, “Come here.”

Florence hurriedly paced towards the bed and stood beside him as she stared at Georgia with her heart filled with immense gratitude, “Thank you so much for believing in me, Grandma.”

Georgia was startled to see her making an appearance here, but she immediately grasped that Ernest must have brought her over seeing that they were standing side by side.

She reached for Florence’s hands and let her sit by the bed, her wrinkled face was beaming with a benevolent smile as she said, “You’re my granddaughter-in-law, Flory, of course I would trust you. I just hope that you and Ernest will always be happy together, and that you will bring us a new family member soon.”

A baby? She was afraid to say that it would not be possible between her and Ernest.

Florence kept her expression in check while lowering her head, and she seemed a little shy due to the sudden topic.

Georgia put on a hearty smile upon seeing her blushed face, and soon after she called out to everyone whom was encircling her bed, “I’m fine now so all of you should leave soon. I want to have a word with Flory.”

None of them had any objection to Georgia’s request; hence they all left the room after exhorting her to take good care of her health.

Before Brianna left, she shot an inconspicuous glance towards both Ernest and Florence, her eyes were glowing with malevolence and full of darkly menace.

The room had cleared out in a couple of minutes with only Florence and Ernest left standing by the bed.

Georgia stared at them with a solemn look on her face as she said, “Other than the photos of Florence and Cooper, the anonymous person whom had sent them over today even proclaimed that…”

After a moment of pause, Georgia shot her piercing gaze towards Ernest to scrutinize his expression as she continued, “That your engagement is a sham.”

She knew her own grandson well enough to know that it was not impossible for him to put on such an act.

Florence’s heart leaped into her throat as anxiousness started to crawl up to her.

Although she had only thought of Georgia as a normal old lady before this, the happenings tonight had completely changed her outlook about her. Georgia could immediately guess the reason that she had to relinquish her spot in the contest correctly which had proven that she was not an ordinary elder.

Florence’s eyes darted around while she kept her mouth shut for fear of saying the wrong things during this intense moment. She glanced at Ernest subconsciously only to see that there were no changes in his expression.

Ernest reached his arm towards her to pull her into his embrace in a natural and intimate manner as he vowed, “I will marry her, Grandma.”

Florence was stupefied while her heart fluttered uncontrollably as if it was being hit by a hammer continuously.

Georgia stared intently at both of them, and her gaze was gleaming with wisdom as if she could see right through Ernest and read his mind to discern whether he was telling the truth or not.

After a few moments, her creased countenance radiated with a benign smile again as she said, “Of course I will believe in the both of you, so you can’t fool this old lady here, alright?”

Florence was guilt-stricken upon seeing Georgia’s anticipating look on her face, so her eyes started to dart around the room as she did not have the guts to look at her in the eyes for lying to her.

Ernest on the other hand was particularly unflustered and at ease as he reassured his grandmother, “I won’t.”

Georgia was well pleased with his promise as she nodded her head in a contented manner. After throwing a glance at the window and seeing that the night had fallen, she turned to Florence and said, “It’s getting late, Flory. How about you stay the night since it will take some time for you to go back?”

Florence had never thought of staying over at the Hawkins’ residence, so she quickly tried to turn down her offer, “I don’t think it’s a good idea…”

“You are engaged to Ernest now, so it’s normal to stay over at your future in-law’s place.” Georgia downright rejected her remark while she continued, “Don’t be nervous, just treat this place like the Senna villa. They are both Ernest’s home.”

Florence’s cheek flared up in an instant as she was surprised that Georgia knew of her staying over at his private villa previously.

Her ambiguous words were as though she had done something else with Ernest during her stay at his Senna villa that time.