Female Novel
Chapter 3013
Nina was deeply moved. Luca even prepared new slippers for her. It was a welcoming gesture.
It meant she welcomed her for an extended stay here.
Nina could not resist Luca's kindness, so she changed into the new slippers without taking off her maskand asked, "Is there anything I can help with?"
“No, it's alright.” Luca shook her head. With Nina's arrival, she had no intention of pretending anymore.She planned to let Nina spend the night here.
The moment Nina finished her sentence, she saw Aunt Niele with a surprised look on her face. DidAunt Neile not take the day off today?
Her questioning gaze then landed on Luca.
"Alright, I lied to you. There's no barbecue today. I found out about your situation. Since Mr. Mallory isaway on a business trip, you might as well crash here for a bit,” said Luca.
Nina was about to ask how Luca found out about it, but then she thought of Sue and figured that shemust have told Luca.
Hence, she changed her statement. "No, staying here would be too much of a bother for you all."
"What's the matter? Didn’t you spend a few nights here before? Plus, the kids are totally cool with youstaying. Just make yourself at home here. Take a seat. Let me grab something real quick, then we canhead upstairs together.”
Luca pushed Nina to the sofa and headed to the kitchen.
Nina understood Luca's intention. She wanted her to stay.
No wonder she had the new slippers ready. It was more convenient this way.
"Hello, Ms. Nina," greeted the three kids in the living room who were doing their homework.
"Uh, hi..." Nina looked at the three well-behaved kids, but her mind was on what Luca had said.
Was it really okay for her to stay here?
If it were just for a day or so, she would not have minded. She did not think it was a big deal eitherwhen she came to stay here last time. After all, it was Luca who asked her to stay here and take careof the kids.
However, Nina staying here for a whole week to avoid Karen for no apparent reason did not seem right.
As Nina was lost in her thoughts, Luca returned from the kitchen with an ice pack in her hands.
"Let's go upstairs.” Luca waved at Nina. The kids were occupied with their homework. Thus, sheplanned to take Nina upstairs to apply an ice pack to her swollen face.
Jason had relayed what Sue said about Nina's face being pretty swollen. Even though she had a maskon, she could still sense something was off.
Nina nodded and followed her upstairs.
They came to the guest room. Nina realized everything was prepared, and even a set of pajama-likeclothes was laid out on the bed.
"Luca, you were planning to take me in from the start, right?"
She calmly took off her mask as the kids were not around.
Luca was shocked. “Why is it so swollen?!"
Nina gently touched her face, feeling a slight pain. Even though she applied an ice pack on her faceright after she got slapped across the face, an afternoon had passed, and it seemed to have gottenmore swollen.
Nina shook her head helplessly and answered, "My body's just built this way. It doesn't handle hitswell."
"Yes, that's why Mr. Mallory should protect you well." Luca thought about Nina's delicate body, whichwas quite different from her own. Nina would swell up with just a slight bump, and it was hard to get theswelling down.
Nina sensed Luca's implication of blaming Percy. She shook her head and said, "It's not his fault."
Nina did not expect Karen to behave so crazily that she would slap her across her face. She evenasked someone to kick the door open. It was far from the demeanor of an elegant lady. Instead, sheexuded a mafia boss vibe.
Nina could not help but shudder at the thought of how Karen behaved just now. If she had knownKaren would dare to hit her, she would not have gone back. She should have called security to kickKaren out.
When Luca noticed her little gestures, she felt sorry for her and felt helpless at the same time. Sheknew why Nina shivered. Hence, she comforted her, "Don't worry. No one will dare to come cause youtrouble while you're here."
"She wouldn't dare to do anything if I'm staying here, but what about the office..." Nina repliedhelplessly. Karen might not find her at the villa, but she could still go to her office.
"Relax. She still needs to maintain the Mallory family's reputation, so she won't act recklessly. Thereare so many people at the office. If she were to really go there and cause trouble, the Mallory family's
reputation would be at stake. She wouldn't dare to do that," concluded Luca.
Luca had heard that Karen's mental state was not great, but the more someone was in such asituation, the more they cared about their reputation.
Even if she did not care about her own image, causing a scene at Brilliant would not go unnoticed byOld Master Mallory.
Moreover, now that Nina was legally married to Percy, it was known among all the employees workingat Brilliant.
Even if Karen stirred things up, it would only look like a conflict between mother and daughter-in-law. Itwould not be like before when Nina was labeled as Percy's secret lover.
Nina did not think that far ahead. The pain in her face was still bothering her. She slowly heaved a sighand muttered, "I hope so." "Let me apply some ice for you. Otherwise, it might swell even moretomorrow." Luca looked at the red swelling on Nina's face and shook her head helplessly.
Nina reached out and said, "Let me do it."
"It's not convenient for you to apply it yourself. I'll do it,” replied Luca as she picked up the ice pack andapplied it on Nina's face.
"Ouch." The icy touch did not numb the pain right away. Instead, it magnified the sensationexponentially. Nina could not help but draw in a sharp breath of cool air.
"Hold on, it'll get better soon." Luca knew it was uncomfortable, but for Nina to be presentabletomorrow, she had to put on the ice pack.
"Even with the mask on, I could tell something was off with one side of your face. If you don't get theswelling down, when Mr. Mallory comes back and sees your swollen face, he'll know Madam Malloryslapped you. You wouldn't want him to find out, right?"
"No, I don't want them to erupt into a war again,” mumbled Nina.
Luca understood her meaning and expressed her confusion, "It's really rare to have such a good-tempered daughter-in-law. Why doesn't a certain someone know how to appreciate it?"
Nina gently shook her head, not agreeing with Luca's words.
Truth be told, she was not good—not in the slightest. It was just that Percy had a soft spot for her,making him see her in a positive light.
Considering her past experiences, any average guy from a respectable family would find her off-putting.
Luca knew why Nina shook her head and said, "You're actually great. Everything about you iswonderful. Besides, some things weren't choices you made willingly. But let's not dwell on the past.Things are good now.novelbin
"With Mr. Mallory doting on you so much, imagine the happiness of having two little ones in the future."
When it seemed about right, Luca moved the ice pack away. She looked at Nina's face which was stillred. She let out a sigh and said, "It's still quite swollen."
"How can it instantly go down? But it feels much better now." Nina touched her face. She could noteven smile with one side of her face swollen. It would be painful.
"That's the numbing effect. Starting today, you'll settle down here and wait for Mr. Mallory to return fromhis business trip before heading back." Luca insisted that Nina stay here.
"Okay, I'll have to bother you for the next few days." Nina agreed. She did not want to meet Kareneither.
"Don't even sweat about it. With an extra hand watching the kiddos, Mr. Crawford will only be thankful."Luca smiled and winked at her.