Chapter 17 Seeing that Malcolm was absent-minded, Naomi felt a bit anxious. She wiped her tears, picked up the beautifully wrapped flowers beside her, and exclaimed in surprise, "These tulips are beautiful. Thank you." Malcolm replied absently, "I'm glad you like them." Naomi sniffed the flowers, attempting to divert Malcolm's attention to herself. "It's so cold out there, and you still managed to get such nice tulips. They must not be cheap, huh? Malcolm, you're so kind to me." Tulips usually bloomed in spring, but the ones in Malcolm's garden thrived all year round. Malcolm was preoccupied and replied offhandedly, "They were from my garden." 'From his garden?' Naomi frowned slightly as she mused. She remembered what George had praised when she went to the Sinclair residence for the first time. "The tulip garden is incredibly beautiful. Mrs. Sinclair has done a great job taking care of them," George complimented. 'Aren't they planted by Tabitha?' she wondered. Thinking of this, Naomi tentatively asked, "They look so good. Who planted them?" "I don't know," Malcolm answered. He did not care about the chores in the mansion. Malcolm responded to Naomi's query, but his mind was no longer with her. It was Naomi who had been crying, but Tabitha's tearful eyes kept appearing in his mind. Chapter 17 M He suddenly could not sit still. Seeing that Naomi was fine, he stood up and said, "I still have something to deal with in the company. I'll come to visit you next time." Seeing this, Naomi eagerly pulled him and pleaded, "Malcolm, there's not rush. I've made soup. Stay and have dinner with me today, okay?" As Malcolm looked at her melancholy eyes, those words of refusal got stuck in his throat. With much patience, he stopped in his tracks. "Okay." Naomi smiled through tears. Seeing the handsome man serving her soup, she could not resist grabbing her phone and taking a picture of the scene and the tulips. Then she smiled and clicked the "send" button. In the hospital, Tabitha was going through the discharge formalities. She did not want to make Alaric worry, nor did she want Malcolm to go against his conscience by continually going to her. Therefore, she completed the discharge procedures on the same day. The doctor said that she just needed to be careful not to touch cold water and that she did not need to get hospitalized. Before she got home, she received a text message from an unfamiliar number. [The flowers you planted are very beautiful. I like them very much. Thank you.] In the photo, a bunch of tulips was in full bloom. Chapter 17 genuineness. IN IN As if laughing at herself for being silly, Tabitha smiled and said in a flat voice, "I'm allergic to these flowers… The doctor told me to rest well, so I better get them removed." She smiled, and her voice was as gentle as a breeze, yet somehow George felt a twinge of sadness in his heart. "That's right. Let's get rid of them. Mrs. Sinclair, you should think about your health first," George said. Tabitha watched the once well-maintained garden slowly becoming barren, and her heart gradually felt calm. It was already past nine when Malcolm returned to the Sinclair residence. As he passed the garden, he accidentally noticed that the once vibrant sea of tulip flowers had become bare. Malcolm frowned and called George over and asked, "What's going on?" George said, "It was Mrs. Sinclair's order." Malcolm was slightly stunned. "Is she discharged from the hospital?" George explained, "Yes, Mrs. Sinclair returned in the evening. She has at pollen allergy. Since these flowers are in full bloom and can make her uncomfortable, she ordered us to shovel them off." 'After two years of marriage, why didn't I ever know she has a pollen allergy?' he wondered. b MMIB BBBB MM Title: A Fated Encounter In "A Fated Encounter" by CrushReels, a captivating modern romance unfolds. Emma Brown finds herself entangled in a complex web of family obligations when her father, Henry, pressures her to marry Tommy Anderson in place of her sister Bella to salvage their struggling business. As Emma navigates this unexpected turn of events, she discovers that Tommy is not the man rumors portray him to be. Their relationship evolves beyond mere obligation, revealing layers of depth and emotion amidst the backdrop of societal expectations and personal desires. This novel delves into themes of duty, love, and self-discovery as Emma grapples with conflicting emotions and the realization that fate may have a different plan in store for her. With nuanced character development and a unique twist on the conventional romance narrative, "A Fated Encounter" stands out as a compelling tale of love and sacrifice. Experience this engrossing story online at CrushReels and immerse yourself in a world where destiny intertwines with the complexities of the heart.