C15 Grandmother.

Around one in the afternoon, Ruth Lee returned home with a stormy expression on her face.

Axel Fuller was engrossed in a video game when he noticed her mood. "Mom, who ticked you off?" he asked without looking up.

Ruth Lee flung her purse onto the sofa and plopped down, fuming. "That damn Sonia Reed is to blame!"

"Who?" Axel set his game controller aside and leaned in. "Mom, did you go see her?"

"Why would I do that? Last time at the luxury brand plaza, she ganged up with her two boyfriends to pick on me. I have no clue what they did, but today, when I tried to go shopping with a friend, the security guard wouldn't let me in. He said I was on a blacklist or something."

Ruth's anger didn't subside as she recounted, "There were about five or six of us wealthy ladies, and they let everyone in but me. It was infuriating. You should have seen the way the others looked at me, like I was beneath them. I despise that little tramp, Sonia Reed!"

Her voice must have carried because Toby Fuller and Khloe descended the staircase together.

"What's going on?" Toby asked, buttoning the cuffs of his crisp blue-gray shirt.

Khloe, looking as if she'd taken great care with her appearance, wore a pure white dress that exuded a soft elegance.

Ruth briefly relayed the incident to them.

Toby frowned slightly. "I'm already divorced from her. Don't go stirring up trouble with her unnecessarily."

He was well aware of Sonia's complexity and his mother's temperament. His warning was meant to spare her future headaches.

But Ruth felt slighted. "She started it," she insisted. As Toby and Khloe made for the door, Ruth turned to Khloe with a forced smile. "Khloe, where are you two off to?"

Khloe returned the smile gently. "We heard the old lady isn't feeling well, so we're going to pay her a visit."

Ruth Lee scoffed. "Why bother with her? I mean..."

"Mom," Toby cut her off, his irritation clear. "She's my grandmother."

Ruth knew better than to badmouth the matriarch in front of her son. She chuckled awkwardly. "Well, make sure you're back soon. I had the maid prepare Khloe's favorite Lotus Seed Soup."

Khloe exited with Toby, leaving Ruth to her thoughts.

Despite everything, Sonia Reed had a deep connection with the old mistress, having cared for her.

Khloe might be the beloved of her grandson, but she couldn't hold a candle to Sonia in the old lady's heart.

Toby could see the coolness in his grandmother's demeanor towards Khloe, though he understood the underlying reason.

He had brought Khloe along nonetheless, hoping to bridge the gap between them, as Khloe was to be his future bride.

"Grandmother, I've brought you a special nutritional supplement," Khloe offered, the picture of a well-mannered young woman from a distinguished family.

The old lady reclined on her chaise lounge, her expression detached. "Calling me grandmother is premature. We'll talk after the wedding. And I'm wary of consuming gifts from others. Better you take it back."

Khloe's face fell, and she glanced at Toby for support.

"Grandmother, it's a token of Khloe's affection," Toby interjected.

The old lady shot Khloe a knowing look. "She's thoughtful, alright. Managed to drive my granddaughter-in-law away."