It was not even eight in the morning.
Raoul had already come to pick her up. Fleur did not pack much, just some carry-ons, a suitcase, and her cat.
"Miss Leroy," Raoul greeted her respectfully.
"Hm." She replied, tucking her belongings then herself into the car. The car was driven to Oriental City.
Olivier was not at the villa when they arrived, only a matronly woman cleaning up the place remained. Her expression grew bewildered when she saw Fleur. Perhaps she did not expect a woman to have moved into this place.
Raoul introduced Fleur to the woman. "This is Fleur. Mr Martinez's..." He pondered the choice of words for a moment then said, "...girlfriend. Please take good care of her."
Girlfriend. Not wife. Olivier probably arranged for that as well.
The matronly woman, Camille, nodded. She looked Fleur from head to toe, silently marvelling at her extraordinary beauty.
"Good morning, Miss Leroy."
Fleur only managed to nod before Raoul spoke again, "I'm going to bring Miss Leroy to the hospital later. Camille, please clean up her room, and take care of her cat."
Fleur did not ask why they were going to the hospital.
......
Olivier had just arrived at the hospital when they reached. He wore a white shirt today, which only served to emphasise his cold, upper-class indifference.
After getting out of the car, he glanced briefly at Fleur before saying. "Follow me."
They were the only ones in the hospital elevator. Fleur grew distracted, watching their reflection in the elevator mirror.
"I'm in the hospital." Olivier's voice when answering his phone did not carry the indifference it did when he spoke to Fleur.
"I'll be busy up to noon, too. I'm afraid I can't have lunch with you today."
Though not tender, his voice definitely carried a patient gentleness. "It must be a woman on the other end," Fleur thought.
Last night, Odette said Olivier had someone he loved. This woman must be her. But if he signed the marriage papers with Fleur instead of his lover, the underlying situation must be more complex than she first thought.
"I'm not so bored to be angry with you all the time," Olivier said gently, catching Fleur's gaze on him from the corner of his eye.
With a frown, he said, "Alright, I have to finish some things right now. I'll talk to you later." He then hung up.
Just then the elevator door opened. Olivier stepped out without a word.
" 'I'm not so bored I would be upset with you all the time?' There was an element of pampering in those words, as well as resigned compromisation..." Fleur thought to herself.
......
When they reached the hospital's VIP section, Olivier knocked on Ward 818. A matron came out and greeted him respectfully, "Young Master, you've come."
Olivier bowed. "Aunt Manon, Grandma."
An old lady with white hair laid on the bed with a respirator. Her arms were tightly bound in white bandages,
"Grandma." Olivier's voice softened upon greeting the old lady.
The old lady lifted her eyelids and snorted upon seeing him. Olivier lowered his head to murmur something into her ear. She immediately brightened up.
Then, Olivier looked towards Fleur.
The old lady's eyes were sharp and spirited as she examined Fleur.
"Aunt Manon." Olivier's phone rang again. "Explain the situation to her. I'm going to take this call."
"Yes, Young Master."
Olivier then went to the balcony.
......
Manon helped the old lady sit up, who, after examining Fleur, said, "How did Olivier find this girl? Even a blind man could see she isn't a good sort."
Fleur remained quiet and waited for the old lady to continue. She had long gotten used to hearing people speak about her like this.
"But at least she's more beautiful than that Virginie."
Virginie, this was the first time Fleur had heard that name in a long while. A faint glimmer flashed in her eyes.
She then smiled and walked over. "Grandma," she called.
When the old woman heard this, her expression softened just a bit. She gave Manon a look, the latter then bowed. "Young Madam."
Young Madam?
Keeping in mind what Olivier had just called her, Fleur responded gently, "Aunt Manon."
"The situation is like this." Without hesitation, Manon went straight to the point. "Three months ago, a diviner predicted a disaster would happen to our family within two years' time and our family would be completely ruined from it. The only way to avert the disaster was to let the Young Master marry and let the bride accompany old madam on a spiritual healing recluse for two years, where they have to eat a vegan diet and meditate every day."
"..." Fleur was too shocked to speak.
She instinctively looked at Olivier who was out on the balcony. Coincidentally, he looked over as well. Their eyes met.