Chapter 7

"Sarah… I know I was wrong. I promise I won't do it again," Roger said. Although Rowan had spoiled Roger rotten, he was still sharp enough to realize that Lucian wanted him to apologize to Sarah. After Roger mumbled his apology, Lucian finally let go and dropped him onto the lawn. … Imogen had a natural talent for winning people over. When she visited the Payne residence, she had prepared gifts for everyone. Even the household staff received small presents. "Imogen, it's such a pleasure to have you here. You really didn't need to go through so much trouble with all these gifts," Scarlet said, her face lighting up as she touched the necklace around her neck. "The gifts aren't expensive. As long as everyone likes them, that's what matters," Imogen replied softly, pulling a gray tie from the box and holding it up near Rowan's neck. "That tie looks perfect. Imogen, help Rowan put it on," Scarlet urged deliberately. "I spent a long time picking this out for Rowan," Imogen said, clearly intending to show off how close she was with Rowan in front of the whole Payne family. Natalie was helping Matilda walk out of the inner room when she happened to see the scene in the living room. Imogen wasn't just adjusting Rowan's tie. Her arms were practically wrapped around his neck. "What's going on here?" Matilda's deep voice echoed through the room. Imogen immediately withdrew her hands and picked up a gift box from the coffee table, approaching Matilda with a polite smile. "Grandma, winters in Haxson City are cold. I thought you might like this scarf. Let me help you try it on," she said, taking it out of the box. "When did the Payne family suddenly gain a 'grandchild' with the last name Chapman?" Matilda asked calmly, her face stern. It was just a short sentence, but the word "grandchild" carried heavy weight. It didn't sound like a question but almost like an insult. Imogen froze, still holding the scarf. Then, she slowly put it back, her face flushing with embarrassment. Scarlet tried to speak up for her. "Mom, Imogen—" "Today's the Payne family dinner. Not just anyone can attend," Matilda cut her off sharply, giving Scarlet a cold glare. "Is this how you're supposed to manage the house?" "Rowan, why don't you go to a pet shop tomorrow and pick out a well-trained purebred dog?" Lucian said, grabbing an apple from the plate on the coffee table, tossing it lightly in his hand before handing it indulgently to Sarah. Rowan's face flushed with embarrassment, while Scarlet's eyes widened in shock. Matilda and Lucian were truly a mother-and-son pair. They didn't need to use curse words to insult anyone, yet she had just been called a watchdog. "Time to eat." Rowan's grandfather, Frank Payne, didn't take anyone's side or get involved. He simply got up from the couch and walked toward the main dining room. Imogen clearly wasn't welcome by Matilda and felt too embarrassed to follow them. Scarlet instructed the household staff to prepare a separate meal, and she and Rowan personally accompanied Imogen to eat in the small dining room. A moment later, Matilda quietly gave a message to the butler, Charlie Woodward. Charlie entered the small dining room and respectfully relayed her exact words. "Anyone who doesn't eat in the main dining room today will no longer be welcome to dine at the Payne residence in the future." Then he forced a smile and added, "Mrs. Payne, Mr. Payne, this is Mrs. Payne Senior's instruction." Scarlet's face twisted in anger. "Mom always favors Natalie, that shameless woman!" "Mrs. Payne, Rowan, you should eat in the main dining room. I'm fine," Imogen said, looking pitiful. "It's my fault for upsetting Mrs. Payne Senior. Please don't let me ruin the family harmony." "Dad, Grandma, you go eat in the main dining room. I'll stay here with Ms. Chapman. After all, I'm the Payne family's great-grandson. Great-Grandma would never stop me from coming to the Payne residence," Roger said as he carefully served some food onto Imogen's plate. Rowan comforted Imogen with a few words, then had no choice but to go to the main dining room with Scarlet. But before long, Roger came rushing into the main dining room in a panic. "Dad! Something's wrong! Ms. Chapman got a fish bone stuck while eating, and she's in so much pain! You need to go see her right now!" he cried. Hearing this, Rowan immediately put down his cutlery, stood up, and ran toward the small dining room. Matilda glanced at Natalie beside her. Natalie's expression remained calm and composed, completely unbothered, as she continued peeling shrimp for Sarah. She shook her head helplessly. It seemed that this couple's marriage was truly coming to an end. The only way out of the small dining room to the villa's exterior was through the main dining room, and Rowan dashed out, carrying Imogen in his arms, his face filled with panic. "Charlie, call the family doctor," Rowan said urgently. He gently placed Imogen onto the nearby couch. "Yes, right away," Charlie replied. Rowan suddenly thought of something and looked at Natalie, who was still eating. "Natalie, the last time Sarah had a fish bone stuck, what did you do? Come over and help Imogen deal with it quickly." Imogen clutched her throat as she kept coughing in pain, her face flushed bright red. "Rowan, I… feel so awful…" "I'm here. Nothing will happen to you," Rowan said as he sat on the couch and pulled Imogen into his arms. He glared at Natalie, who remained seated, and snapped, "Natalie, I'm talking to you." Natalie picked up a napkin and calmly wiped her hands. She looked up at the scene on the couch and found it almost laughable. So Rowan still remembered what had happened half a month ago, when Sarah had a fish bone stuck in her throat while eating fish. She had thought he was completely heartless, able to remain expressionless toward anyone. Now it seemed he was only indifferent to her and Sarah. If anything happened to his first love, Imogen, it instantly became a crisis. That day, Sarah had been in terrible pain, and Natalie had nearly lost her mind from panic. When she turned to Rowan for help, he replied casually that he wasn't a doctor and couldn't do anything, and that she should take Sarah to the hospital. And her own son, Roger, even said, "Sarah's just a little glutton. She has no proper manners. Serves her right for getting a fish bone stuck in her throat." Fortunately, Sabrina had suffered from mental illness for years, often getting minor injuries and eating all sorts of strange things. Natalie wasn't a doctor, but because of that, she knew some basic first-aid techniques and had managed to remove the fish bone from Sarah's throat using a small medical tweezer. "Mommy, hurry and help Ms. Chapman!" Roger shouted as he ran over and angrily tugged at Natalie's arm. "Mommy isn't a doctor! What help do you expect her to give?" Sarah snapped angrily, shoving Roger away. She puffed out her cheeks and glared at him. "Mommy, how can you be so cruel?" Roger yelled. "You clearly know what to do, but you won't help. You're cold and heartless! No wonder Daddy only likes Ms. Chapman and doesn't like—" Scarlet hurriedly covered Roger's mouth to stop him from saying another word.