Rosalie walked out of the hospital room, ignoring La''s frantic shouts.


    "Rosalie,e back! Come back now! You can''t leave!"


    La tried to get out of bed to chase after her, but her legs wouldn''t cooperate. All she could do was watch helplessly as Rosalie''s figure disappeared down the hallway.


    Once outside, Rosalie immediately called Reba. The phone rang only once before Reba''s kind and patient voice answered.


    "Rose, is that you? What''s the matter?"


    "Grandma, I need to ask you something, and I need you to be honest with me."


    Reba chuckled softly. "Of course, dear. What is it?"


    Rosalie took a deep breath. "Did Aunt La evere to see you?"


    There was a sudden silence on the other end.


    After a moment, Reba replied, "Why are you asking about this now?"


    "Grandma, please just answer my question. She dide to see you, didn''t she?"


    Reba sighed. "Yes, she did, but it was many years ago."


    Rosalie frowned. "Why didn''t you tell me? I had no idea."


    "Because you were still in school then, and I didn''t want to upset you. I knew your aunt hadn''t treated you well, so I handled it myself." "Grandma, you should have told me."


    "I know, but it''s all in the past now. If I had told you back then, it would have only caused you more stress. You were busy with your studies, and I didn''t want to affect your mood. I''m sorry."


    Rosalie sighed softly. "I''m not angry with you, Grandma. I understand you didn''t tell me because you were trying to protect me. But when she came to see you, it wasn''t out of concern for me, was it? Did she ask you for money?"


    Reba hesitated before admitting, "Yes, she did. She asked for fifty thousand."


    "Fifty thousand?" Rosalie was stunned. "She actually asked for that much? Did you give it to her?"


    "I did," Reba replied.


    "Grandma, you shouldn''t have given her that much! She''s a gambler; she would have blown through it in no time."


    "I know," Reba said. "When I saw


    her, I knew exactly what kind of person she was. But I did it for you. I was worried she''d keep bothering you. I told her very clearly that I would only give her money once. 1 said t that if she ever came to the Spencers again, I would make sure she regretted it. She hasn''t appeared since then. But now that you''re asking about it, I assume she''s been bothering you again. Tell me where she is, and I''ll handle it."


    "I ran into her by ident, Grandma. She was injured, so I paid her medical bills."


    "I see. It might not have been an ident. She could have been trying to find you."


    Rosalie sighed. "I''m not sure."


    Running into La could only mean trouble.


    "Rose, don''t worry about her. She''s a bottomless pit. Which hospital is she in? I''ll go talk to her myself and make sure she never bothers you again." "Grandma, I''ll try to handle this myself. Please don''t worry."Còntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Rosalie didn''t want to burden her grandmother with her family issues. The Spencers had already been more than generous. Reba didn''t have to give La anything. Fifty thousand dors was a huge sum, and Reba had given it for her sake.


    "Alright, but if anything happens, remember to tell me. I''ll always be here for you. Don''t keep things to yourself. We''re family. No matter what happens between you and Theo, the Spencers will always be your family. I believe he feels the same way," Reba said,


    "Alright. I understand, Grandma."


    After hanging up, Rosalie let out a deep sigh.