Chapter 1426

Maria noticed her daughter's disdainful tone and hurriedly said, "Ree, you weren't there, so you wouldn't understand. The doctor is amazing. Of all the doctors, only he diagnosed Tasia's poisoning and the unusual cause of her obesity. And since she started his prescription, she's improving."

"Oh, yeah? How so?" Rhea smirked, her expression unreadable.

Maria found her daughter's reaction odd but dismissed it. Rhea rarely showed concern for Anastasia, and since she was talking, Maria continued, "She looks slimmer, though a heavy person can lose weight quickly. But her spirits are better. She used to seem unwell whenever I spoke to her, but not anymore. Still, I find your uncle's house strange. Every time I go there, it feels...wrong. I just haven't gotten used to it yet."

She chuckled, noting the emptiness of the house, almost as if it had been robbed. Rhea's curiosity was piqued by her mother's smile.

"Why aren't you used to it? What's changed?"

"The house is the same, but the plants you asked me to send over are gone," Maria said casually.

"Gone?!" Rhea sprang to her feet, startling Maria.

Maria hadn't anticipated such a strong reaction. Thinking Rhea cared about the plants, she hastened to add, "Calm down! They weren't stolen; they were lent out temporarily. They'll be back."

"Lent out? To whom?" Rhea remained standing, agitated, a display of emotion unusual for her.

"You...calm down, okay?" Maria tried to soothe her. "I think Tasia said she lent them to Lily Russell. Lily works with raw materials, so maybe she found them useful. Tasia is so naive; she listens to everything that woman says. I've told her not to spend so much time with Lily, but she never listens..."

Maria paused, studying her daughter's face. Rhea was clearly angry.

"Are the plants important? Should I tell Tasia to get them back?"

"There's no need!" Rhea sat down, her face rigid, though her anger was evident.

Maria knew her daughter didn't mean it. "If they're useful, we should get them back. Lily only borrowed them; we can ask for them back! If you needed the plants, why give them to Tasia in the first place? You should have kept them. You really do care about Tasia, even if you don't act like it. That's why you gave her the good things, isn't it? Oh, Ree, you're so kind-hearted."

Maria felt touched, thinking her daughter an angel. "I'll go get them back later!"

Before she could say more, Rhea interrupted sharply.

"I said there's no need! Can't you understand?!"

Maria was astonished by her daughter's outburst. She stared at Rhea, speechless.

Rhea noticed her mother's shocked expression and sighed, softening her tone slightly while furrowing her brow. "I mean, there's no need. Since I gave the plants to Anastasia, it doesn't matter who she gives them to."

"Oh..." Maria, still shaken, responded dully. Her shock lingered.