Chapter 987

Margaret, downstairs enjoying a snack, sensed Heather's rejection of her son the moment she saw him descend, dejected. Glancing upstairs, she softly asked, "Is Heather staying there?"

"Yeah."

"So, she isn't staying in the same room as you?"

"Yeah. Huh?"

Ralph looked up, surprised. He frowned. "Mom, how can you make fun of me too?!"

"Silly boy, I'm not making fun of you. I'm helping you find a way to get closer to her."

She slowly took a bite of peach cake before replying, "You said you'd captured Ms. Riggs's heart. I honestly thought you were competent. You've been to many romantic places, dated many women. How come you can't handle this? Look at yourself. Even if you inherited the Russell family fortune, could you manage it well?"

Margaret sighed, feeling helpless. He was her favorite son, born when she was in her late forties, a decision she'd hesitated over but ultimately embraced. Hugo, her husband, had raised their eldest son elsewhere, resulting in a distant relationship. Her other children were either playboys or rebellious. Ralph, however, had given her the joy of motherhood. She'd lavished him with love and attention, initially expecting him to inherit the Russell family assets. However, Hugo favored their eldest son, even insisting on passing the inheritance to Alexander after his death.

Margaret found this ridiculous, arguing with her husband repeatedly, though she dared not overstep. She possessed a secret book, a comfort that made her feel her decades with her husband weren't in vain.

"Mom, you don't believe in me either, do you? I wouldn't be in this position, needing marriage and a woman's support, if it weren't for my father's favoritism," Ralph complained, frustration evident.

Margaret's heart softened. She always felt sorry for him. "Alright, your father may have favored him, but he didn't leave you nothing. Did you carefully examine what I gave you? Have you looked into it?"

"What's there to look into? Just strange words I can't understand. I thought it was a treasure! A map would have been better than that useless thing!"

Margaret had mysteriously given Ralph the book. He'd initially believed it a treasure, trying various decryption methods—soaking it, heating it—before giving up. He'd concluded his father had tricked him and discarded it. He couldn't even remember where it was.

"Your father considered that book a treasure. If I hadn't secretly taken it while he was incapacitated, I wouldn't have had the chance to see it. You don't understand it because you haven't decrypted it. But I'm sure there's a big secret inside."

"Another great treasure? I'm tired of hearing it, Mom. I have a great treasure in front of me now. Keeping that safe is more important." Ralph grabbed a handful of nuts. "Mom, you're a woman too. What does it mean when a woman treats you well one time, then terribly the next?" He asked, uncertain.