Chapter 301

Ann Templeton seemed to be speaking up for Caitlin Kensington, but in truth, she’d already sullied Caitlin’s name more times than anyone cared to count.
Sally Lowell let out a cold snort. “If she has the nerve to do shameful things, why’s she so afraid of people talking about her?”
Honestly, it’s like wanting to play the saint after being caught red-handed. The world just doesn’t work that way.
Sally’s first impression of Caitlin hadn’t been bad at all.
But now?
Well, it was plummeting fast.
Married and divorced by nineteen, and unfaithful to her husband and family- honestly, you didn’t need to be a genius to figure out what kind of person she was.
Ann, alarmed, immediately covered Sally’s mouth. “Sally, don’t say things like that! What if Freya Gonzales-my cousin had her own reasons, things she couldn’t control?”
Sally pulled Ann’s hand away, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “No one forced her to do anything. Her choices, her consequences. If she betrayed her marriage and her family, that’s on her. Don’t try to make excuses her actions speak for themselves.”
Tammie Gonzales had struggled with depression for years because of her complicated family. She’d just started to get better, and now? With a cousin like Caitlin around, her old issues had come roaring back. Who knew when-or if— she’d recover this time.
The more Sally thought about it, the angrier she got. Turning to Ann, she couldn’t help but exclaim, “Ann, honestly, you’re too good. Having Freya for a cousin is more than anyone should have to bear!”
It really wasn’t fair.
Ann was talented at everything she put her hand to.
When Caitlin hadn’t been found yet, Ann was the sole heir to the Gonzales family. But now that Caitlin was back, Ann was just the cousin no longer the only one. Ann just smiled. “Sally, don’t say that. My grandmother spent her life waiting and hoping for Freya to come back. As long as she’s happy, that’s all that matters to me. No matter what kind of person Freya is, she’ll always be my family, and I’ll never turn my back on her.”
Ann’s words seemed harmless enough, but every syllable painted Caitlin as a manipulative flirt.
Then, as if to soften things, Ann added, “Sally, don’t judge Freya just because of all this. She really is a good girl at heart.” Googlᴇ search.net
Sally almost laughed at the performance. “Ann, you’re honestly too generous. If I had a cousin like yours, I’d lose my mind yet you’re still calling her a good girl!”
“Older sisters are supposed to look out for their younger ones,” Ann said, gently taking Sally’s hand. “Sally, no matter what, Freya’s my cousin. How could I ever talk about her behind her back? Honestly, Tammie is the same way-he promised not to care about Freya’s past, but clearly, he still does. If I’d known, I wouldn’t have told him the truth.”
Her words ended on a sigh, her face a perfect mask of guilt.
“Ann, this isn’t your fault,” Sally said, her eyes narrowing. “If anyone’s to blame, it’s Freya. Getting married young isn’t shameful, but being unfaithful and getting divorced? That’s disgraceful. And she still has the nerve to show up at an event like this? Just wait. I’ll wipe that smug look off her face!”
If Caitlin was going to make Tammie miserable, then Sally would make sure Caitlin got a taste of her own medicine.
Ann was practically cackling inside.
Serves her right! Sally wasn’t someone to cross-she’d do absolutely anything for Tammie.
This time, Caitlin was finished.
Outwardly, Ann feigned surprise, grabbing Sally’s arm. “Sally, what are you planning to do? Didn’t you promise me you wouldn’t hold Freya’s past against her?”
“Ann, don’t worry about what I’m going to do. Just remember-this has nothing to do with you.” With that, Sally shook off Ann’s hand and strode away.