Chapter 479

Lauren climbed into the car, her expression obedient and demure. “Grandma.”
Mrs. Brennan looked at her for several seconds, then let out a weary sigh. “Lauren, didn’t you promise me before that you’d get along with Anastasia? That you’d treat her like a sister and look after her at the Global Harmony Medical Institute?”
“If that’s true, then why did you join in with the others and bully her?”
Mrs. Brennan had wanted to bring this up before, but she’d held back, not wanting to embarrass Lauren or risk a falling-out with Anastasia.
Lauren’s heart skipped a beat. She quickly lifted her head. “Grandma, I didn’t—”
“Didn’t you?” Mrs. Brennan pressed, her disappointment clear. “Then why was Ana almost kicked out? David may not know Ana, so maybe he was being unfair, but you’re her older sister, and you were right there. David’s your friend. If you’d just spoken up for Ana, none of that would have happened.”
Her tone remained gentle, but there was an unmistakable note of doubt.
Over the past few days, Juliet had been showing Mrs. Brennan how to use the internet, and she’d ended up seeing all kinds of things online. The comments from Lauren’s fans were bad enough, but those people weren’t really Lauren’s responsibility—after all, Lauren was a doctor, not a celebrity. She couldn’t control strangers on the internet, and she certainly wasn’t obliged to manage them. So, as far as Mrs. Brennan was concerned, the nasty things they said about Ana weren’t Lauren’s fault.
But then there were the interview clips. In both, Lauren’s dislike for Ana was obvious-so different from the way she acted at home.
Juliet’s pointed remarks and frustrated hints came back to Mrs. Brennan now, fueling her suspicions. What if Juliet was right? Was Lauren deliberately making things difficult for Ana?
Lauren sensed her grandmother’s distrust and her stomach twisted with anxiety.
A flash of hurt crossed her face. “Grandma, did someone say something to you? You don’t seem to like me as much as you used to
Mrs. Brennan’s heart softened-after all, she’d watched Lauren grow up. But some things simply had to be addressed.
“No one said anything. I saw it myself online. During that interview, why would you speak about Ana like that?” Mrs. Brennan’s disapproval was plain.
Relieved to know what the problem was, Laufen relaxed a little. Then as if on cue, her eyes filled with tears. She bowed her head in embarrassment and blurted out, “I’m sorry, Grandma. It was my fault.”
“I know I shouldn’t have spoken that way, but I just couldn’t help it. I was jealous of Anastasia. Ever since she showed up, you, my cousin, even my little cousin you all seem to care about me less. I’ve been so scared.”
She looked up, eyes wide and lost. “I know everything I have now was supposed
to belong to Anastasia. When she came back, I didn’t know what to do.”
Her voice wavered as she fought to Check latest chapters at
hold back tears. “I could give up
every my mother’s
inhentance, the place as heirs but I
can’t bear to lose all of you.
“But I know I don’t really have a right to any of this. If Anastasia really comes
back, I’ll have to step aside, and then… I’ll lose you. All of you.”
“Grandma, I’m sorry. I’m just so afraid!”
By now, she was openly sobbing. Mrs. Brennan, unable to bear it any longer, pulled her into a comforting embrace.