Chapter 518
For the first time, Lauren saw a sharp, piercing look in her grandmother’s usually
kind eyes.
“Lauren, you are adopted. Ana is my biological granddaughter. Are you saying you have a problem with me giving my assets to her?”
Lauren forced a smile and looked down. “No, Grandma. I’m just sad. After all these years by your side, it seems I still can’t compete with a little bit of blood relation.”
“A *little bit of blood relation?” Mrs. Brennan’s brow furrowed. “Ana is the child of my most precious daughter, Cecilia. With Cecilia gone, Ana is all I have left of her. It is only right that I treasure her. Are you suggesting you are more important than her?”
“No!” Lauren denied it quickly, but the disappointment in her grandmother’s eyes was unmistakable. Lauren’s panicked words had revealed far too much.
Mrs. Brennan sighed deeply. “Lauren, have you forgotten why we adopted you? We took you in out of compassion and because we saw your talent. We intended to raise you as Ana’s future assistant.”
“It was only when it became clear that Ana couldn’t carry on Cecilia’s legacy that we decided to make you the heir to her medical knowledge.”
“You have been a part of this family for years. I have always treated you as one of my own.” Her voice turned cold. “But that does not mean you have the right to replace Ana and take everything that belongs to her!”
Lauren stood rigid, her face pale with humiliation. Mrs. Brennan had always been the softest, most loving member of the family. This rebuke was a stinging slap in the face.
“Your grandfather was right to have you stay home and reflect. You should use this time to think about.
what you
done
to
With that, Mrs. Brennan had Juliet help her from the room.
Lauren stood frozen, her fists clenched so tightly her knuckles were white.
Just then, Benson walked in.
She forced a pale smile. “Benson, Grandma was just saying
“I heard,” he cut in, his voice flat. “She’s right. You need to think about what you’ve done.” He pocketed his phone and walked past her without
Pother glance
Lauren watched him go, a sense of bitter defeat washing over her. As he moved, she caught a glimpse of his phone screen just before it went dark. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ
The screen saver was a picture of Anastasia.
Lauren’s eyes widened in shock.