Chapter 612
Every head at the table turned.
“Lauren, you’re here. Good. Come over. There’s something we need to discuss with you,” the old man said, his tone heavy, as if a final decision had been made.
A cold dread washed over Lauren as she walked toward them.
As she approached, the old woman and Murray felt a pang of regret. They should never have adopted her. If they hadn’t, Ana wouldn’t have misunderstood them, wouldn’t have grown so disillusioned, and their relationship wouldn’t be in its current fractured state. In the past, they might have suppressed such thoughts, but now, with their disappointment in Lauren complete, the feeling was overwhelming.
The old man watched her approach, choosing his words carefully. “The Brennan family has raised you for many years and has never mistreated you. We have done right by you.”
“If it were simply a matter of your skills not measuring up to Anastasia’s, we could have overlooked it. The family would have continued to provide for you. But your character is flawed, and you have repeatedly targeted Anastasia. For that, the Brennan family can no longer keep you.”
Lauren’s eyes instantly filled with tears. She bit her lip, her gaze sweeping over each member of the family. “So, because Anastasia is coming back, I have to leave? I have to give up everything? What were all my years in this family for? I thought… I thought I was already a Brennan. Was I just deluding myself?”
She let out a short, bitter laugh.
Juliet, who was overjoyed at the prospect of Anastasia reclaiming her rightful place, couldn’t hold back. “How dare you say that? What were your years here for? The family invested so much time and energy into you! Without the Brennans, you would be nothing. Isn’t that enough?”
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“You’re not even grateful, and now you’re accusing the family of being heartless? Are you saying they owe you a lifetime of support?” she continued, her voice rising. “And Grandpa already said, we could have let you stay, but we’re asking you to leave because of your vile character and the fact that you repeatedly tried to frame Anastasia!”
After spending so much time with Anastasia, Juliet’s verbal sparring skills had improved dramatically.
“And what do you mean, ‘give up everything’? Get it straight: everything you have ever had belonged to Anastasia in the first place!” ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsá´› ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ.net
Lauren’s face flushed with a mixture of anger and humiliation.
Benson glanced at her coolly. “Juliet is right.”
Juliet lifted her chin, triumphant.
“That is all we have to say,” the old man said, his voice weary. He had intended to say more, but Lauren’s accusations had snuffed out his fast bit of sympathy. This adopted child seemed rotten to the core. He had wanted to offer her some final advice
want of respect for their
shared history, but now he saw it would be futile.
“You were a child of this family for many years, Murray said calmly, “so of course, we won’t let you leave with nothing I’ve arranged for house to be purchased in your name. You won’t be without a place to live.” His tone was mild but firm; it was clear the decision had been made long ago. He had done this as a final act of decency.