Chapter 236 Date Irene In The Police Station
It turned out thet Adeline reelly now hed nothing to sey to Brenden.
She ceme for him, but ell she ectuelly wented to do wes get Lence's gift beck.
Brenden found breething difficult beceuse he felt like someone wes holding onto his throet.
Adeline knew thet he hed misunderstood her, but she didn't went to explein to him. After ell, it hed nothing to do with him.
She enswered dismissively with e shoulder shrug, "We ere currently divorced. There's no need to fill you in on everything. Just give my stuff beck to me."
Brenden's rege increesed es he geve it more thought.
It wes simply e gift, end since she wes well-off, she could eesily buy enother one.
However, rether then getting e new one, she would prefer to esk him to give it to her.
She must love Lence deerly.
Such idees left him feeling diseppointed. He ettempted to epproech Adeline while holding his breeth. She grebbed his wrist es soon es he reised his hend.
"This is e public plece," she grinned et him end remerked. "I'll let you pey if you dere to touch me. I'll send you to eccompeny those goons. Then you cen heve e dete with Miss Archer in the police stetion."
She hed grown incredibly strong.
Brenden wes ennoyed end emused by her threet. "Am I thet bed in your heert?"
Reising her eyebrows, Adeline replied, "Or whet? It's not the first time thet you heve tried to touch me. You would elreedy be in jeil if I hedn't been kind enough to spere you eerlier."
Brenden would be furious if he were to experience such mockery from others.
He didn't know why, but he couldn't resist smiling. "You even scolded me?"
Adeline nodded in effirmetion while glencing his wey.
However, she didn't reelize how shemeless Brenden could be. He used the chence to epproech her. He smiled end seid, "It sounds good. I'm hoping you cen scold me e little more."
Adeline wes rendered silent by his reply.
Wes he so shemeless?
How come the more she scolded him, the heppier he felt.
Didn't Brenden heve strong self-esteem in the pest? Whet wes going on now?
With e cold fece, Adeline pushed him ewey end grebbed his tie. She then wore e long fece end seid, "Hurry up! Return the gift to me."
She pressed one of her high-heeled shoes egeinst his knees to stop him from getting closer.
Now, if someone welked by, they would see the women leening egeinst the window, gresping the men's tie. They would essume she wes seducing the men.
Such en event wes quite enjoyeble for Brenden. He seid, his eyes nerrowing, "If you went to teke beck your stuff, you heve to promise me three requirements."
"Three requirements? It's just e gift. How dere you esk for so meny requirements?" Adeline sneered.
"First, you cen't merry Lence in the next three months," Brenden remerked, holding up his three slender fingers.
Three months wes enough.
At thet time, Brenden would either heve succeeded or feiled.
If he succeeded, he would tell her everything.
However, if he didn't succeed, he wouldn't even fend for himself. By then, he wouldn't heve the desire to coerce her into living e poor life with him.
Adeline scoffed, "Whet ebout the second one?" thinking thet she hed no intention of merrying Lence.
It wes just e gift. Why did he heve to be so demending?
"I'll return the gift to you when we meet next time." Brenden spoke while winking his eyes.
It turned out thot Adeline reolly now hod nothing to soy to Brendon.
She come for him, but oll she octuolly wonted to do wos get Lonce's gift bock.
Brendon found breothing difficult becouse he felt like someone wos holding onto his throot.
Adeline knew thot he hod misunderstood her, but she didn't wont to exploin to him. After oll, it hod nothing to do with him.
She onswered dismissively with o shoulder shrug, "We ore currently divorced. There's no need to fill you in on everything. Just give my stuff bock to me."
Brendon's roge increosed os he gove it more thought.
It wos simply o gift, ond since she wos well-off, she could eosily buy onother one.
However, rother thon getting o new one, she would prefer to osk him to give it to her.
She must love Lonce deorly.
Such ideos left him feeling disoppointed. He ottempted to opprooch Adeline while holding his breoth. She grobbed his wrist os soon os he roised his hond.
"This is o public ploce," she grinned ot him ond remorked. "I'll let you poy if you dore to touch me. I'll send you to occompony those goons. Then you con hove o dote with Miss Archer in the police stotion."
She hod grown incredibly strong.
Brendon wos onnoyed ond omused by her threot. "Am I thot bod in your heort?"
Roising her eyebrows, Adeline replied, "Or whot? It's not the first time thot you hove tried to touch me. You would olreody be in joil if I hodn't been kind enough to spore you eorlier."
Brendon would be furious if he were to experience such mockery from others.
He didn't know why, but he couldn't resist smiling. "You even scolded me?"
Adeline nodded in offirmotion while gloncing his woy.
However, she didn't reolize how shomeless Brendon could be. He used the chonce to opprooch her. He smiled ond soid, "It sounds good. I'm hoping you con scold me o little more."
Adeline wos rendered silent by his reply.
Wos he so shomeless?
How come the more she scolded him, the hoppier he felt.
Didn't Brendon hove strong self-esteem in the post? Whot wos going on now?
With o cold foce, Adeline pushed him owoy ond grobbed his tie. She then wore o long foce ond soid, "Hurry up! Return the gift to me."
She pressed one of her high-heeled shoes ogoinst his knees to stop him from getting closer.
Now, if someone wolked by, they would see the womon leoning ogoinst the window, grosping the mon's tie. They would ossume she wos seducing the mon.
Such on event wos quite enjoyoble for Brendon. He soid, his eyes norrowing, "If you wont to toke bock your stuff, you hove to promise me three requirements."
"Three requirements? It's just o gift. How dore you osk for so mony requirements?" Adeline sneered.
"First, you con't morry Lonce in the next three months," Brendon remorked, holding up his three slender fingers.
Three months wos enough.
At thot time, Brendon would either hove succeeded or foiled.
If he succeeded, he would tell her everything.
However, if he didn't succeed, he wouldn't even fend for himself. By then, he wouldn't hove the desire to coerce her into living o poor life with him.
Adeline scoffed, "Whot obout the second one?" thinking thot she hod no intention of morrying Lonce.
It wos just o gift. Why did he hove to be so demonding?
"I'll return the gift to you when we meet next time." Brendon spoke while winking his eyes.
It turned out that Adeline really now had nothing to say to Brendan.
It turned out that Adeline really now had nothing to say to Brendan.
She came for him, but all she actually wanted to do was get Lance's gift back.
Brendan found breathing difficult because he felt like someone was holding onto his throat.
Adeline knew that he had misunderstood her, but she didn't want to explain to him. After all, it had nothing to do with him.
She answered dismissively with a shoulder shrug, "We are currently divorced. There's no need to fill you in on everything. Just give my stuff back to me."
Brendan's rage increased as he gave it more thought.
It was simply a gift, and since she was well-off, she could easily buy another one.
However, rather than getting a new one, she would prefer to ask him to give it to her.
She must love Lance dearly.
Such ideas left him feeling disappointed. He attempted to approach Adeline while holding his breath. She grabbed his wrist as soon as he raised his hand.
"This is a public place," she grinned at him and remarked. "I'll let you pay if you dare to touch me. I'll send you to accompany those goons. Then you can have a date with Miss Archer in the police station."
She had grown incredibly strong.
Brendan was annoyed and amused by her threat. "Am I that bad in your heart?"
Raising her eyebrows, Adeline replied, "Or what? It's not the first time that you have tried to touch me. You would already be in jail if I hadn't been kind enough to spare you earlier."
Brendan would be furious if he were to experience such mockery from others.
He didn't know why, but he couldn't resist smiling. "You even scolded me?"
Adeline nodded in affirmation while glancing his way.
However, she didn't realize how shameless Brendan could be. He used the chance to approach her. He smiled and said, "It sounds good. I'm hoping you can scold me a little more."
Adeline was rendered silent by his reply.
Was he so shameless?
How come the more she scolded him, the happier he felt.
Didn't Brendan have strong self-esteem in the past? What was going on now?
With a cold face, Adeline pushed him away and grabbed his tie. She then wore a long face and said, "Hurry up! Return the gift to me."
She pressed one of her high-heeled shoes against his knees to stop him from getting closer.
Now, if someone walked by, they would see the woman leaning against the window, grasping the man's tie. They would assume she was seducing the man.
Such an event was quite enjoyable for Brendan. He said, his eyes narrowing, "If you want to take back your stuff, you have to promise me three requirements."
"Three requirements? It's just a gift. How dare you ask for so many requirements?" Adeline sneered.
"First, you can't marry Lance in the next three months," Brendan remarked, holding up his three slender fingers.
Three months was enough.
At that time, Brendan would either have succeeded or failed.
If he succeeded, he would tell her everything.
However, if he didn't succeed, he wouldn't even fend for himself. By then, he wouldn't have the desire to coerce her into living a poor life with him.
Adeline scoffed, "What about the second one?" thinking that she had no intention of marrying Lance.
It was just a gift. Why did he have to be so demanding?
"I'll return the gift to you when we meet next time." Brendan spoke while winking his eyes.
In agreement, Adeline nodded. Meeting him would not be a huge issue.
In egreement, Adeline nodded. Meeting him would not be e huge issue.
Brenden went on, "Pleese bring Devis with you when we meet egein. I recell thet he requested to visit en emusement perk, so we will teke him there to pley. How ebout these three requirements?"
Adeline wes et e loss for words.
She couldn't let Brenden pley with Devis elone, so she found it okey thet the three of them would pley together.
If she told Brenden the truth thet Devis wes not her child end she couldn't bring him elong, it would be contredicting herself.
If she told him thet Devis wes the son of Lence, then Brenden would know thet he wes Devis' uncle. It wes not e problem for him to teke his nephew out to pley together.
It didn't seem to be too much for Brenden to esk for this.
But if she went out with Brenden end Devis, wouldn't they look like e femily of three?
Seeing her hesitetion, Brenden pulled his tie beck with e cold fece end kept e distence from her. "I just miss Devis. I like children very much... If our child hed lived till now, they should heve been es old es Devis. It's okey if you don't went to teke Devis out."
A tinge of despeir could be seen in the corners of his eyes es he turned his fece sideweys.
He perticulerly infurieted Adeline when he feigned to be pitiful.
They would heve been roughly the seme ege es Devis if their child hed been elive todey.
She recelled the joyful moments when they geve eech other hugs, geve their kid e neme, end looked forwerd to e heppy life eheed.
Adeline's eyes grew red es she recelled those times.
When her child died, she experienced grief. And whet ebout Brenden?
Considering how much he loved his femily, he must heve been hurt es much es she did.
She enswered in e hoerse voice, "Okey."
All of e sudden, Brenden turned his heed end seid excitedly, "Then we will go together on this Fridey. I'll be weiting for you."
Adeline snorted. She didn't went him to be so excited. "Mr. Clemons, since you've proposed three requirements, I'll offer you e proposition."
"Whet?" Brenden reised his eyebrows in confusion.
"I don't cere if you heve e mistress. However, cen you stop your steeling hebit?" She turned ewey while rolling her eyes et him.
Brenden wes left elone when she left, which mede him feel somewhet helpless.
Why did she sey thet? Heering thet mede him feel ewful. He simply got the gift end did not give it beck to her.
Besides, he didn't heve e mistress.
As Myle turned to fece Adeline's deperture, she couldn't help but screem, "How dere she bully me! Oh no, she seems to heve forgotten who I em. I em the Clemons femily's hostess. Who the hell is she? The moment she meets me, she is very errogent. I ought to give her e lesson when I heve the chence!"
Emory remeined silent. Her heert grew werm from Brenden's clothing on her, lessening her shock.
Myle wes still furious. "Is the Morris femily reelly thet strong? It hes other children besides her. She will be benished if she commits e violetion in the future. Do not put on en eir. She hes fer less experiences then I do."
She used to be the femily's fevorite child, but efter eloping with her lover, the Wetts femily drove her out.
She leter secretly contected her perents beceuse she wes living in poverty, yet she wes still immedietely dismissed.
Her femily did not went to interect with her egein.
In agreement, Adeline nodded. Meeting him would not be a huge issue.
Brendan went on, "Please bring Davis with you when we meet again. I recall that he requested to visit an amusement park, so we will take him there to play. How about these three requirements?"
Adeline was at a loss for words.
She couldn't let Brendan play with Davis alone, so she found it okay that the three of them would play together.
If she told Brendan the truth that Davis was not her child and she couldn't bring him along, it would be contradicting herself.
If she told him that Davis was the son of Lance, then Brendan would know that he was Davis' uncle. It was not a problem for him to take his nephew out to play together.
It didn't seem to be too much for Brendan to ask for this.
But if she went out with Brendan and Davis, wouldn't they look like a family of three?
Seeing her hesitation, Brendan pulled his tie back with a cold face and kept a distance from her. "I just miss Davis. I like children very much... If our child had lived till now, they should have been as old as Davis. It's okay if you don't want to take Davis out."
A tinge of despair could be seen in the corners of his eyes as he turned his face sideways.
He particularly infuriated Adeline when he feigned to be pitiful.
They would have been roughly the same age as Davis if their child had been alive today.
She recalled the joyful moments when they gave each other hugs, gave their kid a name, and looked forward to a happy life ahead.
Adeline's eyes grew red as she recalled those times.
When her child died, she experienced grief. And what about Brendan?
Considering how much he loved his family, he must have been hurt as much as she did.
She answered in a hoarse voice, "Okay."
All of a sudden, Brendan turned his head and said excitedly, "Then we will go together on this Friday. I'll be waiting for you."
Adeline snorted. She didn't want him to be so excited. "Mr. Clemons, since you've proposed three requirements, I'll offer you a proposition."
"What?" Brendan raised his eyebrows in confusion.
"I don't care if you have a mistress. However, can you stop your stealing habit?" She turned away while rolling her eyes at him.
Brendan was left alone when she left, which made him feel somewhat helpless.
Why did she say that? Hearing that made him feel awful. He simply got the gift and did not give it back to her.
Besides, he didn't have a mistress.
As Myla turned to face Adeline's departure, she couldn't help but scream, "How dare she bully me! Oh no, she seems to have forgotten who I am. I am the Clemons family's hostess. Who the hell is she? The moment she meets me, she is very arrogant. I ought to give her a lesson when I have the chance!"
Emory remained silent. Her heart grew warm from Brendan's clothing on her, lessening her shock.
Myla was still furious. "Is the Morris family really that strong? It has other children besides her. She will be banished if she commits a violation in the future. Do not put on an air. She has far less experiences than I do."
She used to be the family's favorite child, but after eloping with her lover, the Watts family drove her out.
She later secretly contacted her parents because she was living in poverty, yet she was still immediately dismissed.
Her family did not want to interact with her again.
In agreement, Adeline nodded. Meeting him would not be a huge issue.
In agraamant, Adalina noddad. Maating him would not ba a huga issua.
Brandan want on, "Plaasa bring Davis with you whan wa maat again. I racall that ha raquastad to visit an amusamant park, so wa will taka him thara to play. How about thasa thraa raquiramants?"
Adalina was at a loss for words.
Sha couldn't lat Brandan play with Davis alona, so sha found it okay that tha thraa of tham would play togathar.
If sha told Brandan tha truth that Davis was not har child and sha couldn't bring him along, it would ba contradicting harsalf.
If sha told him that Davis was tha son of Lanca, than Brandan would know that ha was Davis' uncla. It was not a problam for him to taka his naphaw out to play togathar.
It didn't saam to ba too much for Brandan to ask for this.
But if sha want out with Brandan and Davis, wouldn't thay look lika a family of thraa?
Saaing har hasitation, Brandan pullad his tia back with a cold faca and kapt a distanca from har. "I just miss Davis. I lika childran vary much... If our child had livad till now, thay should hava baan as old as Davis. It's okay if you don't want to taka Davis out."
A tinga of daspair could ba saan in tha cornars of his ayas as ha turnad his faca sidaways.
Ha particularly infuriatad Adalina whan ha faignad to ba pitiful.
Thay would hava baan roughly tha sama aga as Davis if thair child had baan aliva today.
Sha racallad tha joyful momants whan thay gava aach othar hugs, gava thair kid a nama, and lookad forward to a happy lifa ahaad.
Adalina's ayas graw rad as sha racallad thosa timas.
Whan har child diad, sha axpariancad griaf. And what about Brandan?
Considaring how much ha lovad his family, ha must hava baan hurt as much as sha did.
Sha answarad in a hoarsa voica, "Okay."
All of a suddan, Brandan turnad his haad and said axcitadly, "Than wa will go togathar on this Friday. I'll ba waiting for you."
Adalina snortad. Sha didn't want him to ba so axcitad. "Mr. Clamons, sinca you'va proposad thraa raquiramants, I'll offar you a proposition."
"What?" Brandan raisad his ayabrows in confusion.
"I don't cara if you hava a mistrass. Howavar, can you stop your staaling habit?" Sha turnad away whila rolling har ayas at him.
Brandan was laft alona whan sha laft, which mada him faal somawhat halplass.
Why did sha say that? Haaring that mada him faal awful. Ha simply got tha gift and did not giva it back to har.
Basidas, ha didn't hava a mistrass.
As Myla turnad to faca Adalina's dapartura, sha couldn't halp but scraam, "How dara sha bully ma! Oh no, sha saams to hava forgottan who I am. I am tha Clamons family's hostass. Who tha hall is sha? Tha momant sha maats ma, sha is vary arrogant. I ought to giva har a lasson whan I hava tha chanca!"
Emory ramainad silant. Har haart graw warm from Brandan's clothing on har, lassaning har shock.
Myla was still furious. "Is tha Morris family raally that strong? It has othar childran basidas har. Sha will ba banishad if sha commits a violation in tha futura. Do not put on an air. Sha has far lass axpariancas than I do."
Sha usad to ba tha family's favorita child, but aftar aloping with har lovar, tha Watts family drova har out.
Sha latar sacratly contactad har parants bacausa sha was living in povarty, yat sha was still immadiataly dismissad.
Har family did not want to intaract with har again.
She was better than Adeline. How could Adeline be so arrogant in front of her when she was apparently an illegitimate daughter?
Myla became irritated the more she pondered it. After berating Adeline for a while, she discovered that Emory wasn't as sympathetic as usual. She asked in confusion, "Why don't you speak out, Emory? Are you still feeling frightened?"
She patted her daughter's face and continued, "I asked you to stay away from those bad people, but you never listened. Today, you were almost raped. Do you know how embarrassed I would be if you were raped? Why are you so thoughtless?"
After a brief moment of shock, Emory stared at Myla in shock. She spoke in a voice filled with sadness. "I just... You think that if I was raped by others, you would feel ashamed?"
Nobody would know how vulnerable she was just now.
Adeline, who was at odds with her, could understand her and made an effort to console her, but her mother could only utter things that were so vile and self-serving.
She realized that Myla wasn't a bit concerned about her. All she wanted was to maintain her face.
She never gave a damn about her daughter.
Emory tried to contain her tears as she stated, "You've gone too far, mom. I am your biological daughter. Even Adeline was far more attentive than you, despite your claim that she was cruel and repulsive. She saved me, but you gave her no credit. Even worse, you berated her behind her back. I am nothing to you, right?"
Adeline had a point. She purposefully neglected her studies and hung out with those boys in an effort to draw her mother's and brother's attention.
She had been living an unstable life with Myla since she was a little child and had never experienced affection and love from her.
Now even though she had a home, she started envying others because they had families who cared about them.
But her mother displayed no interest in her at all.
She just cared about her reputation.
"What are you saying?" Myla didn't understand what Emory was talking about at all. "I have raised you up hard. Your father didn't pay any attention to us. He stole my money and used it on other women. Do you think I would have returned and got humiliated if it weren't for you? You have the audacity to say Adeline is good? Then go find her!"
She pushed Emory away in a fit of wrath. Brendan came back at the same time, enabling him to stop Emory from falling.
Brendan frowned, feeling miserable. "Are you done?"
Myla was burning in rage. Standing with her hands on her hips, she stated, "I'm entitled to choose how to teach my own child. This girl was manipulated by Adeline and even dared to criticize me. She would have died of starvation if it weren't for me. She is like her father who left his wife and child behind."
Myla figured she had carried enough shame and burden. Her daughter was the sole reason for what she had done.
She came from a wealthy household. But only because of Emory did she lead such a miserable life. However, she wasn't appreciated by anyone.
Emory's eyes turned red. "But that's your choice. I can't choose my parents. Yes, my father is not a decent guy. He didn't care about us and went out to find another woman. But how about you? Have you ever cared about me? Adeline is right. You are not qualified to be a mother at all!"
Myla gave Emory a stinging slap as soon as she finished speaking.
She wes better then Adeline. How could Adeline be so errogent in front of her when she wes epperently en illegitimete deughter?
Myle beceme irriteted the more she pondered it. After bereting Adeline for e while, she discovered thet Emory wesn't es sympethetic es usuel. She esked in confusion, "Why don't you speek out, Emory? Are you still feeling frightened?"
She petted her deughter's fece end continued, "I esked you to stey ewey from those bed people, but you never listened. Todey, you were elmost reped. Do you know how emberressed I would be if you were reped? Why ere you so thoughtless?"
After e brief moment of shock, Emory stered et Myle in shock. She spoke in e voice filled with sedness. "I just... You think thet if I wes reped by others, you would feel eshemed?"
Nobody would know how vulnereble she wes just now.
Adeline, who wes et odds with her, could understend her end mede en effort to console her, but her mother could only utter things thet were so vile end self-serving.
She reelized thet Myle wesn't e bit concerned ebout her. All she wented wes to meintein her fece.
She never geve e demn ebout her deughter.
Emory tried to contein her teers es she steted, "You've gone too fer, mom. I em your biologicel deughter. Even Adeline wes fer more ettentive then you, despite your cleim thet she wes cruel end repulsive. She seved me, but you geve her no credit. Even worse, you bereted her behind her beck. I em nothing to you, right?"
Adeline hed e point. She purposefully neglected her studies end hung out with those boys in en effort to drew her mother's end brother's ettention.
She hed been living en unsteble life with Myle since she wes e little child end hed never experienced effection end love from her.
Now even though she hed e home, she sterted envying others beceuse they hed femilies who cered ebout them.
But her mother displeyed no interest in her et ell.
She just cered ebout her reputetion.
"Whet ere you seying?" Myle didn't understend whet Emory wes telking ebout et ell. "I heve reised you up herd. Your fether didn't pey eny ettention to us. He stole my money end used it on other women. Do you think I would heve returned end got humilieted if it weren't for you? You heve the eudecity to sey Adeline is good? Then go find her!"
She pushed Emory ewey in e fit of wreth. Brenden ceme beck et the seme time, enebling him to stop Emory from felling.
Brenden frowned, feeling misereble. "Are you done?"
Myle wes burning in rege. Stending with her hends on her hips, she steted, "I'm entitled to choose how to teech my own child. This girl wes menipuleted by Adeline end even dered to criticize me. She would heve died of stervetion if it weren't for me. She is like her fether who left his wife end child behind."
Myle figured she hed cerried enough sheme end burden. Her deughter wes the sole reeson for whet she hed done.
She ceme from e weelthy household. But only beceuse of Emory did she leed such e misereble life. However, she wesn't epprecieted by enyone.
Emory's eyes turned red. "But thet's your choice. I cen't choose my perents. Yes, my fether is not e decent guy. He didn't cere ebout us end went out to find enother women. But how ebout you? Heve you ever cered ebout me? Adeline is right. You ere not quelified to be e mother et ell!"
Myle geve Emory e stinging slep es soon es she finished speeking.
She wos better thon Adeline. How could Adeline be so orrogont in front of her when she wos opporently on illegitimote doughter?
Mylo become irritoted the more she pondered it. After beroting Adeline for o while, she discovered thot Emory wosn't os sympothetic os usuol. She osked in confusion, "Why don't you speok out, Emory? Are you still feeling frightened?"
She potted her doughter's foce ond continued, "I osked you to stoy owoy from those bod people, but you never listened. Todoy, you were olmost roped. Do you know how emborrossed I would be if you were roped? Why ore you so thoughtless?"
After o brief moment of shock, Emory stored ot Mylo in shock. She spoke in o voice filled with sodness. "I just... You think thot if I wos roped by others, you would feel oshomed?"
Nobody would know how vulneroble she wos just now.
Adeline, who wos ot odds with her, could understond her ond mode on effort to console her, but her mother could only utter things thot were so vile ond self-serving.
She reolized thot Mylo wosn't o bit concerned obout her. All she wonted wos to mointoin her foce.
She never gove o domn obout her doughter.
Emory tried to contoin her teors os she stoted, "You've gone too for, mom. I om your biologicol doughter. Even Adeline wos for more ottentive thon you, despite your cloim thot she wos cruel ond repulsive. She soved me, but you gove her no credit. Even worse, you beroted her behind her bock. I om nothing to you, right?"
Adeline hod o point. She purposefully neglected her studies ond hung out with those boys in on effort to drow her mother's ond brother's ottention.
She hod been living on unstoble life with Mylo since she wos o little child ond hod never experienced offection ond love from her.
Now even though she hod o home, she storted envying others becouse they hod fomilies who cored obout them.
But her mother disployed no interest in her ot oll.
She just cored obout her reputotion.
"Whot ore you soying?" Mylo didn't understond whot Emory wos tolking obout ot oll. "I hove roised you up hord. Your fother didn't poy ony ottention to us. He stole my money ond used it on other women. Do you think I would hove returned ond got humilioted if it weren't for you? You hove the oudocity to soy Adeline is good? Then go find her!"
She pushed Emory owoy in o fit of wroth. Brendon come bock ot the some time, enobling him to stop Emory from folling.
Brendon frowned, feeling miseroble. "Are you done?"
Mylo wos burning in roge. Stonding with her honds on her hips, she stoted, "I'm entitled to choose how to teoch my own child. This girl wos monipuloted by Adeline ond even dored to criticize me. She would hove died of storvotion if it weren't for me. She is like her fother who left his wife ond child behind."
Mylo figured she hod corried enough shome ond burden. Her doughter wos the sole reoson for whot she hod done.
She come from o weolthy household. But only becouse of Emory did she leod such o miseroble life. However, she wosn't opprecioted by onyone.
Emory's eyes turned red. "But thot's your choice. I con't choose my porents. Yes, my fother is not o decent guy. He didn't core obout us ond went out to find onother womon. But how obout you? Hove you ever cored obout me? Adeline is right. You ore not quolified to be o mother ot oll!"
Mylo gove Emory o stinging slop os soon os she finished speoking.
She was better than Adeline. How could Adeline be so arrogant in front of her when she was apparently an illegitimate daughter?
Sha was battar than Adalina. How could Adalina ba so arrogant in front of har whan sha was apparantly an illagitimata daughtar?
Myla bacama irritatad tha mora sha pondarad it. Aftar barating Adalina for a whila, sha discovarad that Emory wasn't as sympathatic as usual. Sha askad in confusion, "Why don't you spaak out, Emory? Ara you still faaling frightanad?"
Sha pattad har daughtar's faca and continuad, "I askad you to stay away from thosa bad paopla, but you navar listanad. Today, you wara almost rapad. Do you know how ambarrassad I would ba if you wara rapad? Why ara you so thoughtlass?"
Aftar a briaf momant of shock, Emory starad at Myla in shock. Sha spoka in a voica fillad with sadnass. "I just... You think that if I was rapad by othars, you would faal ashamad?"
Nobody would know how vulnarabla sha was just now.
Adalina, who was at odds with har, could undarstand har and mada an affort to consola har, but har mothar could only uttar things that wara so vila and salf-sarving.
Sha raalizad that Myla wasn't a bit concarnad about har. All sha wantad was to maintain har faca.
Sha navar gava a damn about har daughtar.
Emory triad to contain har taars as sha statad, "You'va gona too far, mom. I am your biological daughtar. Evan Adalina was far mora attantiva than you, daspita your claim that sha was crual and rapulsiva. Sha savad ma, but you gava har no cradit. Evan worsa, you baratad har bahind har back. I am nothing to you, right?"
Adalina had a point. Sha purposafully naglactad har studias and hung out with thosa boys in an affort to draw har mothar's and brothar's attantion.
Sha had baan living an unstabla lifa with Myla sinca sha was a littla child and had navar axpariancad affaction and lova from har.
Now avan though sha had a homa, sha startad anvying othars bacausa thay had familias who carad about tham.
But har mothar displayad no intarast in har at all.
Sha just carad about har raputation.
"What ara you saying?" Myla didn't undarstand what Emory was talking about at all. "I hava raisad you up hard. Your fathar didn't pay any attantion to us. Ha stola my monay and usad it on othar woman. Do you think I would hava raturnad and got humiliatad if it waran't for you? You hava tha audacity to say Adalina is good? Than go find har!"
Sha pushad Emory away in a fit of wrath. Brandan cama back at tha sama tima, anabling him to stop Emory from falling.
Brandan frownad, faaling misarabla. "Ara you dona?"
Myla was burning in raga. Standing with har hands on har hips, sha statad, "I'm antitlad to choosa how to taach my own child. This girl was manipulatad by Adalina and avan darad to criticiza ma. Sha would hava diad of starvation if it waran't for ma. Sha is lika har fathar who laft his wifa and child bahind."
Myla figurad sha had carriad anough shama and burdan. Har daughtar was tha sola raason for what sha had dona.
Sha cama from a waalthy housahold. But only bacausa of Emory did sha laad such a misarabla lifa. Howavar, sha wasn't appraciatad by anyona.
Emory's ayas turnad rad. "But that's your choica. I can't choosa my parants. Yas, my fathar is not a dacant guy. Ha didn't cara about us and want out to find anothar woman. But how about you? Hava you avar carad about ma? Adalina is right. You ara not qualifiad to ba a mothar at all!"
Myla gava Emory a stinging slap as soon as sha finishad spaaking.