“Fine, whatever.”
She couldn’t be bothered to argue with this family any longer.
Chester wasn’t dead. As long as he was alive, the Fordham family would stop at nothing to bring him back.
Whatever methods they used, that wasn’t her concern.
But Celia’s sudden “Miss Selwyn!” startled everyone in the room.
“Sis, how could you talk to Mom like that?! You’ll break her heart!” Raymond fore himself from Dahlia’s embrace and stormed over, finger pointed, face full of
outrage.
Sanderson’s expression darkened as well. “Unbelievable! A child your age, saying things like that? If your grandfather were alive, he’d be turning in his grave right
now!”
He sounded so stern.
With a face so much like Chester’s, Sanderson’s anger left Celia speechless, too
scared to say a word.
Dahlia stepped in, unable to watch any longer. “Celia’s still just a child. If she says something wrong, you correct her–that’s all!”
Celia’s heart stung, hearing even her beloved grandma say she was in the wrong.
Grandma had been the first to say Mom was a murderer! She was only defending her. Why was everyone scolding her now?
Her lips trembled. She lifted her chin, determined not to let the tears spill.
She wasn’t wrong.
She wasn’t wrong at all!
“Look at what you’ve taught this child! From now on, you’re not allowed to take Celia or Raymond away without permission!”
Dahlia scolded Joanna as she moved forward, reaching to pull Celia away.
These days, Joanna had saved the family a lot of trouble by looking after the children. Dahlia had taken it for granted. But trying to raise them to only listen to her? Absolutely not.
Celia clung to Joanna, refusing to let go. “No! I don’t want to leave Miss Joanna! You’re all mean! Bad mom, bad brother, bad grandma!”
Joanna quickly covered her mouth, pleading, “Dahlia, back in Portside, I was the one living with the kids. Celia is just used to having me around. Please, don’t worry. I’ll teach her properly.”
If they took both children away, she’d lose all her leverage–she couldn’t let that happen.
Dahlia’s anger only grew. “Teach them properly? If teaching them means turning them against their own family, I’d hate to see what you think is bad teaching! If she can turn her back on her own mother, I can’t imagine what she’ll do to her grandparents when she grows up!”
Her glare sharpened. “This is your final warning, Joanna. Don’t think I can’t see through you. Both kids are coming back to the family estate. Other than school, they’re not going anywhere else!”
With Sanderson watching, there was no way around it–the children were going home today.
Raymond didn’t seem to care much.
But Celia sobbed and wailed, making Sanderson even more disappointed.
This granddaughter was hopeless. In the future, she could count on her trust fund and dividends, but she’d never have a place in the core of the family business.
Joanna steadied herself, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Sanderson, Dahlia, I know you love your son–and by extension, your grandchildren. But with Chester still fighting for his life, maybe we should focus on helping him wake up.”
She gently stroked Celia’s hair. “Celia’s just a child. She loves her mom so much that she goes to extremes. Isn’t that right, sweetheart? You love, mom, don’t you?”
Celia nodded, sulking.
She didn’t want this “bad mom.” She didn’t love her, didn’t miss her. But to keep Miss Joanna from getting in trouble, she pretended to nod.
Dahlia’s tone softened a little.
Meanwhile, Celestine returned. Just as she reached the hospital room, a blur rushed toward her.
“You’re awake?!”
פופ
