Chapter 557 A Seat at the Table

Renee’s words left Nancy uneasy.

She couldn’t tell if Renee had spoken thoughtlessly or if her remarks had been aimed deliberately at Lily.

Susan was her dearest friend, and she truly loved her friend’s only child.

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But Lily was her daughter–inw, her own family. If Renee truly targeted Lily on purpose, Nancy would never tolerate it.

Renee stood rooted to the spot, eyes red, not moving toward the dining room. Nancy paused, then spoke politely, “Renee, if you haven’t had breakfast yet,e eat with us.”

Of course, if she didn’t want to, that was her choice. Nancy couldn’t force her. fncb77 Chapters first released on /fncb77

But Ivan’s sharp words had cut too deep. Renee’s chest still ached.

She had believed that with Nancy, Grace, and the others favoring her, they would scold Ivan, maybe even make him apologize.

Yet to her shock, Nancy–her godmother, the one who doted on her most–said nothing in her defense. Instead, she simply walked on to the dining room.

In the past, whenever she came to the Luke family estate, Henry and Grace showered her withpliments, ordered the chef to prepare special dishes for her, even sighed that they wished they had a granddaughter as sweet as she was.

nc and Nancy had treated her like their own daughter.

The three Luke family brothers had indulged her, too.

She had always felt like the darling of the household.

But since Lily had shamelesslytched onto James, everything had changed.

No one pampered her anymore. No one shielded her. Ivan had even stood up for Lily against her. How could she possibly ept that?

Hatred burned in her throat like rust. But she couldn’t risk Lily twisting things behind her back and poisoning her ties to the Luke familys, so she still followed them into the dining room.

In her heart, she prayed for Lily to miscarry.

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Chapter 557 A Seat at the Table

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That very morning, she had taken a secret step toward making it happen. She was confident that Lily’s bastard child would soon dissolve into a pool of blood.

James only kept Lily by his side out of consideration for the baby. Once it was gone, why would he keep a worthless impostor around?

“Don’t be upset, I didn’t mean anything by it.”

Normally, James always sat next to Lily at meals.

But Renee, eager to unt her supposed warmth and generosity before the elders, slid into the seat beside Lily the moment James pulled out her chair.

“I just like you so much. I only worried you might not like me.”

James’s hand froze in midair.

She had taken his ce.

And he didn’t believe for a moment that she liked Lily.

If she did, she wouldn’t have crafted a post only Lily could see, one meant to wound her. She wouldn’t have schemed to turn the elders against her.

He couldn’t enjoy a meal without Lily beside him.

Nancy sat on Lily’s other side, and he couldn’t ask her to move.

Which meant Renee had to.

His face darkened, as he pulled back his hand. His voice was cool. “Renee, you’re in

my chair.”

Her face went stiff.

She hadn’t expected James to be so petty, denying her even the right to sit in his chair.

Back when he had lived at her house for three years, she had touched everything of his freely.

It was all Lily’s fault.

Even as her teeth clenched with hate, Renee managed a coquettish smile. “James, you’re too stingy. I want ito /isit here next to the prettiest sister–inw!”

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Chapter 557 A Seat at the Table

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She clung to Lily’s arm with feigned intimacy. “I’ve always liked pretty people. You’re so beautiful, Lily. We’re bound to be best friends!”

Lily coolly pulled her hand free.

Her acting was remarkable.

After deliberately making her misunderstand about James, she was obviously an enemy. Yet now she yed at admiration, at friendship, covering venom with honey. It was revolting.

Lily didn’t want to spoil breakfast with an argument, but she wasn’t going to y along either. She kept her distance, focused on her food, and said nothing.

“You don’t want to be friends with me?”

Renee pouted, shing her empty hand toward Grace in a show of wounded innocence.

The meaning was obvious–Lily had rejected her, treated her coldly.

“I’ve had enough of this!”

Ivan, ever the sharp–eyed exposer of hypocrisy, had no patience for her games.

He spoke bluntly, without sparing her dignity. “You’re hanging on Lily’s arm–how’s she supposed to eat like that? All she wants is a quiet breakfast, and here you are, putting on a show. What’s wrong with you? Stop with the fake act, Renee. No one’s buying it.”