bChapter /b321

    Alessia let out a soft, amusedugh. “So that’s why iyou /isuddenly dropped by. I figured there must be something you wanted.”

    “He’s your cousin, not some stranger,” Magda replied, giving Alessia a slow, appraising look from head to toe, her eyes brimming with disdain. “It’s only a letter of rmendation. If you want, I’ll even pay you a finder’s fee. Think of it as a littlemission.” Her tone made it sound as though Alessia should be honored that she’d even consider asking her for help.

    “Tammie Quincy?”

    “Yes, that’s right.” Magda’s chin lifted with pride as Alessia spoke her precious grandson’s name, as if to say, *My darling boy is so aplished that even you ordinary people have heard of him.*

    But Alessia’s cold snort wiped the smugness from Magda’s face.

    “Different fields, different worlds. I wish him luck. These days, it seems anyone can be called a genius. As for the letter, well, with the way you two carry yourselves, I’m sure you know plenty of people who could help. Maybe ask them–see if they’re willing to put their names on the line. Me? I’m not thick–skinned enough to embarrass myself for you.”

    “Brendan, you really raised quite the daughter, didn’t you?” Hamilton’s voice trembled with anger, but instead of confronting Alessia directly, he turned on Brendan and Karen, as if hoping they’d rein her in and make herply.

    Brendan’s response was calm but resolute. “I can’t take credit. Any sess or connections my daughter has, she’s earned entirely on her own. If anything, Karen and I have depended on Lessie far more than she’s ever depended on us. It’s gettingte, and older folks need their rest. I think it’s time for you to leave.”

    If the insults had been aimed at him alone, Brendan might have let them slide. But when his family was targeted, he refused to stand by in silence–he wouldn’t tolerate outsiders berating his loved ones and still call himself the head of the household.

    i“/iOh, wonderful. Just wonderful!” Hamilton scoffed. “Karen, this is the man you chose? This is the daughter you raised?”

    “Dad–no, Mr. Quincy” Karen stood up, taking a deep breath, as if gathering every ounce of courage she had.

    b09:59 /b

    “I know you’ve never liked your weak, disappointing daughter,” she began, her voice trembling. “You hated that I wouldn’t marry the ‘perfect‘ match you picked out for me–the widower with a kid, just because his family was supposedly our equal.” Tears welled in her eyes. “But of all the things you’ve done, what I can never forgive is that after pocketing the wedding gifts, you hired people ito /icause a scene at my wedding.”

    Karen’s voice cracked as she went on. “You called me a traitor to the family–l epted that. You called Brendan a pauper and said I disgraced the Quincys by marrying him. But do you know what he did to have the right to marry me? Brendan worked day and night to save up for the wedding, bought a house, put it in my name, gave me all hispany shares–just so you’d approve. And still, you thought the other man was better, just because his family could get you into your precious social circles!”

    She was almost shouting now. Brendan silently rubbed her back, trying tofort

    her.

    “After the wedding, you took the gifts, took the money, but then shut your doors to us. When we stopped giving, you called us ungrateful, said we wouldn’tst. But you’re the ones who cut us off! So why–why is everything always my fault?”

    Alessia stared at her mother in shock. Karen, always so gentle and reserved, had never raised her voice like this. Just how stifling must her years with the Quincys have been? Suddenly, Alessia understood why her mother loved Ileana so fiercely–not just because she was her daughter, but because Karen never wanted

    her child to suffer as she had.

    “Lessie, help iyour /imom upstairs to rest.” Brendan’s face was full of concern.

    Alessia nodded, quietly supporting her mother as they left the room.

    Once his wife and daughter disappeared down the hallway, Brendan’s expression hardened.

    “It’ste, so I won’t see iyou /iout. And I’d appreciate it if you didn’te by again. Our family doesn’t wee iyou/i. As for your grandson, don’t bother my daughter about him again. None of us–Karen, myself, or our children–have any ties to the Quincy family anymore. And we have no reason to help you.”

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