bChapter /bb322 /b

    “If they look down on us so much, there’s no need to force themselves toe all the way here.”

    “Hmph! Of all people, why did we have to invite that ungrateful brat?” Magda grumbled, snatching up her purse. Hamilton rose too, face dark with irritation.

    The butler followed silently behind them, not uttering a word.

    The once pleasant atmosphere had soured. When Brendan came inside, he found Karen already asleep, her breathing calm and even. He let out a weary sigh and quietly called Alessia out to the hallway.

    Alessia closed the bedroom door gently behind her. “Mom was exhausted today,” she said softly. “She just wiped her face, sat for a moment, and fell right asleep.”

    “I see,” Brendan nodded, sighing again.

    “They’re gone?” Alessia asked.

    “Yes. They’re always like that–always wanting to sound cultured, but in the end, all they care about is money. Ever since your grandparents passed, the Quincy family hasn’t been the same. You shouldn’t let them get to you. If they ever try to bother you again, just tell me. There’s no need for you to put up with any more of their nonsense.”

    When Karen was a child, she was frail. At just three or four years old, her parents sent her off to live with her grandparents in the countryside, iming it was for her health, but everyone knew the truth–they’d simply given up on her.

    Thankfully, her grandparents were nothing like her parents. They loved and protected her fiercely. It wasn’t until she was about to start middle school that they reluctantly sent her back, wanting her to have better schooling and opportunities.

    Brendan met Karen at university. They fell in love, but her parents objected from the start and even tried ito /imarry her off to someone else as soon as she graduated.

    Back then, Brendan thought the Quincys just looked down on him for being poor. He worked himself to the bone, started projects, and did everything he could to prove himself to Karen’s family–only to realizeter that they didn’t care if their son–inw loved their daughter; all they wanted was someone who could benefit the Quincy family.

    Karen was devastated. She took Brendan back to the countryside to see her grandparents, saying their blessing was the only one she needed. Sadly, the two

    elders passed away before they could attend the wedding. Before they died, their only wish was for Karen and Brendan to live a good life and not fall outpletely with the rest of the family.

    “If it hadn’t been for the Quincys constantly telling others that we kept showing up to beg for the family fortune, things might not have gotten so bad. But then we got used of being insincere. After thatst negotiation, we gave them three million and officially cut ties. I never told your mom the details–I didn’t want her ito /iworry even more.”

    Brendan sighed, knowing how hard these years had been for Karen. She’d kept so much bottled up, and now, just as they’d finally found some peace, the past was knocking at their door again.

    That night, Brendan told Alessia all about Karen’s time with the Quincys–how, ever since she’d been brought back, she’d been treated like an outsider, constantly criticized, gossiped about, used of being sly or having a bad temperament, alwayspared to her younger brother, never good enough.

    Alessia listened quietly, her gaze lowered, saying nothing.

    “I’m only telling you this because your mom got a little upset earlier. I didn’t want you to be scared,” Brendan said gently.

    Alessia smirked. “Dad, do I seem like the type to get scared over something like this?”

    Brendan was taken aback, thenughed. He’d almost forgotten–Alessia was

    different.

    “It’ste. Get isome /isleep,” he said, ruffling her hair with obvious affection.

    Alessia nodded, and the Quincys‘ visit was treated like a bad dream–life went on as usual, the family eating, drinking, and carrying on with their days.

    Three dayster, a ck sedan appeared at the entrance to Alessia’s dorm building.