In the courtyard, after everyone had freshened up, they returned to their rooms to rest.

Jodic lay on her bed, her mind consumed by thoughts of the day. She wondered if anyone outside was

ying to expose their complicated relationship. This thought filled her with anxiety and fear.

As she dwelled on it, she felt increasingly aggrieved. Therefore, she picked up her phone to message Aaron. When he saw the message, he got up and opened the door to find Jodie standing beneath the persimmon tree in the courtyard. “Jo, what’s going on?” he asked as he walked to her.

Seeing Aaron approach, Jodie took the initiative to throw herself into his arms. “Aaron, I’m scared.”

Aaron was taken aback, puzzled. “Scared of what?”

With teary eyes, Jodie tightly embraced his waist, looking at him. “I’m afraid our relationship will be exposed. I’m afraid I’ll be a burden to you, and people will–criticize you. After all, you’re Simone’s biological brother, and I’m nothing.”

Saying this, she burst into tears. “I’m so scared that Mom and Dad, and all of you, will no longer want

me.”

Ever since Simone was found and returned, this fear had been haunting her.

Having grown accustomed to being the pampered daughter of the Gray Family, she had no desire to return to her old life.

Thus, she often subtly sowed seeds of discord against Simone when she was alone with the Grays. She created a narrative that implied Simone’s return meant not only taking away her identity but also harboring ill will toward her.

Simone wanted to take everything from her and push her out of the family.

Over this past year, she had been quietly making her moves, and it had been quite successful. Sure enough, the entire family still doted on her while growing increasingly dissatisfied with Simone.

So what if Simone is their biological daughter? She still can’t measure up to the adopted one.

coveted something of Simone’s, all it took

willingly snatch it from Simone and hand it over

control and manipulating everything all along. But since the previous

lashed out at the family, even severing ties

delighted, thinking she had finally gotten rid of

were not going as

left, although the members of the Gray Family

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The

displayed a strong desire for her to

example, used to be the one Simone

on the variety show, he found himself

sense of crisis. She

relationship on the internet by mentioning the three taboos.

much contemplation, she suddenly felt that driving Simone away might not

of the Gray Family’s members until they themselves pushed her out. Thus, she

stand Simone and would expel her. This was

family, our cherished treasure. How could we ever not want you? As for the issue of your identity, you

regretted his impulsive actions earlier. He also felt a bit resentful toward Simone for

deliberately telling everyone

want to acknowledge Simone as his sister, but it just wasn’t the right time for a public announcement. They should wait until Jodie was no longer afraid

to wait until Jodie felt secure and had firmly established herself in the entertainment industry. Then, it would

Simone so impatient and unhappy waiting this little

not want me anymore?” Jodie looked at him pitifully,

at her in this state, felt

down and instinctively kissed her forehead, assuring her. “Of course, we’ll never not want you. You’ll always be our

Family. I don’t want her to leave the Gray Family because of me. I’ve been feeling really uneasy lately. If she doesn’t come back, I’ll feel like it’s

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Wed, 29 NOV

54 The

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