Oh, good, so Rina hasn’t actually been found yet. But it seems as if Mom can’t wait to see her because why else would she bother decorating Rina’s bedroom before the girl is even located? At this rate, Mom’s attention will be stolen by her the moment she returns.

Tina’s hands curled into fists on top of her knees as she dwelled upon these thoughts. She lowered her head by a fraction and hid the dark look on her face.

After a pause, she looked up once more and feigned concern as she asked Julia, “Mom, what if—and this is a big what-if—Rina has a weak and cowardly character because she’d grown up in a poor family? Assuming that is the case, she would only embarrass you in public because she’s too afraid and too incapable of doing anything right. Would you still like her and look forward to meeting her?”

Julia shot her daughter an affronted look, her face no longer a picture of gentle compassion as she demanded, “Tina, why would you ask such a thing?”

 

Tina held her by the arm coquettishly and explained, “I was only curious because that’s how most soap operas go—you know, how the long-lost child from some affluent family is finally reunited with their parents. But they end up getting shunned by them because their incapability is humiliating. I’m just worried that you and Dad might treat Rina the same way.”

“Oh, is that it?” Julia batted away her doubts and smoothed Tina’s hair affectionately. “Pay no mind to things like that, seeing as they only ever happen in soap operas.”

“So you won’t end up treating Rina like an outcast even if something like that happens?” Tina narrowed her eyes slightly as an icy gleam lit up her depthless orbs.

Julia nodded firmly. “Of course not. I carried her and gave birth to her, not to mention she was the child your father looked most forward to. You have no idea how your father—” She broke off with a quick sigh, then added, “It doesn’t matter. The bottom line is that you have absolutely nothing to worry about. Your father and I won’t mistreat or sideline your sister that way, and even if she were to be in such unfortunate circumstances, it would only make us love her harder. We wouldn’t shun her or dislike her at all. In fact, we’d try to make it up to her even more!”

“I’m so happy to hear that!” Tina broke into a smile, looking as if she truly was relieved on Rina’s part.

premonition she had had was amplified, and she was the only one who

 

her mother into revealing her true feelings about her lost daughter. That had backfired, though, seeing as it did not curb Julia’s

biggest hurdle next to Sonia. Tina grew mutinous, and a

at the Fullers’ Residence, Toby stepped out of the

had been so worried about her grandson that she decided to remain at the Fuller’s Residence

remarked disapprovingly as she made

had handed him, then said, “I

of telling the old woman about what happened at

we shall,” Rose agreed

them proceeded toward the house with their individual canes, which proved an entertaining sight, given

from the kitchen when she saw Rose and Toby.

nodded briskly in

she urged as she hastily put the platter down and made to

might not be any strength

armrest of the couch as he slowly eased into his seat. Jean, on the other hand, pushed the fruit platter toward him and asked cheerfully, “Have

when he heard his mother but made no reply.

recalled how his every thought and emotion had been inexplicably swayed and manipulated because of her,

he had done for her before the accident—regardless of whether he was being manipulated at the time—given that he really was in love with

Maple all along, then there was no way he would let her get away

grabbed his cane and rose from his seat. “Grandma, Mom, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be going

if Tina was Maple, though he already knew the answer to

untouched platter of fruits, then at Toby’s back.

into her own bedroom without another word. She found it pointless and grating on the nerves to continue sharing the same space with this daughter-in-law of hers, seeing as Toby had already left. If it weren’t for the fact that this woman has been good to Toby and Tyler, I would have

drawer, intending to take out Maple’s past letters to him and read through them once more. However, he froze in shock when he saw that his drawer had been emptied out, and not a single letter from

own heart

household servants. With a voice like thunder, he

helpless and bewildered looks. They shook their heads slowly and denied opening the drawer in

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