Chapter 342 Choked on her words

Agnes continued, “Sister-in-law, tell me, have you been deceiving me all these years? You haven’t taken proper care of my daughter at all?”

Miranda choked on her words.

She wouldn’t admit it, and she certainly didn’t dare to.

“Who says I haven’t taken good care of her? If I hadn’t, how would she be living such a glamorous life now?”

“But she told me you didn’t take good care of her...”

Miranda played it off, “Oh, she’s just lying to you!”

Agnes was puzzled. “Why would she lie to me?”

Miranda tried to talk her way out of it, “You don’t understand. You abandoned her for so many years; she must harbor resentment toward you. Of course she wouldn’t tell you she’s doing well! When she told you I didn’t do a good job, she’s definitely trying to make you feel guilty so you’ll make it up to her. I’ve known her since she was a kid, I know her better than anyone. She’s just trying to get you to pay her back!”

Agnes froze for a moment.

Is that really how it is?

So, it wasn’t that Alana didn’t care about her as a mother, she was just pretending not to.

That was why she resorted to lying and playing the victim, to elicit pity and sympathy from her mother.

After all, she was Alana’s biological mother. Even after more than a decade apart, the blood ties running deep within her were something that could never be severed.

Therefore, Alana couldn’t possibly have no feelings for her; she simply harbored resentment in her heart for having been abandoned.

Agnes understood Alana’s actions, so she didn’t hold it against her.

However, she was deeply disappointed in Alana.

After all, she was Alana’s mother, how could she deceive her like this? How could she make her feel such deep guilt?

Moreover, she had been giving Alana 100,000 dollars every month. Even though she hadn’t been there for Alana, at least she hadn’t neglected her material needs.

Agnes took a deep breath. “Alright, I understand. I’m sorry. I almost misunderstood you, Sister-in-law.”

Upon hearing this, Miranda breathed a huge sigh of relief.

She smiled lightly. “Sis, I have to say, all these years, I’ve always been there for you whenever you needed me. If you really misunderstood me, I’d feel so wronged!We’re family. How could family members deceive each other? I wouldn’t do something so despicable!”

“Besides, Alana lied to you, and she has only herself to blame. Who told you to abandon her when she was just a little girl?Anyway, you brought this on yourself, you’ll just have to deal with the consequences!”

Joan stood by, watching her mother utter such shameless words without batting an eye.

She couldn’t help but marvel at just how thick-skinned her mother was. If it were her, she’d never be able to say such shameless things.

And to deflect the blame onto Agnes with such ease, that was truly clever.

Sure enough, upon hearing this, Agnes felt too embarrassed to ask any further.

She hurriedly mumbled an apology and hung up the phone.

Joan couldn’t help but give Miranda a thumbs-up. “Mom, you’re really something!”

Miranda gloated, “Of course! If I didn’t have a few tricks up my sleeve, how could I have kept that woman in the dark for so long?”

Besides, when Agnes had hesitated about leaving with Henry back then, it was Miranda who had talked her into it, convincing her to go with him.

She could tell that man wasn’t just your average rich guy. The fact that he was so generous, giving two million to an old woman to sever Agnes’ ties with the family, proved that this man was no ordinary person.

If Agnes went with this man, she would likely reap many benefits in the future.

So, she promised Agnes that she would take good care of her daughter in her stead, treating Alana as her own flesh and blood.

She even spoke many, many kind words.

Otherwise, Agnes might not have left with that man so readily.

Consequently, Agnes trusted her sister-in-law implicitly; she rarely questioned anything she said.

****

Agnes hung up the phone, her heart heavy as she thought back on her conversation with Alana earlier that day.

Judging by Alana’s demeanor, it seemed impossible to persuade her to break up with her boyfriend.

But... once she went back, how was she supposed to explain this to Darla?

The more she thought about it, the more of a headache it became...

*********

After paying the bill, Alana left the café.

As soon as she stepped outside, a cold breeze swept past her, and her exhausted body couldn’t help but shiver.

She instinctively leaned against the doorframe to catch her breath, then forced herself to walk on.

Her emotions suddenly came crashing down, making Alana realize that she wasn’t as indifferent as she thought she was.

It was just that she had been pretending not to care.

When she thought back on Agnes’ words, they cut deeper than a sharp knife piercing her chest, leaving her in agony and unable to breathe.

Alana took out her phone. Her fingers trembling, she sent a message to Stephan. [Stephan, what should I do? I miss you so much. I want to see you...]

She realized that in front of him, she was willing to lay bare her vulnerability without reservation.

When Stephan received Alana’s message, he thought to himself.

Oh no!

Something must have upset her!

After being together for so long, the couple had long developed a close, unspoken bond. Even from just a few words, they could quickly sense when something was wrong with the other.

Stephan asked directly, [Where are you?]

Alana sent him her location.

Stephan: [Wait for me, I’ll be right there.]

Stephan acted quickly. After swiftly taking care of the necessary arrangements, he immediately drove over to find Alana.

Alana sat on a bench at the intersection, lost in thought.

Stephan walked up to her, but she didn’t even notice.

Stephan sat down right next to her and wrapped his arm around her waist.

“What’s wrong?”

Alana gradually snapped out of her daze and glanced at the man standing mere inches away.

“Stephan, hold me.”

Stephan immediately pulled her into a tight embrace.

He sensed that something was off with her; her emotions were constantly on edge, like a taut string.

His large hand gently rested on the back of Alana’s head, stroking her patiently and tenderly.

“Sweetheart, what’s wrong?”

“If something’s bothering you, tell me. Don’t keep it bottled up inside, okay?”

Alana buried her face in the man’s chest.

The warmth of his embrace and his gentle tone made her feel incredibly content.

She closed her eyes, immersing herself in the scent of him.

“I... I met with my mother.”

Stephan’s brows furrowed instantly. “And then?”

Alana spoke slowly, using what she felt was her calmest tone.

“She showed up out of the blue today, met my grandmother, and said she had something to tell me. Then we sat together in a café. You know, it wasn’t until I met her that I realized she’s actually Darla’s stepmother.”

“She married Darla’s father and became her stepmother. And the reason she sought me out today was to make me give you up, to hand you over to Darla...”

Upon hearing this, Stephan’s eyes darkened instantly.

Alana continued, “In my entire life, I never imagined she’d come back to find me, and I never imagined that the reason she came back was for her stepdaughter. It’s so ridiculous, so absurd, just thinking about it.”

Stephan couldn’t help but pull the girl in his arms closer.

Although her expression now appeared calm, he could sense a powerful wave of sorrow overflowing from her very being, deep within her heart.

“It’s okay,” he said tenderly. “Don’t pay her any mind. Since she abandoned you once, just pretend she doesn’t exist. Don’t take her words to heart, and don’t agree to anything she says. Don’t put pressure

on yourself.”

Alana swallowed hard and gave a firm nod.

Stephan knew she had taken his words to heart, but he was certain she was still in great pain inside.

Holding it in would only make her feel worse; she needed to let it all out. “If you want to cry, just cry.”