Chapter 52
Rachel felt sharp pain shoot through her wrist as she tried to struggle, only to find she couldn’t break free: “Arthur, let go of me!”
“Let go?” Arthur sneered “Do you know how much Mone’s hurting inside? She’s worried sick about you, and this is how you repay her?”
Arthur dragged her
Ane door. “You’re going to apologize to Mom right now!”
Rachel stumbled as he pulled her, her design sketches scattering across the floor.
At Joanne’s bedroom door, Arthur violently jerked Rachel’s wrist, throwing her whole body against the door.
Rachel braced herself with her hands to keep from hitting her head.
Since she couldn’t escape anyway, she steadied herself, took a deep breath, and knocked on the door.
“Come in.” Joanne’s voice came from inside.
Rachel pushed open the door to see Joanne sitting at her vanity, her eyes indeed red and swollen.
She’d actually been crying?
Rachel suddenly felt uncomfortable inside.
That hadn’t been her intention with those words.
Honestly, deep down she’d still harbored some hope that Joanne might come to understand her situation, but obviously that was impossible.
But she hadn’t expected Joanne to actually cry, which left her somewhat at a loss.
Seeing her standing motionless in the doorway, Arthur coughed loudly as a reminder.
Rachel walked a few steps inside and called out to Joanne.
Joanne turned around, a flash of surprise in her eyes, then wiped away the remaining tears: “Rachel? Come in, sweetie.”
Her voice was thick with congestion.
The room’s aromatherapy scent was heavy-Sophie’s favorite rose oil, giving Rachel a headache.
“Aren’t you going to apologize?” Arthur pushed her hard, shoving her directly in front of Joanne.
“Mom.” She called out somewhat uncomfortably.
The room fell quiet as they all waited for her to say the rest.
But she swallowed hard and still couldn’t get the words out.
Joanne pulled out a tissue, unable to stop herself from tearing up again.
Arthur couldn’t stand watching anymore. He knew Rachel’s personality-stubborn and hard-headed. Getting her to back down first would be harder than reaching the sky, so he decided to help her out.
“Mom, Rachel realizes she was wrong. She came here specifically to apologize to you because she saw how upset you were.”
He then pushed Rachel’s back, urging her to hurry up.
But Rachel stood there like a wooden statue, frozen and motionless.
Joanne sighed and picked up the family photo on her vanity-all five of them together.
She gently touched the people in it, her gaze tender, as if remembering something from long ago.
“Rachel, look, this was taken when Sophie first came to our family.”
Rachel followed her gaze to what was indeed a photo from her high school days.
Sophie had just been brought to the Lerois family, and worried she might feel like an outsider, they’d proactively suggested taking a family portrait to give Sophie more security
In the photo, Sophie stood in the center, Joanne holding her in her arms, with David on the left, then Arthur, and Rachel at the very edge.
“Time flies-you’ve all grown up so much.”
Rachel withdrew her gaze indifferently. She had no interest in these things; looking too long would only stir up pain.
But Joanne seemed completely absorbed, apparently remembering something amusing as she smiled:
“Do you remember when Sophie first arrived? She was like a frightened little animal. Curious about everything but so scared at the same time. When I looked at her then, my heart just ached for this child. I thought to myself that I had to be especially good to her.”
“Thankfully, we raised Sophie well. She’s grown into such a graceful young woman now.”
“Look how excellent Sophie is,” Joanne gently wiped the photo frame with her fingertip. “She’s been more sensible than you since childhood, more filial than you, more…”
“More like your real daughter?” Rachel couldn’t listen anymore and cut her off, her voice hoarse. “So you indulge her stealing my designs and ruining my life?”
“How can you think that?”
“How dare you talk to Mom like that?”
Two voices spoke simultaneously.
“You never know how to give way to your sister!”
Joanne suddenly screamed, looking at her with eyes full of disappointment: “Sophie’s biological father died because of you-you owe her! Besides, Sophie’s younger than you. What’s wrong with letting her have things?”
Rachel’s gaze flickered.
What was she saying? Sophie’s father died because of her?
“Ha, haha…” She laughed, but then sniffled, swallowing down all her emotions. “I’ve explained this so many times-it really was an accident! And I warned Uncle, but he insisted on staying in the car!”
SLAP-
A palm landed squarely on Rachel’s face.
Joanne glared at her, her nails leaving a scratch on Rachel’s cheek.
“How can you say something so heartless?” Joanne shouted. “I’ve taught you gratitude since childhood-did your conscience get fed to the dogs?”
The slap was quite hard. Rachel’s face was knocked to the side, a few strands of hair falling loose, her ears ringing so she could barely hear what Joanne was shouting.
Suddenly, her neck was grabbed from behind. Arthur lifted her up slightly like picking up a kitten.
“Apologize.”
Rachel didn’t move.
“I said apologize!” His voice grew louder.
Rachel raised her hand to touch the corner of her mouth, feeling something warm.
“I’m sorry.” She said.
“Lauder Arthur commanded again.
“I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry! Is that enough? Are we done?
Rachel didn’t know where she found the strength, but she suddenly broke free from Arthur’s restraint and said “I’m sorry” several times in succession to Joanne, even bowing directly to her.
Joanne was startled, then suddenly rushed over to hug her: “Okay, okay, you’re both my daughters… How could Mommy not feel heartbroken?”
Rachel stiffly endured the embrace. Even though Joarme’s arms were warm, she felt cold and trembling all over.
“Mont, I’m going back to my room now.”
She calmly detached Joams and quietly stepped back.
Before Joanne could react, she escaped like she was fleeing.
Arthur watched her retreating figure without stopping her.
From the moment she apologized, he’d had an indescribable feeling-she was the one apologizing, but he was the one feeling terrible.
Rachel hurried toward her room, but froze in place the moment she pushed open the door-
Her desk was completely empty, not even a single draft paper left behind.
