Chapter 879
Chapter 879:
“Jade,” Toby began, his voice now gentler, “you’ve hurt your cousin enough. Fernanda has every right to be here, and you’re going to have to learn to accept that.”
Jade wiped her face, still defiant but visibly shaken by the slap. She crossed her arms tightly over her chest, but her anger had lost its edge.
“I don’t care what you all say,” Jade muttered, her voice quieter now. “I’m not going to just pretend everything is fine.”
“I never asked you to,” Fernanda said softly, her voice steady. “But I am here, and I will be a part of this family, whether you like it or not.”
The room fell into silence after her words, and even Jade seemed to understand that her anger would no longer drive the conversation. Fernanda’s firm yet calm demeanor was a stark contrast to the animosity she had faced, and it spoke volumes to Toby.
Toby looked at his niece, disappointment still etched on his face, but also a sense of resolve. “You need to think about what’s truly important, Jade. This family has been through enough pain. Don’t add to it.”
For the first time since they had arrived, the atmosphere in the room seemed to settle. Jade, still upset, sat down, her eyes avoiding everyone’s gaze. Toby gave Fernanda a small, apologetic smile before turning his attention back to the family dynamics.
“We’ll figure this out,” Toby said with a quiet sigh. “But first, we need to focus on what really matters—Macie’s passing, and what she would have wanted for us all.”
Fernanda, although still shaken by the confrontation, nodded in agreement. “I’m here for that,” she said, her voice steady. “I want to make things right, for all of us.”
And so, the conversation shifted, but the tension remained as Fernanda understood that being part of this family would not be as easy as she had hoped. But, for better or worse, she was determined to stand her ground and find her place among them.
Toby and the others quickly rushed to restrain Jade, who was visibly upset.
From a young age, Jade had been pampered. Her parents, working both blue- and white-collar jobs, always provided the best for her. They spared no expense on her desires—whether it was food, clothing, or hobbies. She attended an upscale school filled with wealthy peers, and the stark differences between her and her classmates made her particularly sensitive to financial matters.
ⓣ𝓱𝓮 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: gⱯ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀.con
Jade often overheard her parents discussing her grandmother’s old house and the potential financial windfall from redevelopment compensation. For a family like hers, winning the lottery had seemed like the only chance at a windfall. Now, redevelopment offered a new opportunity.
Deep down, Jade held a deep-seated resentment toward Gracie, blaming her for the misfortunes that befell the Cooper family. With Gracie out of the picture, she turned her frustration toward Fernanda.
Despite the rising tension, Fernanda remained composed, her face serene with no trace of anger.
Toby gave her an apologetic look and said, “Fernanda, don’t take it to heart. Jade didn’t really mean what she said.”
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