The Unlucky Turn by Mark Twain 358
“Dad, Mom! The Sherwood house is unbearable! You have no idea how they’ve been treating me.”
Hackett frowned. “What’s going on?”
Tamara, sobbing between words, truthfully recounted her house arrest by Gloria, looking aggrieved and terrified.
“Mrs. Sherwood gives me attitude every day, and Milford won’t even look
at me. Since the wedding, he… he hasn’t even stepped foot in our bedroom…”
Zadie patted her back sympathetically. “My poor daughter, you’ve suffered so much…”
However, Hackett’s face darkened, and he lectured Tamara. “Tamara, this
sn’t the time to be willful!”
He raised his voice, his tone stern. “The Sherwoods are helping us clean up the PR disaster on the trending topics. If you cause a scene now, all Our previous efforts will be wasted!”
Tamara bit her lip, unwilling to accept it. “So I just have to swallow my ɔride and stay silent?”
Zadie sighed, taking her hand to persuade her. “Tamara, a little
mpatience will spoil great plans. Milford is cold to you right now simply because the wedding incident embarrassed him. Men are simple; just coax him a little. Go along with him, take it slow…”
Tamara clenched her fingers, her nails digging deep into her palms. Endure? When had she ever had to suffer such grievances?
But seeing the grave expressions on her parents’ faces, she eventually lowered her head and let out a muffled, “Okay.”
Unable to get the help she wanted from Hackett and Zadie, Tamara thought for a moment and went to the study. She pushed the door open with red rimmed eyes, her voice choked with tears. “Josiah…”
Josiah was processing company documents. He looked up at the sound, his brows furrowing slightly. “Tamara? What’s wrong now?”
“Josiah…” Tamara looked at Josiah pitifully. Like pouring out bitter water, she vented all the grievances she had suffered at the Sherwood house recently.
“Josiah, you have no idea how miserable my life has been there. Milford hasn’t wanted anything to do with me since the wedding… Can you go talk to Milford for me? He has to at least give me a chance to explain, right?”
Tamara bit her lip, looking at Josiah with expectation. She thought he would be like he was in the past-ready to step up and protect her
without hesitation whenever she was hurt.
Jnexpectedly, Josiah put down his pen and rubbed his temples. His tone was exhausted, lacking its former gentleness. “Tamara, don’t you think here’s been enough trouble lately? I thought you would have used this ime at the Sherwood house to reflect on yourself. How are you still acting like this?”
Tamara froze, not expecting this reaction from him. “Josiah, what do you mean?” Her face stiffened slightly, and she looked at him with instant heartbreak. “Even you won’t help me?”
Josiah was silent for a moment before finally speaking. “It’s not that I won’t help, it’s just… I’m really tired recently.”
He looked up at her, his gaze complex.
“You should know. Ever since Leilani got out of prison, disaster after disaster has hit the Sloan family. The stock price has plummeted, and partners are pulling their capital. Right now, our family is essentially relying on the Sherwoods to survive. Under these circumstances, how
can you expect me to go make demands of Milford? Do you think we are still the Sloan family of the past?”
Tamara only cared about her own feelings, never considering the cold reception he would face if he went to Milford. Thinking of this, Josiah felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him. He looked at Tamara with
disappointment and helplessness.
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