Broken by Destiny by George Orwell 323

In this chapter, Emery loses her temper and angrily scolds Maxwell, her slowest and least perceptive child, for his overly affectionate behavior toward his adopted sister, Gianna. She is frustrated and confused about how he could act so inappropriately by hugging and allowing Gianna to sit on his lap, especially since they are both grown. Emery struggles with the realization that her leniency and desire to make Gianna feel included may have contributed to the current situation.

Marcelo, one of Emery’s sons, finally speaks up, expressing his anger and disappointment toward both Emery and Gianna. He accuses Emery of being partly responsible for allowing the closeness to develop unchecked when they were younger, which Gianna then manipulated to her advantage. Marcelo reveals his deep frustration with how Gianna controlled the family dynamics, causing rifts and misunderstandings, especially between him and his sister Amelia.

The tension escalates as Marcelo confronts Emery about her sudden change in attitude—scolding them for embarrassing her now that others are talking about it online, despite having ignored the issue before. He also vents his anger at Gianna, whom he now sees as the true source of the family’s problems. Marcelo’s outburst marks a turning point, showing his growing maturity and willingness to face difficult truths, while Maxwell remains stunned by this unexpected confrontation with their mother.

Chapter 323 Marcelo’s Anger

Emery lost her temper and rushed over, smacking Maxwell’s head several times.

Out of her four kids, this one really was the slowest and dumbest!

If she hadn’t been so mad, she might’ve just called him clueless instead of dumb.

But right now, she truly felt this brat was as dumb as a rock.

She had no idea who he got it from!

“Mom! We live in a civilized society! Why are you hitting me?”

Maxwell didn’t see it coming. Getting smacked by Emery left him dazed.

If he didn’t know better, he would’ve thought he wasn’t even her real son.

“You useless brat!” Emery shouted, breathing hard.

“Do you really think it’s normal to always hug your sister and even let her sit on your lap?”

Maybe he’d just gotten used to it over the years. To Maxwell, it didn’t seem strange at all.

He said, “We’ve always been like that. I don’t see a problem.”

Emery almost screamed. “You! She’s your adopted sister, not your real one. And you’re both grown up! Don’t you know what boundaries are?”

Even if they were real siblings, acting like that would still make people feel sick.

Thinking about it now, Emery realized her daughter, Amelia, had never been like Gianna-always hanging on her brothers.

She used to think Amelia and her brothers just weren’t that close anymore, so she didn’t bother to step in.

But when she looked closer, things didn’t seem so simple.

“Boundaries or not-how did this even start? You’ve been watching us the whole time,” Marcelo finally spoke up, unable to hold it in anymore.

He and his brothers had let Gianna lead them around, and honestly, their mother had a hand in that, too.

Thinking back, it was clear why Gianna could control them so easily-she was manipulative, always scheming, always acting just the right way to make them believe her.

Bit by bit, she pulled each of them right into her web.

But wasn’t Emery partly to blame for how it all started?

Back when they were younger, not yet mature enough to know better, she must’ve seen how close they acted with Gianna.

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Marcelo continued, “Maybe you thought we were still kids and that being close was fine, so you didn’t stop us. That’s why it turned out like this.

“Now that people are talking about it online and you’re embarrassed, suddenly you want to act like you

care?”

Emery didn’t expect Marcelo to speak to her that way.

His words made her angry and sad, but she couldn’t deny them.

Back then, she had seen them being too close, but she thought it was fine.

She figured a little affection between siblings would bring them closer.

And since Gianna was adopted and hadn’t grown up with them, Emery had worried she might feel left out.

Now she regretted it-she’d been too naive, too trusting.

Her sons had gotten used to treating Gianna that way, and now they were even blaming her for it.

It was unbearable.

“Forget about the past. From now on, you’re not allowed to be that close. No hugging or touching. Understand?”

Things had already happened, but it wasn’t too late to fix them-as long as she stepped in now and stopped it.

Marcelo said coldly, “So now that you feel guilty, we’re supposed to just forget the past’? Then why were you yelling earlier, saying we embarrassed you?

“You sure talk easy. You caught us first and scolded us nonstop-but maybe you should save some of that anger for Gianna, the one who started all this!”

Marcelo couldn’t hold it in anymore. All the anger he’d buried finally burst out.

He used to blame Amelia. He’d thought she was the one who came between him and Isabel.

He thought Amelia had stirred things up, that she’d made Isabel so angry she wanted to call off their

engagement.

But now that he looked back, he finally saw the truth. If he hadn’t spoiled Gianna so much, none of that would’ve happened.

He’d been such an idiot, letting that tricky girl control him like a puppet.

He’d blindly stood up for her, like he was under some kind of spell, and ended up turning on his own sister.

Isabel had always been smart and quick to notice things. She’d argued with him about it more than once.

But every time, he’d brushed her off-calling her jealous and saying she was just being mean to his sister.

Now, looking back, it all felt ridiculous.

Chapter 323 Marcelos Anger

He wanted to punch himself for being so stupid.

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So when Emery started scolding him about it, it only made him angrier-and he completely lost it.

Maxwell just stood there, frozen. He’d never seen Marcelo talk to their mother like that before. Every word Marcelo said hit straight to the point.

It was like he’d turned into a totally different person.

The chapter delicately explores the tangled emotions within the family, revealing the deep frustrations and regrets that have been simmering beneath the surface. Emery’s anger and Marcelo’s harsh words expose the complex dynamics shaped by misplaced trust and blurred boundaries, highlighting how affection, when misunderstood, can lead to pain and division. The characters’ internal struggles and candid confrontations bring to light the consequences of past decisions, emphasizing the fragile balance between love and control in their relationships.

Despite the tension and hurt, there is an undercurrent of awakening and the possibility of change. Marcelo’s realization of his own mistakes and Emery’s resolve to set new boundaries suggest a turning point, where acknowledgment of faults might pave the way for healing. The chapter leaves the family at a crossroads, grappling with their emotions but also holding a quiet hope that by facing the truth, they can begin to mend what destiny has broken.

The next chapter promises to delve deeper into the simmering tensions within the family, as Marcelo’s frustration reaches a boiling point. His candid confrontation with Emery signals a shift in dynamics, hinting at cracks in their once unshakable bonds. Readers can anticipate emotionally charged exchanges that may force each character to confront uncomfortable truths about loyalty, blame, and the consequences of past decisions.

As the family struggles to redefine boundaries and face the fallout of their intertwined relationships, the emotional stakes will rise. Maxwell’s stunned silence and Emery’s mounting regret suggest that the coming events will challenge their perceptions of one another, potentially reshaping alliances and revealing hidden vulnerabilities. The next chapter will likely explore how these revelations impact their fragile connections and set the stage for difficult choices ahead.

Joseph King

Joseph King is an editor and storyteller who ensures every chapter is clear, polished, and engaging for readers.