Chapter<b>37</b>
LilygaveSusanadismissivelookandgotinto<b>the</b>carwithoutsayingaword,
Desperatelypoundingonthecardoor,Susanpleaded,“Lily,Ibegyou,pleaseforgiveme.”However,herpleas fellondeafears.Lilyremainedsilent,offeringnoresponse
shaunpulledherasideandscoffed,“You’rereallyshameless,aren’tyou?YoumercilesslyberatedherinfrontofBelindathisafternoon,andnowyou’redemeaningyourselfbybeingforyourowninterests?Howlowcanyougo?”
ShaunwastrulydisgustedbySusan.Hecouldn’tbelievethatamothercouldtreatherownchildlikethat.Therewassimplynooneworse.
SusanwastooafraidtolookShaunintheeye.Sheloweredherheadandremainedsilent.
Loidmerelyncedatherbeforeopeningthecardoorandgettingin.ShaunandDanielfollowedsuit,ignoringSusanaswell.
Assoonasthecardroveaway,Juliastormedout.Grabbinghercane,shestartedhittingSusanwithitwhileyelling,“Youjinx!HowcouldtheMartinezfamilyhaveendedupwithadaughter–inwlikeyou?Youruinedourinvestment!Whydon’tyoujustdie?”
“Mother,itwasn’tme!”Susancried.Julia’sblowstruckherhard,leavingherbackwith<b>a</b><b>dull</b>ache.Thoughshecouldn’trightback,Susanexined,“IneversaidanythingaboutcuttingtieswithLily.She actedonherown.Pleasebelieveme.
WitnessingSusanbeingbeaten,Shannonclenchedherhandstightlytogether.Hereyeswerezingwithanger.Shestruggledtocontainherfuryforalongmoment<b>before</b>finallyquellingit.
ShannonrushedtoJulia’sfeet,tearsstreamingdownherface“Grandma,<b>please</b>don’thit Mom! Iknowshewouldn’tdoanythinglike that.ItmustbeLily.She’sstillresentfboutMomnotraisingher,soshe’stryingtoburnLoidagainstus,”
AsShannenrushedover,shedeliberatelykneltrightunderJulia’scane.Startledbythesuddenmovement,Juliacouldn’tstopherswingintimeandthecaneidentallystruckShannon’sface.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.
JuliaquicklystoppedandpulledShannenup.“Shannon,yousillychild,whywouldyourushoutlikethat?Comehere,letmeseewhereyou’rehurt.”
Shannonburiedherfaceinherhands,shakingher<b>head</b>andsobbing“Grandma,I’mfine.Ijustcan’tbeartoseeMombeingpunished”
Unsureofwhatto<b>say</b>,Juliasighed.
Afteramoment,Juliarememberedsomething andasked,“Bytheway,what’sbeengoingonwithyouthesepastfewdays?Whyhaven’tyoubeenabletocharmLoid?Whydidhe
Castyouout<b>?</b>
JuliaknewShannonwell.Obedientandsensible,shepossessedacharmthateffortlesslywonpeopleever.Shewasalsobeautiful,whichshouldhavesmittenLoid.
ButLoidwouldratherchooseLilythanShannon.Thisseemedutterlybizarre.
“Grandma,it’sallLily’sfault!Sheframedme!<b>”</b>Shannonsobbedevenharder.“Iwenttotakecareofheroutofkindness,butshetookadvantageof<b>Loid’s</b>favor.Shetreatedmelikeaservantandscoldedmeconstantly.
“Idon’tknowwhy,<b>but</b>Loidjustlikesher.EvenhismotherfavorsLily.NomatterwhatIdo,theyalwayslookdownonme.”
Juliawasstartled“Mrs.LaurierisinLagersfield?”
Shannonnodded.“Yes,shecamethedayafterwemovedin.She’sveryfondofLily.Sheevenwantedtocastmeoutthatday,but1managedtostayafterputtinginalotofeffort.”Julia’sfrowndeepenedintoagrimexpression.ItseemsLilyisn’tasinnocentaswethought.We’veallbeenfooledbyher.”
Shannon<b>sobbed</b>.“Grandma,whatarewegoingtodonow?Loidhatesmeevenmorenow.”
Η
Julsortedcoldly.“Inthatcase,<b>we</b>mustholdontoLoideventighter.Don’tworry,Shannon,I’llfiguresomething<b>out</b>.”
“Alright”
Aftertheyenteredthehouse,Shannonlookedtowardthefrontdoor.Hertearsinstantlystopped<b>as</b><b>a</b>glintofdeterminationshedinhereyes.