Chapter 367


    Jennifer looked visibly taken aback, “Leanne, why would you think that?”


    The hardest part about saying something that’s been bottled up for years is the moment you start to


    speak. Once you do, it bes much easier.


    Leanne said, “Ever since I joined the Richardson family, you’ve never liked me, and I couldn’t


    understand why. As a child, I always thought it was because I wasn’t good enough, not likable enough,


    and I even hoped to win your affection.”


    When she was first adopted by the Richardson family, she had hoped to see Jennifer as a mother


    figure, yearning for the maternal love she so deeply missed.


    Over time, through the cold treatment, she slowly recognized her ce and gave up the fantasy, living


    quietly under someone else’s roof. After getting into college, she wisely kept her distance.


    If she never treated her like a daughter, why should Leanne consider Jennifer her mother?


    “I didn’t know Carl had tried to ckmail you.” No matter what, Jennifer had chosen to protect her, and


    Leanne knew she should be grateful.


    “I’m really sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused you over the years.”


    Leanne had always been quiet and reserved, never sharing her feelings. Jennifer sometimes found her


    too subdued, not savvy or quick-witted enough.


    Today, her unexpected outpouring of feelings caught Jennifer off guard.


    The servants had all stepped away, leaving the living room undisturbed. Leanne’s clear and honest


    gaze stirred something in Jennifer.


    The fine bone china teacup in her hand suddenly felt heavier. She set the untouched cup of fragrant tea


    back on the coffee table.


    She remained silent for a long time, and Leanne thought she wouldn’t respond. Just as she was about


    to get up, Jennifer spoke unexpectedly, “Curtis was supposed to have a younger sister.”


    Supposed to? At first, Leanne didn’t understand. Seeing the clear sadness on Jennifer’s face, she


    realized this was no simple matter. “You mean…”


    “I was pregnant with a daughter the year Curtis grandfather passed away. There were many upheavals


    in our family at that time, and I lost the baby. She was six months along. I had felt her kick, had already


    picked out a name for her, bought a crib and some clothes


    too.”


    Leanne was surprised, “You’ve never mentioned her before.”


    “It’s because I’ve never gotten over it,” Jennifer said. “I had a medical procedure that left


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    Chapter 367


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    me unable to have more children, and I’ve always held a grudge about it. Adopting you


    was Mary’s decision. I wasn’t willing at first, and it caused a lot of arguments between us. So, when we


    brought you home, I was neglectful.”


    So that was it.


    Leanne could imagine how much Jennifer had looked forward to her own daughter’s birth and how


    hard the loss hit her, followed by the pressure to raise someone else’s child, fostering resentment.


    Jennifer’s expression wasplex, filled with guilt, introspection, and a touch of sadness, “Leanne,


    you haven’t done anything wrong. It was me who couldn’t untie my own knots. I resented Mary and


    unfortunately, disced that onto you. I owe you an apology.”


    Leanne, who had yearned for affection but only received indifference, could have never expected


    Jennifer to apologize one day.


    She lowered her eyes, silent for a long time, unsure of whom to me.


    Should she me Carl, the money-grubber? Although despicable, he wasn’t the root of the problem.


    Should she me Mary, who had insisted on adopting her against Jennifer’s will? Without Mary, she


    didn’t know how much longer she would have had to endure the dpidated orphanage and the


    bullying.