Filed To Story: Returning to Her Not-So-Poor Family
In their eyes, their sons were successful, and their grandchildren were outstanding. Wherever they went, they were looked up to.
But from their granddaughter’s perspective, things were different.
For the first time, they became aware of how the outside world differentiated between the two families, and the negative impact it had on the children.
Such treatment from outsiders undoubtedly nurtured a sense of grievance and resentment within the elder branch.
“Cathy,” Shirley gently patted Cathy’s head, and apologized, “I’m sorry you have been wronged.”
Cathy looked up and choked up, her eyes red and tearful, “Grandma, I’m not wronged. Even Wee gh those!
respigeiesealer atter Uncle orge’s family and don’t take us seriously, even showing disdain and condescension. yes, it does make me uncomfortable, but that feeling passes quickly.”
She spoke candidly, “Il never thought it was our fault, or theirs. If they is admired and fawned over, it ‘6 Olt!
ibinciba epfahanevninent. My farnily simply hasn’t reached their level yet, but that doesn’t affect my affection for Uncle George’s family, nor does it change how they treat us.”
Her words moved everyone present, such an understanding child.
“Even if back in the day, Grandpa and Grandma had split the family business in two, as it Fahy between ad anc pagie’s eorge, each eas nane are different. After a decade or two, it’s natural that the brothers would be at different levels—one above, one below. It’s a matter of personal capability, not about fairness.”
Cathy hit the nail on the head with her statement and then added, “If it were up to me, I’d hand the company over to the most capable kid to make it thrive. So I don’t think what Grandma and Grandpa did back then was wrong. On the contrary, I think Dad needs to adjust himself—the business belongs to the whole family; it shouldn’t matter who it goes to. If Dad are discontent, he should have talked it out with them instead of brewing so much resentment.”
“You’re a good kid.” Shirley patted her head, feeling a lump in her throat, surprised that even a child could be more understanding than some adults.
“I share Cathy’s view,” Jeffery added in.
This was indeed his parents’ fault.
“I agree with Cathy too,” Luna declared.
Shirley felt even more emotional and reached out to hug Jeffery and Luna. “You all are such good children.”
“You can’t even measure up to these three kids.” Phillip scolded.
Tomas and Donna hung their heads in shame.
Back then, Donna had thought that as long as Jennifer perished in that fire, her husband would finally let go and focus on their little family.
But what she didn’t realize was that, even if Jennifer were gone, there would always be a place in Tomas’ heart that no one else could fill, a place reserved solely for Jennifer.
After the clinic explosion years ago, Tomas’ company grew larger. Being a member of the McMillian family, he was able to access to high society. He continued to make influential connections to strengthen his position, secretly building his own power base and collaborating with like-minded individuals and organizations, including Doom.
On the surface, he appeared at peace as the head of the household, but in reality, his power was growing wildly, and had long since grown from a sapling into a towering tree.
At that moment, Shirley, with tears in her eyes, turned to Donna.
“Tomas didn’t fulfill his responsibilities and obligations as a husband—he is indeed wrong. As his mother, I failed to raise him properly, and as your mother-in-law, I didn’t notice your distress in time, allowing you to endure such hardship. For that, I owe you an apology.”
Shirley suddenly bowed to Donna in a serious gesture of apology, which made Donna feel even more remorseful.
“Mom.” Donna rushed to support her, “It’s not your fault.”
Over the years, Shirley had been very kind to her!
Not just Shirley, but Phillip had cherished her t enaséé se hefohis omy datighter!
The reason she hadn’t held a grudge over the uneven distrib tion efcthel I
Faris waprecisaly because oftheir kindness to her.
Shirley looked at Donna with a mix of heartache and regret, “i Lhad knaivh Ae) wereiesorntubh bain, I would h SC Siasancd a divorce even more.”
Donna astounded, unexpected that her mother-in-law would say such words.
“After the divorce, you’ll still be the daughter-in-law in my heart. I will still treat you as my own family. I support you in chasing your own happiness, to be frank, I hope you do well.”
When she learned how Donna had been giving so much all these years without getting a response from her son, Shirley, as a woman herself, could truly empathize with the pain her daughter-in-law had endured.
“But you’ve hated the wrong person, honey.” Shirley corrected with tears in her eyes, “From beginning to end, Jennifer had no clue how much Tomas adored her, let alone the fact that the brothers had fought over her, and she was completely in the dark about the long suffering you endured. The one you ought to hate is him.”
With that, she turned her gaze to her eldest son.
“After you have been heartbroken again and again, what you have to do is to leave him, cut your losses, instead of wasting your time on him and misdirecting your anger towards Jennifer. You’re wrong in this, is Jennifer not innocent? She has been hated with no reason by you for so many years and has been hurt for so many years.”
Hearing Shirley speak that, Donna’s tears fell.
After that fateful explosion at the clinic, Tomas indeed did many things to hurt and stumble his younger brother.
And Donna hadn’t been idle either. She secretly shoot “arrows in the dark” at Jennifer.
But George and Jennifer had always trusted them and never suspected a thing.
“The worst thing is, because of love and hate and family business, you’ve dragged so many innocents into this mess.” Shirley closed her eyes in despair, tears trailing down her cheeks.
“Mom.” Donna just wanted to say something.
Suddenly, a cup of coffee was splashed on Tomas’ face.
Jennifer, holding the cup, said furiously, “You actually tried to kill George.”
She slapped Tomas hard.
The force left a vivid red imprint on his cheek.
“Jennifer.” Tomas didn’t expect Jennifer to suddenly hit him, and he was stunned.
“Don’t call me like that; I find it disgusting.” Jennifer’s eyes bore disgust and anger, “Even if something had happened to George back then, I would never have fallen for you, much less ended up with you!”
Tomas felt as if he’d been pierced by a thousand arrows, staring at Jennifer in disbelief.
“You only care about yourself! You live too selfishly!”
Jennifer’s accusation left Tomas frozen.
“Hello? Is this 911? I need to report a crime.”
Cathy, somehow having already dialed the emergency number, choked out to the operator, Mom name is athyyytemiliah Tomas Nonitt n’s youngest daughter. I’m reporting Tomas and Donna for involvement in multiple homicides.
Please come to Reflections Villa immediately and take them in for questioning.”
Perhaps never expecting their own daughter to report them personally, Tomas and Donna paused, the light in their eyes dimmed, and they didn’t say a word as if they had accepted their fate.
After a while, Phillip’s phone rang.
“Phillip. Sorry to bother you, but we just received a call from your granddaughter alleging serious accusations. Is this some kind of child’s play?”
Phillip seemed to age several years in an instant, yet his voice maintain its authority, “My senen& CO
dayigitertiaw are indeed implicated in multiple homicides. Please come over, the location is Reflections Villa.”
Truth be told, even if Cathy hadn’t made that call, he would have.
His son and daughter-in-law hadn’t just made a small mistake; eat been committing heitolS acts or vedi an Net quest for power and the family fortune, entangling and sacrificing countless innocents.
The voice on the phone faltered. Was this really happening?
After a short while, a slew of officers arrived at Reflections Villa.
Tomas and Donna looked at their three children with a swirl of emotions.
“Remember to listen to Grandma and Grandpa, and your Aunt and Uncle.” Donna’s voice cracked as tears rolled down her cheeks. She couldn’t help but look at the three kids before her with a mix of pride and sorrow. They had really grown up, become so sensible, with a strong sense of right and wrong. Her mother-in-law was right—they were such good kids.
Tomas’ eyes were filled with shame and regret as he faced them. “Mom and Dad haven’t set the best example, and we’ve let you down. We’re so sorry.”
He bowed to the three children. At that gesture, Jeffery’s emotions suddenly broke through, tears streaming down his face.
Luna’s eyes went red.
Cathy had been trying hard to hold back, trying not to make a sound, but her trembling body betrayed her. She was just a teenager, even younger than Mirabella. No one knew how much courage it took her to dial 911 and report her own parents.
Tomas then turned to his brother and sister-in-law, his eyes filled with remorse for the first time. He bowed solemnly, “Sorry.”
George’s shoulders trembled. He wanted to scold his brother for his foolishness, to tell him that he never coveted taking over the family business, that he had taken on the burden just to ease his brother’s load.
But before he could voice these thoughts, a burning sensation in his throat stopped him, and tears fell. He turned away, not wanting his brother to see him like this.
How could Tomas not know his brother’s thoughts at this moment? But it was too late to say anything now.
Tomas looked at his parents, feeling ashamed of his actions for the first time. “Dad, Mom,” he called out, then bowed deeply, apologizing, “Sorry.”
Philip and Shirley still carried themselves with the dignity of the family’s elders, keeping their emotions in check; but Tomas knew that inside, they must be feeling a turmoil of emotions. Rising from his bow, he faced Kenneth, Louisa, and Mirabella, bowing earnestly, “Sorry.” His decisions had torn their family apart.
New Book: Returned To Make Them Pay
On her wedding anniversary, Alicia is drugged and stumbles into the wrong room—straight into the arms of the powerful Caden Ward, a man rumored never to touch women. Their night of passion shocks even him, especially when he discovers she’s still a virgin after two years of marriage to Joshua Yates.