Chapter 139

"Susie's already walking on thin ice because of her background," Selina said. "No one's kind to her. At every family gathering, she was treated differently. Her life in the Brady family wasn't always this miserable. Thanks to her precious son, things have become incredibly difficult. Do you have any idea?"

Nora confirmed Selina's account. It was the truth. Susie wasn't just a champion; years of influence from a close friend had made her a shrewd investor. Samuel, a civil servant with no business experience, stood apart in the Brady family. His Brady upbringing and extensive experience allowed him to offer Susie valuable investment advice. Susie even consulted Trevon about investments when he visited for dinner.

A truly exceptional woman, Samuel thought, was beautiful, fit, and constantly striving for self-improvement. That's why he fell in love with Susie.

Susie devoted all her earnings to her family. Though they subjected her to scorn, she still considered it home, the place she grew up. But the Baxter family failed her, demanding money instead of offering support, pushing her to the brink of collapse.

Bernard looked at Susie in surprise. She’d only ever shared good news with him, never revealing her struggles. He understood the difficulties of navigating a wealthy family, so he urged Susie to consider her situation carefully. Seeing Samuel and Susie's happiness, he'd assumed she was thriving within the Brady family. Selina's revelation shocked him.

"Everyone, calm down," Monica said, responding to Selina. "Let's not fight. Susie, we let you down." The revelation, though vaguely sensed before, left her distressed and heartbroken.

Susie, unable to contain her tears, looked at Monica. Her lips trembled. "Mom, I'm fine," she choked out, then burst into tears. Mother and daughter embraced, weeping together.

Selina observed Monica. Susie's seemingly idyllic life was a living hell, a consequence of her mother's cowardice. Selina knew Monica wouldn't grasp the truth until a moment of clarity compelled her to protect her daughter.

David was stunned. His parents were supposed to be helping him. Since quitting, he'd been obsessed with restarting his gambling. A seasoned gambler wouldn't give up so easily, especially without consequences. He'd turned to Susie as a safety net, hoping she'd cover his debts.

Selina's intervention shattered his plan, leaving Bernard weak and defeated, and Monica siding with Susie. "So it's all my fault?" David wondered.

Bernard, muttering, stood up. "Susie," he said, looking at Monica and Susie, "I hope your brother's insurance covers our debt and that this matter ends his involvement in trouble. I expect him to keep quiet for a while."

"Dad! What's going on?" David shouted. "This isn't what we agreed on!"

"Your hand's already gone," Bernard retorted. "Your sister can help with surgery. This matter is over. If you gamble again, you can die. Don't call me Dad!" He left, leaving David bewildered and disheartened. David followed his father out.

Seeing Susie and Monica calming down, Selina helped them to their feet. "Okay, everyone, get up. Stop crying. It's bad for your health. At least, you'll have some peace now."

Susie grasped Selina's hand gratefully. "Thank you, Selina. Without you, I don't know what I'd do."

Selina's eyes softened. "It's okay, Susie. I made the decision, so I'm responsible."

Susie's situation, though different, mirrored Selina's own. The Baxter family, however, lacked the Harvey family's depravity. The Harveys expected Selina to be grateful, to serve them, for any scraps of their wealth, while despising her. They favored Ashley, seeing Selina as an appendage. Selina considered her past life forfeit, severing all ties with them. Their subsequent attempts to feign concern were utterly repugnant.

After dinner, Nora pulled Selina aside. "Selina, thank you. I haven't seen Mom this happy in ages. Uncle David won't bother her anymore; even if he tries, my grandparents, worried about Mom, won't help him."

"That's because your grandparents aren't bad people," Selina replied. The thought of Quinton and Sara, her own deranged parents, brought despair. Why were they so insane while everyone else's parents were normal? The physical resemblance and DNA test were undeniable. Selina accepted the lack of familial love in her life.

But she had friends and loved ones; she could still live a wonderful life. This thought dispelled her despair.

"Yes, my grandparents love me," Nora said. "They've hurt me, but I never hated them. It's just that Uncle David caused my mother so much pain. Thankfully, I had you. Otherwise, I don't know when Mom's suffering would have ended." Nora patted Selina's cheek. "It's over. Let's not talk about it. Selina, I want to show you something."