Okay," Roberta replied meekly, and quickly walked away. One might think that being brought back as an illegitimate child would grant her some status, but Roberta's position in the Walsh family was worse than that of the maids. With so many servants, there was no need for her to do laundry; the kitchen staff rendered her help unnecessary. This was simply Talia's way of deliberately tormenting her. That was only the tip of the iceberg, merely the surface manifestation of deeper issues. Felicia wondered how Talia treated her behind closed doors.
Felicia returned to her wheelchair, ignoring her middle-aged sister-in-law. There was a vast generational gap; they had nothing to discuss. Amber pushed Felicia into the main hall, where Noah's family and Jake were gathered, a crowded assembly. Clive sat in a grand chair, surrounded by the three children from earlier, who were reporting exaggerated tales of Felicia's alleged mistreatment.
Talia entered just in time to hear this and exploded. "What? Who dares to hit my precious three?" The three children pointed at Felicia in unison. Before Talia could further escalate the situation, Clive interjected, "What's wrong with teaching you a lesson? You're a bunch of rude kids, and you don't even call her 'Aunt Felicia'? Great-grandpa..."
The three children looked utterly wronged and attempted to garner sympathy. Clive ignored their antics, remaining stern, and dropped a bombshell. "From now on, your aunt will take over the Walsh family. If you don't treat her with respect, you might end up with nothing. Think carefully about that." His words were directed not just at the children but also at the adults in Noah's family and Jake. Jake remained unconcerned; he was often overlooked and rarely spoke.
But Noah's family protested. Talia was the first to stand up. "Grandpa, are you out of your mind? Do you want to give the family fortune to an outsider, a Fuller? Don't forget you still have sons, grandsons, and great-grandsons." Clive calmly sipped his tea. "The rules of the Walsh family state that whoever can inherit the medical center inherits the family. If you're all useless, don't blame others." He added, "And whether her last name is Fuller or Walsh, my granddaughter is still my descendant."
It was true, but the other Walsh family members couldn't accept it, especially Noah's family, with their numerous descendants. They believed their inheritance was guaranteed; even if they couldn't inherit the medical center, they assumed Clive wouldn't leave them destitute. Then, unexpectedly, a wild card appeared.
With numerous eyes upon her, Felicia felt helpless. She hadn't expected Clive's announcement, making her a target for their resentment. "Grandpa, what you're saying is a bit premature. I only want to learn medicine; I'm not interested in taking over anything."
The atmosphere grew tense. Felicia didn't dare stay for dinner, fearing possible poisoning. "Grandpa, I'll pass on the meal. I need to head back. My college classes start soon, and I still have things to prepare." Clive couldn't keep her, sighing as he sent Charlie Freeman, his driver, to take her home. On the way, she stopped at a street vendor and bought two sandwiches. Hungry after having not eaten all day, she took a large bite of a sandwich. As she turned, she unexpectedly saw Stephan.
Her heart skipped a beat, memories flooding back of the day in the helicopter, of his coldness and unyielding demeanor, his icy voice laced with a warning—no second chances. Felicia quickly looked away, not daring to provoke him. She hurried back into the car, urging Charlie to leave.
After she left, Mike appeared, laughing. "Looks like you scared that young lady pretty badly, Stephan. She ran away as soon as she saw you. What did you do to her?"