over to her. The sight of the mark on her face made his chest tighten with pain. His eyes burned with anger

g his eyes with icy indifference. "You were the

y wouldn't have been hurt!" Bruce snapped, his temper

ps. "You never acted like a father to me. W

lost control. Get out! And don't even think a

nuing the argument. She turned to

ed. There was no chance she was leav

instinctively pointed to

e a small no

a glance, Bruce shook with rage. "Cathleen!

nd dismissively. "If anyone's leaving, it

ircase corner, leaving the rest of the fa

his breath. "What an ungrateful girl! I

up. "Dad, she and Matthew are

married. What do you expect me to do? At the end of the day, she'

th hurt and resentment. "Yeah, you're right. C

cut her off. "Ashley, don't say things like that. T

t you know how much I've cherished you all these ye

. I'm just scared that once Cathleen is

u're the most important person

the display of family affection below. A look of contempt

.

w stepped into the living room, Edmund's li

't you have someone following me? Y

d used to Matthew's open defiance. "Since you're marrie

o a nearby servant. "She's at th

h on. It took him only a second to understand Matthew

itting together. "I already married her like y

harply, "I want a

Matthew replied w

ushing his limits. Having a child with her

oving into Ravine Estates right now. And find an appropriate time to bring her back, so she can be properly introduced to our fa

cold and restrained. "

"Listen-if you refuse, you'll spend the rest of your life w

ough Matthew's eyes, though

o brag about his great-grandson. I'm not getting any younger; I've got one foot in the grave already. Is it really too much to hope I

Matthew had

f his cheek before finally speaking throug

later was nothing unusual. He had already looked into Cathleen; she was straightforward, kind, and

ght change his mind. He immediately said to a nearby servant, "Pac

slipped the jacket he had just removed bac

s, watched him leave with concern. "Sir, do

ort. "I've got him cornered. H

y for more than thirty years, attendi

from what I've heard, the Stewart couple never cared much for her. They treat Ashley like she's priceless, while Cathleen was

ly. "Of course she is. The Stewarts simpl

said noth

mind, Edmund added, "Bring me m

such personal concern for someone, which made it clear th

ow sitting cross-legged on her bed, meditating, wh

e had maintained

she had designed herself, cleverly di

be taken apart and reassembled into a comp

She frowned at first, but the moment she saw the cal

ul tone. "Matthew just headed over to Ravine Est

l he finished speaking befor

off guard. "You're not

h my family," Ca

't what it used to be. I'm getting forgetful. It's your first day b