Chapter 68 A Bond Beyond Blood
Finished
Lauren thought to herself, searching all night? They looked refreshed, no trace of exhaustion. If I hadn’t woken, if Marilyn hadn’t carried me out, if I hadn’t reached the hospital I’d be dead. My survival was my own grit, not their
care.
She ignored them, her face a mask.
Her detachment rattled Elliot.
He’d rather she raged than stayed silent, at least anger showed she cared.
Frustrated, he snapped, “What do you want? Tell us how to make you happy. Since you got out of prison,
how with you, and you’re still not
sat any scenes have you caused? We pamper you, love you, put up
satisfied, stirring up trouble again and again.
Why’d Mom hit you? Because you pushed Willow at the banquet, shamed the Bennett family. Then at home, you attacked her instead of apologizing. You messed up first, can’t Mom discipline you? You’re her daughter, parents have that right.”
Lauren listened to his rant, a mocking smirk tugging at her lips, her eyes still frigid.
Arguing was pointless. Experience had taught her that in this “family,” truth didn’t matter, only Willow did.
So, she said nothing.
But Marilyn, who’d overheard it all, couldn’t hold back
She stormed in, pushing past Alice and Elliot, and slammed a thermos on the bedside table.
Her chest heaved with fury and grief.
She thought to herself, last night, without that kind stranger, Ms. Bennett would’ve died from her wounds and infection. Now, barely awake, unfed, unrested, and they came to berate her? Was this human? I’d held my tongue, but my conscience wouldn’t let me watch Ms. Bennett suffer this injustice silently. No decent person could.
“Mr. Elliot, have a heart. What kind of life has Ms. Bennett lived? In prison, bullied and scarred, did any of you visit?
When Mr. David whipped her, who stopped him?
Madam Alice forced her to cut off her finger to repay her birth, can you fathom her pain?” Marilyn’s voice quivered with emotion.
say you pamper, love, and tolerate her, where’s the proof?”
Alice paled, speechless.
Elliot stared, stunned, at Lauren’s impassive face.
“Every time Ms, Bennett is wronged, you blame her without facts. Have you ever cared what she’s endured? Beating and scolding, is that your love? Pushing her to the brink, is that your love?” Marilyn’s eyes reddened.
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Chapter 68 A Bond Beyond Blood
thought, for years, only Marilyn had truly cared for me. The Bennett family wasn’t worth to be mad about it.
She patted Marilyn’s hand, signaling her to calm down
Finished
Alice rallied, choking out. “Marilyn, how can you say that? Wec… we did it for Laurie’s good. She’s too wild, always causing trouble…”
“For her good?” Marilyn laughed bitterly. “Madam Alice look at her now, bias is blinding. Ask yourself, have you ever treated her like your daughter?”
you
call this her good? Your
Marilyn continued, “If you don’t love her, fine, love takes time. She didn’t grow up with you, so no bond makes sense. But to not love her and still hurt her, how can you be so cruel to your own child?”
Alice glanced at Lauren, who gazed at Marilyn with pure trust, as if Marilyn were her real mother, while she, the birth mother, was filth in her daughter’s eyes.
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