?<strong>Chapter 993:</strong>


    Rnd blinked, confused. “How do you know?”


    Rafael’s smile was warm, almost nostalgic. “I took care of you back then. You’ve grown so much.”


    Aurora, too, had blossomed into a graceful young woman. Allie felt that she was getting old.


    Rnd met Rafael’s gaze, his voice sharp. “Did you have a sister with a rare blood type?”


    The question hung in the air, and the room seemed to freeze. Everyone looked taken aback.


    “It seems my father was right,” Rnd muttered.


    Rafael’s frown deepened. “What did he say?”


    Rnd nced around the room, the sarcasm in his gaze impossible to miss. They all imed to be family, yet to him, they had always acted like strangers—using him when they wanted something, discarding him when they didn’t, never once truly caring for him.


    How much of a burden was he that everyone rejected him so easily?


    “I’m not just some blood resource for you!”


    With that, Rnd shoved Rafael aside and bolted for the door.


    The room stood in stunned silence, none of them expecting his outburst.


    “Dad, I’ll go after him!” Lucas called out before hurrying after Rnd, with Molly right on his heels.


    “Dad, Mom, don’t worry. I’ll bring Rnd.” Aurora turned and sprinted after him.


    The younger ones rushed out together, leaving Allie standing there, stunned. “You didn’t tell Rnd the truth? If you hadn’t taken him in back then, he might not even be alive now.”


    Joelle hesitated, wanting to chase after them, but Adrian ced a hand on her shoulder. “Let it go. They’re adults now, with their own minds. Some things you just can’t force.”


    Rafael frowned. “Shouldn’t we exin to him what kind of person Wade really was?”


    Joelle let out a long sigh. “Wade means a lot to him. He saw Wade get blown up right in front of him. How can I bring myself to speak ill of Wade?”


    “Joelle, what if I talk to him instead?” Allie said gently.


    Rafael shook his head. “You’ll only make things worse.”


    Adrian finally spoke up. “They’re all adults now. If he can’t figure out right from wrong, then there’s no point in wasting more energy on him.”


    He had a very different way of dealing with boys than with girls. Joelle shot him an using look. “Rnd is your nephew!”


    “He’s Katie’s son,” Adrian replied coldly. “If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have tolerated him this long.”


    Joelle rubbed her forehead in frustration. Adrian’s resentment toward Quincy’s family would never fade, but Rnd was innocent. Even if he didn’t ept it, Joelle couldn’t bear the thought of abandoning him when he had no one else left. The four of them sat in silence, and finally, Rafael spoke.


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