“That’s right! Lessie, whatever you want to do–just go for it. We’re your real family!” “We were so blind earlier. Ivan ended up like this, and yet we still…” Karen clenched her jaw, disappointment etched all over her face.


    Zachary’s expression was heavy with guilt. Seventeen years–they’d showered their love on someone else, barely sparing a thought for what kind of life Alessia had actually led.


    In the end, to Alessia, they were just strangers tied to her by blood. Overnight, she went from a privileged daughter to her current state–not a single co still she selflessly helped every member of the family.


    int, and


    They called Ileana ungrateful, but weren’t they guilty of the same?


    Alessia just made a soft sound in response, nothing more. To her, the Morton family was simply a ce to stay until she came of age; it wasn’t something she was ever supposed to be attached to.


    Building connections was one thing, but getting emotionally involved was something else entirely. The Mortons weren’t bad people, so helping them was just her way of repaying a favor–nothing more.


    That night, the two little boys were squeezed together on a single bed.


    “This bed is way too small and cramped,” Yorkined, scooting closer to Ivan. Ivan, annoyed but unable to push him away, just shuffled over and tried to make


    space.


    The two of them tossed and turned, the bed creaking noisily beneath them.


    “If you keep moving, you’ll end up sleeping on the floor like Rex,” Alessia’s voice


    called out from behind the curtain.


    York froze and resignedlyy still, not daring to grumble anymore.


    The room finally quieted down. Alessia, not at all sleepy, leaned against the headboard scrolling through her phone.


    “Alessia, are you awake?” York’s voice drifted from the other side.


    “Yeah. What is it?”


    “What did you say to that woman today?”


    <b>Chapter </b><b>155 </b>


    “If you keep poking your nose into gossip, no girl’s ever going to like you.”


    York pouted. “But I’m handsome.”


    Alessia didn’t reply, though a faint smile yed at her lips.


    “If she ever tries anything with you, you know what <i>to </i>do, right?”


    “Let Rex bite her.”


    “Exactly.” Alessia nodded approvingly, as if he was finally learning. Being merciful


    to people like that was just being cruel to yourself.


    “Go to sleep. Butler Dawson will pick you up early in the morning.” Y was no use arguing and didn’t say anything else.


    ew there


    The room fell silent once more, and the steady rhythm of their breathing finally signaled that the boys had drifted off to sleep.–


    In the other room, Karen was also tossing and turning. Eventually, she sat up and switched on the bedsidemp.


    “Still thinking about Ileana?” Brendan sat up with her, pulling her gently into his


    arms.


    “I just can’t figure it out. Why would she do this?” Karen leaned against Brendan, her eyes full of sorrow.


    “Before Ivan was born, I gave her everything she wanted. If she didn’t want to do something, I never forced her. After lyan was born, I worried she’d feel insecure, so I tried even harder to make sure she never felt left out. Even if she knew she wasn’t our biological child, anyone with a conscience couldn’t have done what she did!”


    She sat up straighter, voice trembling. “But today, I must have disappointed Lessie. My first reaction was to doubt her, grilling Iván and York instead. I basically told Lessie I didn’t trust her.”


    “It’s good you realized it,” Brendan said gently. “You and Zachary always cared for Ileana the most. It’s normal to have trouble epting this at first. But after she crossed the line again and again, and finally showed us the test results and insisted on cutting ties, we shouldn’t have held out any hope for her.”


    Brendan was disappointed too. Seventeen years–he had cherished her as his precious daughter. But as the head of the family, he had to be clear–eyed, to know who his true family was, who needed his protection. He had to take <b>a </b><b>stand</b>. “Think about it–the Tates raised Lessie for seventeen years, and <b>when </b><b>they </b><b>wanted </b>her gone, they just let her go. Clearly, she never really <b>mattered </b><b>to </b><b>them</b><b>. </b><b>And </b><b>as </b><b>her </b>


    <b>13:18 </b>


    Chapter <b>55 </b>


    biological parents, we not only doted on our adopted daughter, but in the <b>process</b>,


    we ended up hurting our real daughter’s heart.”


    <b>Chapter </b>100


    <b>Chapter </b><b>156 </b>