Chapter 305:
Sonya’s hands clenched as she silently prayed for the old woman’s memory to fail her, at least, just this once. But deep down, she knew the odds weren’t in her favor.
“Just call me Mrs. Ellis. I’m not your Granny,” Janelle said, her voice cold and steady, her tone carrying the kind of indifference reserved for distant acquaintances.
The words stung more than any overt insult could have, and Sonya pressed her lips together, her expression a mixture of grievance and unease.
Jonathan, unaware of the heavy undercurrent in the room, approached Janelle with the gift in hand, his smile wide and genuine. “Mrs. Ellis, happy birthday. Wishing you a long and joyful life,” he said.
Janelle took a glance at the gift with practiced grace, her expression cool. “Thank you, Mr. Roberts,” she said, her tone distant, as if speaking to a polite stranger. “This is… thoughtful of you.”
Jonathan’s composure wavered as Janelle’s frosty demeanor struck him like a gust of icy wind.
It wasn’t adding up.
The Roberts and Ellis families were on the verge of becoming in-laws.
Roger had specifically mentioned how thrilled Janelle was to meet Sonya. That excitement should have meant something, right?
So, why this sudden detachment?
Jonathan was no stranger to being sidelined.
Recently, it had become a pattern—one he detested yet had grown sensitive to.
Each slight only sharpened his ability to discern people’s true motives. But this? This was a mystery he couldn’t crack.
He pushed forward, forcing a polite chuckle. “Ah, there’s no need to be so formal, Mrs. Ellis. Soon enough, we’ll be family.”
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Janelle’s lips curved into the faintest smile, but her words came sharp and deliberate. “Let’s not rush things here. Roger and your daughter are still young. Who knows what the future holds?”
The words hit Jonathan and Tatiana like a blow, their expressions shifting from hopeful to alarmed.
What was Janelle insinuating?
Could she be hinting at ending the engagement? Tatiana, who had been unusually quiet, suddenly felt a knot tighten in her stomach.
She also recognized the old woman and thought back to her first encounter with Janelle, and a cold realization dawned. It couldn’t be.
Her mind raced to that fateful day—the elderly woman who had taken a tumble, the sharp words exchanged, and the indifference she and Sonya had shown.
Tatiana’s face flushed with regret. The woman they had dismissed so callously was none other than Roger’s grandmother!
Now, Tatiana could feel the weight of Janelle’s judgment, her coldness speaking volumes.
In affluent families, virtues like kindness and empathy were considered prized traits for daughters-in-law or granddaughters-in-law.
It was maddeningly unfortunate, then, to have crossed paths with Janelle under such unfavorable circumstances. If this spiraled any further, the engagement could be at risk. Desperation edged Tatiana’s voice as she stepped forward, offering an earnest apology. “Mrs. Ellis, please accept my deepest apologies. We had no idea of your identity that day. Had we known, we would never have behaved so callously.”
The damage was done, but sincerity was her last refuge. If Janelle’s heart could be swayed, perhaps this rift could be mended.
Janelle’s cool gaze lingered on Tatiana, her voice crisp with quiet disapproval. “Mrs. Roberts, compassion should never hinge on familiarity. A person’s worth isn’t measured by their name or status. Basic decency calls for offering help in the face of need—not turning away with cold indifference or cutting remarks. The Ellis family may not be grand, but we uphold moral integrity as a nonnegotiable value.”
Tatiana’s face burned with humiliation, alternating between flushed red and ashen white.
She wished, futilely, that the earth would open up and swallow her whole.
But her daughter’s future was at stake, and Tatiana’s pride was a small price to pay.
Swallowing the bitter pill of shame, she plastered on a contrite expression and replied, “You’re absolutely right, Mrs. Ellis. We were completely in the wrong. I assure you, such behavior will never happen again. Sonya is still young and has much to learn. I’ll make it my priority to guide her in becoming more considerate and mindful.”
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