---- Chapter 273 "I'm sorry," James said, his voice low. "I didn't even take the time to find out what really happened before I blamed you, Ethan... I said some awful things to you." Ethan looked up at him. The dull look in his eyes gradually brightened. "So... Daddy, you're not mad at me anymore?" Wendy felt a pang in her chest. She let go of him gently and patted his shoulder softly, motioning for him to take a step forward. Ethan stepped up and threw his arms tightly around James.

James froze for a second, then quickly hugged him back. "No, I'm not mad. I was wrong, Ethan. I hope you can forgive me. There were still tear stains on Ethan's cheeks, but now, a faint smile had returned. He rarely heard James speak to him in such a tone. That tone -gentle and remorseful - meant something. It meant James had finally softened. Wendy, standing beside them, reminded calmly, "Not every apology deserves forgiveness.

And not every wrong should be forgiven so easily." Ethan tilted his head to look at her, eyes curious. "I understand, Mommy." Then he turned back to James and let go. "But I still forgive ---- you, Daddy." Wendy frowned slightly, barely noticeable, but didn't say anything. She just kept her eyes fixed on James. Her look said it all. The person who really owed an apology to Ethan hadn't said a word. James straightened up and turned toward Jenna. Gone was his usual calm and tolerance.

His eyes now burned with fury. Jenna had no choice but to wrench herself free from Mary's grip and face Ethan with a stiff expression. "Ethan," she said through clenched teeth. "Ethan, what I said made you misunderstand ... and I ended up blaming you. Will you forgive me?" Wendy's brow furrowed sharply. "First of all, you didn't even say 'sorry.' Second, you misled a child who has no clue about what's right and wrong, and you want to chalk it up as just a misunderstanding '?

Third, you're not the least bit sincere." Every word hit home. Jenna's jaw tightened. After a beat, she forced herself to speak again. What Wendy wanted was clear. She wanted Jenna to admit she had deliberately led Ethan to lift her skirt. But there was no way Jenna was going to say that out loud. Her eyes started to redden, and the look she gave Ethan was ---- full of bitterness. Ethan used to call her "Aunt Jenna" so sweetly and even say she was his "new mommy" sometimes. And now?

Now he wouldn't say a word in her defense -he was just going to let her sit there and squirm? Fury twisted in her gut. She took a deep breath. No way she was giving Wendy the satisfaction. And then, all of a sudden, her knees buckled, and she fell straight back. She shut her eyes tight, face going slack. Faking a fainting spell was a classic move. Hopefully, it would work. Mary, who had been busy glaring at Wendy, noticed too late. Jenna hit the ground with a loud thud.

Pain shot through the back of her head, but she gritted her teeth and kept her eyes closed. Mary panicked. She dropped to her knees beside her daughter and pulled her up, screaming, "Jenna! What's wrong? Please, don't scare me!" Even James was caught off guard. He stepped forward quickly, his brows furrowed. "Call an ambulance." Mary's hands were shaking so badly she couldn't even dial. She pressed the wrong buttons again and again before turning to Wendy, frantic.

"What are you standing there for? Call the damn ambulance!" ---- Wendy stared down at Jenna, catching a glimpse of her toes curling tightly from the pain. "Feel free to do it yourself," Wendy said.