When Love Comes Late

Miley asked, “Do you want to go to the auction later?”

Stella was reluctant to run into Sanford at the auction, so after a brief pause, she declined politely.

“No, I think I’m too tired.

The hot spring has made me sleepy.

I need to go back and rest.

”

But Miley gave Stella a playful look and said, “Or maybe you just want to spend time with Matthew, right?”

Stella rolled her eyes at Miley but chose not to reply.

At the Wheeler family home, Lindsay discovered that her mother, Betsey Wheeler, wasn’t really ill.

Betsey had faked the illness to get Lindsay home.

Betsey’s motive for deceiving Lindsay was to force her into marrying an elderly man in his fifties.

Finding the situation absurd, Lindsay quickly packed her bags after receiving a call from Fernando, who told her that Matthew was traveling to Sothrea with her.

She was determined to escape the place and distance herself from the Wheeler family.

Seeing Lindsay’s will, Betsey worried the marriage plan might collapse, so she removed all the clothes Lindsay had packed from her suitcase.

Struggling to contain her anger, Lindsay asked, “What do you want from me?”

Betsey replied sternly, “You can’t leave.

”

Upon hearing this, Lindsay sneered, “Am I even considered part of this family? When you faked your illness and tried to push me into marriage with an old man, did you see me as your daughter?”

Confronted with Lindsay’s accusation, Betsey knew she had no real defense, so she replied sarcastically, “Isn’t it clear I’m planning for your future?”

Lindsay laughed bitterly.

“My future? You want to exchange my marriage for benefits.

How much did he offer you?”

Betsey sneered and mocked her, “You’ve spent so much time with the Clarks and gained nothing.

Matthew is married, and if he has a child in the future, you’ll be nothing more than an outsider.

You’re such a loser.

”

At that moment, Lindsay understood there was no use in arguing with Betsey.

Her family treated her only as a means to an end, not as a daughter or a loved one.

Lindsay decided not to waste more words.

She gathered her clothes and began repacking them into her suitcase.

But Betsey pushed the suitcase over.

Her tone softened as she looked at Lindsay.

“Look at yourself.

What are you doing? You are my daughter.

Would I really harm you?”

She took Lindsay’s hand and pleaded, “Marrying him is for the best.

He may be older, but he will love you.

Plus, you won’t have the pressure to have children right away.

I wasn’t treated well by the Wheelers until I had your brother.

”

Lindsay’s suppressed anger burst along.

She shrugged off Betsey’s hand and said coldly, “I grew up in the Clark family home.

You didn’t raise me as a child.

Now that I’m grown, you only call me when you need something from me.

”

Slap!

Before Lindsay could say more, Betsey slapped her across the face.

Pointing at Lindsay, Betsey scolded, “Do you think you’re better than everyone else after staying with the Clark family and studying abroad? You think you don’t even need to acknowledge your own mother anymore?”