Chapter 435
Chapter 435:
Hearing the tension from the dining room, she approached with concern. “Mom? Dad? Are you arguing with Jarrod p>
“Ask him yourself!” Richard snapped, tossing his fork aside like it had betrayed him.
Rosanna turned her puzzled gaze on Jarrod, who sat silently, head bowed. “Jarrod?” she asked softly.
He lifted his eyes, meeting hers briefly. In that fleeting glance, a quiet truth dawned upon him—these people had been consumed by fury and wouldn’t want to listen to his words calmly. So, what was the point in speaking?
He set down his fork, stood, and straightened his posture. A cold, restrained intensity now cloaked his expression.
Sandra stepped in, her voice tinged with irritation. “What are you doing now? Sit down and eat. Don’t spoil Rosanna’s dinner p>
Jarrod stood frozen for a moment, as if seeing things clearly for the first time. Since Rosanna had returned to the Morgan family, their parents had showered her with warmth and attention, leaving both Maia and himself in the shadows.
He shook his head slowly. “I’ve lost my appetite. I’m going to rest.” And with that, Jarrod walked away, not sparing a single glance behind him.
Richard’s voice followed, steeped in exasperation. “See? That’s the son you raised p>
Sandra fired back, just as annoyed. “What do you mean, the son I raised? Isn’t he your son too? Or are you washing your hands of him now p>
Rosanna looked on, bewildered, her voice a whisper. “Mom, Dad, please stop. What’s wrong with Jarrod p>
Richard gave a disdainful snort. “Who knows what nonsense your brother’s caught up in. Just leave him be p>
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But when he turned to Rosanna, his harshness melted away like ice under the sun. A gentle smile lit his face, and his tone softened. “Jarrod’s been coddled his whole life. If only he had half your maturity p>
Sandra nodded in full agreement. Though both children were hers, the contrast between them couldn’t have been starker. Compared to Rosanna’s composed demeanor, Jarrod—despite being the elder—seemed caught in a state of arrested development.
She sighed. “Your brother’s been acting strange all day, like something’s weighing on him. He and your father just had a small disagreement, nothing serious p>
Rosanna sat quietly, thinking that he was probably still rattled from the drama at the party the day before. She decided not to press the matter.
With her parents seeming more at ease, she lowered her gaze and said carefully, “Mom, Dad… there’s something I’m not sure whether I should say p>
Sandra smiled gently. “Darling, what could you possibly not tell your own parents p>
Richard, too, turned toward her with unexpected gentleness, his usually stern face now open and kind. “Of course you can speak. Whatever’s on your mind, we’re listening p>
Their tone had transformed completely—so unlike the sharp words they had flung at Jarrod just moments before.
Rosanna hesitated, pressing her lips together, before finally speaking slowly.
“I remembered that Maia’s birthday falls on the same day as mine. It’s approaching quickly, and during the last four years while she was incarcerated, we never had the chance to celebrate her special day,” Rosanna remarked, watching her parents closely. Noticing that they seemed attentive, she continued, “Now that she’s out, I thought — why not celebrate together this year? We could host her an extravagant birthday feast to show that the Morgan family never truly meant to sever ties. There are several benefits to this idea. First, it might help ease any lingering tensions between us. Secondly, it would send a clear message to everyone that the Morgans still consider her family, despite all the rumors. Lastly, given her current situation, we could potentially secure partnerships that might be advantageous for the Morgan family in the future p>
Rosanna had carefully thought through these points.
The dining room fell silent for a moment, then Sandra looked at her with a confused expression. “Are you suggesting… you want to throw a joint birthday party for Maia p>