Chapter 515
With a single sentence, Hannah shut down every possibility.
Amanda was stunned.
She had assumed that, for her sake, her mother would bring Ann along to Neon Spire. But now, reality had slapped her hard in the face.
Ann, too, was dumbfounded.
She found herself doubting-was she really Hannah’s granddaughter? Did Hannah even see her as family anymore?
Ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous.
Amanda could see her daughter’s distress. She reached over, squeezed Ann’s hand, and urged her to keep calm.
Then Amanda looked up at Keira. “Mom, you’re right. I was too naive to think it would be that simple p>
Keira smiled. “Amanda, I’m glad you understand where I’m coming from p>
She’d expected Amanda to be angry at the refusal. Apparently, she’d worried too much.
Amanda was not a petty person.
Her expression gave nothing away as she continued, “Mom, just be careful when you go to Neon Spire on your own. Stay safe p>
“Don’t worry, I’m taking Wendy with me p>
Wendy was Keira’s assistant-a former nurse, trained in self-defense, and a black-belt in taekwondo. She was Keira’s most capable aide.
Hearing this, Ann’s anger flared again.
She always knew she could never measure up to Caitlin. But now, it seemed she didn’t even compare to a personal assistant in Keira’s eyes. Keira would rather take her assistant than her own granddaughter.
What kind of grandmother does that?
Ann wished Keira would just drop dead already.
But she had no choice but to swallow her rage-for now.
Just wait. Once she married Daniel, she’d show Keira exactly what she was capable of.
After leaving the Gonzales estate, Ann dropped the pretense. She slammed the car door shut and turned to Amanda. “Mom, is she really my grandmother? How could she treat me like that p>
Amanda’s face was clouded with anger. She patted Ann’s hand. “Ann, sometimes you have to endure the small things for the sake of the bigger plan p>
Ann’s eyes blazed. “Endure, endure, endure—that’s all you ever tell me! What else am I supposed to do? I’m sick of it p>
“Ann, you have to be patient,” Amanda insisted. “You have to wait until your uncle is gone p>
Only after Stuart was gone would the Gonzales family truly belong to them.
Revenge, even if it takes ten years, is never too late.
Ann glanced over at Amanda in the driver’s seat. “When will he finally die p>
“Soon.” A glint flickered in Amanda’s eyes.
Before long, they arrived back at Templeton Manor.
As they walked in, Gavin Templeton emerged from the kitchen, wearing an apron and carrying a platter. He beamed at them. “Amanda, Ann, you’re just in time. Dinner’s ready! I cooked pork roast myself tonight p>
Amanda, already seething, grew even angrier at this. She slapped the dish from Gavin’s hands. “Eat, eat, eat—is that all you know how to do? Is eating all you’re good for, Gavin? Are you a pig or what p>
Even pigs have more backbone than Gavin.
Crash!
The dish and roast hit the floor, shattering with a sharp clang.
Hearing the commotion, Tammie Gonzales came out from the dining room. “Aunt Amanda, what happened p>
Amanda froze when she saw her.
Gavin’s smile didn’t waver as he
stooped down to clean up the mess.
“It’s nothing, Tammie. Go have a
seat was just clumsy and dropped
the plate
Amanda’s anger softened a little. “Tammie, when did you get here p>
“I just arrived p>
Ann walked over, linking her arm
through Tammie’s. “Tammie got
my hands on a signed comic
a signed comic by
Master Fenmore. Come see if you
think it’s real or a knockoff p>
Fenmore was Tammie’s idol.
“Really?” Tammie’s face lit up. Fenmore had been absent from the comic world for
three years, and her signed works were incredibly rare.
Tammie couldn’t believe Ann had actually gotten one.
“Of course it’s real! Come on, I’ll show you in the study p>
Tammie eagerly followed Ann upstairs.
Only when she saw Fenmore’s signature in person did she believe it, her hands trembling with
exortement “It’s Mastét,
Fenmore-it’s really her
handwriting p>
Ann grinned. “If you love it that much, it’s yours p>
Tammie was over the moon. “Thank you, Ann p>
“No need to thank me we’re family, aren’t we p>
Just then, Tammie’s phone rang.
She picked it up, saw the caller ID, and her expression soured. She rejected the
call without hesitation.
“Who was that?” Ann asked curiously. “Why’d you hang up so fast p>
“Celia,” Tammie replied.
Ann’s eyes went wide in disbelief. “The Palmers? The first family of Valerium? Isn’t Celia their only daughter p>
“That’s right,” Tammie nodded.
Ann leaned in, amazed. “Wow, Tammie! How do you know Miss Palmer p>
Tammie shrugged. “She’s a fan of my comics—she’s been following my work for years, even before I went professional p>
Ann laughed. “Oh, I get it. She’s got a crush on you p>
“Well, I don’t feel the same way about her p>
Ann studied Tammie. “So where is Miss Palmer now p>
“She’s here. In the Capital p>
“In the Capital?” Ann swallowed, genuinely surprised. “She followed you all the
way to the Capital p>