CHAPTER_DETAIL_H1

Grace smiled, radiating confidence. "Consider it done."

With both of them fanning the flames, the online smear campaign turned nuclear.

But Winona didn't have the energy to care about any of it. She fell into an exhausted sleep right there on the couch.

She was woken by her phone ringing. It was Claire Wynn.

It was nine o'clock at night. Claire was waiting in her car outside the villa gates, asking to see her.

"Winona, I didn't get a chance to speak with you at the hospital. Please don't be mad at Mom."

Hearing those words caused a lump to form in Winona's throat.

Her grandmother and Claire had both treated her wonderfully growing up. Her grandmother had spoiled her rotten, but once Sienna entered the picture, Claire's affections had shifted completely to her biological daughter.

Every time Winona tried to point out Sienna's scheming, she was brushed off as throwing a tantrum. She had actually broken down and gone to a therapist, desperate to understand why Sienna was allowed to steal everything from her and why no one believed her side of the story. But the therapist couldn't give her an answer.

Her love for her family became a cage woven from thorns, trapping her inside until she bled.

She had wanted so desperately for Claire to believe her, right up until the DNA test was slapped across her face like a physical blow.

She had been chased out like a stray dog.

"Winona, do you really hate us so much that you won't even see me?"

Winona quickly suppressed her emotions, her voice turning icy. "Ms. Wynn, I'll have someone open the gates."

Hearing the formal "Ms. Wynn," Claire's lips pressed into a tight line.

The massive iron gates slowly swung open, and her driver pulled the luxury car onto the estate.

When Claire finally saw Winona sitting on the couch, her eyes grew slightly red. "Winona, how are you holding up?"

Winona offered a polite smile and stood up to brew some tea.

She placed the teacup next to Claire's hand before finally asking, "What did you want to talk about, Ms. Wynn?"

Claire had assumed that when they finally came face-to-face, Winona would throw herself into her arms and cry.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVERIFY