Gregory''s tall frame stiffened for a moment, then rxed as augh escaped him. The sound of running water from the faucet filled the air as he washed the soap off his hands, dried them, and turned around to pull me into his embrace.


    Lowering his head to look at me, his eyes shimmered as he pinched my cheek gently, "Jane, it''s my ownck of strength that makes me uneasy. It has nothing to do with what you do or don''t do."


    I wrapped my arms around his neck, earnestly replying, "You''re already doing so much!"


    "Jane..."


    His thumb softly caressed my cheek, a flicker of guilt visible in his eyes. "If I had been strong enough, you wouldn''t have been kidnapped as a child. And two years ago, I wouldn''t have let Hanson confront you, forcing you back to Bryant."


    "How old were you when I was kidnapped?"


    I looked up at him, trying to alleviate his guilt, "And Hanson... in the end, none of this is your fault."


    His fingers rested lightly on the corner of my eye, his voice deepening, "But if I were strong enough, none of this would''ve happened."


    That''s just human nature.


    No one dares to bully the strong.


    Just like the kidnapping in our childhood, if Gregory and I could have made them pay a severe price, Susan wouldn''t have dared to entertain the thought.


    And two years ago, Mr. Ford only dared to threaten me because Gregory still needed the support of the Ford family.


    I hugged him tighter, saying, "Then let''s work on it together, Gregory. You''re not alone."


    Myers Mansion.


    Dorothy hurled a cup at her assistant, "Are you useless? So what if Be''s the talk of the town, she''s hosting her sess party in Vista Town! Are we, the Myers family, not worthy of an invitation?"


    This time, Be''s sess party had caught the attention of all the high society in Vista Town.


    Everyone was waiting to see which families would receive an invitation and which wouldn''t.


    The Myers family might have lost some of their former glory over the past two years, but they were still a deeply rooted prestigious family. Dorothy couldn''t believe that Be, new to Vista Town, would dare to snub the Myers family. So she had let it be known early on that Be had promised to send an invitation to the Myers family.


    If they didn''t get one, her rivals would have a field day behind her back!


    The assistant dodged, but not quickly enough, and soon had a swelling forehead, "Miss..."


    "What''s going on?"


    Susan emerged from the elevator, her brows furrowing slightly as she looked at Dorothy, "What''s so important that you''re this upset?"


    Dorothy red at the assistant then mumbled to Susan, "It''s that sess party. This useless person couldn''t even manage to get an invitation."


    Susan''s expression darkened, her gaze bingplex, "You still want to go to Be''s sess party?"


    "Yes!"


    Dorothy stamped her foot, "If I can''t make it, I''ll be theughingstock!"


    "Go take care of that swelling on your head."


    ne?


    Susan wayed the assistant off, then sternly said, "What''s there to beughed at? Is Be so remarkable? Even if she sends us an invitation, you are not to go!"


    "Why?!"


    Dorothy stood up abruptly, displeased, "Mom, why do you always have to be so authoritarian whenever Be is mentioned?"N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    Over the years, watching Be''s movies or TV shows was forbidden in their house!


    If Be was on some show, it was sure to be missed.


    Still, Dorothy was quite fond of Be!


    In middle school, she had even sneaked out to see Be live, just for an autograph.


    Susan''s face hardened, "I said no, and that''s final. Dorothy, have I been too indulgent with you over the years? Why don''t you listen anymore?"


    Dorothy retorted, "You have to give me a reason. What, did Be seduce my dad?"


    Susan seemed struck by a sore spot


    and exploded, "Instead of wasting time on this nonsense, you should be worrying about when that olddy recovers and Jane is brought back Will there still be a ce for you in the Myers family?"


    “I.......”


    Mention of this deted Dorothy like a punctured balloon. She sat back down, grabbing Susan''s arm, pleading softly, "Mom... what do


    do? Please, think of something t


    With all the old and new grudges between her and me, if she gets control of the family, she''ll surely kick me out!"