Watching the angel-faced toddler in front of me, it hit me that my previous fuss over him correcting how he addressed me was utterly unnecessary, and quite frankly, I might have evenplicated things.


    Especially considering the rtion within the Taylor family, when little Ike first called me "sis," he wasn''t off the mark.


    By rtion, I was indeed his cousin. Realizing this, I couldn''t help but find the mix of humor and irony in the situation.


    Ike, a true social butterfly even at his young age, looked up at Be with those big, charming eyes and called out, "Auntie Be!" "Hey there."


    Be responded, patting his head gently. Once Ike scampered off to the yroom, she turned to me, "You know, despite the kid having thest name Taylor, he sure takes after you - both in looks and in that charming personality."


    What she meant was, the Taylors, or more specifically, Herbert Taylor, were not exactly the most pleasant bunch.


    Edith wasn''t the least bit offended. If anything, she felt like she found a kindred spirit, "You got that right, Be! Herbert''s demeanor is as outdated as a relic from the Victorian era. Can you imagine if Ike ended up like him? I shudder at the thought!"


    Be chuckled, clearly familiar with the Taylor family saga, teasingly asking, "So, does this mean you''re considering a reunion with him?"


    "Not in a million years!"


    My response was firm, perhaps even a bit heated as I thought about it, "Being with him felt like being in a cage, always doubted, always questioned." "In what way did he doubt you?" Be inquired, curious.


    "Well..."


    Edith, a grown woman, awkwardly touching her nose, "Like, whenever he was working in his study and I''d bring him a snack, he''d quickly stash away any documents he was working on. I know I shouldn''t meddle in his work, but it''s not a great feeling, being treated like you''re about to betray your own family''s secrets."


    It was a woman-to-woman moment; I instantly got her point.


    There''s a certain difort in being guarded against by your own partner, regardless of the reason.


    On the flip side, Gregory was theplete opposite.


    Lately, he''d often bring his work over to my ce, taking over my desk and mixing his documents with my manuscripts.


    I''ve told him multiple times to keep our stuff separate, worrying I might stumble upon something confidential.


    And he''d just look at me, all casual like, "If I''ve given you my heart, what secrets can''t I share with you?"


    ...


    But I knew Herbert''s situation and temperament were worlds apart from Gregory''s.


    Be poured me a cup of tea, "Is this why you left him?"


    "Not solely, but it was part of the reason," Edith admitted.


    "That''s fair," Be said, raising an eyebrow, "His upbringing was tough. Not many could have done better in his shoes." "Tough?" Edith frowned.


    "Yes." Be nodded, a hint of


    sadness in her voice, "He was the


    late blessing to our parents, who doted on him yet burdened him with high expectations from a very young age. He barely had a childhood, growing up under stringent demands."


    "He carries the weight of the Taylor family''s legacy, always calcting his every move, allowing no room for error."


    Both Edith and I paused, absorbing this new insight.


    Herbert had never shared these details with Edith, leaving her puzzled. "He never mentioned any of this to me."N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    Then, realizing something, she


    looked at Be, surprised, "Be, why


    are you defending him? I thought you didn''t like him."


    She smiled softly, "He was the only one in the Taylor family who stood up for me when times were tough."


    "What happened...?" She began, but then hesitated, recognizing the boundaries of their acquaintance.


    Changing the subject, she asked about the day Herbert showed up at Cloud Vis, "Why didn''t you let him in?"


    Be was straightforward. "Getting too close to him only brings trouble."


    Edithughed, "If Herbert knew you were looking out for him, he''d be thrilled."


    Then, suddenly realizing she might be intruding, she looked at Be, a bit embarrassed, "Be, did youe here to discuss a dress fitting with Jane? I hope I''m not interrupting."