Upon seeing Madisyn, Amanda was immediately impressed.


    “Madisyn isn’t just beautiful.


    She’s also so well-mannered!”


    ine beamed and said, “My daughter is indeed very well-mannered.”


    Amanda chuckled, a touch of envy in her eyes.


    “I envy you.


    My little rascal is only good at causing chaos.


    A daughter is so much better than a son.”


    Madisyn nced at Mara with an innocent expression and said, “Well, if you’re going to be envious, you should envy Mrs.


    Riggs.


    She has two daughters!”


    ine raised an eyebrow in surprise.


    “Mrs.


    Riggs, you have two daughters?”


    It appeared Mara had only brought up her biological daughter earlier.


    Mara’s expression stiffened for a moment, but she quickly recovered with a smile.


    “Yes, but the elder one isn’t my biological child.


    She’s been away for quite some time, and I’m hesitant to mention her.


    If she knew I mentioned her, she’d probably be upset.”


    ine nodded in understanding.


    “Kids grow up and develop their own personalities.”


    Mara sighed, a hint of helplessness in her voice.


    “My stepdaughter has always been difficult.


    No matter what I get for her, she doesn’t want it.


    It breaks my heart.


    Losing her mother so young must have scarred her, No matter how hard I try, nothing seems to change.”


    Madisyn fought back a grimace, finding the whole act nauseating.


    Mara, despite her cunning and schemes, was really good at pretending to be a kind woman.


    ine tried tofort her.


    “Give her some time.


    She’ll eventually see the good you’re doing for her.”


    Mara shook her head with a sad smile.


    “I hope so, but it’s been twenty years, and nothing’s changed.


    She never responds to my messages or calls.


    The only time she epts anything is when I send money.”


    Pausing for a moment, she added helplessly, “What else can I do? I just feel so sorry for her.”


    Mara’s pitiful demeanor painted her as a devoted stepmother in everyone’s eyes.


    Meanwhile, Susan was cast as the ungrateful, rebellious stepdaughter.


    No wonder Susan had such a bad reputation in Ansport; it was all Mara’s doing.


    ine thought for a moment and suggested, “Why not visit her now and then? Take her out and spend some quality time together.


    Girls need that kind ofpanionship.


    Her father’s probably too busy to give her the attention she needs.


    That’s where youe in.”


    Mara nodded, her expression growing even more sorrowful.novelbin


    “You’re absolutely right, Mrs.


    Johns.


    I’ve done that, actually.”


    “What happened?” ine asked.


    Mara’s voice grew even more sorrowful as she recounted, “I never saw her.


    I waited at the airport all night, caught a cold, and had to return home.


    Before I set off, I had asked her if she would meet me, and she had promised she would.”


    ine raised her eyebrows in surprise.


    It was clear the girl had a rebellious streak.


    Amanda said tly, “Honestly, it might be best not to bother.


    Some people are just ungrateful.”