Jayme had no idea what to make of that look in Beckett’s eyes..

know the Summers have been struggling since the money dried up, but no matter how bad thugs get you can’t just sell your daughter for profier

Jayne clenched her jaw in frustration. The Summers had only one precious daughter–she and her husband doted on her. The thought of selling Edith offb, /blike some cheap transaction, was absurd. If they’d cared about money more than their child’s happiness, they never would have let her marry into the Vance family to begin with they would have done whatever it took to climb up and join the Hawksies instead!

Edith gripped her mother’s arm, her brows furrowed as she snapped at Beckett, “What kind of nonsense are you spouting?”

Becker lingered at the doorway, smirking with a mean glint in his eye. ‘Don’t y dumb. Everyone knows what’s going on. Who’s going to want you, Edith? Twice married, a widow, and with questionable fertility? The only ones interested are those aging nouveau riche types who need a young wife for appearances. No self–respecting woman would give them the time of day, but you–well, you’re young enough, and that’s all they care about. Do I really need to spell it out?”

He paused, then added coldy ‘So, how much did that old geezer pay the Sumners? I know your family’s desperate for cash. Name the price–whatever he offered, I’ll pay it myself. Just don’t go through with this remarriage.”

That was thest straw. Jayne grabbed a broom and swept Beckett out of the house

By the time the police car pulled away, Jayne was still clutching her chest, furious and shaking.

The Vances really are a piece of work. The things they say–no shame at all. Sure, Beckett’s gone now, but we used to be family by marriage. Did he really need to insult us like that?”

Back when Kearney’s troubles started, the Sumners truly had hit rock bottom. They’d swallowed their pride and asked the Vances for help, but every cent borrowed had been paid back, one way or another.

Just that once, and yet the Vances never let them forget it. With that kind of prejudice, how could they have ever treated Edith well these past years?

bThe /bbthought /bbrought btears /bbto /bJayne’s eyes, and her guilt came pouring out. “Edith, bit’s /ball our bfault/b. We shouldn’t have turned to the Vancesb–/bnot if bit /bmeant you’d have bto /bhang your head in that family. Your mother–inw was domineering from the

bstart/b…”

Hearing her mother’s sobs, Edith’s own eyes turned red. She pulled Jayne into a hug. “Mom, please don’t cry. Ever since my brother–inw survived that ne crash, he’s been out of his mind–frankly, I think the traumá scrambled his brains. bDon’t /btake anything he says to heart. Now that Dad’s affairs are finally settled and I’m remarrying, we’ll cut ties with the Vances for good. Our family’s future is brightb–/bno more looking back.”

Jayne needed a long moment topose herself before she managed a deep breath. “You’re right. And with how much the Hawksleys have helped your father, I’m sure they’ll treat you well too. The Sumners are finally on the right path! Tomorrow, I’ll take you shopping for a wedding trousseau. The Hawksleys haven’t asked for it, but we’re not the kind of people to do things by halves!”

Seeing her mother’s spirits lift, Edith gave a small, rxed smile, but gently turned her down. “Mom, there’s really no need to go to all that trouble. It’s my second marriage–no reason for a big fuss over a wedding trousseau. I’ve saved up some money over the years; I’ll just bring that with me.”

The Sumners had already suffered enough these past few years, ever since the scandal over Kearney’s medical practice dragged the family down. Edith didn’t want them to spend another cent on her.

But Jayne was firm. “Absolutely not. What you’ve saved is yours. The trousseau shoulde from us, your parents. Sweetheart, if you bring something from home, you’ll have more confidence in the Hawksley family.”

Edith couldn’t bring herself to refuse again. She didn’t want to dampen her mother’s mood, so she smiled and agreed.

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