Chapter 558 Grace Draws the Line

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By rights, since Rence was a guest, Ivan calling her crazy in front of everyone should have earned him a token rebuke.

But Grace and Nancy exchanged a look. They both felt he hadn’t said anything wrong.

Scolding children when they weren’t at fault only bred resentment, and both women chose silence. fn08fb Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n Find_Novel(./fn08fb

“I wasn’t being petty…”

Renee’s voice cracked. From the moment breakfast began, Ivan had been on her case, like he’d woken up chewing gunpowder. She was about to break.

Sniffling, she whispered, “I just felt like Lily and I clicked right away. I was worried she didn’t want to be friends, so I said a little more. I never meant anything else.”

Ivan snorted. “Who knows what you mean.’

James, seated beside him, shot Ivan a frosty nce.

Ivan had been too quick, stealing the chance for him to defend Lily. But since his brother had said exactly what he wanted to say, he let it slide.

Renee’s eyes reddened even more.

She turned toward Lily with an earnest expression. “I’m sorry. I really didn’t mean anything bad. Can you please not hate me?”

In front of the elders, Lily couldn’t exactly dere her dislike.

She answered perfunctorily and went back to her breakfast.

“You’re so kind.”

Renee immediately clung to her arm again, her tone syrupy. “I like you the most, sister–inw! You’re so good. You were with John for four years, and he threw you away for some silly crush -he really had no eye for value!”

On the surface, it sounded like she was taking Lily’s side.

But her wording was deliberate.

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Chapter 558 Grace Draws the Line

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That word “with“-a reminder to the Luke family that Lily had shamelessly chased after John.

And “thrown away“-a reminder to James that Lily was a castoff, a woman another man had already yed with and discarded.

In Renee’s mind, a proud man like James would never ept such scraps.

And once suspicion grew that Lily’s baby wasn’t James’s, the family–so obsessed with bloodlines–would never allow it.

“I swear, Renee, you really are sick!”

Ivan, who had woken up starving, lost his appetitepletely at her words.

He mmed his fork on the table. “What do you mean ‘with‘? Lily and John were openly dating–an honest rtionship. Don’t twist it into something shameful. And she wasn’t thrown away. John was trash who didn’t deserve her, and she dumped him!

“You say you like Lily, want to be friends, but then you drip poison like that? Anyone hearing

would think she dug up your ancestors‘ graves. You’re ridiculous!”

you

Renee’s fingers shook so hard her fork nearly slipped to the floor.

This wasn’t how it was supposed to go.

She’d thought bringing up Lily’s past would spark disdain, even doubts about the child she carried. Instead, Ivan–idiot that he was–still shielded her.

Didn’t he care that his brother might be cheated by a woman like that? Or… did he have something going on with Lily too?

“Renee, I heard Susan hasn’t been welltely.”

Grace’s voice cut through. Hearing her full name made Renee’s chest seize.

But then she realized Grace was asking after her mother, and her courage returned. “Yes. The doctor said she needs rest for some time.”

“Then take care of her properly. Don’t run around everywhere.”

Renee’s smile froze.

The meaning was clear–Grace was telling her not toe to the Luke estate so often. Just yesterday, Grace had held her hand warmly, urging her to visit more, to keep her

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Chapter 558 Grace Draws the Line

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And now, overnight, her attitude had turnedpletely.

They weren’t questioning Lily’s past, weren’t doubting her baby’s bloodline. Instead, they were pushing Renee away. Were they out of their minds?

Of course, she couldn’t say that aloud.

She still dreamed of bing the family’s daughter–inw. She couldn’t afford ito /ialienate them.

So she bit down her anger and yed the meek card.

“Grandma, I’ll take good care of my mother. But in my heart, you and Mom are also my family. I just wanted to spend more time with you. I know I’m not clever, my words clumsy, and I must have upset you. But I really don’t have bad intentions. I only felt that jerk John wronged Lily, and I wanted to stand up for her.”