CHAPTER 289: CHAPTER 289: MOM AND BROTHER DON’T LIKE ME ANYMORE

"I didn’t!" Abby’s little face turned red with frustration as she argued back, "I’m not a little beggar! My parents just traveled far away for work!"

Tanya Sinclair had just learned of Abby’s biological parents’ identity and felt heartbroken.

"Abby, let’s not listen to her nonsense." Tanya Sinclair squatted down and hugged Abby, wiping away her tears.

Even Caden, released Joy’s hand and walked over to Abby, looking at his most beloved sister full of disappointment.

"Joy, how can you talk like this?"

Joy clenched her tiny fists, angrily bursting out, "Abby Monroe, you don’t have parents! Ms. Underwood said your parents are deceased..."

"Enough!"

Tanya Sinclair, unable to endure it any longer, slapped her daughter across the face.

She didn’t use much force, but this slap effectively shattered something.

Tanya Sinclair looked at Joy’s aggrieved and shocked little face, feeling distressed inside.

After all, this was her daughter, her own flesh and blood... She gave birth to her but didn’t have the chance to raise her properly.

"Tanya Sinclair!" Yvonne Hawthorne arrived and witnessed the scene, rushing over in fury. After checking Joy, she raised her hand to slap Tanya Sinclair.

"What kind of person are you to dare hit my niece!"

Yet, before the slap landed, Tanya Sinclair intercepted it, coldly pushing Yvonne Hawthorne away, her gaze full of disgust and resentment.

"With Joy becoming like this, everyone in The Hawthorne Family has a part in it!"

Yvonne Hawthorne fumed, "You!"

"What’s going on?" Felix Kendall walked over briskly after finishing the bill.

He was dressed in a casual suit, his posture upright and dignified, making Yvonne Hawthorne’s heart race upon his appearance.

"Mr. Kendall, Tanya Sinclair hit Joy!" Yvonne Hawthorne glanced at Tanya Sinclair, her tone laced with sarcasm, "An adult bullying a five-year-old child, truly shameless!"

Felix Kendall spoke indifferently, "I thought Joy is Ms. Sinclair’s daughter? A mother disciplining her misbehaving child is entirely appropriate, isn’t it?"

Felix Kendall noticed Abby’s red knees, and his initially mild expression instantly turned colder.

Looking at Joy again, his gaze became more stern.

Just as he was about to speak, Tanya Sinclair turned to block his view.

She bowed her head and apologized to Felix Kendall, "Mr. Kendall, I didn’t handle today’s matter properly. I didn’t take good care of Abby. I’m sorry."

Abby is now considered Felix Kendall’s daughter, and if he learns that Joy bullied Abby, resolving the issue won’t be simple.

No matter what, Joy is her own child. Though she gave birth to her, she didn’t have the chance to raise her well, which is her failing as a mother.

Yvonne Hawthorne was unaware of Abby’s relationship with Felix Kendall, thinking Tanya Sinclair was merely trying to show herself as gentle and virtuous in Felix Kendall’s eyes.

She immediately sneered.

"Ha, hitting her own daughter right away! I don’t know whose seed, yet treated as a treasure!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Felix Kendall shot an icy glare past Tanya Sinclair straight at Yvonne Hawthorne, making her heart squirm, feeling as if her face was being shredded.

She hurriedly explained, "Mr. Kendall, I wasn’t talking about you..."

Felix Kendall replied coldly, "Abby is my daughter."

"Wh-what?!" Yvonne Hawthorne froze on the spot, almost unable to believe her ears.

"I may not hit women, but if anyone bullies my daughter, I certainly won’t let them off easy!" Felix Kendall’s gaze was icy, warning Yvonne Hawthorne, "If you don’t believe me, go ahead and try."

Yvonne Hawthorne was thoroughly panicked, not wanting to be despised by Felix Kendall!

"Mr. Kendall, I didn’t mean that!"

Felix Kendall didn’t care to listen, he bent down to pick up Abby and strode outside, Tanya Sinclair holding Caden’s hand followed behind. Only Caden turned back to glance at his sister, frowned in disappointment, then withdrew his gaze and walked away with his mom.

And Tanya Sinclair didn’t turn back to look again.

Joy clung to Yvonne Hawthorne’s shoulder, her eyes growing redder...

At the staircase entrance, Felix Kendall bumped into Vincent Hawthorne coming upstairs.

"Mr. Kendall." Vincent Hawthorne nodded slightly, his gaze lingering slightly on Tanya Sinclair behind him.

Felix Kendall spoke with a half-smile, "Mr. Hawthorne, your family’s upbringing truly leaves me in awe!"

Vincent Hawthorne frowned, "What do you mean by that?"

"Ask your dear daughter and sister then!" Felix Kendall couldn’t be bothered talking further to him.

Noticing Vincent Hawthorne’s gaze drifting towards Tanya Sinclair, Felix Kendall directly stepped aside half a step, indicating for Tanya Sinclair to take Caden and go first, while he stayed behind.

Entirely blocking Vincent Hawthorne from approaching Tanya Sinclair.

"Bye dad." Caden waved at Vincent Hawthorne.

Vincent Hawthorne watched the group leave, Felix Kendall holding Abby, while Tanya Sinclair held Caden, appearing as a picturesque family of four.

Though originally, Felix Kendall’s position belonged to him...

"Brother!" Yvonne Hawthorne came over carrying Joy, angrily, "Brother, why didn’t you tell me Abby is Felix Kendall’s daughter!"

"What?" Vincent Hawthorne frowned, "How is that possible? Felix Kendall hasn’t even gotten married, let alone had a formal girlfriend in years! How could he suddenly have a daughter? Could it be... a lovechild?"

Yvonne Hawthorne insisted, "Exactly, it must be a lovechild!"

So that’s why Tanya Sinclair cared so much about Abby, even hitting her own daughter for her sake!

Truly cunning!

Yvonne Hawthorne regretted it so much that she stomped her foot, "Had I known that little girl was Felix Kendall’s lovechild, I should’ve treated her more warmly!"

Yvonne Hawthorne was speechless, he reached out to take Joy, holding her in his arms.

"What? You, a pure and innocent noble lady, considering running to The Kendall Family to be a stepmom?"

"What’s wrong with being a stepmom?" Yvonne Hawthorne refused to back down, "Hasn’t Ms. Cindy always been a stepmom to Joy and Caden?"

"Shut up!" Vincent Hawthorne felt he could be driven mad by his younger sister Yvonne Hawthorne.

Joy hugged his neck, softly said, "Daddy, I want to go home."

"Alright, daddy’s little princess is tired, isn’t she? We’ll go home right away."

Vincent Hawthorne soothed his daughter, suddenly noticing Joy’s cheek was slightly red, he frowned.

"What happened here?"

Yvonne Hawthorne tattled from the side, "Tanya Sinclair hit her! Just because Joy pushed Abby, Tanya Sinclair slapped her! Truly ruthless! Good thing brother, you didn’t let her get custody of Joy."

Vincent Hawthorne: "..."

It wasn’t that he didn’t let Tanya Sinclair have custody of Joy, it was Tanya Sinclair who actively gave it up.

The recent call was Tanya Sinclair’s proxy lawyer Zane Shaw contacting him, informing him that Tanya Sinclair had given up custody of Joy!

But, of course, he couldn’t say this in front of Joy.

Leaving the restaurant, Felix Kendall’s car drove right past them, with Tanya Sinclair sitting in the passenger seat. Vincent Hawthorne saw her graceful and gentle profile flash by, soon disappearing with the car from view.

Vincent Hawthorne took back his gaze and looked at Yvonne Hawthorne.

"Drive back yourself, be sure to stay safe."

Having said that, he got into the car with Joy.

Inside, it was just the father and daughter, Vincent Hawthorne finally spoke up, "Joy, tell daddy exactly what you did, what you said, for mommy to hit you?"

Knowing Tanya Sinclair’s nature, even if hurt deeply by Joy, unless Joy went too far, she wouldn’t willingly hit her daughter!

Joy lowered her head, kept silent.

After a while, she raised her head.

"Daddy..."

Vincent Hawthorne saw his daughter’s tear-filled little face in the rearview mirror, his heart aching.

Joy rubbed her eyes hard, making her eyelids redness, "Mommy and brother, they hate me now... They like Abby, they don’t like me anymore..."