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Lena’s heart jolted as she whispered, “I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, you don’t understand?”
Lena remained polite. “Ms. Renee, it’s quite late now. You should rest early.”
“Stop right there!” Renee blocked Lena’s path, her intense gaze fixed on her. “You haven’t answered my question!
W-Why has everything been different since you appeared?”
“Ms. Renee…”
“Why did you always keep an eye on my mother?” Renee trembled, tears streaming down her face. “From the first
day she came to the Thompsons’, you said she wandered around the study with ulterior motives…”
“I didn’t say anything wrong.” Lena’s expression was cold. “She did indeed steal Lina’s design after that!”
“That wasn’t my mother! That person… That person was…”
Lena spoke deliberately. “Ms. Renee, I just want to protect the safety of everyone in the Thompsons, including you.
If anyone intends harm to the Thompsons, no matter who it is, I won’t let them go.”
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt“Stop talking!” Renee covered her ears and stared at Lena with bloodshot eyes, bordering on hysteria. “Who do you
think you are? This isn’t your home!”
“This is…” Lena bit her lip, unable to utter the words. She knew this was not her home, but she was willing to guard
it like one. She no longer had a mother and did not want to lose her father or her sister.
Seeing she remained silent, Renee grew more convinced of her guilt.
“Lena, who really are you?” Renee pressed, stepping closer. “What’s your motive?!”
Lena took a deep breath, suppressing her emotions. She was not one to back down, but she did not want to argue
with Renee this time.
“Ms. Renee, if you don’t like me, I can leave…”
“Don’t pretend!” Renee sneered. “What are you trying to do? You know very well that Uncle Nicholas and Aunt
Linda won’t let you! And Lina, what will she think if she learns you’re leaving? The whole family will blame me!
“Lena, who do you think you’re threatening with this?”
Lena closed her eyes, feeling upset. After a long struggle, she managed to say, “I’m sorry…”
“What good does your apology do? My mother is already dead!”
“I really am sorry.”
“It’s all your fault—”
Renee shouted uncontrollably, but then a stern voice interrupted.
“Renee, what are you doing?”
Lena paused and looked up to see Linda coming down the stairs.
She was wearing pajamas with a thin robe draped over them. She had put on slippers with soft soles, making her
footsteps nearly silent. It was unclear when she had appeared there.
Renee seemed a bit panicked, especially when she saw Linda’s stern expression, completely devoid of the usual
tenderness and affection for her.
“Renee, how can you lose your temper at Lena?”
“Why can’t I?” Renee shouted. “It’s all because of her!”
“Because of her what?” Although Linda was not angry, her presence was imposing. “Just because she treats
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmeveryone in the Thompsons sincerely and kindly gives you the right to be rude to her?”
“Aunt Linda—”
“Kaitlyn’s death wasn’t because of Lena!” Linda emphasized. “Your mother had dissociative identity disorder, and
the root cause of this mental illness was Melvin!
“If Lena hadn’t kept a close watch on Kaitlyn and discovered her condition, who knows how much harm we would
have suffered? Snap out of it!”
Renee lowered her head, her face pale, unable to utter a word.
Linda’s tone softened. “Renee, I know your mother’s death has been a big blow to you, but when she jumped off
the cliff, it was to protect you… You should understand her intentions and not blame others.”
“I understand, Aunt Lina.”
“Alright, both of you should rest now.” Linda held Renee’s and Lena’s hands, stacking all three of their hands
together. “From now on, let’s have a harmonious atmosphere in our family. I don’t want to hear any more quarrels.
Is that clear?”
Renee nodded, but the hint of hatred in her eyes grew stronger in the dark.
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