Chapter 77 New Backer
He lost all interest in talking to her once he saw the hatred in her eyes. She was just an ingrate. No matter how much they helped her, she would bite the hand that fed her the moment they failed her expectations. He had seen a lot of people like that, but it took a long time for them to show their true colors, just like how gold-plated copper had to be burnt to show its true colors. It was only then he realized that the cute sister he thought he had was just an ingrate who would tear them apart once they couldn’t satiate her appetite.
He glanced at her and said coldly, “You’re on your own now.” He left with his twin after that.
Angie watched them leave, and it felt as if she had fallen into an ice pit. The chilling air pierced through her soul, but she wouldn’t leave her fate up to chance. Before the truth was out, she knew she must do everything she could to keep the truth concealed and stay with the Wendels. She had to remain as the Wendels’ daughter. Only then could she keep her identity and bright future.
She took a deep breath and hailed a ride. They didn’t even leave me a car. The Wendels’ cruelty fueled her hatred. She got into the ride and sat back, closing her eyes. I won’t fall just like this. If I’m going down, then I’m dragging the Wendels and Madeline together with me. I did nothing wrong, but they cast me aside just like that. I can’t be the only one who suffers. All will suffer like I did. If they’re doing this to me, then I’m messing up their lives.
When she came to her destination, she got out of the car and came to a gate that had engravings on it, though it was shut.
The guard saw her. “Who goes there?” And he came to see who it was.
“It’s me, Angie,” Angie answered.
“Oh, Miss Angie.” The guard’s stern look was replaced with a smile. “What brings you here so late in the night?”
“I need to see Grandpa and Grandma,” she said.
She was at the Wendel Residence, where Robert and his wife stayed. As the only daughter of the Wendels, she was spoiled by Robert and Harriet. The guard quickly opened the gates, and Angie came in.
Robert and Harriet were asleep, but the butler went to wake them up. They knew it must be urgent, as they were woken up at one in the morning.
Robert wore a robe and came down with Harriet. Harriet was more than ten years younger than Robert. She wasn’t Robert’s first wife, but the sister of his first wife. Robert had three sons with his first wife, and he loved her deeply. After her death, he was planning on never remarrying, but then Harriet would come over to take care of her nephews, and they eventually got married.
Harriet spent all her youth taking care of Robert’s sons, and he was touched by that. Eventually, he married her, and she became his second wife.
Michael and his brothers got along swimmingly with Harriet. They didn’t really refuse it when she married their father and became their stepmother. She had no children of her own, so she saw Michael and his brothers as her own kids. Robert and his sons respected her greatly because of that.
When her grandparents came out, Angie went and hugged Harriet tearfully. “Grandpa… Grandma…”
Michael and his brothers called Harriet ‘Auntie’, but since she was legally Robert’s wife, so Michael and his brothers’ kids called her ‘Grandma’. Harriet loved her step-grandchildren, as she had no kids of her own, and she loved the only girl—Angie—even more.
The boys were raised by Crystal, but she helped bring Angie up. Crystal lost a lot of blood when she gave birth to Angie, but she was eventually saved. Crystal’s health wasn’t really great even after she was discharged, so Harriet helped Crystal take care of Angie.
Angie grew up a bit cheeky, and Crystal was a strict mother. She might love her only daughter, but she would never spoil her rotten. However, Harriet would give Angie anything she wanted, and thanks to that, Angie was close to her.
Robert had eight grandsons and one granddaughter. His family was big, but Angie was the closest to Harriet among the grandkids. They were her only hope now, and she made herself look like she was in the worst agony in the world.
Angie was the only one Harriet raised, and she poured her heart and soul into the child. She was heartbroken seeing Angie cry so pitifully. She patted her back, asking, “What is it, Angie? Why are you crying? Did someone hurt you?”
“Grandma… Dad and Mom are abandoning me!” Angie started hiccuping.
Harriet frowned. “What are you talking about, you silly girl? Everyone knows they love you the most out of all their children. They won’t abandon you.”
“It’s true. G-Grandma, it’s true,” Angie said through tears. “Dad said I’m not their real daughter. He says I’m Cameron’s daughter. He doesn’t want me anymore, and he wants to chase me out. I don’t want to leave, Grandma. This is my home. I grew up here. Where can I go? I-I don’t want to leave you, Grandma…” Angie hugged Harriet tightly, crying her heart out.
“What did you say? You’re not their real daughter?” Harriet looked at Robert, shocked.
Robert was confused as well. He didn’t stay with his sons, so he didn’t know what had happened in Michael’s household.
“I-It’s true, Grandma. Dad said I’m not his daughter, and Mom doesn’t want me anymore. She wants to chase me out, and Dad is doing what she says.” Angie was still crying while hugging Harriet. “Can you help me, Grandma? I don’t want to leave you guys. This is my home. If I leave, I’ll be without a family. I’ll lose Dad, Mom, and you two. I’m so, so scared, Grandma.”
After a lot of explanation, Harriet finally understood what was going on. She looked at Robert with complaint in her eyes. “This is preposterous. Even if she isn’t their daughter, we still raised her. They can’t abandon her just like that.”
Robert nodded. He was shocked by the news, but he reflexively thought Harriet was right. The Wendel Family was rich enough to keep another kid, even if she was not their own. She’s been with us for more than twenty years. They can’t dump her just like this. “Let’s go.” He looked at Harriet and Angie. “I’m going to ask Michael and Crystal about this. We raised Angie up. They can’t throw her out just like this. If this goes out, the public will call us heartless.”
