Chapter 81 Moral Blackmail
Harriet said softly, “What I’m saying is you can apologize to your grandfather and father, and we’ll just let this thing slide. We’re all family here. There’s no need to make everyone upset for a little thing like this.”
Madelines smiled. “Why should I apologize? Did I do anything wrong?”
Harriet had no comeback to that. Did she do anything wrong? No, she didn’t. The one who disrespected Robert and shut him up was Sebastian, not her. But I can’t tell her that I’m asking her to apologize to my husband because she looks like a pushover.
“Why aren’t you saying anything, Mrs. Wendel?” Madeline asked. “You haven’t told me what I did wrong. Why should I apologize?”
“Enough, Madeline! Do you have to ruin everything before you’re happy?” Angie cried. “This is my home. I grew up here. Why can’t you just accept me? Why do you have to chase me away? Will you only be happy if I die? How can you be so evil?”
“I am not the one who wants to chase you away,” Madeline answered calmly. “I’ve never even said that. Whether you stay or leave depends on the Wendels, not me. Don’t call me evil, Angie. You know who’s really evil here.”
“But this all started because of you!” Angie cried loudly. “You could have settled this easily. All you have to do is tell Dad and Mom to let me stay, and Mom wouldn’t have been hospitalized because of that fight with Cedric. Dad won’t be in a dilemma right now either, but you just won’t! You want me to leave, but instead of saying that yourself, you let Dad and Mom do it for you! That’s more evil than you chasing me away yourself.”
“I’ve answered that before.” Madeline looked at her scornfully. “Angie, you know how you treated me. I’m already kind enough not to make things worse for you. Why do you expect me to speak up for you? You never showed that kind of kindness to me, so why do you expect me to do the same to you? Sorry, but I’m not a saint. I’d rather save a stray dog than someone who has hurt me countless times before. Namely you.”
“Did you just insult me?” Angie asked incredulously. “How dare you insult me, Madeline? That’s going too far!”
Madeline answered calmly, “Angie, you might have forgotten all about this, but you’ve insulted and abused me before. It’s not too much that I pay you back a little, right?”
“That’s all in the past. Why do you keep bringing it up? So that’s your true colors, huh?” Angie shouted. “Why didn’t you pay me back when I did that to you? Why are you doing it now that you finally got the chance to? And you say you’re not making things worse for me? This is making things worse for me.”
Madeline looked at her calmly. “I never paid you back because I thought I was Cameron’s daughter. I thought I was born with a sin. I thought I owed you because you’re Dan’s cousin. He saved my life, and he wants me to tolerate you, so I did. But now I realize that it’s all a big mistake. You’re the one born with sin, while I am Dan’s cousin. If that’s the case, why should I defend you?”
“Maddie, you’re wrong,” Harriet said gently. “Cameron might not be your real mother, but she did raise you, and that’s a bigger favor than bringing you into this world. Angie is her daughter, and you should show her mercy for your foster mother’s sake. That’s how you show gratitude.”
Madeline stared at Harriet for a moment, then she sighed and shook her head. “Mrs. Wendel, honestly, I’m impressed by how easily you spout something so stupid and disgusting.”
Harriet’s smile froze. “Maddie, I am your elder. You can’t act so rude to me.”
“I told you I haven’t gotten back into the fold yet. You’re not even my elder, so shut it.” Madeline cocked an eyebrow at her. “And don’t call me rude. You tried to morally blackmail me first. I’m just telling the truth.”
Harriet bit her lip. “Maddie, I’m doing this for your own good—”
Madeline frowned. “Forgive me for being honest, but you’re not exactly young, so stop with the young girl act. It’s disgusting. Did nobody tell you that before?”
Harriet’s face fell. She loved it when people said she looked as young as a university student, and she hated it when people called her old. Madeline hit her where it hurt the most, and she actually started hating Madeline. She came here in the first place to make life worse for Michael and Crystal, but now, her goal changed. She clenched her fists and said, “Madeline, your grandfather is right. If a mannerless girl like you comes back into the fold, it’ll make the whole family a laughing stock. We will never know peace.”
She held Angie’s hand and pulled her closer, then she looked at Michael. “Michael, Crystal and I raised Angie up, and we love her. I’m telling you now that if you chase her out, then you’re not my son anymore. It’s either me or Madeline, Michael. You make the choice.”
“Please, Grandma, no!” Jonathan quickly said. “Mom just got out of the woods. If she finds out that Dad chased Madeline out after she wakes up, how is he supposed to explain to her?”
“Yeah, Grandma,” Connor said. “A lot has happened today, and everyone is tired. We’re not in the best of moods, so we talk before we think. I think we should get some rest and leave this for tomorrow.”
“I don’t care if you leave this for tomorrow, or any day after that. Angie is my only granddaughter, and that’s it.” Harriet held Angie’s hand tightly. “You can’t be this heartless. You raised her up and spent more than twenty years with her. You can’t abandon her just because she’s not your father’s real daughter. Either you keep her, or you chase me out as well. You choose.”
Michael could feel his head explode. Choose? How am I supposed to choose?
