"If you're capable, achieve something worth showing me. Always quarreling and making a fuss, what kind of behavior is that?!" The elder rose to his feet, casting a cold glance at the four women. Before he turned to leave, he added in a stern tone, "Girls are of no use, they cannot hold any real position. What purpose do they serve?!"
Leaving these words behind, Ethan Summer straightened his back and left the dining room.
Tara Summer, sitting in the chair, stiffened. Ethan's words had struck where it hurt most. She clenched her fists, a piercing pain in her heart.
In Ethan's eyes, his granddaughters meant nothing. Robin Summer fared slightly better - at least he didn't often show her his temper.
However, Tara was different. Her grandfather saw her as a jinx, blaming the death of her father on her existence. Hence, except for the four years when she was studying abroad, she lived every day under his resentful gaze.
She could understand her grandfather's hatred towards her, but she didn't hate him. Even though her life was unhappy, if it weren't for Brother George, she might have left this home along with her mother a long time ago!
Never to return...
George Summer looked at Tara's bowed head, his gaze focusing on the bandaid on her neck's left side. His heart clenched; he knew this was not the time for soothing words. He sighed softly.
"Aunt, Mom, I'm going to the office." With a furrowed brow, he strode out.
"I'll go with you." Robin rose from her chair to follow, her jovial demeanor seemingly untouched, as if the words from their grandfather were all directed at Tara and didn't involve her in the least.
Victoria Saber shrugged and got to her feet while saying, "What a dampener, I've totally lost my appetite!" with a twist of her waist, she exited the dining room.
Once everyone had gone, Josie Reed risked coming over and grabbed her daughter's hand: "Tara, don't be upset. Grandfather, he..."
"Mom, you don't need to console me." Tara looked up and gave her a smile. But this smile only made Josie feel more heartbroken, tears immediately sliding down her cheeks. "Mom, you don't have to be like this! I'm fine. Haven't we always managed to get through? Please don't cry, alright?"
Josie nodded, dabbing her tears with a tissue. She looked up at her daughter and said, "Tara, you've graduated now; you're capable of supporting yourself. Have you considered leaving the Summer Family?"
"Mom..."
"You know, your mother is nameless here in the Summer Family. You're a girl; you don't need to bear the responsibility of the Summer Family. We can leave; your grandfather won't oppose it!"
Josie had always thought about relying on George. However, every time her daughter was scolded by the elder, she couldn't bear to let her stay here anymore.
Tara clenched her mother's hand: "You want to leave?"
"Don't you want to?"
"I..." Tara hesitated. How she wished to leave, but the thought of George made it hard for her to let go.
"Let's go to your room to talk." Josie took a quick glance around and saw that the servants were all ears.\ Frustrated, she pulled her daughter up and left.
Once mother and daughter were back in the room, Josie still held onto her daughter's hand, apparently determined to get a conclusion today.
Tara was helpless, she could only reveal the long-buried secret in her heart. She told her mother that George was not her father's illegitimate child. He had no blood relation to her; he was adopted from outside by her grandfather, so the Summer Family could have a male heir.
She also told her mother that she found out everything when she was twelve years old. That's when she started liking George - not as a brother, but with the affection between a man and a woman!
Josie was shocked after hearing this, but she finally understood why her daughter didn't want to leave the Summer Family. Maybe this wasn't such a bad thing; if the two of them could really be together, it would be a blessing.