She Doesn’t Need Erin’s Leftovers


    Out of nowhere, Daphne seemed to remember something. “You still love sleeping in, don’t you? You just got up and must be hungry. Come eat with us.”


    She smiled and waved Tracy over, clearly forgetting the table was almost wiped clean-just one piece of bread left that Erin had taken a bite out of and didn’t want.


    Benjamin looked displeased. “Why bother inviting her? She already stuffed her face in the kitchen like some starving beggar. No manners whatsoever!”


    He red at Tracy. “I’ve told you before. If you don’t know how to behave, don’t even think about eating at the table. Did you ignore everything I said?”


    As he got angrier, Erin jumped in to calm him down. “Dad, don’t be upset. Maybe Tracy didn’t eat enough. I don’t need much food anyway. She can have my portion.”


    She picked up the te with the half-eaten bread and smiled sweetly at Tracy. “Tracy,e eat with us!”


    Tracy didn’t move. She looked down and said tly, “Thanks, Ms. Erin, but I already ate.”


    The chef’s pasta had been filling, and she couldn’t eat more.


    But Erin’s eyes suddenly turned red. “You don’t want it because it’s mine?


    “Although these are leftovers, I haven’t touched them. They’re clean. I just thought you might still be hungry. I didn’t mean anything bad. If you’re disgusted by it, I-I’m sorry.”


    She looked heartbroken, like she was about to cry.


    Tracy had seen that act before. She could already guess what wasing.


    Sure enough, Liam mmed his fork down and red at her. “Erin is offering you food, and this is how you act?


    “Dad saw you eating already, and now you’re still going after Erin’s food? Are you trying to stir up trouble this early? Honestly, you should’ve stayed at that etiquette school and nevere back!”


    Two years ago, she would’ve felt crushed by those same usations.


    But now, she just stared at Liam calmly. “I never said I was still hungry. I never tried to take Ms. Erin’s food. And I certainly didn’t say I was disgusted.”


    She’d even waited for everyone to finish beforeing out. All she did was politely turn Erin down. How did that turn into her being the bad person?


    Liam met her steady gaze and suddenly felt ufortable.


    Indeed, Tracy hadn’t said anything insulting. But Erin cried anyway, and that was enough to make her the


    viin.


    Frustrated and embarrassed, Liam jumped up, grabbed the bread te, and snapped, “You don’t deserve Erin’s kindness. You don’t want it? Fine!”


    Then, he tossed the bread and te straight into the trash and stormed off.


    The atmosphere turned tense. Even Daphne’s smile faded. “We were just having breakfast. Why all this drama?”


    She didn’t say Tracy’s name, but the me in her tone was obvious.


    Tracy acted like she didn’t hear it, calmly saying, “I want to visit Grandpa.”


    That was all she had meant to say from the beginning, but no one had given her the chance. They instantly pointed fingers at her, saying she was the one giving Erin a hard time.


    Once she mentioned Franklin Jackman, Benjamin and Daphne froze.


    They’d almost forgotten that Franklin had always doted on Tracy the most. Even after all Erin had gone through growing up outside, his favorite was still Tracy.


    Ever since they sent Tracy to the Angelic Etiquette Academy, Franklin had been hospitalized. He’d missed her the entire time.


    Daphne got a headache just thinking about it. Franklin had always said they treated Erin too well and overlooked Tracy.


    But they didn’t think they had ignored her.


    Tracy was the one who always had topete with Erin. They felt bad that Erin had a rough childhood, so they thought Tracy should take a step back.


    “I’ve still got to prepare for Erin’s graduation party. Andrew, take Tracy to the hospital.”


    Andrew didn’t argue.


    He had wanted to talk to Tracy about itst night, but she cut him off, and he forgot.


    On the way to the hospital, Tracy sat pressed against the car door, knees drawn close, hands gripping them anxiously.


    It had been two years. And whenever things got too hard, the person she missed most was Franklin.


    If he saw how she was being treated, he’d probably beat those people up and hold her close, telling her not


    to cry.


    But if he found out what she went through for two years, it’d break his heart.


    Tracy curled up in the corner of the seat, looking sad. Andrew nced at her and felt a tug in his chest.


    He unconsciously softened his tone. “Tracy, don’t take it out on Liam. I’ll talk to himter.


    “He’s just overprotective of Erin. If you’re hungry, just ask the chef to make you something. No need to fight over food.”


    Even though he sounded like he was on her side, the me was still there.


    But Tracy had already said that she wasn’t hungry and never tried to take Erin’s food.


    ア


    Back then and even now, no one believed her. They thought she was just making excuses.


    So, Tracy didn’t say anything. She just nodded and kept thinking about what to say to Franklinter, so he wouldn’t worry.


    She no longer defended herself like before, and the constant chatter at his side was also gone.


    That used to be what Andrew wanted. But now, her silence felt strangely empty.


    He figured she must still hold a grudge for being sent away. That was why she acted so cold now.


    Still, he believed she would understand that everything they did was for her sake.


    Andrew sighed. “Tracy, do you know why Grandpa is in the hospital?”


    At the mention of Franklin, she finally looked up.


    She had assumed he was back at the Jackman Vi. That was why she rushed home yesterday.


    But when she asked the maids this morning, they told her Franklin had fallen right after she left two years ago, and he had been hospitalized ever since. He hadn’t been home at all.


    She had no idea how bad his fall had been that kept him in the hospital for two whole years without going home.


    She should’ve asked Liam about it yesterday and gone straight to visit Franklin.