Chapter 63 Can’t Let Tracy Go
“Even if thepany falls apart tomorrow, that’s on you all—”
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A sharp p interrupted Tracy’s words, pulling her back from the edge of her fury.
Everyone froze. No one expected Benjamin–the quiet one so far–to suddenly hit her.
Tracy tilted her head, ears ringing, then heard Benjamin’s angry voice. “What nonsense are you talking? The Jackmans raised you for 18 years. I don’t expect you to be grateful, but what right do you have to hate us?”
Her face burned from the p.
Though she’d left that nightmare behind, the hurt on her face felt worse than any she’d gotten at the etiquette academy.
But facing Benjamin’s fury, Tracy stayed steady. “I never hated the Jackmans.”
Even when she was first sent to the Angelic Etiquette Academy, all she wanted was their help. She never hated them.
It was true that they raised and spoiled her for 18 years. She didn’t resent being sent to the academy. She thought it was just paying them back for everything.
Tracy met Benjamin’s gaze without blinking. “I don’t hate the Jackmans. But I want no ties to you all. Just thinking about being one of you makes me want to puke. I can’t even sleep.”
She was scared that if she fell asleep, they’d send her back to that academy “for her own good” again.
Every word was serious and clear, as if she were afraid they wouldn’t understand the truth in her heart. “So, Mr. Benjamin, don’t worry about me causing trouble just because I’m the Jackmans‘ heiress. I don’t care about that.”
Benjamin’s anger instantly faded, as if cold water had been poured over him. He just stood there, stunned.
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Looking into Tracy’s cold eyes, he vaguely remembered when those same eyes once looked at him full of love and admiration.
She used to wrap her arm around his, cooing, “I can’t believe I’m your daughter. I’m so proud and lucky!”
But now she said that she felt sick just thinking she was a Jackman.
How <i>could </i><i>she</i>–<i>my </i>own <i>daughter</i><i>–</i><i>say </i><i>that</i><i>? </i>
Benjamin’s anger turned into deep sadness. “I held you close and loved you since you were little. I fed you form and changed your diaper–I never let the nanny do it. How have I ever hurt you?
“You don’t regret your mistakes, and now you say things like this… You really disappoint me.”
His eyes glistened with tears.
Though a top business figure in Cloudville, he looked like a broken father crushed by his child’s words, barely standing.
Andrew quickly stepped in, frowning at Tracy. “Tracy, how can you say things like that just to hurt Dad? Apologize right now!”
“I didn’t mean to hurt him.” Tracy stayed calm. “I’m just telling the truth. Isn’t that what you all want?”
No <i>matter </i><i>when</i><i>, </i><i>they </i><i>always </i><iin </i><i>that </i><i>I </i><i>embarrass </i><i>the </i><i>Jackmans</i>.
No matter <i>the </i><i>situation</i><i>, </i><i>Erin </i><i>is </i><i>the </i><i>only </i><i>true </i><i>Jackman’s </i><i>daughter </i><i>they </i><i>acknowledge</i><i>. </i>
Before<i>, </i><i>I </i>was <i>stupid </i><i>to </i><i>think </i><i>we </i><i>could </i><i>be </i><i>family </i><i>without </i><i>blood </i><i>ties</i>. <i>I </i>deserved the two <i>years </i>of hell I went <i>through</i>.
Now, <i>I </i><i>see </i>the <i>truth</i><i>, </i><i>and </i><i>I’m </i><i>giving </i><i>them </i><i>what </i><i>they </i>want<i>. </i><i>I </i><i>won’t </i>try anymore <i>to </i><i>be </i>one <i>of </i>
the Jackmans.
Andrew wanted to say more, but Benjamin raised his hand to stop him. “Enough. If you don’t want to be a Jackman, then get out of the house!”
Everyone stared at Benjamin in shock.
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Chapter 63 Can’t Let Tracy Go
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Even when Tracy’sst name was changed, he never said he wanted to kick her out.
Andrew was first to react, trying to calm Benjamin down quickly. “Dad, calm down. I believe Tracy doesn’t really mean that.”
Liam looked worried. “Dad … ”
He wanted to say more, but froze at Benjamin’s anger. Instead, he turned to Tracy.
“CeeCee, don’t be stubborn. Apologize to Dad. He’s just angry now. If you admit you’re wrong, he won’t actually kick you out.”
Tracy nced at Liam.
She couldn’t remember how long it had been since hest called her “CeeCee.” Hearing it again felt empty inside.
Since Erin came back, she felt like she didn’t have a ce in the family anymore.
Benjamin still looked angry but didn’t argue with Andrew or Liam. Instead, he kept his eyes on Tracy, waiting for her to soften and speak first.
<i>If </i><i>she </i>hadn’t <i>pushed </i><i>me </i><i>so </i><i>far</i><i>, </i><i>I </i><i>wouldn’t </i><i>have </i><i>said </i><i>those </i><i>words </i><i>about </i><i>kicking </i><i>her </i><i>out</i>.
<i>She’s </i><i>still </i><i>the </i><i>daughter </i><i>I </i><i>raised</i><i>. </i><i>If </i><i>she </i><i>shows </i><i>a </i><i>hint </i><i>of </i><i>regret</i><i>, </i>I <i>won’t </i><i>hesitate </i><i>to </i><i>take </i><i>back </i>what I said <i>and </i><i>keep </i><i>her </i><i>in </i><i>the </i><i>house</i>.
<i>But </i><i>she’s </i><i>been </i><i>spoiled </i>too <i>much</i>. <i>She </i><i>needs </i><i>some </i><i>tough </i><i>lessons</i>.
Erin watched it all, nearly grinding her teeth in frustration.
<i>They </i><i>all </i><i>say </i><i>they </i><i>only </i><i>ept </i><i>me </i>as <i>a </i><i>daughter </i><i>and </i><i>sister</i><i>, </i>but <i>they </i><i>still </i>can’t <i>let </i>Tracy go.
Chapter 64 Sudden Change
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Erin pushed down her feelings and stepped out from behind Liam. “Tracy, we’re all family here. Just try to be a little softer with Dad.
“You might not be his biological daughter, but he’s always treated you like one. Faking a kidnapping to scam money–that’s just way too much. <i>No </i>wonder Dad’s upset.
“Just apologize to him properly. I’m sure he’ll forgive you and won’t really kick you out of the house.”
As soon as she finished, the way the Jackmans looked at Tracy changed.
If this were before, Tracy would’ve seen Erin as kind and gentle, just like the Jackmans, and would’ve believed Erin genuinely wanted her to stay.
But now, Erin’s true feelings were clear to Tracy: She was secretly hoping Tracy would leave.
A sarcastic smile pulled at Tracy’s lips. “Ms. Jackman, you act like you want me around, but every other word is about how I faked the kidnapping for money, and how much the Jackmans love you.
“If you really want me gone, you should just say it straight instead of saying things you don’t mean, making me sound like some desperate parasite clinging to the family.”
Erin’s face froze in shock.
Two years ago, <i>she </i><i>would’ve </i><i>panicked </i><i>and </i><i>denied </i><i>everything </i><i>in </i><i>this </i>situation. What changed to make <i>her </i>so <i>sharp </i><i>now</i>?
Erin quickly tried to pull back her feelings and stammered, “I didn’t mean that! I-”
“Whether you mean it or not, I don’t care. I’m not interested in staying as one of you Jackmans,” Tracy cut her off, tired of the weak defense,
She was worn out.
Wasting time here was pointless–she needed rest. She had work tomorrow.
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