Chapter 240: I, Gemma, Don’t Play up to Anyone
Gemma nodded.
“You came all the way to N.L. City because of me?”
“So, my business actually needs a COUSIN to take charge?”
“Then yeah, I suppose I do owe an apology.”
She glanced at Kaiya as she spoke.
Kaiya was already bracing for it–after all, Jonathan and Madeline were notoriously protective.
But she hadn’t expected that.
As the daughter of an adopted child, Kaiya would never be able to take the reins of the Dolton family.
If she accepted an apology now.
It’d be like admitting she had ambitions in the first place.
“Oh, Gemma, don’t say that!” Kaiya rushed to smooth things over. “I came here because I just couldn’t wait to see you.”
“You probably don’t know this, but Grandmother hugs your baby clothes every night when she sleeps.”
“I really want you to come home, Gemma. Only then will Grandmother truly be happy.”
“Now that you’re here and I’ve finally seen you, my wish has come true. I’ve got other things to do, I won’t keep you guys any longer.”
Tears shimmered in her eyes as she looked pitifully at the three elders.
“Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Ash, I’m heading out to meet a friend. I’ll see you later.”
She turned to leave.
But before she could take another step, Madeline shot up and grabbed her, pulling her into a tight embrace.
“You’re not leaving! You silly girl, why do you always swallow your grievances?”
“I asked you to come! You did nothing wrong! If anyone’s uncomfortable, they can leavel”
“The Dolton family lacks for nothing, and we certainly won’t compromise for anyone!”
The words hit like a hammer.
Jonathan abruptly stood.
Ashton’s expression flickered with shock.
But what was said was said.
No one dared refute it.
And even if they wanted to, it was too late.
Madeline realized then that she had been too impulsive.
Gemma was the biological granddaughter.
They should cut her some slack.
Flustered, she looked toward Gemma.
But Gemma’s expression remained unchanged.
Her dark eyes were like two frozen lakes, radiating a cold that seeped into the bones of everyone in the room.
She looked so much like Charlotte.
Charlotte had once been bright and carefree, but after becoming a botanist, she’d grown increasingly distant.
In the end, she was even more ruthless than Madeline’s eldest son.
Even as her mother, Madeline had sometimes found Charlotte impossible to deal with.
And now…
Gemma was the same.
This…
This feeling of being unable to control the situation unsettled her.
The words she had wanted to use to smooth things over just wouldn’t come out.
Gemma wasn’t pretending to be strong–she simply wasn’t hurt.
She had no real attachment to the Dolton family.
She had already decided long before coming here that she wouldn’t acknowledge them.
Setting
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Chapter 240: I, Gemma, Don’t Play up to Anyone
And after seeing their reaction today, she was even more convinced she’d made the right call.
If anything…
She felt disappointed for her mother, Charlotte.
No matter what the family dynamic had been like before, the moment Charlotte went missing, the Doltons had taken in an orphan girl.
And now, they treated that orphan’s daughter like she was their own flesh and blood.
The Doltons. A family with power that reached everywhere.
Yet they’d waited until a case in some remote village forced the truth into the light before they even thought about looking for their own daughter and granddaughter.
If they’d really cared, they could have found her ages ago–she looked so much like Charlotte.
And on top of that…
As a doctor, she’d had countless medical checkups, from university to employment.
If the Doltons had actually been paying attention, they could have easily matched her DNA.
Which meant–Charlotte had never truly been cherished by this family either.
They didn’t belong in the same world. There was no need to force a connection.
Gemma let out a soft, mocking laugh.
“To the old man, though, it looked like a pained smile, full of resignation.
Jonathan felt a sting of guilt and almost opened his mouth to say something.
But then he hesitated. This child had spent years outside, hardened by life. Maybe a little suffering was good for her.
So he turned away, pretending not to see.
Gemma finally spoke.
“My private room’s in 201. Just realized I walked into the wrong one.”
She turned to leave but paused as she brushed past Kaiya, flashing her a faint smile.
“But hey, at least I got a free show. Worth the trip.”
With that, she pushed open the door and walked out.
The entire room fell into stunned silence.
They hadn’t even bothered to keep their identities a secret when they arrived.
They’d assumed that after all these years, even if Gemma was bitter, she’d still want to come home for the money.
After all, their investigation had uncovered that besides being a doctor, Gemma worked for Cassius–specifically as his kid’s personal physician.
Clearly, she’s after the money.
She was trying to get closer to the wealthy and powerful.
And now, with an even bigger family standing in front of her…
She should’ve been falling over herself, begging to be accepted.
Madeline had spoken so boldly just now because she’d been sure Gemma wouldn’t walk away from this.
But shockingly..
Gemma hadn’t even argued. She just left.
Like she had no interest in them at all.
“This is outrageous!”
Ashton was the first to snap out of it.
‘Charlotte was always a troublemaker, and now her daughter’s just as unruly. If we don’t rein her in, who knows what kind of disaster she’ll cause!”
‘Uncle Ash, please don’t be upset,” Kaiya interjected softly, sighing as if she was somehow to blame. “It’s all my fault. I never should’ve come.” She reached out to gently pat the old lady’s back..
Ashton waved. “This has nothing to do with you. Don’t blame yourself. She’s just petty.”
“Hah! Does she really think we’re the ones begging her? I’ll call her hospital director right now. She thinks she can do whatever she wants just because she’s a good doctor? We’ll see how she practices medicine without a license!”
Kaiya gasped. “Uncle Ash, that’s too much! Ms. Kelestine will be heartbroken!”
Ashton just scoffed.
All he wanted was for Gemma to submit.
He had spent his whole life being overshadowed by Charlotte, living in her shadow.
Now, he had finally made something of himself, There was no way he’d let a girl who looked exactly like her climb over his head.
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Setting
15:16
Chapter 240: I, Gemma, Don’t Play up to Anyone
Give it three days. Gemma would come crawling back, begging for forgiveness.
And when that happened, then he’d consider welcoming her home.
Madeline considered for a moment.
“Ash is right. She wasn’t raised by us–she needs to learn how cruel the world can be. Then she’ll realize just how important family is.”
Jonathan rubbed his temples. “Looks like we’ll be staying in N.L. City a little longer.”
Ashton smiled.
“Perfect. I was just thinking of showing Kaiya around.”
Kaiya’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Really, Uncle Ash? You’re the best! I love you!”
Ashton chuckled, poking her cheek.
“Alright, little girl. Go get ready–I’ll introduce you to some friends this afternoon.”
15:16
