Chapter 148
Marcus really couldn't understand why Lucas would bring a stranger like Alice home to pretend to be family, rather than acknowledge his biological granddaughter Ophelia. Even if he had made mistakes, the issues of the previous generation shouldn't affect the child. Why was Lucas so unwilling to recognize Ophelia as his granddaughter?
"Do you know what kind of people my adoptive parents are?" Ophelia listened to Lucas's explanation and completely broke down, shouting hoarsely, "Before they had a son, because you sent them money, they treated me fairly well. But after they had a son, everything changed. They wouldn't let me go to school and forced me to work. All the money I earned during summer vacations went to pay for my tuition! When I had no money, they would ask me for it because you stopped sending them money! They even wanted me to do unspeakable things! I'd rather bear the stigma of being an illegitimate child than live a life where I'm not even considered human!"
"At least you should be clear about one thing!" Esme said angrily as she came downstairs, her face very unpleasant, "If it weren't for Alice that day, would you still be standing here saying these hurtful things? She is your savior! Is this how you repay Alice? Embarrassing her in front of so many friends and family?"
Ophelia quickly shook her head in denial, "No, it's not like that! I didn't mean it that way! Esme, you know what kind of person my adoptive father is. I finally found my biological father, Marcus. I don't want to be controlled by my adoptive father to do things I don't want to do anymore! I don't want this either, but this was originally mine. Shouldn't I take back what belongs to me?"
Looking at Ophelia's eyes, Esme felt a wave of irony surge in his heart. He was very angry. He handed a band-aid to the frightened Alice beside him and gently patted her head to comfort her, "It's okay, I support you. Our friendship has nothing to do with status or position, but because our personalities match. You and I have compatible personalities, so you are my good friend! Besides, you once risked your life to save me! You still have scars on your leg from that accident."
"I really never intended to hurt anyone." Seeing Esme's sad expression, Ophelia was in great pain, "Esme, I truly consider you a friend. I never intended to cause the current situation! Really."
"Enough." Esme interrupted her, his attitude cold, "Since you've already caused an irreparable situation, there's no point in saying anything now."
Esme walked up to Ophelia and questioned, "Can you honestly say that our friendship, and my relationship with Alice, have ever changed because of your family background? When we treated you sincerely, you treated us like this? You're practically stabbing us in the heart."
Hearing this, Ophelia's lips trembled, "I... I didn't mean to."
However, before she could finish her sentence, Celeste pulled her away, "Do you think Alice can't survive without you? When the truth comes out, people willing to be close to her will line up. Don't overestimate yourself."
Facing the provocation, Esme looked Celeste up and down, "Yes, it's because Alice doesn't exude that kind of arrogance that I'm willing to befriend her."
Just as the argument was escalating, Marcus roared to interrupt, "Enough! Everyone shut up! I need to understand what exactly is going on here! Not to watch you all argue!"
Then Marcus turned to Lucas, "Dad, please tell me the reason. If Saskia was still alive and could properly raise Ophelia, why did you send Ophelia to an orphanage? If it weren't for someone investigating and uncovering all this, who would know the story behind it?"
Lucas looked up at Marcus and the surrounding people, firmly holding Alice's hand, and said, "Because she is not a child of the Bailey family. She is the granddaughter of a comrade entrusted to me to raise. What's wrong with that?"
Lucas's words were like a thunderclap in the room. For everyone, this answer was simply unbelievable.
"Are you really confused?" Marcus asked Lucas in shock, "She is just your comrade's granddaughter, while the child who truly belongs to our family is Ophelia! Why do you have to sacrifice your own family?"
Hearing this, Ophelia was equally unable to accept it, her heart filled with mixed emotions, "Why, why would you choose to treat me this way? Do you really see me as a disgrace to the entire family? What makes you think that my mother would definitely return and disrupt the current situation? This has ruined my entire future! I will never forgive you, never!"
"I have never regretted doing this," Lucas calmly replied, "If you criticize your mother without knowing all the details, that is true ignorance. Saskia knew Marcus had a family and still chose to become the other woman and give birth to you, an illegitimate child. Do you think her motives were pure and innocent?"
Faced with the scolding, Ophelia lost control and tried to attack Lucas, but was stopped in time by Alice, "Don't touch him, or don't blame me for being rude to you!"
Ophelia coldly said, "You still have the nerve to threaten me, Alice. I'm afraid you don't even know who you are."
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