Chapter 8 Like an Outsider
Because of this, Marcelo had always been more affectionate toward Stacy than Elaine, treating her with indifference.
Moreover, since Abraham never liked her, Elaine was sent to live with her grandmother of the maternal line in Prarc Town when she was young. She stayed there until her grandmother passed away when she was thirteen, at which point she was brought back to the Valentine family.
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Elaine stood stiffly, and Constance quickly stepped in to help. “Dad, Elaine came back specifically for your 80th birthday, which is in two weeks. She wanted to wish you well.” She then shot Elaine a pointed look.
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Elaine pretended not to notice and stayed silent. If it hadn’t been for Constance’s repeated insistence, she wouldn’t have returned for such an insignificant birthday celebration.
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In the Valentine family, only Constance and Stacy treated her with any kindness. However, ever since Stacy married Cordell, there had been a distance between them.
To be fair, it was a distance that only she felt.
Stacy still treated her with the same care–checking on her when she
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was sick, asking about her daily well–being.
Elaine had struggled with this for a long time, which led her to deliberately distance herself from Stacy, and as a result, their relationship was no longer as close as it once had been.
Marcelo didn’t want her return to disrupt the family’s peace, so he joined in with Constance, saying, “Dad, Elaine called me a few days ago to ask what kind of gift you’d like. She’s really put a lot of thought into choosing something special for you.”
If it hadn’t been for Marcelo’s reminder, Elaine would have completely forgotten about preparing a gift. Thankfully, she still had two weeks, plenty of time to find something fitting for Abraham.
When Marcelo said this, Abraham held back his anger, though his face remained stern.
Elaine didn’t mind, though. In her memories, Abraham had always been like this–stern and unapproachable.
The only time he had been genuinely warm was when she was sixteen. She had scored first in the entire school and was accepted into a prestigious high school. That same year, Stacy had used the family’s connections to get into the same school.
Just then, the phone in the living room rang. Constance, who was standing next to it, picked up the receiver.
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After a brief conversation, she smiled brightly. “Okay, got it.”
She hung up the phone and turned to Abraham. “Dad, Stacy and Cordell know you’re back today. They’ve made a reservation at a restaurant to welcome you.”
Abraham’s expression softened slightly. “Stacy is such a thoughtful child.”
Before long, Stacy and Cordell arrived at the Valentine family home to pick everyone up for dinner.
As soon as Stacy entered the living room, she walked over and hugged Abraham’s arm before sitting beside him. Her delicate makeup only made her appear even more graceful and lovely.
“Grandpa, I’ve missed you so much these days. How was your time in Orevine?”
Abraham clearly appreciated her affection. A rare smile appeared on his usually stern face. “I’m well. Everything is fine. But why didn’t you bring Shauna?”
Stacy smiled brightly. “We’re going out later, so it’s not convenient to bring her along.”
In the evening, the group went to the restaurant, where the waiter led them to a private dining room.
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Stacy sat to Abraham’s right, and throughout the meal, she kept the conversation lively with amusing stories that made him laugh heartily.
Abraham shared stories about Orevine’s customs and scenery, and everyone listened attentively.
The conversation flowed smoothly, but Elaine sat quietly, feeling out of place at the family gathering.
She felt suffocated, like an outsider, and eventually excused herself, saying she needed to use the bathroom, before quietly slipping away from the table.
