Chapter 259
It hit Landon like a stone splashing into water, like a bolt of lightning splitting the sky. He froze. ‘Aunt Shelby had feelings for our
dad?
What a bombsheli!
“Well, to be precise, Shelby was upset because she was the eldest daughter and had to stay home to marry in. And your mom married off well, so she was jealous,” Tuff explained.
‘So that’s how possessive women can be. You really do learn something new every day, Tuff thought.
“Good thing my wife doesn’t have any sisters,‘ he added to himself.
“Even if Aunt Shelby killed me, she could never take Mom’s place,” Landon said, his lips pressed into a thin line.
Tuff said, “But your mom wouldn’t be happy then! After Kayla disappeared, your mom was heartbroken for years, almost falling ill from missing Kayla.
“If you went missing, your mom would not only grieve for you, but she’d also have to deal with pressure from your grandma and Henry’s family.
“Maybe your dad would even divorce your mom just to have a son…”
Before Tuff could finish his analysis, Landon and Amelia both shot him a glare.
He quickly rubbed his nose and backtracked, “I’m just saying, it’s all hypothetical! Your dad would never do something like that.”
“My parents had a great relationship. My dad was perfect, except for being blindly filial,” Landon said, still glaring at Tuff.
Tuff thought to himself, ‘Blindly filial, for sure! He let his mother and brother push his own wife around for all those years!‘
“Shelby’s petty scheming ruined our whole family…” Amelia sighed.
‘Such is human nature,‘ she sighed inwardly.
‘Sandra isn’t even my real sister, so it’s understandable that she’d plot against her.
‘But Shelby and Gloria are full–blooded sisters. How could Shelby be so heartless?‘
“Landon, what should we do next? Should we bring it out into the open?” Kayla asked.
“Kayla, this is your call,” Landon said, his eyes lingering on the terrible scar on her face. “Whatever you decide, I’ll back you up. Anything goes!”
‘Even if it means burning the Gellar family to the ground, I’ll stand by her,‘ Landon thought.
“Mom should be back today, right? Let’s tell her about the kidnapping first, but leave out the part about Aunt Shelby having a thing for Dad,” Kayla said.
“Okay.” Landon nodded in agreement
To be honest, Kayla was going way too easy on them.
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If it were him, Landon would’ve stormed straight to the Gellar family, exposed Shelby’s true colors, and cut ties with them on the spot.
“Landon, love is the last pure place Mom has left,” Kayla said.
On the way home, she had made up her mind.
All these years, their mom had been pushed around by their grandmother and ended up clinging to the Gellar family for support.
Payback was a must, but she didn’t want to drag their late father’s name through the mud.
Kayla decided, ‘Let’s just put an end to all this, clean and simple!
“Kayla, whatever you do, I’ve got your back,” Landon said.
Kayla gently touched her injured face, her beautiful eyes narrowing with a dangerous glint.
Amelia chimed in, “Kayla, Giovanna knows some top–notch plastic surgeons. Why not get your face fixed up a bit?”
“I’m not doing it,” Kayla refused without a second thought..
Tuff sat there nervously, not daring to say a word.
If they ever found out that Kayla’s face was hurt by a stray bullet he accidentally fired…
“Kayla, with how advanced plastic surgery is these days, getting your face fixed up could really boost your confidence,” Landon
added.
“I’m already confident,” Kayla let out a dismissive laugh, glancing at Tuff. “What do you think, Tuff?”
“Well, you’re perfect no matter what! I’m crazy about you!” Tuff blurted out.
Kayla was pleased. “Landon, did you hear that?”
Landon rolled his eyes. ‘Tuff is such a brown–noser!‘
But he had to admit, at least Tuff really didn’t care about the scar on Kayla’s face. Gotta give him credit for that.
“Kayla, I’ve got the connections lined up for you. It’s totally your call. Do it whenever you want,” Amelia said, not wanting to pressure her.
Honestly, what woman didn’t care about her looks?
‘Kayla’s always refused to get her scar fixed. Could there be another reason?‘ Amelia wondered.
That evening, Gloria returned home.
After spending a few days in the Gellar family, she was in high spirits, practically glowing.
“Gloria, looks like you had a great time at Shelby’s place these past few days!” Amelia said with a subtle smile.
“Yeah,” Gloria nodded. “It’s been ages since I hung out with Shelby. We went to all the places we used to play at as us, went shopping together, even had a sleepover…”
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Gloria just kept going, practically bragging about how much fun she’d had,
“You and Shelby seem really close,” Amelia said with a small smile. “But Gloria, back then, how did you decide who would se home and bring in a son–in–law?”
“Shelby is the eldest daughter, so of course she had to stay,” Gloria replied, as if it was only natural.
Amelia couldn’t help but laugh and shake her head. ‘Oh Gloria, you really do think so simply!”
“Shelby is four years older than me. When she got married, I was still in school and hadn’t even met Landon’s father yet, Gloria said with a smile.
“Did Shelby ever want to get married and leave home?” Amelia asked.
Gloria paused to think, then said, “Honestly, I don’t know. She never brought it up with me.”
“If she had brought it up, would you two have traded places?” Amelia pressed.
“Uh…” Gloria hesitated, clearly caught off guard.
Gloria was at a loss for words.
Her parents had always said that Shelby would stay at home while she, Gloria, would marry out. Since Shelby never objected, Gloria never really gave it a second thought.
But now that she thought about it, maybe she should’ve actually talked it over with Shelby.
‘What if Shelby never wanted to be the one who stayed home and brought in a husband?‘ Gloria wondered.
“Gloria, you really are the Gellar family’s pure and innocent little girl!” That was all Amelia could think to say.
Gloria was just so naive. Amelia honestly didn’t even know how to respond.
“I was only so pure and innocent because my family spoiled me. Shelby never once complained, so I just assumed she was okay with it,” Gloria said matter–of–factly. “Amelia, it’s just that you weren’t born into a good family. Otherwise, you’d be just as pure and innocent.”
Amelia could only smile wryly.
That was right—she used to be just as pure and innocent herself.
That was how she ended up getting schemed against by the Edwards family and Zachary, and even lost her life because of it.
If she hadn’t traveled back in time, how could she have become the mature, shrewd, and perceptive woman she was today?
One would only really grow up after going through some pain.
“But I can’t help feeling like Shelby and Tristan aren’t really getting along. That day when we visited, he didn’t even bother to show up,” Amelia said.
Gloria’s expression clouded with worry. “Honestly, Tristan’s been out of line lately–just gambling and drinking a Sometimes he doesn’t even come home at all.”
“Do you think Shelby is sad about it?” Amelia asked, trying to sound casual but unable to hide her concern.
ime.
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“Doesn’t really seem like it. Maybe she’s just let it go as she got older,” Gloria said with a shrug. Anyway, I’ll go karo kako
more often from now on.”
The group exchanged looks, all thinking, ‘She actually wants to keep hanging out with Shelby more often? Has she lost her mid
“Mom, no one is completely good, not even your own family,” Landon couldn’t help but say.
“Your Uncle Henry’s family really can be terrible. But don’t worry. You’ve got Kayla by your side,” Glória said, thinking her son was just upset about the past and trying to comfort him.
“Aunt Shelby isn’t necessarily a good person either,” Kayla added quietly.
Gloria froze. “What? What are you all talking about?”
“Mom, you’re just too good–hearted,” Kayla said quietly. “It was Aunt Shelby who kidnapped me all those years ago.”
“What?” Gloria stared at her as if struck by lightning, eyes wide with utter disbelief.
“I saw Aunt Shelby’s face with my own eyes,” Kayla said. “Remember the day I went to the Gellar family? Aunt Shelby kept pressing me, asking if I’d lost my memory. Mom, do you remember that?”
“Of course,” Gloria nodded.
After that, Kayla brought it up with her a few more times, always in private.
“Aunt Shelby was terrified I’d remember her,” Kayla sneered. “Back then, her real target was Landon. She only spared my life because she grabbed the wrong kid.”
“No, that’s impossible…” Gloria jumped to her feet, shaking her head hard.
“She’s your aunt, my sister… She would never do something like that! She had no reason to!” Gloria insisted.
“But Aunt Shelby hates you,” Kayla stated plainly.
AD
