Chapter 74 Jealousy

Nora stared at Charlotte's fancy outfit, feeling super jealous inside. If only Bill hadn't favored his eldest daughter, all these luxuries could have been Floriana's, which would have pleased Nora, instead of leaving her to feel resentful. Nora had once hoped Bill would secure this advantageous marriage for their daughter. Yet, she realized he was indifferent about who ended up with Luke, as long as the alliance was beneficial for him. This truth should have been apparent to her. After Nora had spent so many years with Bill and believed he cared for her and their daughter, she was dismayed to find him so coldly opportunistic. It's hard to believe that Luke, such a rare and exceptional man, was just handed over to a woman who had an affair. As Nora dwelled on this, the pain in her heart grew sharper. She had poured her heart into raising Floriana, dreaming of her marrying into a prestigious family, only to see their hopes dashed unexpectedly. Floriana was every bit as beautiful and well-mannered as Charlotte. In Nora's eyes, her daughter was the finest in the world, beyond comparison. Defiantly, Floriana stepped forward and said, "Remember, Charlotte, how you got your husband. It was only because I was magnanimous enough to let you have the man I loved most. Now that you're enjoying the good life, have you decided to just forget about us?" Hearing this, Charlotte laughed bitterly and said, "What do you mean by 'letting me have him'? If you hadn't gone out of your way to create a fuss that day, Luke's parents wouldn't even have recalled the marriage pact. You're flattering yourselves, taking a mere offhand remark way too seriously." Nora, upon hearing Charlotte state the truth so directly and publicly, felt a hint of embarrassment color her cheeks. "Do you really have to speak so harshly?" she chided. "Had it not been for Floriana's generosity, you'd still be enduring a life of hardship, wouldn't you? With two children in tow, finding a partner would hardly be an easy task." Charlotte gave her stepmother a steely look. "You have no right to meddle in my affairs." "No right?" Nora retorted angrily. "Am I not to be called 'mother' by you? I raised you since you were a child, nurtured you into the graceful lady you are today. Now you have the audacity to say these things to me?" Bill felt that Charlotte was being overly harsh. "How can you speak to Mom like that?" Charlotte let out a scornful laugh. "Mom? My mother passed away before this woman ever stepped foot into our home. It was barely any time after my mother's departure that you rushed to marry this woman. And now you have the audacity to say these things to me?" Seeing Charlotte speak with such disrespect, Floriana hurriedly came to her mother's defense. "We're sisters, aren't we? Isn't this just giving outsiders something to laugh at?" "So, you're trying to morally blackmail me now?" Sofia could no longer bear to watch. "When she was facing her toughest times, none of you bothered to help. And now, you come to her? What were you doing back then?" Bill, looking guilty, said, "I failed in my duties as a father, but we're still a family; how can we harbor anger for so long? You can always come back home, and we'll welcome you anytime." Charlotte shook her head. "No need. These past years have shown me that I can live a better life without you." Before her divorce from Frank, Charlotte indeed found some solace in her father's comparatively kinder demeanor. However, once Bill also came to believe in the false accusations of her infidelity, Charlotte grew disillusioned with her family. "He's your father, and this is your family. You can't just disown them, can you?" Nora attempted to mediate. Charlotte grew impatient. "I have nothing to say to you." "Of course, you have nothing to say to me," Nora retorted. "Had it not been for Floriana's magnanimity in giving up her fiancé to you, who knows where you'd be now! Poor Floriana cries every day at home. Do you know how long she's loved Luke? And after what you've done, your father didn't even say a word. How can you say he doesn't love you enough?" Bill was pleased with Nora's words, thinking they might awaken his daughter's conscience. His face remained apologetic, silently hoping for Charlotte's forgiveness. He couldn't help but think that her support, especially now with her successful marriage, was vital for the family business. Charlotte, exasperated, said, "I didn't steal anyone's fiancé. Even my mother-in-law said that if you hadn't come knocking at their door, they would have forgotten about this whole affair. If there truly was a betrothal between them, why would Luke choose to marry me instead of you?" Floriana burst into tears at Charlotte's words. "It's because you're more cunning, having been married once. Of course, you know how to please a man. I've never even had a boyfriend. How could I understand these things?" Unable to tolerate any more, Charlotte stepped forward and slapped her. "Enough from you. Do you think you're some saint? The truth always finds a way out. You'd better keep a tight lid on all the things you've done." Floriana, caught off guard by Charlotte's accusation, stopped crying. Clutching the fabric of her dress tightly in her hands, she was at a loss for words. Indeed, she knew a few well-off men, but her interactions with them had been nothing more than casual dalliances. Yet, even so, she couldn't believe her own sister would speak to her in such a manner. Charlotte herself wasn't certain of Floriana's actions; her words were more a bluff than anything. Seeing Floriana's flustered reaction, she felt she might have struck a nerve. Observing Floriana's silence, Charlotte scoffed. "I see I won't continue then. Hit a nerve, did I?" "How can you, being married, slander your sister in such a public manner?" retorted Nora. "She's still unmarried. If her reputation is ruined, it won't reflect well on you either." "I've severed ties with you all, yet you keep pestering me. What exactly do you want?" Sofia, witnessing the intensity of the scene, didn't dare leave on her own to fetch help. She sent a message to Caelan, urging them to come quickly. Luke, seeing his wife so troubled by her family, was furious. He rushed to protect Charlotte, shielding her behind him before confronting her family. "You must have your reasons for doing this. Speak up, what do you really want?" Nora's expression shifted subtly. She saw an opportunity to capitalize on the situation. "Although your family called off the engagement, the fact remains that my eldest daughter married you. That's an unchangeable truth."