billion book
Chapter 518
Chapter 518
"Matthew..." Helen held Matthew’s arm, feeling a little hurt deep down. "What are you talking about?
Rachael is my biological niece, so how could I not protect her?"
"So is this her excuse for getting Grandpa so angry that he fell ill? That she's just young...?" Matthew
shook his head in disappointment. "She and Hesper are both of the same age, yet while Hesper was
perfectly capable of managing the company and making Grandpa happy, why is it that all she’s done so
far is get Grandpa hospitalized?"
Helen patted Matthew’s arm. "What are you talking about? Rachael is your sister."
The living hall suddenly became silent.
No one knew when Rachael had appeared behind the two of them. Simon and Theodore both heard
the commotion and came down from upstairs too.
"I knew it... You do prefer Hesper over me. She’s the little sister that you want, while I’m nothing but
dust in your eyes." Rachael’s trembling voice sounded as if she was on the brink of bursting into tears.
"You’ve only ever loved Hesper and hated me!"
Hearing Rachael’s accusatory words, Matthew could not help but feel annoyed and distressed.
‘I have to admit, Hesper is much more competent than Rachael, but I’ve never blamed Rachael for that.
In an ideal world, my younger sister wouldn't even need to be all that outstanding. I’ve spent so much
time building Lane Holdings up just to make it easier for the people that I care about, not to make
Rachael help out in the company as soon as she comes back home.’
"That’s enough, Matthew, Rachael. Stop arguing already." Helen stood between the two siblings, acting
as the peacemaker. She walked up to Rachael first and patted the back of her hand. "Rachael, how
can you talk to your older brother like that? Everyone in the Lanes can see just how much Matthew
favors you and cares about you."
Then she looked at Matthew. "You too. How long has it been since Hesper left us? Why do you keep
mentioning her? Rachael is a girl, and girls tend to be more sensitive."
The living hall turned silent again
"I have to disagree with your statement there, Helen. Are you saying that Hesper isn’t one of the Lanes
anymore?" Simon walked down the steps and looked at Helen with a half-smile. "I still remember how
close you were with her when she was still living with us."
Helen chuckled awkwardly. "About that... Things are different now, aren’t they?"
"Oh, really?" Simon took a step back. "How are Hesper and Rachael different from each other to you?
One of them is Ben’s daughter while the other is Theo’s. They’re both your biological nieces, aren’t
they?"
Rachael was still staring at Matthew with a hurtful expression, while Matthew rubbed his forehead.
"The fact that I’m mad at you has nothing to do with whether you’re competent or not. As for the real
reason behind this, you should know best deep down," Matthew explained coldly. "Even though I've
warned you again and again, you still laid your hand on Hesper’s projects. You even spoke to Grandpa
disrespectfully when he tried to stop you.
"Take Grandpa as an example. Although he’s already so old, he’s never had any major issues with his
health. Now look at him. He’s lying on the hospital bed. Do you not feel even a tad bit guilty?" NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.
Rachael lowered her head silently. After a while, she started sobbing.
"...I’m sorry. I know it's my fault. I just don’t want my relatives to keep thinking about the person who
took my place in the past. It makes me feel as if I’m the redundant one in this household."
Simon stood aside, and Theodore, who had also come downstairs, stood beside him. They watched
without uttering a single word.
"Okay, stop arguing already. No matter how much you blame Rachael, Father won’t get better all of a
sudden," Helen said, standing up for Rachael. "Not to mention, if Rachael really feels this way, all of us
are responsible.”
Simon scoffed while Rachael dared not make a sound.